The Leh Airport, Leh, Jammu and Kashmir, is known as Kushok Bakula Rimpoche Airport.
It is the highest Indian airport and one of the highest airports in the world at 3,256 m (10,682 ft) above mean sea level.
In 2005, the Leh airport was named after the 19th reincarnation of the Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. Thupstan Chonjor, who His Holiness The 13th Dalia Lama named as the reincarnation of Arahat Bakula, one of the sixteen Arahats (Direct disciples of Buddha).
He was one of the best known lamas of Ladakh, a statesman and international diplomat of the Republic of India. He is known for his efforts in reviving Buddhism in Mongolia and Russia, linking them with the community of Tibetan exiles in India.
He also served in the Parliament of India, and was deeply engaged with welfare, education and rights of Scheduled Castes and Tribes of India. In his later years, he became India's Ambassador in Mongolia.
The Leh airport is very typical in nature and due to the presence of mountain winds in the afternoon, all flights take off and land in the morning. The approach is challenging as it is unidirectional and has high terrain towards the eastern end of the airport.
In February 2016, Indian Air Force handed this airport to Airport Authority of India.
