Location

Lahaul Spiti is the largest district in Himachal Pradesh. The Lahaul region is located at an altitude of 3000-3900 m. The Spiti valley is connected to Lahaul through the 4500 m long Kunzam Pass. Kaza is the main town and the administrative center of Spiti.

Sight Seeing

The town of Kaza is divided into two areas, the old town and the new town. The new town has some government buildings. The monastery of Ki Gompa is 11 km from Kaza. It is the biggest gompa in entire Spiti and almost 400 monks live over here. The monks of the monastery are busy in the construction and maintenance of the monastery and welcome all the donations. Kibber has the reputation of being the highest village in the world at an altitude of 4250 m. it is 11 km from Ki Gompa. Around 150 monks live at Dankar Gompa.

It has some very beautiful paintings, sculptures and thangkas. Thang Yud Gompa is 14 km to the north of Kaza. The Sakyapa Order built it in the 14th century AD. There is a very difficult trek to this monastery. Tabo Gompa is 45 km from Kaza. Ringchen Zangpo, the “Great translator” built this monastery in 996 AD and has a collection of some very pretty murals and sculptures. Dalai Lama has supposedly planned to retire here.

How to Reach

By Air: Shimla and Kullu are the nearest airports to Kaza.

By Rail: Shimla and Pathankot are the nearest railheads to Kaza.

Road: National Highway No.21 connects Manali to Lahaul Spiti. There are frequent bus and taxi services from Manali and Shimla.