Nako Lake

Situated at an elevation of 3,636 metres, the Nako Lake is the main tourist attraction in the valley. The dense willow trees and the poplar trees bordering the shores enhance the natural beauty of the Nako Lake. The lake itself is well within the ranges of Nako village, on the mountainous slopes of Reo Purgyil of the Srikhand Range. One of the most fascinating features of the lake is the many migratory birds who come to the lake during migration season.
The lake has become famous for the many bird-sounds that can be heard in the area because of this phenomenon. During winter, the surface of the lake freezes over, which makes it the perfect place to enjoy ice-skating. Another attractive feature of Nako Lake is the many urban legends attached to it. Locals worship the lake as an ethereal body, while a nearby waterfall where the water is white because of its foamy texture, is believed to be the home of the fairies. There are many caves, temples and valleys nearby that you can explore when you are at Nako Lake.
Location: Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh
Timing: Open 24 hours
Price: Free entry
Distance from Spiti: 116.9 km
Distance from Shimla: 312.7 km
Distance from Manali: 313.1 km
Nako Monastery

Nako Monastery is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Nako. The monastery was built in 1025 AD, making it one of the oldest standing structures in the region. It is a restoration centre and museum for ancient Buddhist paintings and murals.
The monastery consists of four temples built on the same compound, where the exterior of the temples showcases exquisite Victorian architectural styles while the interiors are comparatively simpler. While there is no entry fee, the authorities at the monastery do accept donations from visitors and pilgrims.
Location: Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh
Timing: Monday to Sunday (8:00 – 5:00 pm)
Price: Free entry
Distance from Spiti: 117.7 km
Distance from Shimla: 311.6 km
Distance from Manali: 313.9 km
Nako Gompa

Situated on the western side of the village of Nako, this gompa is a combination of ancient 11th-century architecture and modern construction designs. The Nako Gompa is located in a relatively secluded area from where you can see vast, uninterrupted expanses of the Himalayan mountain range. It is the perfect place to plan a road trip, and to take some memorable photographs of the surrounding natural beauty.
The interiors of the gompa are decorated with dance masks from different hill festivals. There are also sculptures and murals that are similar to the sculptures found in the famous Tabo Gompa in Spiti. According to popular beliefs, this is one of the 100 gompas established by the “Great Translator”- Rinchen Zangpo. There is no entry fee to visit the Gompa, other than the general permit you need to enter the Nako area.
Location: Nako, Himachal Pradesh 172112.
Timing: Open 24 hours
Price: Free entry
Distance from Spiti: 117.6 km
Distance from Shimla: 310.3 km
Distance from Manali: 314.5 km
Lipa- Asrang Sanctuary

The Lipa-Asrang Sanctuary is amongst the most popular places to visit in Nako. Situated in the district of Kinnaur at an elevation of 5,000 metres above sea level and spread over a vast area of 30.89 square kilometres, this sanctuary is a sought-after destination for nature lovers. The flora of the sanctuary consists of dry Alpine scrub, western Himalayan temperate forest land, dry broad leaves, coniferous forests, dwarf juniper shrubs, and many more exotic blooms.
If you are lucky, you may also spot some of the exotic animals that have made this area their home. Animals such as the brown bear, blue sheep, yaks, gorals, ibex, leopards, the Himalayan black bear, musk deer and other beautiful animals can often be seen in the area. The best time to visit the Sanctuary is between April to October when the weather is dry and pleasant and not too cold. This is the time when the trees are in full bloom and the animals are not yet in hibernation. To enter the sanctuary, however, special permissions are required, even though there is no entry fees.
Location: Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh
Timing: No fixed timing
Price: Free entry
Distance from Spiti: 175.2 km
Distance from Shimla: 251.4 km
Distance from Manali: 323.6 km