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Kaza, nestled in the beautiful Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, has been one of the most beautiful tourist place I’ve ever visited in my life. The fabulous views of the Mountains all around, the Pretty Spiti River flowing behind, amazing culture, the lovely Kaza Market, Apple Gardens are a few reasons to visit this lovely place. This has also been the largest commercial town in entire Spiti Valley, its basically the HQ of Spiti & Lahaul District.
The trip to Spiti is incomplete without visiting Kaza and all the surrounding tourist spots. Hence Kaza is a must visit destination to explore complete of Spiti and also one needs to stay for a longer duration here, as it acts like a hub for all the surrounding tourist spots. Also all the essentials like ATM, Fuel Outlet, Rental Bikes other such necessary things are available only in Kaza as next bigger town from Kaza is atleast 8-9 hours away from here. Read more about my experience in Kaza here.
About Kaza
Located in the right middle of Spiti Valley, it’s unique geographical location is something which sets is apart from the other tourists destinations. There’s China on eastern side, on western side is the Kullu district with gigantic mountain range in between, on earth in Ladakh and next major town after Kaza is Manali, which is around 220kms away and the road is next to hell. On southern side is Kinnaur Valley where you reach Reckong Peo via Nako, Tabo then reach Shimla.
Visitors to Kaza are treated to an authentic Himalayan experience, with opportunities for trekking amidst lush forests, exploring quaint villages, and immersing themselves in the local way of life. With its serene ambiance and awe-inspiring vistas, Kaza is truly a heaven for those seeking solace amidst the grandeur of the Himalayas.
Location
Located on the eastern side of the Himachal Pradesh, Kaza is just almost 220 kms from Manali, the major town in the northern side of Spiti Valley. Shimla is 420 kms from Kaza and the road connecting Shimla to Kaza is popularly known as Hindustan-Tibet Highway as the British used this road to commute between India and Tibet from Shipki La Pass which is the current Indo-China Border controlled by Indian Armed Forces. Hence this highway is maintained by the Border Roads Organization. Reckong Peo comes on the way to Shimla and its around 220kms.
As the road passes through rocky mountains and heavy snowfall in winters it is highly prone to landslides, road blocks and as there is no alternate connectivity other parts of the world except Shimla and Manali(this road is completely closed for atleast 6-7 months in winters), when the road is blocked for several days it becomes a serious trouble to the local people and tourists majorly in winter season.
How to Reach
Train
The nearest Railway Station is Shimla which lies on the Kalka-Shimla line. This is a narrow gauge line starting from Kalka. Once you reach Shimla, you can take a HRTC or Private Taxi to reach here. Even you can prefer travel packages which start and end at either Delhi/Chandigarh/Shimla.
Air
Shimla Airport
The nearest airport is Shimla Airport 420 kms from the city. Only Alliance Air operates ATRs here. Other major airports are Chandigarh or Delhi too near to Shimla. Once you reach Shimla by road.
Kullu Airport
One can also take a flight to Kullu Airport, where again Alliance Air operates ATRs and reach Kaza on road via Manali(if the Kaza-Manali road is open).
Road(Via Shimla)
Once you reach Shimla the only way to reach Kaza is by road. The distance is 419 kms and the journey is filled with a lot of adventure as the roads after Narkanda are very narrow and the views are fabulous. This road is popularly known as Hindustan Tibet Highway and most of the parts are done by the method of Half Tunneling which is rarely seen in other parts of India. Private taxis are available in Shimla and also many rental bike providers are available in Shimla city. But you can travel only in day time, so you have to halt at night in Reckong Peo or any other nearby villages taking the journey time by 2 days.
The Long Journey
After Reckong Peo the road is quite good till some point, but again some stretches are too narrow and very risky, but the journey is just amazing. Its a journey of lifetime and you can read my complete experience on this journey on Hindustan-Tibet Highway here. On the way you can visit the Kinnaur Valley, including Kalpa, Chitkul, Nako, Tabo to make your trip much memorable.
HRTC Connectivity
HRTC bus plies between Shimla to Kaza, which is operated by Reckong Peo depot. This bus leaves early morning from Shimla, reaches Reckong Peo by night and leaves to Kaza next morning reaches there by evening. One has to make their own stay arrangements and book 2 different tickets for the entire journey. Even one can reach Reckong Peo even by deluxe bus and take either Peo-Kaza or Rampur-Kaza bus and reach Kaza by evening.
Road (Via Manali)
This is the most deadliest journey I have ever been to. The 220km road is literally near to hell. The road condition is extremely bad and it won’t be wrong if I say that, at some stretches there are no roads at all. You just drive on the stones following the tyre marks of the other vehicles. You reach Losar after Kaza and then until Grampoo (on the way between Rohtang Pass and Atal Tunnel) there is absolutely no road at all. The HRTC bus takes 7 hours to cross that 70kms.
Even there isn’t a single village or any house where people actually stay. This road is very risky and usually preferred by people who love adventure. You gain altitude very quickly(straight upto 15,200 ft in Kunzum Pass) and even lose it also very soon. This road is always closed between November even until May due to heavy snowfall, so make sure you check the road status before you leave.
Private Taxi
If anyone wants to reach Manali from Kaza, one can register their name at Spiti Taxi Union and they provide Sumo or TT Services everyday when road is open. The cost is 1200 Rs per person and journey takes around 8-9 hours in total. Don’t forget to contact them a day before and register your name.
Spiti Taxi Union, Kaza – 7018815680, 8580785913
HRTC
There is a HRTC bus on this route between Kullu-Manali-Kaza but this runs only for a few months between June/July until October. The price is 410 per person and takes much longer time, but more comfortable and safer option. One can take the bus tickets on the previous day from the HRTC Counters.
Local Commute
Once you reach Kaza, as the town is small you can roam around the city easily as they’re close by without any trouble. For sightseeing you have 3 options.
HRTC Buses
There are HRTC buses from Kaza Main Bus Stand and these cover the local villages around Kaza. Almost all the villages are covered by them but the thing is they depart at evening reach the village by night and return back in the morning, so this wouldn’t be an ideal plan for sightseeing as all the tourist spots are around 15-20 kms away.
Rental Taxi
This is another better option. One has to go to Spiti Taxi Union located just outside the town on Tabo road. They provide services for sightseeing and based on the number of tourists arrange a vehicle for you. One can also ask for sharing but it depends on the availability of tourists.
Spiti Taxi Union, Kaza – 7018815680, 8580785913
Rental Bike
By far, I’d say the most comfortable and the most economic option for sightseeing in and around Kaza. There are few options available in Kaza Market. You can even get Activa, Classic 350, Himalayan as far as I remember.
He charges 1000 for Activa, 1900 for Himalayan and 1600 for Classic 350 per day when I has visited, but it depends on the season. The bikes are well maintained and in good condition.
Sunil Negi (Rental Bike) – 9418108660, 9317537008
Weather
Due to the proximity towards the Himalayas, this town is at a height of 12,464 ft usually experiences a very cold climate. The winters in the months of December, January, February and March receive heavy snowfall and even in other months the snow capped mountains can be easily spotted. Winters are completely covered with thick snow all around and makes a popular destination for visitors.
Though the roads are blocked frequently due to landslides, the road from Shimla side is not closed during winters unless there is a huge landslide, so this makes it a popular destination to witness snowfall in Himachal Pradesh. The best time to visit would be from September to December as the weather is not too cold and it is the Apple season in Spiti. Don’t forget to taste juicy, fresh apples during this weather.
If you wish to experience heavy snowfall then December to May is the right time, but make sure you check the weather and road conditions before hand and plan your trip accordingly because the temperature even goes until -25°C.
Culture
Kaza, nestled in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India, embodies a rich cultural tapestry shaped by Tibetan influences and its remote geographical location. Tibetan Buddhism pervades daily life, with monasteries like Key Gompa serving as spiritual hubs. Festivals such as Losar infuse the town with vibrant rituals and traditional music, while residents don colorful Tibetan attire.
Traditional cuisine, warm hospitality, and a strong sense of community further enrich Kaza’s cultural charm, creating an enchanting destination where ancient traditions thrive amidst stunning Himalayan landscapes. The localites are extremely humble and very polite towards the tourists. Even the crime rate is absolutely zero in the past year making police literally have very less work.
Continued Part(To Be Updated Soon)
The Continued Part of the Blog will be published soon highlighting Accommodation & Food, Detailed Things To Do with the plan, Ideal Plan to visit Kaza and Things to Keep in Mind While Visiting Kaza, Spiti Valley. Click Here for the Blog.
