Road Trip In Spiti Valley: Divine Drive From Kaza to Komic

picture2

My tryst with Himalayas started when i first visited Vaishno Devi in Jammu & Kashmir State followed by a winter visit to Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalagam. Whatever i witnessed was enough for me to appreciate the bright prospects of Kashmir Tourism and I got hooked to Kashmir and Himalaya forever. Since then, I have been to Himalayas for many times and it is like a second home for me. My way of exploring Himalayas is self-drive road tripping and driving in Himalayas gives me real adrenaline-filled-kick every time I hit the road. The kick takes me to ecstasy level when I drive in Himalayas.

During my Road Trip To Spiti Valley, i drove through one of the toughest topography in my Ford Figo and tested my driving skills to the core. Without a doubt, I can say that driving the complete Spiti Circuit is the epic achievement of my life and one stretch from Kaza to Komic is, so truly, the crowning glory of this epic road trip. It starts from the Administrative head quarter Kaza and ends at the highest village of Asia Komic which is home to The Highest Monastery of the world i.e. Tangyud Monastery.

This drive of 20 KM uphill takes you from 12000 ft to 15000 ft in 2 hours and meander through insanely heaven-like landscapes on an unpaved mud like road. Conditions like unpaved road, drastic change in weather, depletion in oxygen level etc make it a tough drive. However, after this effort what you see is invaluable. I literally have no word to describe what I saw there, it was completely out of this world. Centuries of Isolation has made this 20 KM stretch a perfect virgin land to be explored.

img_4562

Road to Komic Via Langza

This divine drive took us through Fossil Village – Langza and after bypassing Hikkim which houses highest Post Office in the world ended at Komik which is the highest village in Asia.

img_4595

Langza at 4200 Mt with a population of 148

After a drive of 11 KM from Kaza, a giant statue of Golden Buddha announces the arrival of Langza Village. With a population of 158 high Himalayan tribals, Langza is the most beautiful inhabited location in the world for me. Spread right under the majestic grandeur of snow capped peak Chau Chau Kang Nilda which means Princess Mountain, this is a real natural wonder. In all true sense, I never imagined in my distant thoughts that I would ever see something so mesmerizing in my life. This village is the ultimate Utopia for a traveling soul.

img_4578

Buddha Statue at Langza

After Langza, our planned stop was Hikkim, however, due to road construction; we could not reach this village. And in fact we were pretty fine with that as we knew, Spiti would again call us and till then Hikkim would be our inspiration.

img_4624

Hikkim Village home to World’s Highest Post Office

Further 9 KM from Langza, lies the highest village of Asia i.e. Komic which is at 15000 Ft from sea level and boasts of 13 households. Tangyud Monastery of Komic is a fort-monastery built on the edge of a steep canyon. It is the highest motorable Buddhist Monastery in the world. Though it is a small monastery but its picturesque locations makes it must visit.

img_4614

Komic at 4587 Mt with 114 living souls

Standing at the edge overlooking the valley, I felt a different enthusiasm within myself for finally reaching highest motorable village in my Hatchback. I was in utter awe for I had surpassed the inaccessible and could breathe amidst chilly and speedy winds from Himalaya. And the scene from the top of the world was breathtaking.

Now I would let the photographs take you there:

img_4562

img_4572

Langza Village which has some 35 houses

img_4587

Langza spread so beautifully right under imposing Chau Chau Kang Nilda Peak

img_4633

A view from Langza

img_4626

Snow Capped Peaks and barren field

img_4612

Monastery at Komic

img_4606

Matreya Buddha inside the monastery

img_4603

Colorful ambiance of Monastery

img_4645

The divine road to Komic from Kaza

The entire experience generated variety of impression deep within me, on my soul and mind. Nothing was mundane about this drive as every mile of drive created unforgettable memories worth holding on to forever. It has touched me at spiritual level and thus for me it would always remain the ultimate divine drive.

********

If you like this, shower your love by sharing it. BTW whats your story from Spiti valley.

Read the following related posts on Spiti valley

Quick View: Self Drive Road Trip to Spiti Valley, Himachal, India

Chandratal Lake: Stunning Natural Beauty In High Himalayas

My Tryst With Kunzum Pass: Road trip From Kaza To Kunzum Top

********

Follow me on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

********

Everything Candid is now open for Guest Contribution and Sponsored Post. So, reach us through mail everythingcandid@gmail.com for mutually beneficial collaboration.

********

61 thoughts on “Road Trip In Spiti Valley: Divine Drive From Kaza to Komic

  1. sg says:

    Sounds like a really unique experience and one you will treasure forever. It looks like another world up there, so quiet and uninhabited. I love those drives out in the middle of nowhere. Plenty of time to take it all in.

  2. flydriveexplore says:

    That looks like an amazing drive. How did you and the car cope with the altitude and the lack of oxygen.

  3. Indrani says:

    This is one road trip I am dreaming to do some day! I really want to pause at the monasteries on the way. Thanks for the detailed break up of the road trip.

  4. Christina says:

    Wow this looks like an amazing adventure! You’d have stories to tell your friends and family for years. I don’t think there would be too many other people who have done this.

  5. Ryazan Tristram says:

    OMG!! This looks like a trip of a lifetime! I can only imagine how stressful it is to drive there, not because it’s too busy but it’s the road less travelled. Kudos to you! Incredible photos! 🙂

  6. Jenna Kvidt says:

    We always love road trips and this looks like a fantastic one! Gorgeous photos! It defintley sounds like a great and adventurous road trip–thanks for sharing!

  7. Passports and Pigtails says:

    As a road trip lover, I am envious of such a spectacular ride! The scenery, especially the shot of Hikkim Village are amazing. 2 hours to go 20 km says it all about the terrain and challenges. Would love to try this someday!

  8. Sandy N Vyjay says:

    That was indeed an epic road trip. It reminded me of our road trip to Nathula in Sikkim. The landscapes are spectacular and the views heavenly. The exhilaration that you feel on these kinds of routes is really on a different level altogether.

  9. The Roaming Renegades.com says:

    This sounds like one of the craziest and most amazing adventures ever! We dream of doing something like this one day, thanks for sharing!

  10. Diana - MVMT Blog says:

    I just got back from the Faroe Islands, and your photos of Langza kind of remind me of the Faroes in that it looks quite desolate, with just a few houses spread out in a small “town.” I love how the monastery is painted on the outside. Would love to visit one day.

  11. Livi Bee says:

    This was definitely one for the books! Kudos to you! I don’t think I could have done it. I’ve never even driven in snow. It sounds like an unforgettable experience, and the pictures are amazing!!

  12. Johann Kuruvilla says:

    Always been wanting to visit Spiti. So far I haven’t had the opportunity. That peak looks like a peak I could try climbing. Have to research a bit on this. Lovely photos! I wish I could drive like you.

  13. Jem says:

    I would love to have joined you in this epic journey. Truly the scenes are breath-taking and I bet the experience will stay with you for the rest of your life.

  14. Tom says:

    I just flipped over to your post on the B&W images of the valley and wow, no wonder you planned a road trip here! What a remarkable area. I love how the open areas are interspaced with the dedicated shrines.

  15. Mr Mike says:

    This truly is an epic road trip. I can see how it would be the crowning achievement for any roadtripper. I can’t believe you gain that much elevation so quickly! Glad your little Ford held up!

  16. Beerandcroissants says:

    I’m big on epic road trips having driven around most of Europe. This sounds pretty amazing. Such stunning scenery too.

  17. Divas Bahuguna says:

    Loved the narration and photographs of this wonderland….brings back so many happy memories from my time hitchhiking across these landscapes!! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  18. Ron Meker says:

    The only road trip I did was from Vienna to Munich and you are putting this one in my face? 😀
    Great photography!
    Isn’t it pretty hardcore to go 3’000 feet in height in 2 hours? just curious

  19. Anuradha Goyal (@anuradhagoyal) says:

    Spiti is divine – the most beautiful place on earth. I could not go to Komik as the day I was there – it was raining and roads got really slushy. Our car even got stuck and needed quite a bit of effort to come out. Langza was lovely and one of the most serene places I have been to.

    • Everything_Candid says:

      Hii Mam, It is so good to get a comment from you on my blog. Thank again.
      We also could not cover Hikkim that day and still feel bad. I also find Langza as one of the most beautiful Himalayan village.

  20. Shibani says:

    The road trip I took was from Delhi – Shimla – Sangla, and it presented me with breathtaking views. My next in line till Spiti via Kaza and your pictures inspire me for that with such beautiful landscapes, I’m surely up for it now!!

  21. Meg Jerrard says:

    I would love to take a road trip through the Himalayas. Definitely sounds like some challenging driving, but so rewarding to experience such beautiful nature, religious temples and monuments and local villages along the way. Definitely can see how this is a trip which left an impression – stunning photos, thanks for sharing!

  22. Rishabh & Nirali says:

    Spiti is a beautiful destination, less commercialized and as beautiful as its more popular cousin, Ladakh. We have been to the region and you’ve described it perfectly! We would probably be sending people over this link when they ask us about our trip next!

  23. Mia says:

    Wow, this is really an incredible drive! I wouldn’t get very far because I would stop to take pictures every few miles. I love the pics on the road from Komic from Kaza and from the snowcapped peaks. Wonderful photography and road trip.

Leave a Reply