The Highest Motorable Village In The World Sits At 15,000ft In India And Has Just 150 Residents!
Spiti’s patchy, snaking roads are daunting to even the best of drivers. But beyond the stress (and in parts nausea too)that comes with reaching this destination, there is a world that deserves to be explored here. For intrepid travellers, Spiti is still off the beaten path and is thankfully bereft of the crowds that now mark the roads of Ladakh.
And if you’ve ever dreamt of standing on top of the world, or atleast India, Spiti affords you this experience at Komic, often touted as India’s highest motorable village, perched at a breathtaking 15,027 feet.
Komic, India’s highest motorable village is perched at a breathtaking 15,027 feet
Komic: The Highest Motorable Village In India
Driving up from Kaza, the road feels like it’s twisting its way into the heavens, every curve opening to a view that could easily belong on a postcard. Even though the air gets thinner and is slightly nerve-wrecking for people who don’t do well on hills, the destination is worth the drive.
The village itself is made of stone houses, a traditional form of architecture found in Himalayan states, decorated with colourful prayer flags that flutter vigorously when it is windy. Unlike Khardung La, which boasts crowded cafes now, Komic is largely untouched by commercialisation.
Tangyud Monastery (Komic Monastery)
While harsh winters makes Komic inaccessible, there is plenty to see here during summer and shoulder seasons.
Places To Visit In Komic, Spiti Valley
Tangyud Monastery (Komic Monastery)
The name Komic itself means “eye of a snow cock,” and you’ll see why: the village seems to be watching over the entire Spiti Valley from its perch. And the Komic Monastery with its red walls, sits like a guardian of time. Believed to have been constructed over 500 years ago, Tangyud is the epicentre of faith in Komic. The old building of the monastery is now a museum you can visit, and all the spiritual practices here are now done in the monastery in Kaza.
Home to the world’s highest post office, Hikkim is a short bumpy drive from Komic, and often features on local itineraries here.
Hikkim
Home to the world’s highest post office, Hikkim is a short bumpy drive from Komic, and often features on local itineraries here.
Langza ‘Fossil’ Village
History suggests Langza was under the Tethys Sea millions of years ago, and still boasts marine fossils that are scattered around its slopes and paths. This makes Langza another fascination pitstop on your Spiti trip. While they’re fascinating to see, resist the urge to buy them — selling fossils here is strictly prohibited. The village is watched over by a towering Buddha statue, said to protect its people and travellers alike. When night falls, Langza turns into an astronomer’s dream, with a sky so clear you can spot constellations, planets, and sometimes even the Milky Way stretching across the horizon.
Langza village is watched over by a towering Buddha statue, said to protect its people and travellers alike
Best Time To Visit Spiti Valley
The best time to visit is between May and September, when the roads from Kaza remain open.
There’s not much in terms of phone signal, Wi-Fi, or fancy cafes but that’s exactly the point. Komic forces you to slow down. Travellers choose to stay in Kaza, and explore Komic and Hikkim on a day trip. You have to carry cash, as there are no ATMs and virtual payment is well, virtually non-existent.
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