Indian Astronomical Observator

The Indian Astronomical Observatory, located near Leh in Ladakh, India, has one of the world's highest sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes. It is operated through the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. It is currently the 9th list of maximum astronomical observatories maximum optical telescope within the international, located at an elevation of 4,500 meters. In the past due Eighties a committee chaired with the aid of Prof. B. V. Sreekantan advocated that a national large optical telescope be taken up as a priority task.

The look for the site of the observatory becomes taken up in 1992 beneath the leadership of Prof. Arvind Bhatnagar. The scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics determined the site at Hanle. The first light became seen by using the Observatory 2-metre telescope at the midnight hour between 26 September and 27 September, 2000. The satellite hyperlink between the Centre for Research and Education in Science and Technology, Bangalore and Hanle was inaugurated through the then Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah on 2 June 2001. The Observatory turned into dedicated to the kingdom on 29 August 2001.