Lata Village

Lata Village is a traditional Bhotia tribal settlement in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, serving as the gateway to the Nanda Devi National Park. Located at an altitude of approximately 2,350 meters, it is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, including the annual Mask Dance Festival and a 12th-century Nanda Devi temple. The village offers visitors an authentic Himalayan experience with traditional wooden architecture and serves as the starting point for treks into the Nanda Devi Sanctuary.

Visitors can expect a serene Himalayan village experience with traditional stone and wood houses built around the Nanda Devi temple. The village provides opportunities to interact with the local Bhotia community, observe traditional lifestyles, and witness cultural practices. The surrounding landscape features steep mountain slopes, pine forests, and views of the Himalayan peaks. Visitors can explore the village courtyards, visit the historic temple, and use Lata as a base for trekking into the Nanda Devi National Park.

Lata Village is home to a 12th-century temple dedicated to Goddess Nanda Devi. The village has historical significance as part of the trans-Himalayan trade routes and was credited with initiating the Chipko movement for forest conservation. It served as the entry point for the first exploration of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary by Eric Shipton and H.W. Tilman in 1934.

Lata is one of the 22 Bhotia tribal villages in the Niti Valley region. The village is known for its rich repository of folk dances and songs, particularly the annual Mask Dance Festival celebrated during the Hindu month of Baisakh (April). The community practices transhumance and maintains traditional customs, with the village temple serving as a cultural center. Lata is considered the cultural capital of the Malla Painkhanda region in the Nanda Devi Biosphere.