Places to Visit in Florence

This monastery is located 40 kms away from Kaza and is on the way to Peo. Taxis are available to visit these monasteries that go all the way up to the mountain. The HP road transport corporation also provides buses till the junction between Dhankar and Shichling. It leaves at 7 am and returns from Shichling at 3 pm in the afternoon. One needs to trek up till the monasteries from the Shichling fork for 10 KMs via motorable roads. The monks here at the two Gompas are very friendly. One of these Gompas is an extremely popular thousand year old Monastery. It is one of the hidden treasures of Sipitian Mountains. There are little Dhankar boys here, studying to be future Lamas, who love to show the tourists around and are very friendly. It is strongly recommended that you include a visit to the Dhankar monasteries in your itinerary when visiting Kaza. It will surely be a memorable experience and to make it more special, try to meet the head Lama of the monastery, if possible. 

This vibrant festival is marked with ritualistic and energetic dancing by the local tribes, wearing colourful masks and costumes. It is celebrated in the month of February and commemorates the beginning of the New Year. It is also celebrated as the auspicious day of the assassination of cruel Tibetan Ruler Lang Darma in the previous century.

This is a popular trade fair which attracts numerous tourists to Kaza during the month of July. A variety of goods are bartered or sold at reasonable prices.

This joyous community festival is celebrated in the chilly December and January months and is a grand get together for the locals.The culture of Kaza is very similar to that of Tibet and it is geographically also comparable to Tibet and Ladakh in many ways. The native Khasa and Saka tribes are said to have migrated to Kaza or the Spiti valley somewhere in the 5th or 6th Century BC. This place has several popular colourful festivals that are celebrated throughout the year.

This beautiful lake is at a dreamlike location that is about an hour’s trek away from Kaza and is a beautiful tourist spot. Its clear waters are transcendental in their beauty.

This charming little village near Kaza is located at a height of 4275 meters. There is a small monastery in this village, but women are not allowed inside during prayer hours. Many fossils are found in this place which is an interesting feature of this village.

The neighboring towns and tourist spots near Kaza are Tabo, Kibber, Gette, Kunzum pass, Pin valley, Chandratal, Lhingti valley, etc. The numerous Kaza travel packages may also have these spots included in them.

This village is believed to be the highest point of this place by the locals.

There is a small museum slightly downhill from the Dhankar village that houses Buddhist religious objects, old costumes, saddles and instruments used by the locals. 

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, had recently inaugurated this newly constructed monastery, on the 9th of July, 2009.

Located 20 km away from Kaza, greets every visitor with complementary tea. Although photography is prohibited inside the monastery, it is allowed in the outdoor area. The monks also give a guided tour of the monastery to visitors.