Kaza - Beauty in Barrenness
A remote town in the Lahaul and Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Kaza lies in the western Himalayan region. It is located along the river of Spiti and has an elevation of 12,000 feet above sea level. It is also popular for being the largest township and commercial nerve of the Lahaul and Spiti Valley. Kaza and its adjoining regions are revered places of Buddhist pilgrimage with several ancient monasteries situated here. Kaza remains mainly accessible from the Lahaul Valley. The Kinnaur route also remains open round the year. The way through the Rohtang and Kunzum Pass remains closed during winters. The best time to visit Kaza is from March-October.
The main places of visit in Kaza are the monasteries of the various Tibetan orders. The Buddhist temple festivals are also the time when monks, pilgrims and tourists come to Kaza in large numbers. The high altitude farms, rocky terrains and the various trekking routes on the Tibetan Plateau are worth exploring in Kaza valley.
Places to See in Kaza
Monasteries are the top attractions in Kaza. Check out some of the century-old gompas of Himachal Pradesh.
Har Ki Pauri:-Har Ki Pauri is a famous ghat along the Ganges in Haridwar. The ghat was built by King Vikramaditya to commemorate the remarkable event of Ganges descending after repeated prayers and penance by Bhagirathi. This river side is filled with devotees during twilight praying, lighting lamps, singing religious songs and participating in various rituals. This place is believed to have been visited and blessed by Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. There is a footprint of Lord Vishnu on a rock, which supports this ancient belief. Har Ki Pauri ghat is visited by thousands of devotees who take bath in the holy water, which is blessed by the Gods.
Key or Ki Monastery - Just 11 km from Kaza Town, Key Monastery is a high altitude Tibetan Buddhist gompa located at an elevation of 4,166 meters. It is the largest monastery in Spiti Valley and an important seat of Buddhist learning. This monastery reflects the Pasada style of architecture and is dubbed as a fort-monastery in the Lahaul and Spiti district. The walls have beautiful murals and the interiors house several Buddha idols and statues. The assembly hall and monks' room are located in the ground floor and the Tangyur room has a huge collection of Buddhist sacred texts. Founded in the 11th century, this gompa is home to around 250 monks and several Buddhist learners spend their winters here.
Tangyud Monastery - Overlooking the town of Kaza and within a distance of 4km, Tangyud Monastery is another popular tourist destination. The monastery has a look of a fortified castle being surrounded by high walls. It is one of two Sakya monasteries left in the Lahaul and Spiti Valley. The village of Tangyud lies at the foothills of this monastery that is located at an elevation of 4,587 meters above sea level. The Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary is easily accessible from here.
Sakya Kaza Monastery - The second monastery surviving in Spiti Valley from the Sakya order, the first being Tangyud. Constructed in 2009, it was inaugurated by Buddhist spiritual leader, Dalai Lama.
Kibber Village - Kibber is a scenic village that forms an important trekking route to Tso Moriri, Ladakh. The locals claim it to be the village at the highest point of the valley.
From the Kibber Village, you can also visit Gete, a small village comprising six homes, and considered as the highest place connected by road in Asia. Tashigong is another place close to Kaza that can be covered in a day's excursion.
Excursion from Kaza
Within few kilometers of Kaza town, there are many other attractions:
Dhankar Monastery and village - One of the oldest monasteries in the valley of Lahaul and Spiti, it is located at a distance of 40 km from Kaza town. You can also access the place from Reckong Peo. You need to trek up 11 km to reach the monastery from Shinchling village. The Dhankar Monastery enjoys a spectacular setting and overlooks the Pin and Spiti rivers. It looks like a fort on a cliff, having a Tibetan pattern. There are around 100 monks residing in this gompa. There is a statue of Dhayan Buddha (meditative pose) and several thangkas in the small library.
The village of Dhankar is the 17th century capital of the Spiti rulers. It has another newly established monastery home to around 150 Buddhist monks who belong to the Gelupa sect.
Dhankar Lake - This lake is another hour's trek from the Dhankar Monastery and the location features stunning beauty. The lake is like an oasis in the desert.
Pin Valley - Possibly the remotest place in the district, it is accessible via the Tabo-Kaza Road. The green pastures, the Pin River and the herds of sheep grazing here offer a stunning sight.
