Kaza is a town and the subdivisional headquarters of the remote Spiti Valley in the western Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
Kaza, also spelled Kaze, Karze, Karzey. Spiti is a high altitude or cold desert having close similarities to the neighboring Tibet and Ladakh regions in terms of terrain, climate, and Buddhist culture.
Kaza, situated along the Spiti River at an elevation of 3,650 meters (11,980 ft) above mean sea level, is the largest township and commercial center of the Spiti valley.
Packed with majestic snow-covered mountains, bubbling rivers, picturesque landscape, and shimmering streams, this dreamy place is no less than a paradise on earth.
The town of Kaza is blessed with a plethora of decent accommodation facilities and food outlets, helping tourists in having a comfortable vacation. All the elements put together, make tourism flourish in this small Himalayan destination.
New Kaza and Old Kaza
The entire town of Kaza is categorized into 2 parts – New Kaza and Old Kaza. While the former accommodates the king’s palace, the latter is home to government offices. The presence of historical wonders, monasteries, and gompas adds a sense of magic to this charming town.
At present day, the Himalayan town of Kaza features an exotic amalgam of ancient culture and modernity that is sure to leave every traveler totally awestruck and spellbound.
The place even forms a base camp from where travelers can venture to experience activities such as mountaineering and trekking. Some well-known trails that start from the town of Kaza include Pin-Bhaba, Parang-La, and Pin-Parvati.
In addition to trying adventure sports and visiting various Buddhist shrines, tourists flocking here also like to take a walk to the small villages nearby Kaza town, which offers an exciting and unique experience.
Low temperature in Winters
The Winter season in this destination comes with extremely low temperatures that make the weather of the town immensely cold. During this time, the locals prefer staying indoors and only venture out in case of absolute urgency. They always keep food supplies stocked up for this time of the year and utilize the whole time indoors by producing handicrafts.
Top Things to do in Kaza
These are must-to-do things one should be experimenting with at Kaza of Himachal Pradesh. The few are listed below.
Visit The Monasteries, Kaza
It is located atop the hillock and provides a very glorious sight to travelers. Though there are many monasteries in India, especially in Himachal Pradesh, the monasteries found at Kaza are one of a kind due to their ancientness.
One can also go for an overnight stay in the monastery at Spiti which is the second oldest after the monastery found in the Lhasa region of Tibet. The monasteries are made of mud, clay, and other natural building materials.
Location: Tabo Monastery
Google Map Direction: https://goo.gl/maps/F4BYUQpUoAweQ1dF9
Timings: Any time of the day
Entry fee: None
Go Out For Shopping
Shopping is one of the best things to indulge in while one is at Kaza. The marketplace at Kaza is one of the most vibrant places to indulge in shopping in Himachal Pradesh.
Some of the rarest souvenirs like prayer flags, Buddhist statues, and other Buddhist materials can be purchased from here for the beloved ones. Shopping at Kaza is not like shopping at any other place in India.
Location: Main Market Kaza
Google Map Direction: https://goo.gl/maps/rxuGKSMYixGtywNz5
Timings: 7 am to 10 pm
Entry fee:: None
Rafting In Spiti River
It is one of the best water sports activities one can enjoy in the very cold waters of River Spiti. Rafting involves getting on to an air-inflated boat and a group of four would sit on both sides of the raft and enjoy a splashing ride in the chilly waters.
The required safety gear is sold in the valley. Some lifeguards would accompany a team while they raft in the waters. Rafting is a very common water sport in Himachal Pradesh. One has to indulge in it to enjoy thoroughly what the water sport could offer.
Location: Spiti River
Google Map Direction: https://goo.gl/maps/z4ixPjrEpXarKhZ46
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Entry fee:: Varies during the season. Minimum 200 per person
Wishing Stones
The entire region of the Himalayas is filled with positivity and ways of establishing connect with Mother Nature. The place has become a millennial paradise. There are some special ways by which the millennials could establish a conversation with Mother Nature. There is a wide variety of rocks and stones which are found in the region.
They are of varying sizes, shapes, and structures. One could stack the stones or the pebbles found in the region one above the other and make a wish. This is usually done using seven stones. This is one of those special activities which could only be done in the regions like Spiti Valley.
Location: Spiti River
Google Map Direction: https://goo.gl/maps/z4ixPjrEpXarKhZ46
Timings: None
Entry fee:: None
Camping
Camping in the nights around The Moon Lake (Chandratal Lake) is one of the most exhilarating experiences one should try out. One could put up a tent and camp in the nights in the tent by staring at the night sky which is filled with beautiful stars. The best part is that one could even spot some shooting stars in the sky if they are lucky.
The best season to camp is during summers as the temperatures are not harsh. If you are fine with camping in temperatures that are nail-biting, then one could prefer camping in the snow itself. One of the most memorable experiences is the hike from the campsite to the main river right in the morning after a heavy sleep.
Location: The Moon Lake (Chandratal Lake)
Google Map Direction: https://goo.gl/maps/nSqEVMFovQmgtWMo7
Timings: none, preferred night time
Entry fee:: cost incurred to set up camp
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