8 Places to visit in Komic Village: A Comprehensive guide

Komic Village situated at an elevation of of 15000 ft above sea level has earned the title of the world’s highest Village connected with a motorable road. The beauty of the place has its grandeur due to its remote location. 

No wonder this is a place to visit once in a lifetime as there are some remarkable places to visit in Komic Village. The Komic Monastery or the Tangyud Monastery which is 500 years old is the leading religious and educational institute of the Buddhist Community. Langza and Hikkim Village are the sparsely populated villages known for preserving the cultural heritage of the region. 

Spiti Valley tour packages take you on the road to these least explored destinations. So, let’s explore in depth the places to visit in Komic Village.

8 Places to Visit in Komic Village

1. Tangyud Monastery: Representing the Culture of Region

Tangyud Monastery, which belongs to the Sakya Sect of Buddhism, was constructed in the fourteenth century. This monastery is a prominent religious and educational institution for young monks in the Komic Village. The Monastery was a popular attraction in the nineteenth century. It has seen several changes throughout its history. From 1920 until 1940, it was plundered by robbers from Kashmir and other parts of the world, who took gold and destroyed all of the sculptures. The monks had to leave the area to save their lives. A major earthquake rocked the monastery in 1972, and the resulting damage may still be seen today.

Tangyud is a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site that is preserving the region’s distinct cultural and religious heritage. The fluttering sacred flag within the monastery, as well as the carvings on the walls and pillars of the monastery, illustrate traditional Tibetan architecture.

Tourists may enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Kaza and Hikkim Village while sitting atop the monastery, overlooking the beautiful Himalayas. Tangyud Monastery is a place to visit in Komic Village to discover the Buddhist religion. 

2. Langza Village: The Fossil Village

Langza Village, also known as Fossil Village, has a population of just 136 people. This little village is located at the base of Chau Chau Kang Mountain, also known as Princess Mountain. This village is the least frequented, yet it has a secret treasure and the best place to visit in Komic Village.

Spend one or two nights in the village if you wish to see the harsh and simple life of the Spitian people. The village does not have luxury hotels, but visitors may enjoy the genuine hospitality of the residents.

Langza Village is well-known for having the tallest Buddha statue, which defends the village. The night in Langza village generates memories that last a lifetime. The village is an Astronomers paradise with a pristine sky loaded with millions of stars, from where they can even see faraway planets.  

Langa Village is Archelogosit’s favorite destination. The Village was a part of the Tethys Sea 200 years ago. Evidence of this reality is easily seen while strolling around the village streets. Within the grounds of the Langza Village lies hundreds of fossils of marine animals. The government has prohibited the sale of these fossils, so be mindful and do not buy them from locals. 

Zama pottery is an ancient artwork that is still in use by the locals. This artwork is about 100 years old, and the villagers are making an effort to preserve it. Zama pottery is formed from black and yellow clay found in the town, and the inhabitants create beautiful artistic pots and utensils out of it. You may buy these gems and take this valuable keepsake with you.

It would be unfair to not include the snow leopards while writing about Langza Village. This village, surrounded by mountains, seldom sees the endangered snow leopard in the adjacent hills. If you want to capture the sight of the rare snow leopard, ask a local to assist you spot one. 

3. Hikkim Village: Highest post office in the world

Hikkim Village, located at an elevation of 4400 meters above sea level, boasts the world’s highest post offices. The settlement is located around 46 kilometers from Kaza, the nearest town with a motorable road and a place to visit Komic Village. This village is cut off from the rest of the world for nearly half the year during winters. The route to the village is unreachable due to heavy snowfall and snow-covered hills, and as a result, the village is entirely isolated. 

Tourists visit Hikkim Village to experience the euphoric environment as well as the village’s tranquility and peace. The best thing to do in the village is send postcards to friends, family, and even themselves from the world’s highest post office. This post office is managed by the same person who has worked here since its beginnings.

The village’s only connection to the rest of the world is through the post office. Hikkim village was also given the title of the village with the world’s highest pooling station by the Limca Book of World Records, but later the title was given to Tashigang, another village in the same district.

4. Komic/ Kungri Monastery: Second Oldest Monastery

The Kungri Monastery, founded in 1330, is the sole Monastery that practices the Nyingmapa Buddhism sect. When you visit the Monastery, you will observe two sections. There are two monasteries: the old and the new. Don’t just get mesmerized by the beauty of the new Monastery and forgo the visit to the old Monastery and miss the elegance of ancient Tibetan architecture and the monastery’s rich cultural history. The Monastery will transport you to the rich cultural and architectural marvel of ancient times. No wonder this monastery is the most popular destination in the Lahaul Spiti Valley. 

The Monastery’s splendor and appeal are enhanced by its surroundings, featuring spectacular snow-capped mountains. The serenity and grandeur of the Himalayas, along with the reciting of prayers, provide inner peace and harmony.

The monastery is decorated with antique paintings and sculptors of Buddhist gods, as well as manuscripts of precious religious writings, tenjur and kenjur, preserved in white muslin fabric.

The best time to visit the Monastery is in July when the monastery hosts an annual cultural and religious festival. During the festivals, you may witness the sword and devil dance, which are the festival’s primary attractions. During the festivals, the monks wear huge animal masks and dance. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

5. Komic village trek: Trekkers delight

Komic Village in Spiti Valley is a destination that is most preferred by trekkers because of the trekking trail from Langza to Hikkim and then to Komic. Most of the hikers prefer to visit the Komic Village by trekking route. There are certainly organized troops as well as solo backpackers too that you find meet on your way to Komic who were exploring the adventurous side of the Himalayas. 

Trekking path originating from the Langza allows tourists to experience the high-altitude villages through trekking. On the trek to Komic Village, you may witness the rough and challenging terrain, peas and barley fields, gushing cold waves, sudden weather changes, and last but not least the stunning views of the snow-blanketed Himalayas. 

The trek up to the Komic Village usually required a complete 3 days with night stops at Hikkim, Komkic and Langza Villages. These are small villages with few and countable residents so the best way to explore these villages is by spending a night at the homestays.

Suggested Read: Spiti Valley Trek

6. Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary: Home to Endangered Species

Kibber Village in Spiti Valley is approximately 40 kilometers from Komic Village is the ultimate place to visit in Komic Village Spiti. This Village serves as the base for the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Kibber is the last village in Spiti Valley on the ancient root from Ladakh to Tibet.

This village, being the last and closest to the Tibet border, used to host yearly trade fairs in which people from Tibet and other Indian villages would participate, but once the Indo-Tibetan border was closed, the Annual trade fairs disappeared.  

Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary is home to endangered flora and fauna. The area’s natural habitats include the snow leopard, red fox, Hugh whistler, snow pigeons, snow cocks, yellow billed cough, and a variety of other birds and animals. Numerous kinds of wildflowers, as well as up to 50 types of medicinal herbs and plants, thrive in Kibber. 

The Lahaul and Spiti valleys, administration in collaboration with the inhabitants, are on a venture to conserve these endangered species and safeguard their natural surroundings. Earlier snow leopard safaris were used to be organized but then they were stopped as the sound of the vehicles was disturbing the harmony of the animals.

7. Key Monastery: Largest Monastic Training Center

The Key Monastery, located along the Spiti River is a place to visit in Komic Village Spiti and is the largest monastery in the Spiti Valley, as well as the largest monastic training center. This monastery now has roughly 100 monks. Key Monastery is about 12 kilometers from Kaza, and direct buses to Monastery are accessible from Kaza. 

Thousand of devotees from all over the world attended a grand ceremony called Kalachakra in August 2020 which was performed by Dalai Lama. 

When you enter the gorgeous monastery, the walls are decorated with stunning murals and paintings representing 14th-century monastic architecture. The Key monastery in Spiti Valley is an architectural wonder that you must see while visiting the most picturesque valley. The unique architecture and cravings on the walls of the Monastery are influenced by the Indo-Tibetan style. 

In recent years, the monastery has also hosted the “Kachen Dugyal Memorial Old Aged – Handicapped Society,” which provides housing for several elderly and disabled individuals.

The best time to visit the Monastery is during the summer months, from May to September when the valley’s temperatures are moderate and ideal for hiking, climbing, roaming among the villages, and other outdoor activities. Winters are not considered the best time of year to visit the Valley because of the very low temperatures and significant snowfall.

8. Chandra Taal Lake: The Moon Lake

The Chandra River originates in the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, at Chandra Taal Lake. The lake is a trekkers’ delight. The Chandra Taal is spectacular to see in the spring when the lake is encircled by hundreds of flowers. The lake, also known as Moon Lake, was named for its crescent shape and has numerous intriguing stories related to it. 

According to Hindu beliefs, at Chandra Lake Yudhishtra, the oldest of the Paandava, died, after which Lorf Indra appeared in his Chariot to carry his soul to heaven.

It is also stated that the Moon god bathed in this water to restore its coolness and beauty, therefore pilgrims from all over the globe come here to take a plunge in the sacred water.

The lake also has folklore related to it. The villagers believe that the lake is home to a mermaid. Many years ago, a shepherd arrived at the lake to get his sheep for grass gazing. When the mermaid and shepherd saw each other, they fell in love at first sight. However, the shepherd was married, and he did not reveal this to the mermaid for fear of losing her. But one day, a guy disclosed to the mermaid all of the shepherd’s secrets, and the heartbroken mermaid left him. The shepherd never saw the mermaid again. That mermaid still lives around the lake and steals things from unmarried men. 

There is a campsite just a few meters from the lake where tourists may spend the night and see the magnificent beauty of the lake at dawn and sunset. The night near the lake is a must-witness when the lake is full of glittering stars and it appears as if all the stars have dropped in the Chandra Taal Lake.

The best time to visit Komic Village

The best time to visit Komic Village in Spiti Valley is during the summer months. Winter in Lahaul and Spiti is severe, and due to the abundance of snow, all routes and passes leading to the Valleye are blocked. So the Komic Village is completely cut off from the rest of the world during this period. 

Snow begins to melt off the roads between April and May, making it an ideal time to explore the Village and its surroundings. The weather in the summer is ideal for hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. However, the nights are cool, and tourists would require woolen clothes to stay cozy and warm.

How to reach Komic Village

Komic is well connected to the major cities in the surrounding states. The nearest airports to Komic village are Manali Bhuntar Airport and Chandigarh Airport. 

There are two routes to reach Komic Village: Shimla and Manali. The Manali route is the most recommended way to the village due to its smooth terrain and shorter distance.  

Manali – Rohtang – Koksar – Batal – Kunjum La -Kaza – Langza – Hikkim – Komic

While on the way to Komic Village, you will be crossing some of the most beautiful destinations. Enjoy and immerse in the beauty of these places. Kaza is the next major town to Komic Village, located 19 kilometers away. Tourists can plan to stay at Kaza and visit the nearby places before heading to Komic Village. 

Distance from Manali: 204 km

Travel Time: 6hr

Distance from Shimla: 436 Km

Travel Time: 11hr 48 minutes