📍 Location: ~35 km from Kaza, ~26 km from Tabo, Spiti Valley
📅 Season: June–September for trekking, cultural immersion, and monastery visits
Where barley fields meet bone-colored cliffs, and the gods still walk among the homes
🏘️ Demul Village – The Rotating Heart of Hospitality
Perched at 4,320 meters, Demul is a community-run village where:
- Homestays are assigned by rotation, ensuring equal income for all families
- Visitors must shift homes daily, experiencing different hosts and traditions
- Locals grow barley, peas, and potatoes, and practice eco-friendly farming
- The village offers panoramic views of the Lingti Valley and Tangmar mountains
🛖 Demul’s hospitality is coordinated by a village committee—a rare model of equitable tourism
🕉️ Lhalung Village – Land of the Gods and Living Monastery
Just across a gorge from Demul lies Lhalung, meaning “Land of the Gods”, home to:
- Lhalung Monastery (Sarkhang Gompa): Founded by Rinchen Zangpo in the 10th century
- A sacred willow tree, believed to have sprouted overnight by divine will
- Tangmar mountain, said to change colors with the deity’s mood—red for anger, yellow for joy
- Chudolsa Cave and seasonal water rituals, adding mystic depth
🪔 Locals believe angels built the monastery overnight and still reside within—touching the walls is discouraged to preserve their presence
🥾 Connecting Trails & Cultural Flow
- Demul–Lhalung Trek: A few hours’ walk through a gorge, river crossing, and uphill climb
- Dhankar–Lhalung–Demul circuit: Ideal for spiritual seekers and slow travelers
- Photography: Mud homes, prayer flags, and dramatic skies offer surreal compositions
- Festivals: Cham dances, masked rituals, and rotating deity processions every few years
🌌 These villages are network-free zones, perfect for stargazing and digital detox
🧭 Plan Your Visit
| 🗺️ Travel Tips | 🏡 Stay Options |
|---|---|
| Reach via Attargo Bridge off NH-505 | Homestays in Demul & Lhalung (rotational system) |
| Nearest town: Kaza (~35 km) | Combine with Dhankar Monastery, Mane Village, or Sopona Lake |
| Best time: June–September | No mobile signal; BSNL landlines only |
✨ Why They Belong in Your Guide
Demul & Lhalung reflect:
- Spiti’s communal and spiritual ethos
- A living archive of Himalayan hospitality and heritage
- A sanctuary of silence, where gods, guests, and villagers share the same roof
They’re not just villages—they’re a twin hymn of humility and holiness, carved in clay and carried by wind.
