New Delhi, Nov. 13 -- More travellers in India are planning holidays around what they can see after sunset. Hills and beaches still draw crowds, but dark skies offer another reason to travel. This growing interest in travelling to watch the night sky is called astro-tourism. The experience can be as simple as spotting the Milky Way with your own eyes.

In Ladakh, Hanle is home to India's first Dark Sky Reserve. The village sits above 4,500 metres and houses the Indian Astronomical Observatory. Limits on bright lights help keep the skies dark.

On clear nights, visitors can spot planets, star clusters and even meteor showers. Some homestays arrange stargazing sessions with local guides.

Spiti Valley offers a mountain setting for stargazin...