| Kaza | |
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| Country |  India |
| State | Himachal Pradesh |
| District(s) | Lahul and Spiti |
| Population | 3,231 |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 3,800 m (12,467 ft) |
Coordinates: 32°13′N 78°05′E / 32.22°N 78.08°E
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The town of Kaza, Kaze or Kaja is the subdivisional headquarters of the remote Spiti Valley valley in the Lahul and Spiti district of the state of Himachal Pradesh in the Western Himalayas of India. Spiti, which is a part of the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal, is a high altitude desert having close similarities to the neighbouring Tibet and Ladakh regions in terms of terrain, climate and the Buddhist culture. Kaza, situated along the Spiti River river at an elevation of 3,800 metres (12,000 ft) above mean sea level, is the largest township and commercial center of the valley.
The town is divided into the old and new sections. The new town contains the administrative buildings. The Tangyud (Tang-rGyud) Gompa dates to the early 14th century and is built like a fortified castle with massive slanted mud walls and battlements with vertical red ochre and white vertical stripes. It is on the edge of a deep canyon and overlooking the town of Kaza, 4 km from the town.[1][2]
Kaza is only 11 km from Ki Monastery, the famous Gelugpa establishment.
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Access
Kaza is overlooked by high mountain ridges on all sides. It has two access points : one from Kinnaur valley and the other from the Lahaul valley. The route through Kinnaur is open throughout the year, except for occasional short periods resulting from landslides or heavy snowfall. This road, starting from Shimla, follows the Sutlej river unto a little beyond Reckong Peo, thereafter turning northwards to follow the Spiti river all the way to Kaza. The other road starts from Manali and after crossing the 13,090-foot (3,990 m) high Rohtang Pass and the 14,928-foot (4,550 m) high Kunzum pass, enters the Spiti valley to reach Kaza. It remains closed during winter months due to heavy snowfall on both the passes.[2][3]
Tourism
Kaza is known for its colorful festivals and a Buddhist monastery of the Sakya sect. It is also popular with tourists and adventure seekers during summer months because of its central location and connections to rest of the valley and outside. This central location also makes Kaza an ideal base camp for trekking, mountaineering and tours directed to other parts of the valley.[4] There is a PWD rest house and a private hotel.[5]
Footnotes
References
- Handa, O. C. (1987). Buddhist Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN 81-8512-03-5.
- Kapadia, Harish. (1999). Spiti: Adventures in the Trans-Himalaya. Second Edition. (1st edition 1996). Indus Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN 81-7387-093-4.
External links
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