A sense of enlightenment dwelt upon me, even though for a brief moment, as I saw the Langza buddha statue from a distance on the way to Langza, which is one of the remote villages in Spiti valley of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh.

Table of Contents

A Popular Village in Tribal Land

Langza village Spiti valley is quite popular for multiple reasons. Be it the marine fossils, endangered animal and plant species or the Langza buddha statue, the serene and remote village has been an attraction for tourists from all over the world. The landscape is so serene that it can leave anyone spellbound as it did to me when I visited this region in 2023. Infact, I can say without doubt that this is one of the most beautiful villages in Spiti, more so due to the presence of the Langza Buddha statue which makes the ambiance serene and soothing to the eyes as if Lord Buddha has himself found eternal peace here.

Langza Village- A Harmonic Blend of Serenity and Culture

The altitude of 14,500 feet makes this village unique and for the Langza Buddha statue to be located at this height is something unique too. Otherwise, too the Langza buddha statue height of 35 feet makes it look distinct, even if you watch it from far away in the hills.

Langza village has the Chau Chau Kang Nilda peak in the background, which rises till eternity, and you will feel it crisscrossing the stars if you are here for stargazing, which is another popular activity in this remote village.

Another thing that left its deep impression on my mind was the fact that over 150 residents of this village are deeply religious and seem happy to be aloof from the daily hassles of modern-day life, even though telecommunication signals from Airtel and Jio are evident in this village.

Langza Village Location

This is a remote village in the Western part of Himachal Pradesh. An interesting fact is that Langza village is only 16 Km from Kaza and yet is unexplored with only a few venturing into this remote but serene village.

When I drove to Langza village, little did I realize that the turns and bends going upwards would take me thousands of feet higher in a matter of one hour. I still remember the green carpet of grass which has made Langza unlike other villages in Spiti valley. The climb is around 2500 feet which is incredible as it begins in a rough terrain with the colours changing every bit and the mighty snow-covered peaks in the backdrop offering a unique feeling. Adding to the beauty of the region is the highest peak in this area which rises to an impeccable altitude of over 20,000 feet.

Langza Village – Some Historical Facts

The history of Langza village is as old as humanity. It is widely known that the Himalayas and the Spiti region in particular were submerged under the Tethys Sea in ancient times. As the Himalayas emerged from the shadows, the Sea disappeared and left behind the remains of marine animals which are still found in the form of fossils in this region and in particular in Langza village.

A kind reminder is that you may get a sample fossil all around the place, however, the best thing is to have a gaze, click a photo and leave it in its resting ground. For this reason, the village is known as Langza fossil village and if each of these was carried away to become a part of our collection, the history of the place will get diminished.

What to do in Langza Village

For a nature lover and those who like to be in solitude, once in a while, Langza is a surreal heaven. Even otherwise, there are a lot of things to do in this Himalayan heaven.

Visit to the Langza Buddha statue

The first thing that attracts any visitor to this Himalayan less known village is the Langza buddha statue. It seems that the Langza buddha statue is guarding this small village. The popularity of the statue can be understood from the fact that every bit of information on it, including that of the Langza buddha statue, Wikipedia search also ends up showing the image of this statue.

To be, here in person was special for me and I still remember that it took me around 10 minutes from the place where I parked by car to reach and feel enlightened in the real sense. However, as the Langza buddha statue stands in an open place, you can barely be here for a few minutes as the strong wind current will make you seek a cover soon.

Explore the Local Fauna

Owing to its location, height and solitude, this region is also home to numerous endangered animal species including snow leopards, Himalayan wolf, Ibex and red fox. If you are in this village during the winter months, there are ample chances to get a glimpse of any of these. However, you will have to seek the help of guides locally available as they know the area like the back of their hand and it would be safe to be accompanied by them rather than being a roaming monk like me who loves solitude.

Image by Jeevan Singla from Pixabay

Heaven for Photographers

If you are into photography, Langza is a real heaven for you. This is one of those rare places where you can even see the Milky Way at night with naked eyes. In addition, many constellations can also be seen here. The snowy peak in the backdrop makes it a great place for a click and you must have seen many Langza buddha statue photos with a starry sky earlier too. A visit to Langza offers the opportunity to experience this for real during night hours.

Every hour of the day is perfect for photography here as the Langza buddha statue looks elegant and beautiful from any corner of the village.

Fossil Collection in Langza

This is also the fossil village in Spiti, and you will easily find many spiral shape fossils when you roam around the village. You will also find some children trying to sell these fossils as souvenirs. This happened to me too, as two young kids were ready to sell off a fossil to me. However, as a responsible citizen we must preserve this heritage. In its place, you can get some mud replicas of these statues and they will be a great souvenir for your collection.

Explore the Local Lifestyle

Norkhyil Home Stay in Langza is one of the places to experience the local lifestyle. Besides being in the local ambiance, you can get insights on the region from your host who is also a local of Langza. Enjoy local food like Barley, Yak Cheese, Tigmo and Shapta as you get prepared for a stargazing night in company of other guests and the local host who would lovingly share his tales of the difficult and inhospitable life of Spiti which looks lovely in reality but is a challenge for anyone who decides to make it their home.

You will also get an opportunity to interact with locals and understand their lives. If you are visiting during the summer months, you can watch them working and tending to their crops like barley, potatoes and peas. Winters are a festive time in Spiti and in Langza village too you can sit, relax and enjoy chang and ark with villagers if you wish to feel high!

Image by Alex P Roy from Pixabay

Visit to Monastery and hike to Tsonyeti and Chumo Lake

You can also visit the local temple known as Lang or Langza Gompa, which is the utmost religious spot for locals.

If you are an adventure bug, you must hike to Tsonyeti lake, which is an hour away from Langza. If you are here in July and August, you will find many migratory birds here. Further a hike of 2-3 hours will take you to Chumo lake which is at an altitude of 15,150 feet. For more on this trek, you must get in touch with Spiti Valley Tours who are locals and are real professionals.

FAQs

What is the Best Time to Visit Langza?

April to July is the best time to plan a visit to Langza. The weather is serene and you will not get stuck midway due to landslides or any other issue. These problems can spoil your trip during monsoons. However, as this region is in a rain shadow area, rain is limited in this entire region.

With Winter Spiti too getting popular, it is another option that you can explore. However, temperatures can go up to as low as -30 degrees and you must be amply prepared to deal with challenges that come along.

Neeraj Musafir, a travel vlogger, conducts Winter Spiti groups through his company and is an accomplished Guide. In case you wish to plan a visit during winter, you must try his services.

How to Reach Langza?

Langza is accessible by Road and is around 16 Km from Kaza, the headquarters of Spiti. The region is a two-day drive from Chandigarh and you will have to make stopover at Narkanda or Rekong Peo to get acclimatised to the altitude if you are coming for the first time to this region. If you wish to spend a night in Langza, HRTC runs a bus from Kaza at 5 PM.

What is Langza Famous For?

The place is known for the Langza Buddha statue, which is an iconic landmark in this entire region. It is a statue that is visible as you begin the climb to Langza. In addition, you will find a large number of fossils here which shall interest you in case you like to read and study about fossils.