Taste the Local Cuisine and know about the local Culture in Kaza
Another best experience is have a culinary experience and to know about the culture of the local people as well. The local cuisine of the region is based on the harsh climatic conditions and extreme remote location, but flavorful and healthy. Some of the must-try dishes include the Tibetan noodle soup, steamed dumpling, Spitian bread, Barley veg salad, thenthuk, Butter Channa dal, Barley kheer, etc.
Do have the butter tea made from tea leaves, butter of yak and a pinch of salt, which is one of the popular drinks of the region to warm the body and gain energy.
The local people here follow Tibetan Buddhism, which is evident from the monasteries and the prayers flags you can see everywhere. The famous monasteries of this region are Key Monastery, Tabo and Dhankar Monastery. The Key Monastery is one of the largest monastery and houses many ancient scriptures, paintings, murals and manuscripts. The Dhankar Monastery is the oldest monastery located in Dhankar, which was the ancient capital of Spiti Valley.
The festival celebrated in this region is the Tibetan New Year which is known as Losar, the festival is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm, the whole region becomes lively and vibrant.
Best time to visit Kaza
The best time to visit Kaza is during the months from May to October, as only during these months of the year the roads are open and the weather is favorable to explore the region. The snow melts during these months, the sky is clear and you can enjoy outdoor activities.
How to reach Kaza?
To reach Kaza, tourists will have to take a bus till Manali or Shimla, from here they have to take a bus or taxi till Kaza. From Shimla the route is through Kinnaur Valley, which is opened all-year round. From Manali, the route is through the Rohtang Pass and Kunzum Pass, but it is opened only from June to October, due to heavy snowfall.
Things to do in Kaza
Since Kaza is blessed with rugged mountain ranges, scenic landscape, rugged hills and valleys, forests, lakes and remote villages, there are many things that tourists can engage here in Kaza. Here is a list of some of the activities that tourists can enjoy:
Kaza has many ancient monasteries like Key Monastery, Dhankar Monastery and Tangyud Monastery. The Key Monastery is the largest and the oldest monastery situated in Spiti Valley.
Explore the local remote villages of Spiti Valley like Hikkim, Langza and Komic. The Hikkim village is famous for having the world’s highest post office.
Those tourists who want to see the unique flora and fauna of the mountain region should visit the Pin Valley National Park.
One of the thrilling and relaxing activities to indulge in Spiti Valley is stargazing and camping. Some of the best spots for camping in Spiti Valley is near the Chandratal Lake.
Tourists who want to know about the local culture of the region should visit the monasteries and local villages.
For the adventure lovers who want to add some thrill to their vacation should opt for the river rafting activity in the Spiti River. The rafting in Spiti River is for moderate and experienced rafters.