Take the Manali route. In the 8th century, the second Buddha (Guru Rinpoche) stayed and meditated in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh for several years. It gets really cold and windy near Buddha statue in night so ensure you have enough protective gear. Still, they always have a smile on their face and brave all the difficulties diligently. Almost all … Go to Kaza — You would go there as your first stop. But if you are asking in terms of terrain then it will depend on how sensibly you travel. … You can apply for the permit from Rohtang permits official website. Kaza is home to the highest retail petrol pump in the world. Tsonyeti lake, located at an altitude of 14,850 feet, is about an hour and a half hike away from the Langza village. However, these days due to changes in climate and the sudden rush of rain in Spiti Valley, the weather is no more dry or arid. Highlights include Key Monastery and Tabo Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world and a favourite of the Dalai Lama. You can even spot the Milky Way with naked eyes during the night-time. Know About Spiti Valley. In the 19th century, Spiti Valley changed hands to Tibetan rulers and again to Ladakhi rulers. Spiti Valley is the part of the trans-Himalayan range where the Tethys Sea used to exist and the fossilized creatures can still be found in few areas of the valley. Langza Village, Spiti Valley - India - Pin this image . Spiti Valley claims a lot of world records and you’ll likely see ‘the highest this’ and ‘the highest that’ sign posted everywhere. Our hosts were excellent and we would never forget their wonderful hospitality. With almost no rain and excessive snowfall, Spiti seems to be a land of contrasts – a vast expanse of barren area encircles green patches of cultivation and cedar tree orchards. During our visit, we found everyone speaking and understanding the English or Hindi language quite well. The entire landscape looks like a gigantic garden carpeted with grass. The locals of Langza village make mud replicas of the fossils which can be bought as souvenirs in place of the actual fossil collection. The festival will showcase its Buddhist culture, its unique culture, traditions, folk arts, dresses and cuisines. In the 10th century, the Kings of Tibet sent a few Tibetan scholars across the Himalayas to spread Buddhism in the areas of Lahaul and Spiti Valley. If you would like to buy/license any of the photographs you can drop us an. The landscapes in Langza are unlike anything you will find in other places. Most travellers visit Langza village as a day trip from Kaza, the nearest town with comfortable stay options. This is when the roads open after being blocked by snow during winter. They work on their fields for crops like barley, potatoes and peas or rear their animal livestock or stock up dried food for winter months. Welcome to our official website. It is located on the eroded flood plains of the river Spiti. Spitians did not take part in the first and second Indian general elections of 1952 and 1957 due to difficult terrain and lack of roads. You can check Spiti Valley roads status on the state official website. If you would like to buy/license any of the photographs you can drop us an Email. See the temple and Kaza monastery. Spiti valley is a research and cultural centre for Buddhists. Tourism and agriculture are the main sources of livelihood for the locals of Spiti Valley. The villagers believe that the Buddha idol protects them from evil spirits and thus revere the statue with the utmost respect. It takes around 2-3 hours of steep hike to reach Chumo lake. Radish, cabbage, leafy vegetables, carrots and tomatoes are also grown in the vast fields of Spiti Valley. In fact, we rate Langza as the most beautiful village we have visited in Spiti Valley. They have a network of hotels and experienced drivers with whom they have been maintaining a healthy relationship since the past 10 years; hence decent rooms at best rates are guaranteed. You can also check official website of Lahaul and Spiti valley to get more details. We had some of our favourite times at Langza while having meals. While he has his own homestay in Langza, it was completely booked on our dates. During winter, between November to March, it snows heavily in Spiti Valley. Langza Village, Spiti Valley - India - Pin this image. However, post this when it was time for members of parliament to elect Indian President, one of the members filed a court case as there was no representation from Spiti despite having 2 seats allocated. Enjoy a yak safari. Spiti Valley Tours is located in the heart of Spiti Valley and hence we were saved from the ties of the middlemen commissions by agents operating from other areas. Also having a local guide would ensure you are safe. We highly recommend booking your trip to Spiti Valley with them. 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Surreal Spiti, Buddha statue, Langza village - Spiti Valley, India, Buddha statue seen on top of a hill in Langza village, Spiti Valley - Himachal Pradesh, India, Location of Langza village in Spiti Valley - Himachal Pradesh, India, As we mentioned in one of our previous blogs – ‘, Buddha statue overlooking the Langza village, Spiti Valley - Himachal Pradesh, India, Buddha statue in Langza village shot in the starry night - Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India, Our homestay in Langza village, Spiti Valley - Himachal Pradesh, India, Langza village in Spiti Valley surrounded by green fields - Himachal Pradesh, India, Langza village is a base from where you can climb Chau Chau Kang Nilda (CCKN) peak, We are highly indebted to Mr. Lara of Spiti Valley Tours to include stay in Langza in our itinerary. The spectacular valley is situated on the India-Tibet border. The site is informative, and has links to other State Government Organizations also. That is when the tour operator ‘Spiti Valley Tours’ came to our rescue. One of the top-rated hotels in Kaza, Spiti Valley, Hotel Spiti Heritage is the best … This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass.To the south, Spiti ends 24 km (15 mi) from Tabo, at the Sumdo where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. It is believed that all the deities of Spiti Valley reside in the local temple called as ‘Lang’ and protect the village from evil powers. Before the spread of Buddhism, Spitians were followers of ‘Bon’ religion – where animal and human sacrifices were made to please the Gods and spirits. Spitians dry the grains, vegetables and pulses in summer months, preserve and store them, and survive on these stocks during winter. There are no accommodation options other than the simple homestays in Langza village. In the 10th century, the Kings of Tibet sent a few Tibetan scholars across the Himalayas to spread Buddhism in the areas of Lahaul and Spiti Valley. Previously, these were two separate districts with Kardang as the capital of Lahaul district and Dhankar as the capital of Spiti district. Fossil imprints on stone are easy to find and you will come across shops selling them when you travel to Spiti Valley. Eat at local places. The valley is dotted with vibrant flowers and green vegetation. I took the "Spiti Valley Explorer" which is basically a group trip to shoot a Lunar eclipse on 27th July 2018. We got to understand Spiti a lot more from our hosts at the homestay. This page might contain affiliate / paid ads which helps in running this website. To us, Himalayas always meant lush-green forests, snow-capped high mountain peaks and hills covered with greenery. We highly recommend booking a trip with Spiti Valley Tours either directly from their office at Kaza or through their official website. If your treks in Spiti are towards Kaza and beyond region, you should get the permits. It is a land lost in time, like a place that humanity forgot about. Till the 17th century, Spiti Valley remained under the rule of Tibet and hence a distinct Buddhist culture is clearly evident. Spiti Snow Festival started from Lossar village of the valley on Wednesday. The best part is that they believe in responsible and sustainable tourism that coincides with our travel style. This blog will serve as a travel guide for you to visit Langza village. The most popular picture of Langza or even that Spiti valley that you may find on the internet is that of the Langza Buddha statue. While we plan all our travels on our own, planning a trip to Spiti Valley was tormenting. The capital of Spiti was changed from Dhankar to Kaza during this time. While he has his own homestay in Langza, it was completely booked on our dates. Due to high-elevation, heavy snow, less vegetation, harsh terrain and being cut-off from the outside world for 4-5 months due to road closure in winter, the people of Spiti valley have to face a lot of hardships. It is like a small pond that is visited by migratory birds in July and August. 62% of the population of Lahaul and Spiti Valley are Buddhists, 36% are Hindus and the rest is divided amongst Muslims, Christians and other religions. Places to visit around Kaza (Key, Kibber, Chicham, Hikkim, Komik, Langza), 8. For the brown barren surroundings, the plateau seems strangely green. Walk around in Kaza. It is the tallest structure in the village and is located atop a hill. Travel guide to Langza and Buddha statue. The temperature remains well within 15-20 degree Celsius along with a gentle breeze. The road from Kullu/ Manali is closed during this time, nevertheless one can travel from the Shimla-Kinnaur route if the weather conditions are not very extreme. Rugged terrains, dry landscape, and the cold desert is something which will surely make your heart pound widely on Spiti Valley Bike Tours.. By end of 18th century, Spiti Valley was under the rule of Raja Mansingh of Kullu. When the Himalayan range emerged, the Tethys Sea disappeared. The Spiti sub-division is more barren and difficult to traverse, with an average elevation of 14,000 feet; whereas the Lahaul sub-division is greener, more fertile and comparatively easy to reach. Spiti Valley is located high in the Himalayas in the northern part of India in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Enjoy adventure camping and outdoor fun with us. Places to visit around Kaza (Key, Kibber, Chicham, Hikkim, Komik, Langza), 8. What could be your Spiti Valley itinerary? Spiti Valley trip to show case mountain towns in Himachal Pradesh. This page might contain affiliate / paid ads which helps in running this website. The family in Spiti community is headed by a senior male member who is known as Yunda, while his wife is known as Yundamo. The first article in the series – ‘Introduction to Spiti Valley’ is where we introduce Spiti Valley to you and give you a basic understanding of location, history, people and culture of this valley. Explore the best of Western Himalayas with us. Our hosts were excellent and we would never forget their wonderful hospitality. Due to its proximity to the village of Langza, which is now linked by a motorable road with Kaza, CCKN has become the most popular and most-often climbed peak in Spiti, receiving many climbers. In 1962, due to Chinese aggression, Spiti was put within the ‘inner line’. That is when the tour operator ‘Spiti Valley Tours’ came to our rescue. The two districts were merged in the year 1960 and presently the administrative quarter lies in Keylong, located in Lahaul Valley. Km). Go to the river. The earliest reliable information dates back to AD 1055. The small village houses 150 residents who work hard to retain their ancient traditions and customs. There aren’t many sight-seeing places to visit in Langza village. 31k is the population) and the 2nd least densely populated district in India (approx. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Then again during March, they hold the Losar festival, where masked dancers give exhilarating performances. So, stay tuned! We visited Komic, Hikkim, Langza, Dhankar & more remote villages of Himachal … Langza is one place that we can visit again and again. Delhi to Chandigarh. In early 18th century, King Jamya of Ladakh established Ladakhi rule over the entire territory of Spiti valley. If you are not a professional trekker or are short on time, you can enjoy the view of the majestic CCKN peak down from Langza village. The barren hills, grey slopes and steep gorges in Spiti Valley often amaze the travellers. In the 8th century, the second Buddha (Guru Rinpoche) stayed and meditated in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh for several years. Around 150 million years ago, the landmass on earth was split into two continents – Laurasia and Gondwana. Langza village is a heaven for photography enthusiasts. Several constellations can be easily spotted in the absence of bright lights, which can give you brilliant photography opportunities. Tip: If you want to capture milkyway, Buddha statue at Langza is the perfect location. Though tourists do not prefer travelling to Spiti Valley in the winters, there are some set of travellers who fancy visiting the valley when it is completely covered in white snow. Two roads were built for defence needs – one from Shimla-Kinnaur-Sumdo to Kaza and second over 2 high passes, the Kunzum Pass and the Rohtang Pass. Close to headquarters of Spiti Valley - Kaza, Langza is a high-altitude village is known for ancient marine fossils, for spotting endangered animals, for the warmth of the people, and for its gigantic Buddha statue overlooking the Spiti Valley. This series will serve as a one-stop travel guide which will give you all the information required about Spiti Valley along with recommendations on stay, activities and itinerary so that you can plan your own trip to Spiti Valley. While we plan all our travels on our own, planning a trip to Spiti Valley was tormenting. Apart from these, the Chamba district comes in the western part and south and south-eastern part the Kullu and Kinnaur is situated. Visit Dhankar, Tabo and Gue. You would need help from professional guides and porters to climb CCKN peak. Spiti valley is so tranquil that you could hear your heartbeat, skies so clear that you could spot Milky Way with naked eyes, people so amazing that they touch your heart and soul, and the land so old that you could still find evidence of Tethys Sea that existed during Mesozoic era. The permit can be arranged in Kaza. A trip to Spiti Valley, India changed that perspective. However, tourists must understand that these fossils are archaeologically significant and if taken away, could destroy the geological heritage of the region. Patches of bright green fields spread on brown hills makes Langza a little paradise. Mr. Lara Tsering and Mr. Mukesh from Spiti Valley Tours planned and organised an excellent customised tour to Spiti Valley within our budget. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,010 ft). In summers, all the villagers concentrate on work. NOTE: Parts of Shimla-Spiti road can be temporarily closed due to landslides. It is Kaza that is mentioned and beyond that towards Kinnaur. It is said that some Lamas residing in the remote areas of Spiti Valley still practice Bon religion. Hence, you will find the monasteries of Spiti Valley to be similar in architecture, design and paintings as found in Leh-Ladakh, Monks reciting prayers in a monastery in Spiti Valley, India_Introduction to Spiti Valley, A local harvesting green peas from a pea-field in Spiti Valley, India_Introduction to Spiti Valley, Roads in Spiti Valley cut across huge barren mountains_Introduction to Spiti Valley, Choosing a travel operator is a tough decision.