Just 48 kms before Kaza is Tabo. Tabo village houses one of the biggest and rare monasteries in Spiti. It is also considered to be one of the holiest. Tabo is right on the left banks of the Spiti river. It is a big valley down there and so much so that you tend to forget that you are at an altitude of 3280 metres and already deep inside the cold desert of Spiti. Tabo is just before Kaza. So adventure drivers and riders going to Kaza are often in hurry to reach Kaza as it is the final destination in the Spiti. They are also tired of long journey during the day. That prevents them from spending ample time at Tabo. The other problem is that there travel itinerary is so prepared that they mostly move towards Kunjam Pass and Manali on way back or spend a day at Kaza visiting Ki (Kye or K...
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One of those places which one has to see to believe. In such a fragile ecosystem are preserved some miracles of the nature. Dhankar and its surrounding areas are one of them. On the left bank of the Spiti river at a distance of 32 kms downstream from Kaza, near Shichling at an altitude of 3870 m, nestles the citadel of Dhankar, the erstwhile official capital of Spiti. Needless to say that Spiti valley makes you speechless with its sheer beauty at every step. Dhankar has a fort and a monastery. The citadel is built on a spur which projects into the main valley and ends in a precipice. The location of this fort is strategic as Spiti always had to suffer innumerable aggressions by its neighbours. The location allowed the Spitian to keep vigil on the approaches and to submit ...
Read MoreOn way to Kaza in the Spiti Valley, Nako, at an altitude of 3660 m is the highest village in the valley of Hangrang surrounded by barren and dusty landscape. Nako village is just 20 kms from Ka, once the zigs end. It is roughly four kms before Malling (Nullah) towards Kaza. Kaza is around 110 kms from Nako. Nako is almost a customary stop-over for all adventurists (read: bikers, riders, drivers, tourists) going to Kaza. How much time to spend here? This is upto each traveller because there are different time constraints for everybody coming here. Those who are on a mission to complete Shimla-Kaza in a day, might even give this a miss. Others with more time may stop here for couple of hours and that will also depend on there last stop over and time left for them to reach to Kaza. But...
Read MoreIt is indeed one of the most beautiful and challenging road journeys in India and arguably, in the world. A road trip to Spiti valley from Shimla to Kaza is thoroughly entertaining and fulfilling. But it is entirely different from road trip to Lahaul valley, i.e. from Manali to Leh, although people often name them in same vain. Lets tell you about top 10 highlights of this route, which one shouldn’t miss while going to Kaza from Shimla. 1. Ka zigs At a distance of almost 290 kms from Shimla, these are seven stretches of zig-zag road between Khab and Ka villages. Often people will say that you have to see it to believe it. Deep into the Spiti valley, stretch starts right from bottom of the hill along the Spiti river in full flow and climbs the hill like a snake towards Nako. Once on t...
Read MoreNako is a high altitude village in Hangrang valley (Himachal Pradesh, India) on way to Spiti, situated at more than 3200 metres. It is a historical village known mostly for its monastery. Part of the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, Nako is on the way to Kaza, just before Malling and almost eight kilometres after Kah zigs. Location wise this is one of the most beautiful villages of region. Village also has a beautiful small natural lake. Nako is one of the few important stops for bikers going to Spiti valley.. Historical monastery of Nako was established in the first half of the eleventh century by Lochen Rinchen Zangpo popularly known as the great translator Ratan Bhadra. This monastery has four chapels. On entering the main gate and walking clock-wise one can see an ordinary single...
Read MoreGue is a high altitude village in Spiti Valley on the way to Kaza. The small sleepy, indiscreet village at an altitude of almost 3000 metres houses India's only known mummy preserved naturally. Village is located deep in the valley. Just three kilometres ahead of Sumdoh towards Tabo is a diversion towards Gue. Village is another 20 kilometres from there. Mummy is housed in a temple on a small hilltop at the end of the village. Temple normally remains locked and one has to search for the keys at the neighbourhood, down in the village. There is a big temple under construction close to current temple. Not much is known about the origin or identity of the mummy. No literature, just stories from the local villagers and hearsay. The mummy has been supposedly identified as that of monk Sangha...
Read MoreKaza in Spiti valley is one of those places in the Himalayan India which bikers yearn for, besides the all-famous Manali-Leh route. But unlike the Leh-Manali route in Lahaul valley, the Spiti valley remains open for almost all the year round. Although winters might be severely cold there, but coming two months could be the ideal time to go there. It is not as challenging as the Leh route because there are no high mountain passes to cross, but the route, the terrain and the topography is something which you will not find anywhere else. Kaza is in spiti valley and one has to pass through Kinnaur valley before entering into Spiti. Trip to Kaza normally starts from Shimla, capital city of Himachal Pradesh. Biking in these roads is alwaya a fun... See it for yourself! Going from Cha...
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