District in India
Lahaul-Spiti is a district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The capital is Keylong of Lahaul-Spiti. In the past, Lahaul and Spiti were two separate districts. Then Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar was the capital of Spiti.
Lahaul-Spiti district is bounded by Jammu & Kashmir to the northwest, Ladakh to the north, China to the northeast, Kinnaur District the southeast, kullu district in the south, Kangra in the southwest, Chamba to the west.
Visiting Time: June to Mid-October
How to reach Keylong, Lahaul
By Air: There are no Airport at Lahaul. Nearest Airport is Bhuntar Airport, Kullu.Buy cheap air tickets with your credit card from the comfort of your home from the app below, or find out the ticket price in Indian Rupee. Or check airfares in other currencies - USD, Canadian Dollar, Euro, Russian Ruble, Bangladeshi Taka.
Type your destination "Kulu" and select it from drop down menu. Enter your Depart date and Return date. If one-way then cross the Return date. If more than 1 passenger, enter. If you want business class click on "Business class" and click on search.
From Delhi: There is a public bus runs from June to Mid-October from Delhi to Leh via Manali and Keylong. So you can buy ticket for Keylong.
From Chamba: There is a public bus runs from June to Mid-October.
The route is Dalhousie/Chamba – Tissa – Bairagarh – Kalaban – Satrundi – Sach Pass – Killar – Udaipur – Keylong – Khoksar – Rohtang Pass – Marhi – Manali.
So you can get off at Keylong.
From Manali: There are few public buses from Manali to Keylong starts from 7.30 AM.
Hotels in Keylong
There are many hotels at Keylong.Tourist Places in Keylong
There are not so many places in Keylong. You can cover these places in a day.Day-1: Keylong
Kardang Gompa
Buddhist MonasteryIt is believed that the monastery built in 12th Century.
How to go: It is situated 14 km away from Keylong.
Shashur Gompa
Buddhist MonasteryThis is 17th Century monastery.
How to go: It takes about 3.5 hour easy hike to the Monastery from Keylong ISBT bus stand.
Tribal Museum
MuseumHow to go: Near the market in Keylong.
Note that, now you have to decide your next destination from Keylong. I'm describing one by one it will help you to decide.
Still you have pending places to visit in Lahaul and Spiti district is Spiti Valley. But there is no direct bus from Keylong to Kaza, Spiti Valley. There is a direct bus goes to Kaza, Spiti Valley from Manali. So you can choose your next destination at Manali, Kullu before Kaza. If you have already visited Manali then there is an alternative way to Kaza from Keylong.
Catch the early morning Keylong to Manali bus at 6 AM. The bus will pass Gramphoo at 8-9 AM. Get down there at Gramphoo. Another bus from Manali to Kaza goes via Gramphoo which may reach at Gramphoo at 9-9.30 AM. So you can board on this bus. But there is two problem is that - you may not get a seat or you may miss the bus somehow. Not a big deal, you can try this.
Another destination you keep in your itinerary is that is Lay, Ladakh. Cause anytime you want to visit Lay, Ladakh by road, You have to come Keylong again. So it is another good point whenever you are at Keylong, you can visit Lay, Ladakh as your next destination.
So Ladakh or Manali wherever your next destination, visit there then go to Kaza, Spiti.
How to reach Kaza, Spiti
There are two different routes to reach Kaza.
From Shimla: There is a once daily bus available from Shimla starts at 6-7 AM, reaches at Reckong Peo at evening, halts the night and starts from Reckong Peo in the morning 6-7 AM and reaches Kaza at 3-4 PM.
Two buses leave Shimla for Reckong Peo at 6.15 PM and 7.45 PM. Overnight journey and reach at Reckong Peo in the morning.
Buses leaves from reckong Peo at 6-7 AM and another is 1 PM. Both passes Puh, Nako, Tabo and Dhankar Valley.
From Manali: There are two daily buses. At 5 AM and 5.30 AM and reach at Kaza around 4 PM. Fare 250 Rs.
Note that, If you are coming from Manali or Keylong, you can visit Chandra Taal Lake on the way of Kaza, Spiti Valley.
Day-1: Batal
Chandra Taal Lake
LakeHow to go: Batal is a village situated on the way of Manali to Kaza, about 49 km from Gramphoo. Get off at Batal village or the place Kunzum Pass after the village Batal. From Kunzum Pass, you have to walk about 9.5 km and from Batal about 15 km way to Chandra taal.
Remember that, after visiting Chandra Taal you will get no return bus from anywhere. So what you can do
1. Come back to Kunzum Pass 9.5 km from lake and try to find any taxi.
2. Come back to Batal (if your next destination is Manali) or Loser (if your next destination is Kaza) both are about 15 km away from Chandra Taal. There you will find guest house and stay or hire taxi to your next destination.
3. Stay at camp site which is about 3 Km away from lake. Stay cost about 700-1500 Rs with meals. Just bargain. You cannot use your own tent near lake as per rule. You can use your tent at campsite. For this, you have to pay the camp owner @300 Rs and then you can use their toilet. But another thing to be consider, if you stay at camp site, you may get problem to catch the bus for Kaza.
Apart from these you can try another way. Go to Batal village. From Batal you may get shared taxi or workers are often going to Chandra taal. You can tie with them and go there in their vehicle and come back to Batal and pay them as a tips about 100/200 Rs. How to find them? There is a shop where you will get food. Talk to the owner. You may find a solution.
According to time and cost I may suggest to avoid this place if you are budget solo traveler or short time traveler. It will save your one night and one day.
Day-2: Kaza
Early in the morning wake up and catch the bus coming from Manali to Kaza, wherever you are at Gramphoo, Batal or Losar. Board on this bus and straight go to Kaza. It will reach at Kaza at 4 PM.
Accommodation in Kaza
There are many budget hotels in Kaza.Tourist Attractions in Spiti
Buses and shared taxi are not so available for few places near Kaza such as Key Monastery, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim and Koumik. So you can hire a private taxi which cost 2000-2500 Rs per day or Rent Scooty/bike from Kaza market which may cost 800 Rs. Just bargain. You can visit all the places in a day. But those who are budget traveler can trek a lot, they also can cover in a day starting early in the morning. I’m describing how to reach these places in cheapest way. For that you need two days to visit these places and need to walk.Day-3: Kaza
For Budget traveler also consider that, today must be Tuesday or Saturday. Cause There is a bus from Kaza to Komik. It starts at 2 PM on Tuesday and Saturday in a week. So that you can catch this bus. Early in the morning start to visit.
Sakya Tangyud Monastery
New nice Monastery.How to go: Located near petrol pump. Walk 5-7 minutes from the main market of Kaza.
Come back to bus station before 2 PM. Before that take your lunch from any restaurant near Kaza Bus stand. Then by bus go to Komik.
Komik
Village in SpitiThis is said that, Komik is the World‘s Highest Village. There is also an ancient Monastery at Komik.
Altitude: 4587 meters.
How to go: Komik is about 5 Km away from Hikkim and 18 Km from Kaza. There is a bus from Kaza to Komik. It starts at 2 PM on Tuesday and Saturday in a week and reaches Komik at about 3.30 PM via Hikkim. The bus returns to Kaza on same day at 4 PM.
Visit Komik village for 20-30 minutes and by the same bus come to Hikkim.
Hikkim
Village in SpitiIt is said that, Hikkim is famous for its World‘s Highest Post Office. You can buy some postcards as souvenirs. There is a Monastery and a café too in Hikkim.
Altitude: 4400 meters
How to go: Hikkim is about 8 km away from Langza village and about 5 Km away from Komik. There is a bus 2 days in a week starts from Kaza to Komik at about 2 PM. Bus stops at Hikkim for few minutes. Bus returns from Komik on same day.
Now Langza is 8 Km from Hikkim. You have to go there by foot. Trekking needs 2 hours downhill. If the time is more than 5 PM then you have trek in the dark. So considering that you can stay at Hikkim or if you find any shared taxi or lift from any tourist car then you can think for that.
Langza
Village, SpitiThere is a 1000 years old Buddha Statue. There are also two lakes around Langza, where can be reached by trekking about 3-4 Hours with a local villager.
Altitude: 4330 meters
How to go: Langza is about 8 Km downhill from Hikkim. You have to trek or you may take lift from any tourist coming by taxi if found.
Accommodation: There is only option at villager’s house as paying guest with meals for a normal cost may 100-200 Rs.
Day-4: Kaza
From Langza using by another road via Hikam, you can come to Kaza. But must start before 12 PM. It is about 15 Km trek.
Key Gompa
MonasteryHow to go: It is situated at 12 km away from Kaza. There is a daily bus leaves Kaza for Kibber at 4 PM which passes next to Key monastery. Get off the bus and visit the Monastery about 1 hour. This same bus return from Kibber after a time halt. You can board on that near about 5 PM.
Accommodation: There is a tourist guest house inside the monastery. You can stay here for 600 Rs with 4 (breakfast, lunch evening tea and dinner) healthy and delicious meals. Dinner serves at 6 PM. But there are some rules here to stay. Not to create too much noise, no alcohol, no smoking.
You can omit Kibber village. There is nothing special here.
Kibber
Village, SpitiHow to go: It is situated at 16 km away from Kaza. There is a bus leaves Kaza for Kibber at 4 PM via Key Monastery. This same bus return from Kibber after a time halt. You can return to Kaza with that bus.
Stay night at Kaza
Day-5:
Get up early in the morning and catch the first bus goes to Reckong Peo from Kaza. You will go to Dhankar Valley on the way.
Dhankar Valley
VillageOnce it was the capital of Spiti. There is a Monastery and lake to visit in Dhankar.
How to go: Kaza to Reckong Peo Bus starts from Kaza at 7.00 AM. By this bus you have to get down at Shichling. From there 8 Km uphill trek to Dhankar Valley.
Mud Village, Pin Valley
VillageHow to go: There is a bus everyday leaves from kaza at 4 PM to Mud village. And starts from Mud village to Kaza at 7 AM. Fare is about 80 Rs. If you are visiting Dhankar valley then you can board on this bus from Attargo village.
Accommodation: You can stay Mud village within 100-200 Rs.
Day-6: Pin Valley
Visit Pin Valley National Park and Kungri Gompa.
Kungri Gompa
MonasteryIt was built in 1330. Attractions here are Tibetan Buddhist art, culture, and tradition. Another attraction is the traditional Devil Dance, which is held in the month of July every year.
How to go: On the way of Dhankar to Mud village.
Day-7: Tabo
Tabo Monastery
This is an ancient monastery, more than 1000 years old. You may also visit Apple garden.
Visiting Time: From 9 AM to 5 PM
Accommodation: There are few guest houses in Tabo. You also can stay at the monastery guest house which cost per person about 1000 Rs.
If your next destination in Manali then no need to stay at Tabo. Come back to Kaza. You will get bus at 4 PM at Tabo coming from Reckong Peo, Kinnaru for Kaza.
If you are going to Shimla then stay at night and next day morning board on the bus coming from Kaza to Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district. From Reckong Peo you have to board on another bus for Shimla.
If your next destination is Kinnaur district then on next day go to Nako from Tabo.
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