The Nako village is found in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh’s Trans-Himalayan area, close to the Indo-China border. Here, where it borders the town, Nako Lake is a noteworthy landmark.
The site is home to various Buddhist Stupas and the 1025-year-old Nako Monastery. At a height of roughly 3600 meters, the unspoiled, peaceful, and lovely Nako village may be found in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur District. Nako, which lies towards the end of the route to Malling Nallah, may be found in the eastern end of Kinnaur Valley.
Due to the village’s small size, it is simple to explore its hidden attractions on foot.
Nako village became a famous destination for those completing the circuit in recent years as Spiti tourism began to grow. Several hotels/lodges are nearby, and the location is worth visiting for a while because of how beautiful and quiet it is.
Its most notable features are the village’s lake, monastery, and breathtaking view of the surrounding Himalayan peaks. The settlement is completely encircled by lush fields, starkly contrasting with the desert-like, bare mountains all surrounding it.
Foreign nationals will require a permit to visit Nako. An Inner Line Permit is available in Reckong Peo for Rs.400 or Kaza or Shimla for Rs.300 and is suitable for 14 days. Overnight stay is not allowed anywhere within the restricted zone unless you have the Inner Line Permit.
Weather in Nako Village
Nako provides breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys throughout the year. For those visiting Nako anytime soon, here is a description of the seasonal Weather in Nako village.
Monsoon: From July to September, Nako experiences cool and fresh weather. The temperature during these months ranges between 3°C to 13 °C.
Winter: From October to February, the temperature moves towards a sub-zero region. These months have cold winds and chilly nights. Due to the sub-zero temperature, snowfall is witnessed almost throughout these months.
Summer: From March to June, the temperature is still excellent as the temperature rises above sub-zero temperature. However, these months are the ideal months for visiting Nako.
Weather in Nako village is challenging during the winter time, take all precautions. Also, keep a check on you acute mountain sickness if it happens.
What is the best time to visit Nako village?
The Nako village is undoubtedly delightful all year round. Best time to visit Nako village is summers.
However, summer is the easiest time to travel because there is so much to see and do. Apple harvest season, which lasts from August to September, is a sight to behold, with the entire landscape changing to colours representing the land’s fertility.
The weather is so pleasant, making it a no-brainer to finish the Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti-Manali loop. The whole winter season is covered in snow.
How to reach Nako village?
Nako can be reached through two routes, one from the Spiti valley and the other from the Shimla side. The route from the Shimla side is generally considered to be more accessible.
1. Via Shimla: Delhi – Chandigarh – Shimla – Narkanda – Rampur – Pooh – Nako
2. Via Manali: Delhi – Chandigarh – Manali – Rohtang Pass – Gramphoo – Batal – Kunzum Pass – Kaza – Dhankar – Tabo – Nako
By air
The closest airport is located in Shimla, 312 kilometres distant. You’ll need to take a taxi or a bus to Reckong Peo, and then proceed further. Shimla, being an airport in the hills, has limited connection; you must be aware of this. The next-best alternative is Chandigarh Airport, located 425 kilometres from Nako. Once more, there are bus and taxi choices throughout the city.
By train
By train, the closest trainyard is in Shimla. However, connectivity at this station is also somewhat limited. The nearest commercial railhead with good connectivity is Chandigarh Railway Station. Again, one must take a cab or bus for the other part of the trip.
By bus
Many buses ply between the main bus stands, such as Chandigarh or Shimla. Himachal Roadways buses can be used to reach Nako village from these stops. There are two buses daily plying from Peo to Nako and beyond. You can also catch a Peo-bound bus from Kaza to reach Nako if you are from the Manali side.
By car or cab
Nako is situated between Reckong Peo (Kinnaur) and Kaza on the Hindustan Tibet Highway (Spiti). Nowadays, the Hindustan Tibet Road is comfortable mainly and supple. It was once one of the most challenging roads, but over the past few years, a lot of work has been done, and I have witnessed its improvement. The road is now easy to drive on, except for one or two places where there are still a few hairpin twists on the edge of deep gorges that can scare you.
Things to do in Nako Village
Nako Lake
Between the bare mountains, Nako Lake is like a paradise. A short path runs alongside the seasonal lake’s round shape. The lake’s periphery is entirely encircled by a dense canopy of willow and poplar trees, giving it a blue-green hue.
The Lake place is revered because it is thought Saint Padmasambhava stayed there. There are several temples and a monastery on the lake’s bank just north. Among them, the Gyu Chok Ling monastery is in the centre of town. The mountain road which leads to Nako Lake passes through a valley full of farms.
The road winds between two high summits with sheer drops on both sides.
Chango Gompa
On the road to Spiti, in Chango town, the Chango Gompa is located approximately 25 kilometres from the Nako monastery. The prayer wheel at the Gompa is almost 500 years old and has an 11-foot diameter.
Yak skin is used to make it. A two-stage wheel is used for the prayer wheel. The first stage, called the hub, is made of a bronze plate. The second stage is made of yak skin and is about seven feet in diameter.
The monastery was founded by Terton Nyengyel Drubthob in 1205 AD and was named Nako after his birthplace in Tibet. It became a centre for Buddhist studies at an early date and many important texts were produced here.
Nako Monastery
This monastery was allegedly established in the eleventh century by famed old translator Lochen Rinchen Zangpo. It is located in the village of Nako, about six hour’s drive from Manali.
The complex of the translator is another name for the monastery, also known as the Lotsava Jhakang. This tranquil monastery, located near Nako Lake, was built in the Spiti Valley after the famed Tabo Monastery’s design and is divided into four halls or chapels.
The monastery’s gate is etched with complex structures. Visitors from around the world visit the Vajrayana Buddhist monastery. This building is embellished with beautiful artwork. Buddha teachings, clay and metal idols, and stupas can be found at the Nako Monastery.
Sightseeing
Nako is a small resort town in the Himalayan foothills of India. It is situated on the bank of the Beas River and surrounded by hills. This town has a lot to offer its visitors – from restaurants to adventure sports and even entertainment.
Nako is one of the best places to get away from busy lifestyles. Take a short stroll to one of the nearby hills to get a bird’s eye view of the pristine village. The bells in the gompas are at strategic points and one can get great view from these spots.
This beautiful town is a beautiful place for those who love photography.
Trekking
Nako is a remote hamlet in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, where the inhabitants lead a simple life with primitive means. Nako has plenty of shepherd trails that lead to Chango, Hango, and Tashigang villages.
The scenic valley of Narkanda is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. The valley is full of high peaks that stand tall on a backdrop of lush green forest. Some of the highest peaks like Rio Purgyil (6816 m) are located in the valley.
Nako is also a focal point for trekking trails like Nako to Chango village, Nako to Hango village, and Nako to Somang village trek via Tashigang.
Meet the locals
The residents of Nako village are hot and welcoming. A lot of people have opened homestays for tourists and provide excellent services. Talking to the locals at Nako is a great way to know more about their heritage, beliefs, lifestyle, and more.
What to eat in Nako village?
Himachali cuisine is one of the most diverse cuisines in the nation. The homestays and hotels do provide decent meals. Some of the best food options here at Nako are:
Momos: These are dumplings with vegetable or non-vegetarian fillings. These are served hot with red chilli dips. Momos are integral to the most famous food in and around the area.
Chowmein: This dish has roots in east India and Tibet. A lot of variants of these noodles are available at Nako.
Thukpa: This dish is famous in East India, Himachal, Nepal, and Tiber. It is any soup or stew combined with noodles.
North-Indian food: Basic food items from North India are also available at Nako. One can have Maggi, Rajma rice, and parathas at dhabas here.
Staying options at Nako
In Nako, there are numerous homestays available. The lodging choices at Nako Village include affordable homestays, the motel Reo Purgil, the PWD guest house, and Knaygoh Kinner Camp. In contrast to hotels and camps, where prices can go as high as Rs. 4000, homestays have starting prices of Rs. 200 and maximum fees of Rs. 650.
The cost of hotels significantly increases during the tourist season. Regarding phone connections, the valley does not allow any data connections. You can only make calls using BSNL connections, so do not expect data connectivity.
Important things to remember while visiting Nako
Always carry your water bottle, which can be refilled multiple times before discarding. This helps keep the mountains clean.
Always carry sunscreen while visiting this place to avoid sunburns.
Research the staying options, routes, and food options before reaching the place.
In acute mountain sickness, staying at Tabo rather than Nako is better because the place does not have emergency medical services.
Conclusion Nako is a handful of houses, homestays, monasteries, and tourist attractions. The place is not much explored and can serve as a great mountain getaway. If you are looking for a place in the mountains, away from the crowd and hustle-bustle of daily life, then Nako is the place.
Any questions please leave them in the comment section below.
