Kaza : Key, Kibber and Langza

In the end of October 2016, we had driven down to Spiti Valley from Mumbai. We went through Jaipur – Chandigarh – SarahanSanglaNako and finally we reached Kaza. Most of the Spiti Valley is a high altitude cold desert, and as such water is scarce and so is the vegetation. And in the middle of all this are remote attractions like the key Monastery.

There are two ways to reach Kaza. One is via the Manali – Rohtang Pass – Kunzum Pass – Kaza. This route stays shut in the winters. The second is via the Kinnaur Valley, and this route is open throughout the year (except for extreme weather and or landslides). We had taken the second route as we wanted to see the beautiful Kinnaur Valley, and also because we were travelling when winter was settling in.

The weather and journey to Kaza is harsh but we found a very warm and comfortable stay at Deyzor Hotel. It is run by Skalzan Dorge and Karanbir Singh. Deyzor means peace and happiness in Buddhism. The place is charming and enriched with soulful verses on the walls. Karan and his staff run Deyzor with a family like touch, and you feel very much at home.

Kaza mornings, in the end of October are super cold, with a wind chill that is biting. Night temperatures dropped to something like -10 and peak day was around 6 degrees Celsius. You feel like being in the sun all the time.

The Key Monastery is very close to Kaza, and we decided to pay it a visit first thing in the morning. The Key Gompa is said to have been founded by Dromton (Brom-Ston, 1008-1064 C.E) a pupil of the famous teacher Atisha Dipankar in the 11th century. Over the years, it has been the subject of many attacks and rebuilds. The current architecture is the result of this constant destruction and construction. We were greeted by a resident monk who shared with us interesting stories and history of Key. The Dalai Lama had stayed at this monastery in 1972. The monks stay in this cold wilderness for years together studying and practising Buddhism and the deeper meaning of human life. At one time there can be more than 180 monks staying here.

From Key Monastery, we drove to Kibber. At an altitude of 4270 metres, Kibber air can leave you gasping. It’s a tiny village, beautiful in it’s simplicity and sparseness. Surrounded by the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, this place turns a lush green in the summer months.

From Kibber we decided to visit Langza. This whole region was once under water, so in Langza, you can scout around for prehistoric marine fossils. It’s also known as the ‘Fossil Village’ and enroute, the road construction workers tried selling us some fossils.* By this time we were starving and there isn’t any place to eat. The only option was to ask a local for food. Our knock on a village door was answered by the wonderful Norbu, who was more than happy to invite us home. We were treated to the most amazing thukpa, garnished with some local herbs whose name I forget, and were given some sweet ‘Sattu Ladoos’ (little sweet balls made of ground roasted Bengal gram, milk fat and dry fruits) for the way back. They lasted us the next couple of days! How loving and friendly are these village folk!

The simplicity of life of the people here is unimaginable to our urban-cluttered minds. Angdui Norbu (full name) had only once gone as far as Simla, away from Langza as he recounts. The city appeared to him chaotic to say the least, and he wondered how alienating would a metro be for him. His 3 little children go to school, the eldest one has found his way to Dharamshala and is in 8th standard (in 2016), the younger ones attend primary school in Langza. For further studies children from this village have to go to Rekong Peo or Kullu. It was very heart warming for Norbu to have welcomed us, when we were going to find nothing to eat for kms together. He now looks forward to hosting guests in his place as a homestay.

The water that reaches Langza comes from a Glacier 14 kms away. There are only 30 homes, with a population of 160 people. When in Season, they farm potatoes and green peas.

Then Norbu also entertained us recounting the story of his great grandfather Dhumbo Chharing, who once met a fairy. She was so beautiful that Dhumbo was smitten by her and asked her to come home with him. The fairy insisted that if he promises to not fight with anyone ever, she will marry him. They reached home, and Dhumbo got drunk and told everyone that he has married a fairy. No one believed him and in his drunk state he ended up fighting with everyone and so the fairy disappeared.

The beautiful world we live in is our fairy. If we all fight, it will disappear too.

Chau Chau Kang Nilda Mountain, Spiti Valley, India
Most of Spiti Valley his a high altitude cold desert. That white peak is the Chau Chau Kang Nilda Mountain, 6303 meters at its peak.
Kaza, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
These gorgeous vistas will steal your heart.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Little bridges like these over the Spiti River help locals reach their homes. Population is scarce, because so is the vegetation.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
A typical ‘Welcome’ gate in true Spiti/Buddhist style.
Dhankar Monastery, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
A distant view of the Dhankar Gompa (Monastery) in Kaza, Spiti Valley.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Another gate welcomes us.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
At the key Monastery
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Prayer wheels at the key Monastery, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
The gorgeous ink blue of the skies…
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
On the way to Langza.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
The Langza Village
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Home food being cooked for us by wonderful villagers of Langza
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
With little dust or pollution to spread light rays, the scene up here is very contrasty…
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Inside a home in Langza
Traditional food, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
We were offered this amazing Sattu ka Laddoo and some barley with tea. Enough energy to last the day.
Traditional food, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Traditional style Thukpa, all ready to be eaten! Never tasted something so good!
Traditional food, Spiti Valley, India
This dry herb was added to our Thukpa which enhances the taste immensely.
Spiti Valley, India
It’s cold and barren in late October. The locals traditionally save up on grass and farm leftovers to feed livestock.
Traditional home, Spiti Valley, India
Such beautiful homes. So much peace and love…
Children, Spiti Valley, India
Children will be children, playing pranks on each other.
Langza, Spiti Valley, India
Evening begins to set in. We must head back.
Spiti River, Spiti Valley, India
View of the Spiti River. What’s white is most probably ice.
Road,, Spiti Valley, India
The road runs next to the river. If it weren’t so cold and thin air, we would have walked to the river…
Spiti Valley, India
Village approaching…
Spiti Valley, India
Introspection time…
Spiti Valley, India
Another iron bridge, completely covered with prayer flags.
Key Monastery, Spiti Valley, India
Key Gompa, Spiti Valley.
Traditional homes, Spiti Valley, India
Traditional Homes. The small windows help keep the cold out. I love that red accent just below the thatched roofs.
Key Monastery, Spiti Valley, India
The village on the way to the Monastery.
Traditional food, Spiti Valley, India
These road construction workers huddle together for a meal break. They carry utensils and stoves, much like pro-trekkers. And cook much of the food on the spot.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Can’t get enough of these beautiful mountains.
Traditional village, Spiti Valley, India
Settlements on the steep slopes…
Resident, Langza Village, Himachal Pradesh, India
Norbu, in Langza Village, who very kindly invited us home for a meal.
Key Monastery, Spiti Valley, India
Unbelievable…
Key Monastery, Spiti Valley, India
Looking back at where we come from… figuratively…
Village Post Box, Spiti Valley, India
Don’t miss the postbox…
Gon Khang, Key Monastery
The Gon Khang of a Tibetan Monastery is the sanctum sanctorum, often opens off the main Temple or prayer hall. This is a room where the monks offer prayers and deep meditation…
Prayer Flag and Pole, Spiti Valley, India
Prayer flags overlooking the Spiti River
Traditional Art at Monastery, Spiti Valley, India
Traditional architecture and symbols at the Monastery. We could borrow a lot from these arts…
Scarecrows at Key Monastery, Spiti Valley, India
Probably to keep the evils away…
Sheep grazing, Spiti Valley, India
Livestock is a chief income supplement here.
Spiti Valley, India
Compared to the tiny village, that’s how large the mountains are…
Kibber Mile stone. 2 Km away. Spiti Valley.
On the way to Kibber.
Himalayan Ibex board, Spiti Valley, India
Watch out for the Himalayan Ibex.
Landscape, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Most of the vegetation is either dead in this weather (with every thin air) or eaten by livestock…
On the road, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh India
Sheer drop on side, always. But I love the golden grass.
Road, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
And the road runs like a ribbon through the mountains…
Road, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
…and passes through such natural canyons…
Kibber, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
The Kibber Village is at an altitude of 4270 meters above sea level.
Kibber, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
This region is also protected as the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
Villager, Kibber, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Norbu recounted wonderful stories of life in Langza…
Chau Chau Kong Nilda Mountain, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
The gorgeous peak of the Chau Chau Kang Nilda Mountain (also known as Guan Nelda, Blue Moon In The Sky). It is 6303 metres tall. It falls near Demul Village.
Bharal or Blue Sheep, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
On the way we were lucky to spot the bharal or Himalayan blue sheep or naur (Pseudois nayaur). They form the chief diet of the Snow Leopard.
A herd of Bharat Sheep, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
We realised it was an entire flock…
Evening in Spite Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Soon darkness starts setting in and we must head back home…

* I generally decline such purchases. Kaza gets millions of visitors annually and each one takes a relic home, the region would have nothing left. However if the villagers had made something which is sustainable, I support them whole heartedly.

[box type=”success” width=”100%” ]How to reach : Kaza can be reached only by road. There are two routes : One from Manali – Rohtang Pass. This route is shut almost half the year for winters. The other route is longer and is via Kinnaur Valley. This route is open throughout the year.

When to visit : The beauty of any landscape is different in different seasons. We went in early winters and loved it. But it was bitter cold. In summers, when the ice melts, its greener too.

What to do: Thankfully till now Kaza hasn’t become over commercialised. You can go for treks, wildlife and landscape watching, rent a bicycle, read book, enjoy the weather or chat with the villagers.

What to expect : Harsh weather and thin air. You may get altitude sickness. You may not be able to tolerate the cold. Since electricity is sparse, and low voltage, you may not get room heaters and hot water in many places. Expect to get stranded in land slides. But it is all fun.

What to eat: Local food! Keep asking for local food. You will get plenty of thukpa, momos, rajma, black dried peas. Ask for sea buckthorn tea. Or Jaun Ke recipes (Barley, its eaten in various ways). Drink plenty of water, and don’t waste it. This is a desert.

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This post is part of our Mumbai to Spiti By Road Trip. Other posts part of this trip are Sarahan, Sangla Valley, Sangla to Nako – Kaza, Kaza – Key, Kibber, Langza.

15 thoughts on “Kaza : Key, Kibber and Langza”

  1. The mountains, blue skies and simple living! What a trip that must have been! I bet you didn’t want to leave there.

    Thank you for taking us on this beautiful journey. The environment also took me back to a trek I did from Jomsom to Marpha in Nepal.

    Thank you for this lovely post.

    Reply
  2. “The beautiful world we live in is our fairy. If we all fight, it will disappear too.” Well said, Param! The more I learn about the world history, and the more I travel, the more I realize that history keeps repeating itself. People fighting because of resources, difference in faiths, races, and opinions is a perennial occurrence throughout millennia of human history. Only this time the internet (particularly social media) helps amplify these fights. But on the other hand, we can also use the same means to amplify all the good things we’ve been taking for granted.

    Speaking of the fossil sale, it reminds me of my trip to a pink beach in one of Indonesia’s islands. At one point our driver offered us to take this big chunk of dead red coral from the beach. I declined, and I told him if everyone takes it, in years there will be no pink beach anymore. We, humans, are so easy to feel tempted to take something from nature as a memento due to nostalgic reasons, and that is rather selfish.

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  3. I’ve met my fairy too 🙂 These people are too far from all the worldly matters and materialistic desires. They are not the ones to yearn for an iPhone or range rover. Am sure they are quite happy with the love and beautiful mountains around. That’s a lovely journey you had Paramvir. Thanks for sharing your experience. Nice captures.

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  4. Loved scrolling through amazing pictures of Langza 🙂 and those villagers look so adorable..I have heard plenty of good things about Spiti Valley and this post explains why everyone loves this area 🙂

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