Koksar — The Acclimatisation Stop Before the High Himalayas
I am writing this from Koksar, a small village tucked deep inside Lahaul Valley.
A place so quiet, so raw, and so untouched that even the wind feels like it’s whispering old Himalayan stories.
Koksar is not a big settlement — in fact, it has only a handful of homes scattered across a cold, rocky landscape. But its importance on the Himalayan route is far bigger than its size.
This village is known as one of the first acclimatisation points for travelers heading toward Spiti, Kunzum Pass, and the high Himalayan summits.
Here, journeys don’t stop — they just slow down long enough to let your body adjust to the altitude, the cold, and the thin mountain air.
The First Breath After the Tunnel
As soon as you exit the Atal Tunnel, the world changes instantly.
The air turns colder, the mountains grow harsher, and the landscape becomes wide, open, and wild.
And right there — Koksar appears.
Most travelers stop here not because they have to, but because the mountains demand it.
A cup of hot tea, a stretch, a moment to breathe — this is where every Spiti journey begins to settle into the bones.
A Village of Only a Few Homes
Life in Koksar is simple and tough.
Winters cover the village in heavy snow for months.
Even summer mornings feel like late winter in the plains.
But the people who live here carry a warmth that balances the cold.
Walking through the village, you realize something powerful:
you don’t need many houses to create a home — just enough heart.
Why Travelers Pause Here
- It’s the first major stop after Atal Tunnel
- A natural acclimatisation point before higher altitudes
- A safe resting space before tackling the sharp climbs of Spiti and Kunzum Pass
- Clear views of the mountains, glaciers, and the Chandra River
- Zero crowds — only silence, wind, and the sound of your own breath
Koksar prepares you — not physically, but mentally — for what lies ahead.
The Calm Before the Real Adventure
Spiti is rough, barren, demanding.
But Koksar is gentle.
It gives you time.
It gives you calm.
It gives you the first real taste of Himalayan cold.
Sitting here, with mountains rising all around, I could feel my journey stretching ahead — long roads, high passes, remote villages, and endless silence.
Koksar was my first pause…
and maybe that’s why it became one of the most memorable parts.
Final Thoughts
Koksar may look like a small dot on the map,
but for anyone heading towards Spiti or the high passes,
it is a crucial place to breathe, adjust, and absorb the Himalayas.
A quiet, cold, beautiful village —
and the perfect beginning to a true mountain journey.