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About
Nako, Himachal Pradesh |
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Nako is a small village in the Himalayas of northern India. It
is located in Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh. The area
is famous for Nako Lake which forms part of the border of the
village. Nako Monastery is located in the village as well as
several other Buddhist temples. Nako is located high on a
hillside about 3600 m above sea level, nako receives tourists
during the summer months.
It lies in the sensitive restricted zone along the border with
Tibet, which requires an Inner Line Permit to travel through
that coupled with its remote location and limited tourist
infrastructure which makes it a little-visited but rewarding
destination. It used to be prohibited to stay overnight
anywhere within the restricted zone, but this is no longer the
case, provided you have a valid permit. Inner Line Permit is
required only for Foreign Nationals and local people
(including non-Himachalis) do not require same.
The best time to visit Nako is from April to October as its
scenic beauty is at its peak during this time. Peak winter is
best avoided as the roads are closed for days after snowfall. |
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Location of Nako |
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Nako
(11'800ft) is located at the east end of Kinnaur Valley and is
the last point of interest before reaching the landslide at
Malling Nullah between Spiti and Kinnaur Valley.
Get around
Nako is tiny village and walking is the only option. |
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History of Nako Village |
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In
eighth century Master Rinpoche brought Buddhism to Nako and
later great translator Rinchen Zangpo founded monasteries
between 958-1055 AD. Nako and Tabo monasteries were founded
around the same period but Nako represents a different kind of
Buddhism. Nako monasteries are evidence of well developed
Vajranya Buddhist iconography in India. |
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Tourist Attractions in Nako |
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Nako Lake
Nako Lake is a small and beautiful holy lake. Early
morning is nako lake is most scenic. In the early morning
one get a beautiful reflection of the village and
mountains in the lake.
Nako Monastery
Nako Monastery lies in the middle of the village. It was
founded by Ringchen Zangpo in 996 AD. A complex of small
old temples with fine old frescoes and sculptures, some of
them neglected. There's also a new temple built in recent
years.
Gates in the village streets
They were built from stone and wood and painted from the
inside with colourful Buddhist religious paintings. |
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Things to Do in Nako Village |
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1)
Walk around the small village absorbing the traditional
atmosphere and architecture of the village, it looks like it
hasn't changed in hundreds of years.
2) There are some nice day walks around the mountains if you're
reasonably fit. Behind the lake you can head up the mountain
towards the visible chortens which is a nice viewpoint. If you
still have a lot more energy then you continue around to the
other side of the range for views east towards Tibet. In 3 to 4
hours you can reach the village of Tashigang which is perched
high above the Sutlej valley, with a fascinating temple. The
only things you'll encounter underway are sheephearders and
great views. |
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How To Reach Nako |
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By
Rail
Nearest railway station from Nako is Shimla and it is about
283 km from Nako.
By Road
Daily buses and regular taxi services are available from
Shimla and Rampur to Nako. From Lahaul and Spiti also nako can
be reached. However, Malling Nullah near Nako on the route is
landslide prone.
By Air
The nearest airport is at Shimla. Shimla airport is well
connected to Delhi and Kullu. Taxis are easily available from
Shimla to Nako. |
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