Langza looks like a quiet village of white-washed houses on a high plateau. But the ground under it was once the floor of an ocean. The fields, slopes and loose stones around the village still hold the shells of creatures that lived there millions of years ago.
That is why Langza is called the fossil village of Spiti.
An ocean in the mountains
The rocks of Spiti formed on the floor of the ancient Tethys Sea, which lay between the Indian plate and Asia. When the plates collided and the Himalaya rose, the old sea floor was lifted thousands of metres into the sky. Sources describe the area as being under water more than 200 million years ago and drying out as the mountains rose.
Ammonites, the spiral-shaped shells of extinct marine animals, are the best-known fossils here. Local people know them well, and some sell small pieces in the village.
The Buddha and the gompa
- A giant Buddha statue. A tall, colourful Buddha statue sits on a ridge above the village and looks across the valley and snow peaks. Local people say it protects the village.
- Lang Gompa. A small old gompa stands close to the statue. Accounts call it more than 500 years old, and locals regard it as a place where Spiti's deities gather.
- A cold desert village. Barley and peas grow on small terraced fields, and herders still take animals to high pastures.
Stars, silence and light
At around 4,400 m, with almost no light pollution, Langza has some of the clearest night skies in the region. On a cloudless night the Milky Way is bright and sharp. Sunrise and sunset colour the Chau Chau Kang Nilda peak above the village.
Getting there
Langza lies a short drive from Kaza, roughly 15 km depending on the route, and is often visited with Hikkim and Komic in a single day. Altitude sickness is a real risk, so spend a night or two in Kaza first. See our guide to reaching Kaza.
Leave the fossils
Fossils are part of the landscape. Take photos and leave them in place so the next visitor can see them too. If you buy a piece, buy from locals and ask where it comes from.
Visit Spiti with a plan
Join a summer or winter Spiti road trip with local drivers and guides.