Nyoma town, the headquarters of Changthang district.Historic milestone for Ladakh: Five new districts notified in Ladakh; taking total districts to seven, 27 Apr 2026. and an eponymous subdivision, tehsil, community development block and Indian Air Force Base in Ladakh in India.Leh subdivision-blocks. It is located on the bank of the Indus river after its 90-degree bend near Dungti east of Nyoma and before the valley narrows to a gorge near Mahe northwest of Nyoma. The Nyoma tehsil and subdivision cover all of southern Ladakh, including the Rupshu plains south of Nyoma, the Indus valley of Skakjung north of Nyoma, and the Hanle valley. Nyoma gompa, a Buddhist monastery, is located on the hill slope north of the village.
Geography
The Indus river after its entry into Ladakh flows in a southwesterly direction after Demchok through (past Skakjung pastureland on its right bank) a wide valley. Afterwards, at the northwestern end of Skakjung pastureland, it takes a 90-degree bend at Dungti blocked by the higher ground of the Chushul valley in the north. The village of Nyoma lies 33 km west of the bend on the right bank (northern bank), where it is also coupled with another neighbouring village Mood (or Mud or Mad). The Indus river here is said to be wide and shallow. It could be easily forded.
Nyoma is located 41 km southeast of Chumathang,Directions from Chumathang to Nyoma, distancesfrom.com, retrieved 15 November 2020. and 87 km south of Chushul. Nearby villages are Mahe and Loma. Hanle, the largest village in southern Ladakh, is 80 km to the southeast. Mount Sajum on the border with China is 43 km to the east.
Nyoma tehsil borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China on the south and the east. The southern border runs along the Chumar village in Rupshu and the Imis Pass at the end of the Hanle valley. The eastern border, a Line of Actual Control resulting from the 1962 war with China, runs along the Kailash Range watershed of the Indus river till the village of Dumchele and narrows to the right bank of the Indus river up to Demchok.
The road from Leh runs till the village of Koyul, crossing the Indus river at Loma. From Koyul to Demchok, there is only a rough track. An alternative border road runs between the Koyul Lungpa valley and Demchok via the Umling La pass.
Military facilities
Nyoma Airbase
Nyoma hosts an Air Force Station at Mudh. The airbase is only away from the Line of Actual Control. The airfield was originally established during 1962 India-China War. However, the unused airstrip was started serving as an advanced landing ground (ALG) to support fixed-wing aircraft operations from 18 September 2009.
The airstrip was upgraded to a full-fledged air base between August 2023 to November 2025 under Project Himank with a budget of by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
The upgrade expanded the airstrip to a 1,235 acre an airbase capable of supporting fighter jet operations at elevation with an expanded -long, -wide runway paved runway along with allied military infrastructure. The supporting infrastructure included ATC complex, hangar, crash bay, watch towers, and accommodation facilities.
The Mudh-Nyoma Air Base was formerly inaugurated by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, on 12 November 2025.
Field Firing Range
Nearby Nyoma is Indian Military's "Mahe Field Firing Range" (MFFR) on land inside the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. Firing range is from the disputed India-China Line of Actual Control. This is the one of its kind firing range in the entire Indian-held Ladakh region where all types of weapons can be fired.
Tara Training Node Area A Training Node Area at Tara in the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary will be constructed.
Infrastructure
Roads
Roads infrastructure this area is being enhanced under the India-China Border Roads projects.
Telecommunication
Wildlife clearance was granted in 2022 for laying optical fiber cables in the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary for the internet and telephony connectivity.
Tourism Since 2010, foreign tourists with Inner Line Permits are permitted to visit Nyoma and its monastery.
Administration
Changthang district
When Changyhang district was notified in 2026, Nyoma became its headquarter.
Nyoma subdivision
The permanent civilian habitations under the administration of the Nyoma community development block (district subdivision) include villages like Nyoma, Hanle, Koyul, Demchok, Tsaga, Mudh, Rongo, Nyedar, etc.Successive govts have neglected border areas of Ladakh: Nyoma's BDC chair, Economic Times, 24 June 2020.
Nyoma village
According to the 2011 census of India, Nyoma has 202 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 49.94%.
+ Demographics (2011 census) Total Male Female Population 918 427 491 Children aged below 6 years 125 63 62 Scheduled caste 2 0 2 Scheduled tribe 707 329 378 Literates 396 198 198 Workers (all) 345 212 133 Main workers (total) 160 100 60 Main workers: Cultivators 40 28 12 Main workers: Agricultural labourers 6 1 5 Main workers: Household industry workers 5 4 1 Main workers: Other 109 67 42 Marginal workers (total) 185 112 73 Marginal workers: Cultivators 13 9 4 Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers 119 68 51 Marginal workers: Household industry workers 4 0 4 Marginal workers: Others 49 35 14 Non-workers 573 215 358
See also India-China Border Roads Line of Actual Control List of disputed territories of India
Notes
References
Bibliography
External links