In the Moon-like landscape of Hanle village in Ladakh, the jet-black skies reveal otherworldly starry skies that lure travellers from far and wide. Over the last few years, tourists have been drawn to Hanle for the chance to experience astronomy intimately, guided by locals who are now making the cosmos their livelihood. The region is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, which houses one of the world's highest optical telescopes. In 2022, the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) was founded her