Welcome to Demul Village and Embrace Tradition and Tranquillity

Your Spiti Trip Packages should include Demul as part of your itinerary along with many other spectacular villages in Spiti, like Kaza-Hikkim-Komic-Langza.

There is a story behind the discovery of this village. It is believed that nearly 200 years ago, this part of Spiti was accidentally ‘discovered’ by a shepherd who was looking for his lost yak named ‘Demo’ who found this grazing haven in the midst of an otherwise cold barren rugged landscape. The shepherd was so delighted to have discovered this green pasture that he decided to build his home here and gradually also invited his friends and family to come and live here. And thus the existence of Demul Village came into being!

Demul Village is a perfect example of balance, harmony and parity of sustainable and strong community living. Here, you will be transported back to the days when life was very simple with limited means and everyone knew everyone in the village. If you want to go back to those simple days of your grandparents when summer vacation meant just lazing around in the summer heat with some warm smiles and the great hospitality of your grandparents, then you will feel exactly at home here.

Tucked away in the vast Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, this remote settlement offers a glimpse into a world untouched by the hustle and bustle of modern life. Demul Village embodies simplicity and tranquillity. Here, time seems to slow down, and the rhythm of life just flows along with the changing seasons and weather of the valley. Surrounded by towering mountains and vast expanses of virgin landscapes, it is a mecca for those seeking solace. 

When it comes to activities in Demul Village, you will be surprised that there is actually nothing to do more than explore the village and meet the locals and talk and share their life moments with them. If you are looking for some real ‘me’ time then this village is just perfect for you to turn the clock and just chill and unwind here. Like many remote villages in Spiti Valley, Demul Village will bring in a sense of calm and peace and you will be refreshed in the mountains.

• Balari Top

A hike of 3 hours will take you to Balari Top, a vantage point at the height of 4953 m. You will be able to get a bird’s eye view of the entire Spiti Valley with all its villages and the confluence of Spiti River, Pin River and Lingti River. This view will certainly mesmerise you and will be a moment to treasure for a lifetime and forever remain one of the places to visit in Demul Village. 

The hike to Balari Top will take you about 3 hours and although the ascent is gradual, it is a long and arduous trek, at the end of which you will be compensated with the picturesque landscape of the valley with myriad colours of brown, sprinkled with some green oasis of pastures and vegetations and pea fields grown in the various villages. Trekking to this viewpoint will certainly be the highlight of the trip and definitely one of the best things to do in Demul Village.

• Yak Safari

Yes, it exists! 

If you are keen on going on a Yak Ride, you can talk to any of the locals in the village and they will be more than happy to take you on a Yak Safari in Spiti Valley around the village or maybe even to the nearby villages of Komic, Langza, etc. 

• Local Temple

There is a small beautiful temple in the village which is worth visiting. This temple is an embodiment of Indo-Buddhist culture where they believe in maintaining harmony with nature and all living beings alike. Offer your obeisance to the almighty and let a sense of revelation elate you from within. 

Most residents of the village belong to the Bodh tribe, also known as Bodh Rajputs which are a hardworking and hospitable community. They keep their ancient tribal beliefs and traditions alive through the medium of food, way of life, festivals, songs, rituals, birth, marriage, worship, farming and cattle rearing. This is what makes Demul Village special and unique.

• Mingle with the villagers and explore the village

One of the best things to do in Demul Village and Spiti Valley in general is to explore the villages and talk to the locals. You will gain a deep insight into their lives and a sense of humility will draw upon you at the fact that after facing such harsh winters and remaining completely cut off from the rest of the country for more than 6 months, these simple villagers open their homes and hearts out to accommodate each and every tourist visiting their homeland with one of the warmest and gracious smiles with whatever little they have to offer and share it with outsiders.

• Star Gazing

Star Gazing in Spiti Valley is definitely the best thing to do in Demul Village. Pollution-free and totally secluded for miles, Spiti Valley in general is one of the places to go Stargazing. You will fall in love once again with this valley all over with such great views of the gazillion stars in the night sky and definitely remember that special someone.

June to September are the best months to visit Demul and the nearby villages of  Spiti Valley in general. You will find snow during the months of May to June and in September the entire Valley of Spiti bursts out in a myriad of autumnal colours.

The summer months are generally the peak tourist season because it is a hassle-free trip to travel during June, July and September. 

Spiti Valley in winter looks enchanting and straight out of a winter wonderland, but poses many challenges. The road from Manali to Kaza is closed during winter and you can only travel to Spiti via Kinnaur during these months. The Manali to Kaza route is only open from mid-June to October. Hence, it is the only window of time to visit Demul from the Manali side if you plan to do so. In winter months, even if you reach  Spiti Valley via Kinnaur, the access roads to Demul village remain closed for the entire winter.

If you are driving from Kaza to Demul, it is a one-hour drive from Kaza. An uphill diverged track from the main road along the Spiti River, just before Lidang village will take you to Demul Village. This is a 20 km stretch of tarred road, called Demul Road. 

Another way to drive down to Demul is from Komic Village, but the road is just a dirt track 

for most of the way. There is a local bus from Kaza to Demul which leaves at 5:00 pm, and the same bus returns the next morning at 7:30 am from Demul to Kaza. 

Demul is connected to all villages of Spiti Valley. Some travellers choose to trek to Demul from Komic or Hikkim Village as well as part of their Spiti Valley Trek . 

As mentioned before, Demul Village is a homestay haven, primarily because this village is run on a system of controlled hospitality by a group of local villagers, wherein a village homestay is allocated to each tourist visiting here, so that everyone can benefit from tourism. It is a well-managed system headed by a village representative who allots the homestays to the tourists and the next day again a new homestay will be allotted to the same person intending to extend their stay in Demul. 

Every year, half of the houses in the village participate in hosting travellers and the other half get their turn the subsequent year. This ensures an equitable distribution of income to every house in the village and a unique experience for travellers. The food at Demul is a blend of Himachali and Tibetan and you will also find local Spitian dishes. This system was mainly introduced by an NGO that also helped the village arrange for 2 hours of solar electricity daily some 20 years ago in the early 2000s.