Kaza

About

Kaza is the beating heart of Spiti Valley — a cold Tibetan-Buddhist desert at 3,800 metres where the landscape shifts from grey mountains to ochre cliffs to turquoise rivers with a meditative intensity that exists nowhere else in India. The administrative hub of Spiti sub-division, Kaza is surrounded by some of the world's most extraordinary villages: Hikkim (home of the world's highest post office), Komic (the world's highest motorable village), Langza (fossil village with a giant Buddha), and Dhankar (monastery on a crumbling cliff). Kaza serves as the base for all exploration in the Spiti Valley.

Highlights

• starKey (Ki) Monastery — 1,000-year-old cliffside monastery at 4,166 m
• starHikkim Post Office — world's highest post office, at 4,440 m
• starKomic Village — one of the world's highest motorable villages (4,587 m)
• starLangza — fossil village with giant Buddha statue
• starDhankar Monastery and Dhankar Lake (3 km trek)
• starChandratal (Moon Lake) — turquoise lake at 4,300 m (50 km from Kaza)

Nearby Attractions

Gallery

Local Experiences

• explorePost a letter from Hikkim — the world's highest post office
• exploreSearch for marine fossils in the shale around Langza
• exploreAttend dawn prayers at Key Monastery with resident monks
• exploreOvernight camping at Chandratal (Moon Lake)
• exploreVisit the Pin Valley for snow leopard tracking expeditions

Food & Drink

• restaurantZostel Kaza — popular social hostel with good food
• restaurantSakya Abode restaurant — Tibetan dishes, fresh bread
• restaurantNorling Cafe — thukpa and momos overlooking the valley
• restaurantGuesthouses serve traditional Spitian meals (tsampa, chhurpi)

Where to Stay

• hotelZostel Kaza — dormitory and private rooms (₹600–2,500/night)
• hotelSakya Abode — comfortable mid-range (₹2,000–3,500/night)
• hotelVillage homestays throughout Spiti villages (₹800–1,500/night with meals)

Travel Tips

• lightbulbAltitude sickness is serious at 3,800+ m — acclimatise in Shimla or Recong Peo first
• lightbulbInner Line Permit required for foreigners — get in Recong Peo or Kaza SDM office
• lightbulbPetrol stations only in Kaza — fill up before going to villages
• lightbulbMobile connectivity is Airtel or BSNL only; data is very slow
• lightbulbThe Manali–Kaza road via Kunzum Pass is closed Nov–May; use Shimla route in winter
• lightbulbAlways carry warm clothes — temperature can drop to -5°C even in July nights

Frequently Asked Questions

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