By jahanzaib 
Introduction
Spiti Valley is the epitome of such a hidden treasure in the Indian Himalayas where you can escape to for some adventure, calm and antiquated Tibetan culture. Directly accessible from Manali, the remote villages of Spiti Valley provide a rare window into an untouched world seemingly frozen in time honing trial and error. This post explores the allure of these off-the-radar hamlets, walking you through each village and what sets it apart.
Kaza : The door of Spiti Valley
Kaza: Kaza acts as the administrative headquarters of Spiti Valley and is one place most travellers start with. This small town is located at an altitude of 3,650 metres and serves as the ideal place to stay for villages around. Though a little out of the way, Kaza is home to some decent hotels and restaurants as well as internet cafes, so it’s by far not the last place where you can do any major stocking up before going deeper into wild India.
Attractions in Kaza
Key Monastery: Key Monastery, another popular spot in Spiti Valley, is located a little far from Kaza. Located on top of the hill, this centuries-old monastery belonging to Tibetan Buddhism offers magnificent views over the valley and a collection of antique murals, manuscripts & artefacts.
Comic Village: Reportedly one of the highest villages in Asia connected by a motorable road, Comic gets its due to isolated harmony and old Man Gyud Monastery.
High Altitude Village Kibber
A staggering 4270 metres above the sea level, Kibber is famous for its picturesque surroundings and traditional Spitian houses. The valley is hugged by some bleak mountains making Tikey a photographer’s haven.
Highlights of Kibber
Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary: Housing the very rare and endangered species like snow leopard, grey wolf, ibex etc., this sanctuary is a natural zoological reserve. A trip to Kibber will be tasteless without completing this sanctuary trek, through which a variety of plants and animals can be observed in that region.
Chicham Bridge: The highest bridge in Asia and connects Kibber to the neighbouring village of Chicham, offering great views amidst a deep gorge. Proof of human ingenuity, and a daredevil adventure for the very brave.
Langza: A Step Back in Time
Fossil Monastery at Langza – home to marine species spores from million years ago, sitting below the gigantic statue of Lord Buddha overlooking Spiti. At this location, the landscape is filled with fossils of marine life as evidence for a time when this region was once below Tethys Sea.
Things to Do in Langza
Fossil Hunting: Langza is surrounded by hills that are replete with marine fossils, a geology enthusiast’s dream come true. You could spend hours doing so because the area resembles a page out of historic Europe.
Lang Temple: An ancient temple worshipping Lang, a peaceful place to see how the local religion and architecture is like.
Welcome to De-Mul – The Village That Will Never Reduce
This is Demul, a beautiful example of sustainable living in the harsh conditions of the Himalayas. This village is well known for its ecotourism efforts and offers guest houses where tourists can come sit back and relax in the traditional Spitian way while providing you with an opportunity to contribute even if just a little bit towards the local economy.
Experiences in Demul
NOTES: Homestays- This is possibly the best way to experience a taste of local Spitian lifestyle. The villagers are extremely welcoming, providing glimpses of their life such as weeding in a traditional manner ( the natural way) and preparation of local food.
Trekking – Demul serves as the starting point for many trek routes and provides some stunning panoramic views of Spiti Valley. It is the most popular trek due to an option to hike Lhalung, another remote village famous for its ancient monastery.
Mudah: Gateway to Pin Valley National Park
Mudah: The last village of the Pin Valley Mud is a beautiful Little Village located in lush green fields surrounded by snow-capped peaks that marks an end to your exploration for day 5. Kaza-Kibber The entryway to Pin Valley National Park, which houses a substantial population of rare animals and is also diverse in its variety of flora and fauna.
Must-See in Mudh
Pin Valley National Park – This national park is home to unusually beautiful and rare species like the snow leopard, Siberian ibex and Himalayan snowcock. The park is added to the list because of its colourful floral species which include varieties of tropical plants like medicinal herbs and so on.
Trekking and Term camping: Mudh facilitates many treks to its adjoining villages such as Sagnam which is another small village and Tailing. The clean surroundings are a good place for star-watching while camping.
Hikkim: The Highest P0st Office
Hikkim has a small world’s highest post office 4440 metres. Mailing a postcard from this off-the-grid office is something that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
Attractions in Hikkim
Hikkim Post Office:- It is a tiny post office and many people visit Hikkim to send postcards from the Highest PO of the world. There is so little, but it somehow makes you feel a smug warmness in your chest and I still go there often because of this.
Lama’s Temple: The place is a quiet retreat and has some good views of the surrounding mountains and this small temple (dedicated to village deity).
Conclusion
Riding to the solitary villages of Spiti Valley is a sojourn through some of the remotest, pristine bowls left in our world today. Every single village, brimming with a distinct allure and paradise offers you all an inkling of a life untouched by time. The Spiti Valley from the cold deserts of Kibber to the fossil-laden lands of Langza, is a hidden treasure trove waiting for you. No matter if you are a maniac adventure freak, someone who loves to be in the lap of nature or come here only for peace and solitariness; the offbeat villages that dot Spiti Valley have something very much wild yet amazing which is quite simply unparalleled.
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