Spiti Valley is magical and mysterious. Known as ‘the middle land’ between India and Tibet, the landscape is truly spectacular. All the places to visit in the Spiti Valley appear as heavenly as the others, producing a magical charm.
Feel the bliss of prayer flags fluttering in the breeze coupled with a soothing chant of mantras at monasteries. The blissful surroundings of ancient villages have a feeling of serenity beyond words.
While the scenery comprises jagged mountains, mountain passes, pristine lakes, and blue skies above, they have an aura of timelessness.
A holiday in Spiti Valley leaves you with precious memories. Whether it’s a visit to the small villages, where life flows at an unfettered pace, or the ancient monasteries which are treasure-houses of Buddhist teachings, every experience is unique.
Cut away from modernity while rejoicing in simplicity, it is definitely a haven you must spend time in. Through this blog, we tell you about fascinating places to visit in Spiti Valley for a magical holiday.
Visit These Incredible Places To Visit In Spiti Valley
Key Monastery
Explore a treasure of ancient Buddhist literature, manuscripts, and murals, besides a magnificent Buddha Shrine with a visit to the Key Monastery.
Also known as the Kye Gompa, it is one of the most popular places to visit in the Spiti Valley. Perched at an altitude of almost 4,112m in the Kaza region, it overlooks the Spiti River, thereby providing great opportunities for sightseeing.
Its fort bears a strong resemblance to the Chinese theme, and comprises a beautiful assembly hall, along with the Tengyur room, which is richly adorned with murals.
Here, you can watch the incredible dance of the Lamas, accompanied by pipes, horns, and other musical instruments. Besides, this is where the Lamas receive their religious training.
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One of the most ancient places in the Spiti Valley, Tabo Monastery is also one of the foremost tourist attractions in Spiti. Renowned for its spectacular paintings, it consists of 9 temples of Tara and Buddha Maitreya along with several stupas.
Some of the other attractions worth checking out are various stucco sculptures of Bodhisattvas, beautiful wall paintings, and works of Buddha.
It traces its origins to the 10th century AD and houses around 60 Lamas. Besides this, it boasts a large collection of scriptures and wall paintings. The murals adorning this Gompa are similar to those in the Ajanta paintings.
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Next on our list of the must-visit places in Spiti Valley we have, Lhalung Monastery. One of the earliest monasteries in the Spiti Valley.
It was founded by Rinchen Zangpo, considered to be a Buddhist “Mahaguru” – an extremely enlightened teacher.
It houses a complex consisting of 9 shrines, each of which is a hub of Buddhist teachings. A particular attraction here is the various gold leaf deities kept in its shrine.
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Best of Himachal TourSuraj Tal
Meaning the Sun lake in the local language, Suraj Tal is one of the best destinations in Himachla Pradesh for backpackers.
When it comes to photogenic places in India, the lake is truly beyond match. Lying close to the Baralacha Pass, this wonderful lake is a favorite hangout of nature lovers, enthusiastic trekkers, and photographers.
It’s best to visit during the months of May to October. While it lures travelers, devotees are not far behind, as it is a holy pilgrimage site.
Chandra Tal Lake
One of the things to do in Spiti Valley is to visit Chandra Tal Lake, one of the many beautiful lakes in the valley. Located at a height of 4,270 m and about 6 km from the Kunzam Pass, it’s enveloped by acres and acres of snow, while its deep azure waters extend to almost 2.5km in length.
Also, the spectacular beauty makes it a photographer’s paradise. In addition, it is a highly sought-after destination for camping and trekking. The lake has been so named due to its crescent moonline shape. Summer is the best time to visit Spiti Valley to see this beautiful lake.
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Next, on our list we have Tabo. Lying on the banks of the Spiti River, Tabo is a quaint village in Himachal Pradesh. It’s famous for the thousand-year-old Tabo Monastery.
If you seek perfect solitude, the monastery here is the perfect option. When in Spiti, you must not miss visiting this place. Besides, it also offers wonderful sightseeing opportunities.
Dhankar Lake
A hidden secret of Spiti Valley, Dhankar Lake is one of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. Also known as Sar Kund Lake, Dhankar is seated on a cliff at a height of 4,270m. In fact, it is a picture of perfect beauty.
Reaching this lake requires one to undergo a challenging trek. However, the view which greets your eyes upon reaching there is worth all the effort. In local lingo, the word “Dhankar” denotes a fort, and its believed that this monastery was once a fort.
Kaza
The capital of Spiti, Kaza is seated on the eroded flood plains of the Spiti River. Surrounded by jagged mountains on either side, it is the most populated area you will ever come across.
This place comes across as a quaint town, which moves at its own leisurely pace. It consists of a marketplace, medical facilities, rest houses, and hotels, among other facilities. The views provided by this place are breathtaking.
Langza Village
Located 16km northwards of Kaza, Langza Village is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh and is renowned for its incredible scenery, pre-historic buildings, and ancient monasteries.
An enormous statue of Lord Buddha guards the village, while a temple behind the statue is believed to be over 500yrs old. Besides these, this village also contains a large number of fossils of plants and marine animals and is regularly visited by historians and anthropologists.
Komic
One of the best offbeat places to visit in Himachal Pradesh is Komic Village, famous as the world’s highest village with a road. Located about 20km from Kaza, this beautiful village is located at 18,000ft above sea level. This place allures visitors through its pristine beauty and magnificent surroundings.
One of the main attractions here is the Komic Monastery. This gompa houses certain treasures which are open to the public once every 90 years. Some of these are the egg of a dragon, the horn of a unicorn, the upper tooth of a sheep, the ribcage of a giant “demon” and the tail of a prehistoric man.
Dhankar Gompa
One of the five main Buddhist centers in the Spiti region, Dhankar Monastery, lies incredibly at an altitude of 12,774ft. The monastery offers panoramic views of the Spiti Valley and overlooks the confluence of the Spiti and Pin rivers.
Built over a thousand years back, it belongs to the Gelugpa School of Order. One of the major attractions here is the statue of Vairochana (Dhayan Buddha), which consists of four figures seated back to back, along with a collection of various centuries of old thankas.
Pin Valley National Park
Among the various beautiful places to visit in Spiti, one is the Pin Valley National Park. Situated in the cold desert Ibex of Spiti Valley, it houses an interesting collection of flora and fauna.
One can witness a variety of wild animals like woolly hare, Tibetan gazelle, and snow leopard, among others. The weather conditions here are generally cold and dry and receive heavy snowfall in winters.
Lahaul Valley
The topography of Lahaul Valley consists primarily of high mountains and massive glaciers. It’s a hub of Buddhist art and culture and lies at a height of 2,745 m above sea level. The summers in this valley are very pleasant.
This place is also home to various monasteries, lakes, and passes. Indulge in adventure coupled with spirituality in a perfect package here. The rugged landscape provides some of the most magnificent views you will ever come across.
Kunzum Pass
Located at an altitude of 4,590m, Kunzum Pass is the gateway to Spiti from Kullu and Lahaul. After crossing Rohtang Pass and driving almost 20km, take a right turn from Gramphoo. The views provided while passing by this pass are simply enthralling. While on the one side is the Spiti Valley, on the other side are numerous C.B. (Chandra-Bhaga) range peaks.
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Vishwajit Sharma
A travel writer by profession possessing an avid interest in books, movies and music, Vishwajit Sharma believes that travelling is essentially discovering yourself. He hopes that, through his articles and write ups, the idea of travelling is aroused in everyone. Let the journey begin!
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