Offbeat places near Kaza — 6 beyond Key Monastery
How this list is built
"Offbeat" here means off the Key Monastery and Kibber line that most first days follow. Every place below has its own page on this site and a public road to it. The minutes are our own road routing from Kaza, sorted nearest first.
Close to Kaza
1. Tangyud Monastery
A monastery at Komic from the early 14th century, with walls built to double as a fort, on a canyon rim overlooking Kaza. 16 minutes from Kaza. Tangyud Monastery.
Up the valley
2. Dhankar Lake
A lake at 4,140 m above Dhankar Monastery, reached by a trek from below, 47 minutes from Kaza to the start. Dhankar Lake.
3. Chicham Bridge
A suspension bridge at 4,145 m over a deep gorge near Kibber, 50 minutes from Kaza. Chicham Bridge.
The Pin valley
4. Kungri Monastery
Second only to Key Monastery in age among Spiti's monasteries, known for a sword dance performed each year, 51 minutes from Kaza. Kungri Monastery.
5. Lhalung Gompa
A quiet fort monastery further up the valley from Kungri, with a notable statue of Manjushri, 54 minutes from Kaza. Lhalung Gompa.
6. Pin Valley National Park
Established in 1987, protecting 675 km² of cold-desert habitat that holds snow leopards, ibex and blue sheep, 73 minutes from Kaza. Pin Valley National Park.
Putting it together
The two-day plan covers the main circuit, and the three-day circuit reaches further. See the Kaza guide and how to reach Kaza for the rest, and Tabo for the monastery down the valley.
Questions people ask
What are the offbeat places near Kaza?
Six that we have written up: Tangyud Monastery at Komic, Dhankar Lake, Chicham Bridge, Kungri Monastery, Lhalung Gompa and Pin Valley National Park. Each has its own page with the measured drive from Kaza, and most are monasteries or high-altitude sites at the end of a road.
Which is the closest?
Tangyud Monastery at Komic, about 16 minutes by road from Kaza. The others are 47 to 73 minutes away. Dhankar Lake needs a trek above Dhankar, and Pin Valley National Park is the longest day out, so plan those on their own rather than adding them to the main circuit.
Do you need to acclimatise?
Yes. Kaza is at 3,650 m and several of these places are higher, so spend a night or two at altitude before the long days and drink plenty of water. Our pages say what each stop asks of you, and none of them should be a first day out.