Introduction

Langja is at an altitude of 4,400 meters above sea level and, in a manner of speaking, this provides a window to the evolution of the entire Himalayan chain. Millions of years ago the Earth's land mass consisted of two giant continents. There was Gondwanaland in the south and Laurasia in the north. A huge chunk of land severed itself from upper Gondwanaland and swept right across the mighty Sea of Tethys that separated them. Again, after millions of years, this giant engine crashed into the Asian continent. The force of the impact created the Himalaya mountains and the land that had pushed it ahead, is now India. Scattered all around Langja are ammonite fossils – that date back to the time when all this land was under the sea.

The village of Langja is the core of this unusual bio-sphere reserve and may well be one of the most picturesque hamlets in Spiti - and the large brightly colored statue of the Buddha seems to be the heart of the place. The Buddhist temple at Langja, again, like many of the other ones in Spiti, is an ancient one and some believe this to be a millennium old. Behind the towering mountains rise this unusual synergy of sea bed fossils high in the arid mountains, the old temple and the magnificent views can be experienced by taking one of the fossil treks organized by the local community – and these are more in the nature of educative experiences than gathering expeditions, though some unscrupulous people do try and sell them to tourists.

Special Attributes

A village surrounded by a fossil-rich area.

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

Conservative and comfortable attire is recommended. Since these are remote areas, it is best to avoid anything too revealing. Always factor in local sensibilities.

Connectivity

Taxis and buses

Enjoyed by

People interested in culture and nature.

Exposure

High levels of UV. Adequate protection like sunblock and head gear are recommended.

Avoidable Season

November, December, January, February, March

Facilities

Basic, plan accordingly.

Things Not Allowed

No shoes in the monastery area

Tip

Beware of buying of taking away fossils. This is illegal.

Type of site

Village