Best Time to Visit Nako Village: Know Everything

It is said that in the eighth century, Master Rinpoche brought Buddhism to Nako and later great translator Rinchen Zangpo found monasteries between 958-1055 AD. The Nako Monastery and Tabo Monastery were established around the same period but Nako represents a different kind of Buddhism. Nako monasteries are a testimony of well-developed Vajranya Buddhist iconography in India.

Your Spiti Trip Package will not be complete if you do not explore this quaint little village. A mix of rugged mountains, green pastures surrounding the Nako Lake, and cool mountain breeze along some of the warmest hospitality of the local people will truly mesmerize you.

Best Time to Visit Nako Village

Spiti Valley in winters is a sight to behold! It is straight out of an enchanted land right out of a fairy tale in the village known as Land of Fairies by the locals because just ahead of the Nako Lake, is a waterfall, its water so white that it looks like milk and is believed by the local people to be the abode of fairies. Travellers seeking solace in nature, photography enthusiasts, and trekking aficionados will find this time to be optimal for their visit.

While Spiti Valley in August is vibrant everywhere, winters are a completely different landscape altogether. Although the winter months are harsh and extreme, if you want to discover the other side of Spiti Valley then Nako Village should definitely be on your list during these months. For one, the entire Nako Lake is frozen and you can go Ice skating in winter here. You can also consider visiting Nako Village in the early autumn months, especially in October when the temperatures start to dip and the entire landscape is covered in autumnal hues. You will find fresh apples and apricots being harvested during the autumn months which is an experience in itself. As winter sets in, from late November to March, these villages often experience heavy snowfall, which leads to road blockages making it difficult to reach the remote villages especially for those approaching from the Manali route.  

Hence, it is not recommended for tourists who are not accustomed to harsh winter conditions to visit Spiti Valley during the extreme winter months as weather in the Himalayas can be unpredictable.

Nevertheless, it is always cold in Spiti Valley. It is pleasant during the daytime and chilly in the nights even in the summer months and excruciatingly cold in the winter months and you will always need to snuggle up in a lightweight jacket in Spiti Valley. 

Summer temperatures usually average between 10-25 degrees Celsius. The end of July till the starting of September is monsoon period and it can rain anytime, from mild showers to intense rainfall, that can cause major landslides especially in the Kinnaur Valley via the Manali route. The surrounding area of Nako is prone to landslides, in particular the dreaded Maling Nalla, a constant landslide zone in the Hindustan – Tibet Highway.

Top Places to visit nearby Nako Village

• You can start by visiting the popular sightseeing destination in Nako Village; i.e Nako Lake. This lake is 500 m long and has willows and poplar trees encircling around it with majestic mountains encompassing the entire landscape. At the edge of the lake, you will find four Buddhist temples. This scenic beauty will totally encapsulate your senses and take you to a different world altogether. 
• Nako Monastery was built in 1075 and is one of the places where Rinchen Zangpo translated Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit to Tibetan. Rinchen translated Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit to Tibetan language and is thus highly revered in Buddhist culture.The artwork in the monastery is related to Vajrayana Buddhism. At the same time, Dukhong’s walls are decorated to depict gates, fire-circles and secondary non-Buddhist deities in attendance. Other halls in the complex include sculptures representing Yellow Tara, Sculptures of five Dhyani Buddhas made out of clay, and a shrine dedicated to Purgyil, also known as the spirit of the mountains.
• Padmasambhava Shrine was built near Nako Lake in honor of this legend because it is believed that his footprint lies on a rock somewhere in the middle of the lake when he had set foot in this village. 
• Chango Gompa is situated about 25 kms away from the Nako Monastery. The Gompa has a prayer wheel that is over 500 years old and is made of yak skin.
• Hiking Trails nearby Nako Village are an excellent way to explore this region in Spiti Valley. Villages like Tashigang, Komic, Hikkim, etc are quite similar and worth a visit for a real Spitian adventure.

How to reach Nako Village

If you are travelling from the Manali side then you can also catch a Reckong Peo bound bus from Kaza to reach Nako.

The Reckong Peo-Kaza bus leaves at around 6.30-7 AM in the morning from Peo bus stand and drops you at Nako at around 11 AM, with a brief stop at Spello for food.

The Kaza-Peo bus leaves at around 7.30 AM in the morning and you reach Nako by 11.30 AM.

The Hindustan Tibet Road is mostly smooth and a comfort ride in recent times. It used to be one of the most difficult roads at one point of time but in the last couple of years, a lot of work has been done by BRO which is commendable. It can still give you chills at certain sharp turns especially while turning around the deep gorges which is only at one or two points of this highway road but in general it is now easy to drive on.