Darcha
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Darcha
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = Darcha New Darcha Villages Lahaul Oct20 D72 18310.jpg
| image_alt = Darcha Sumdo (left), Darcha Dangma (right), Oct 2020
| image_caption = Darcha Sumdo and Darach Dangma
| pushpin_map = India Himachal Pradesh
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Himachal Pradesh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|32.674|N|77.216|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Himachal Pradesh
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Lahaul and Spiti
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
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| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 0.51
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 3360
| population_total = 358
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Hindi
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 175132
| registration_plate =HP-42
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
File:New Darcha Village Lahaul Oct20 D72 18311.jpg
Darcha (elevation 3,360 m or 11,020 ft){{cite web|url=http://himachaltourism.gov.in/post/Darcha.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923195916/http://himachaltourism.gov.in/post/Darcha.aspx|archive-date=23 September 2009|url-status=dead|title=Himachal Tourism | Darcha|accessdate=2014-12-12|df=dmy-all}} is a pair of villages (Darcha Sumdo and Darach Dangma) on the Bhaga River in the Lahaul sub-division in the Lahaul and Spiti district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is the northernmost permanent settlement in Himachal Pradesh along the Manali-Leh Highway.{{cite book|title=India|author1=Singh, S.|author2=Bindloss, J.|date=2007|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=9781741043082|url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari/page/341 341]|accessdate=2014-12-12}} With the opening of the Atal Tunnel, Darcha is likely to see a large influx of tourists as it is now connected to Manali throughout the year.{{or-inline|date=January 2021}} The Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road which is being constructed, will improve connectivity of Kargil, Zanskar and Leh District of Ladakh to Darcha.{{fact|date=January 2021}}
Demographics and amenities
Darcha consists of two adjacent villages, Darcha Sumdo and Darcha Dangma with a total area of {{Convert|51.3|ha|acre|abbr=on}}. Information on Darcha from the Census of India 2011 is given in the table below.{{Cite book|title=Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook: Lahul & Spiti: Village and Town Directory|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh|year=2011|volume=Series-03, Part XII-A|pages=164, 303, 304, 308, 310}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Census 2011 data on Darcha Sumdo and Darcha Dangma ! Measure !! Darcha Sumdo !! Darcha Dangma !! Darcha (total) | |||
| Area (ha) | 10.6 | 40.7 | 51.3 |
| Population | 172 | 166 | 338 |
| Households | 38 | 34 | 72 |
| Scheduled Caste | <5% | Nil | |
| Scheduled Tribes | 41-50% | >75% |
Schooling from primary up to senior secondary (Class 1 to 12) is available in the village. There is a Primary Health Centre at Darcha. Drinking water is available, and the village has power and telephone connections.
Transport
File:Darcha Bridge NW Lahaul Himachal India Oct22 A7C 03526.jpg
Darcha will a station on the under-costruction Bhanupli–Leh line.[https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2025/04/05/bilaspur-manali-leh-rail-project-details.html India’s costliest rail line will change how we view travel], theweek.in, 13 Apr 2025. Darhca likes on NH-3.
Some buses between Manali and Leh stop for the night at Darcha where travelers sleep in tents.{{cn|date=February 2017}} A new all weather steel bridge of 360 meters length has been built over the confluence of the Bhaga river and Jankar Nala on the Leh-Manali Highway.{{Cite news|date=12 Oct 2020|title=Of 44 bridges dedicated to nation, HP gets two on Manali-Leh highway|work=The Hindustan Times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/of-44-bridges-dedicated-to-nation-hp-gets-two-on-manali-leh-highway/story-zIqb1FseVm54gvyzIP0RsN.html|access-date=19 Nov 2020|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127101430/https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/of-44-bridges-dedicated-to-nation-hp-gets-two-on-manali-leh-highway/story-zIqb1FseVm54gvyzIP0RsN.html|url-status=live}} The village is the end-point of a popular trek beginning in Padum, Zanskar. Roadside stalls offer basic food.
All passing vehicles must stop at Darcha's police checkpoint for identification and passport checks.{{cite book|title=Indian Himalaya: The Travel Guide|author1=Bradnock, R.|author2=Bradnock, R.|date=2000|publisher=Footprint Handbooks|isbn=9781900949798|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TyZGp_YVzb8C|page=196|accessdate=2014-12-12}}
Gallery
File:Darcha Village Lahaul Oct20 D72 18308.jpg|Darcha village, Oct 2020
File:Bhaga Darcha Gemur Lahaul Oct20 D72 18028.jpg|R. Bhaga, Darcha to Gemur, Oct '20
File:Bhaga River Darcha Gemur Lahaul Jun24 A7CR 00231.jpg|R. Bhaga from Darcha past Jispa to Gemur, Jun '24
File:Darcha Fields Bhaga Riverbed Lahaul Oct20 D72 18026.jpg|Fields on the Bhaga river bed, Oct '20
References
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{{Himachal Pradesh}}
{{Lahaul and Spiti}}