Kaza (Spiti Valley)

It's as if we all are fitted in a bus and being taken to God for accepting the sins we have committed in our life and as if God already assumes that everyone has done mistakes, so the route is actually a punishment given to everyone. There comes occasions when you confess your mistakes & crimes to God in return for you to safely reach the destination. {I think now you have a fair idea of the kind of route you will be travelling one}. Though the scenery during the entire journey is mesmerizing. Also, the drivers of the buses are experts and should get a well deserved appreciation for their job because they do so effortlessly that to them it seems as if driving on a highway. Finally, you reach your destination at 3:30pm, thereby taking almost 9 hours for the trip of 185kms, which actually Google Maps indicates to be completed in 4 hours or so but Apple Maps indicates the accurate time (just FYI).

The Kaza village is not a big village in terms of people residing & the market place. Everything, right from Bus stop to ATM to Kirana store to lodges/hotels to restaurants are at walking distance. So it was not long before we found our lodge. After freshening up a bit, we left for the river view point, by walk, where there were no people so it was a peaceful place. We sat over there & the entire day's exhaustion seemed to just vanish in a few moments. The river is Spiti river, a tributary of Sutlej.

After losing count of time, when it seemed to be dark, we came back to market place, for some food & found The Himalayan Cafe, which we had heard to be famous in Kaza. We had some food then went to enquire for bike for the next day. But we came to know that bike rent is now not available due to a Taxi union strike, so we can only hire taxis to roam Kaza or else ride a bike all the way from Manali. Finally, we hired the cheapest taxi (Alto) possible @ Rs.3500/- for 4 seater for 6 places. Then we came back to our room & slept off.

Our Kaza Tour began @ 8am. Firstly, we visited Key Monastery. Had breakfast & left after almost an hour of exploring & interviewing the senior monks about the daily routine, history, etc.

Secondly, we visited the Chicham Bridge. It's newly built & at high altitude & height. So, it becomes a tourist point.

Then, we went to Langza. There's a Buddha statue in the open & seems amidst the mountains.

Then we went to Komic, famous as Highest village in the world connected with a motorable road. Also there is a monastery here & a restaurant (again, the World's Highest)

Lastly, we visited the World's Highest Post office, Hikkim and posted some postcards to our friends & family. You need to buy postcards from the shops outside @ Rs.30/postcard. There are postcards with different photos on their back. You can also custom-make a photo and make a postcard of it. The cost per postcard for stampage is Rs.6-10/postcard. However, they claim that there's a 50% chance that the postcards will be delivered. But we took our chances! :) The post office closes at 4:30pm.

On the way back, we found the World's Highest Petrol Pump and the "I love Spiti!" board which currently every town/city of India hosts for itself.

Then, we headed back to our room, had a cheaper dinner than the day before :p , enquired about the bus back to Manali & slept off.