Langza – The Fossil Village of Lahaul Spiti

By Ajit Brar


very well crafted and colorful statute of buddha Langza-The Fossil village

If you are in spiti valley and you haven’t visited Langza-The Fossil village it means you have missed a postcard perfect heaven like place. At an altitude of 14,500 Ft a small village in Kaza Sub Division of Lahaul Spiti District langza is famous for that magnificent statue of buddha and some rare fossils . 

Do you Know it is believed that Langza was under the Tethys Sea for a long time, that’s why you can find Fossils of marine plants and animals. The landscapes of Langza village can leave anybody spellbound and speechless. Especially the statue of Buddha overlooking these beautiful mountains. locals believe it protects them from evil spirits. 

Surrounded by some beautiful landscape, langza is a perfect place for creating some picturesque memories. But Due to high altitude people do get symptoms of Mountain Sickness. So better get yourself acclimatised before you visit.

Langza-The Fossil village is also known for appearances of endangered species Like snow leopard, Red fox and Himalayan Ibex. if you are lucky enough you can spot one.

a road in dangerous mountains small road in kaza to Langza-The Fossil village
Road To Langza
color full statue of buddha meditating in Langza-The Fossil village
statue of Buddha
statue of buddha meditating and over looking Langza-The Fossil village
beautiful view from langza

How to reach Langza Village in Kaza ?

The distance from New Delhi is around 775 Km. From Kaza, Langza-The Fossil village is just 16 km away and is very well connected by paved road, it hardly takes 30 min to reach the village. But if you are a mountain lover, views along the road are so mesmerising that you will surely take more breaks to click some memories during your visit.

view of small lake in langza village
Beautiful lake in langza

Which are the Must visit places in Langza ?

It is a very small village and main attraction is the Statue of Buddha and Lang Gompa, but if you are a frequent traveller to mountains and can do some trekking you can also visit two high altitude lakes Tsonyeti lake and Chumo tso near langza to witness a majestic View of Chau Chau Kang Nilda or Princess Mountain.

view of buddha statue in langza village clear blue sky
Buddha statue in Langza

What is the Best Time to visit Langza?

 Best Time to visit langza village is from May To November. it is the safest time to enjoy the beauty of mountains without any problem. But if you love challenges and like adventure, then winter can also be perfect. but only if you can survive extreme temperatures and heavy snow. Risk of getting trapped due to closed roads in heavy snowfall is always there in winters.

a yak standing on a mountain in langza
Yak in Langza

Hows Weather in Langza ?

Weather in Langza-The Fossil village is always cold. in summers average temperature is 12 C and at night can drop upto -2 to -5 Degree celsius. Winters in langza are always extreme. The temperature varies from -25 degree minimum to -10 degree Maximum. Exposure to extreme cold for a long time can also cause frost bites so keep yourself layered. Using high quality Sunscreen is always recommended, as Exposure to Sun in High altitude may result in Sunburns or extreme tanning, in both the seasons.

view of homestays in langza village
Home Stays in Langza

Can we stay in langza ?

Yes nowadays you will find homestays in langza. If you want to explore and experience the hard life of locals and want to enjoy local cuisines. you can stay at homestays by paying nominal charges. But don’t expect the luxury and comfort of any hotel. Before you plan to stay at langza make sure you are well acclimatised to high altitudes in mountains.

Is it safe to visit Langza-The Fossil village ?

Apart from High altitude sickness there is no reason to be afraid of. It is perfectly safe and secure, locals are very humble, helping and peace loving. It’s only some tourists who create problems. Otherwise the place is peaceful and beautiful.

Is it illegal to buy fossils in langza ?

As per Law passed by the Himachal Pradesh Government it is illegal to buy or sell fossils in langza. It is advised to avoid doing such things during your langza trip.

Now Some of The things To avoid During Trip to mountains-

it is already evident that we are experiencing global climate change resulting in destroying nature and affecting these beautiful mountains. Every concerned traveller should do his contribution, so that we can preserve these places for our next generation.

Do’s And Don’ts for your next trip To Mountains.

  • Carry a refillable water bottle- due to scarcity of drinking water in these villages, its better to carry your own water, and avoid packaged drinking water to minimise plastic waste.
  • Buying food and Beverages from locals – local food and drinks can also help you to acclimatise to high altitude weather, and can provide support to the livelihood of locals.
  • Use Dustbins to dispose of garbage- The government of himachal pradesh and some local NGOs have set up dustbins at every important location for proper waste management. So use these dustbins and help to keep mountains clean.
  • Acclimatise yourself – Before visiting such high altitudes. You should get yourself acclimatised with the harsh weather and high altitude. Due to lack of air pressure and thin oxygen it can result in altitude sickness and spoil your trip. 
  • Carry and wear enough warm layers- Before you plan, The first thing you should do is buy some warm layers of clothes. Weather on mountains can be very harsh and cold and it is very unpredictable.

Don’t.

  • Don’t interfere with the lives and privacy of local residents- surviving in these harsh mountain conditions is already very tough. So try to avoid interfering and disturbing the locals. Respect their feelings and culture.
  • Don’t Click pictures without permission– try to ask politely before clicking pictures of any person or place. If they agree you can do so. At Some of the religious places photography is prohibited, so respect the feeling and emotions of people living there. 
  • Avoid single Use plastic- Waste management is a bigger concern in the mountains. Try to avoid single use plastic, and carry reusable bottles and tiffin boxes. if you have some plastic waste try to dispose of the same at designated places or dustbin.
  • Do not drink liquor – Try to avoid drinking while you are visiting these destinations. Some of them are also of religious importance. it is also dangerous for your health to drink at high altitudes. It may cause dehydration and result in AMS.
  • Avoid Self Medication- Don’t consume any medicine before consulting a qualified physician. As conditions in mountains are very different to plains. Human body reacts differently at high altitudes.

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