BrandonNewquist at 17:24, 23 February 2026

2026-02-23T17:24:09Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Leo
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name = Liyo
| nickname =
| settlement_type = village
| image_skyline = File:Leo Spiti NH505 Himachal Jun18 D72 6785.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Leo village, Jun '18
| pushpin_map = India Himachal Pradesh#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|31.885326|N|78.595652|E|display=inline,title}} <<< get from OpenStreetMap.org >>>
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 2.69
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 2871
| population_total = 784
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| demographics1_title2 = Native
| demographics1_info2 = [[Bhoti Kinnauri]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code = 172112
| registration_plate =
| website = https://hpkinnaur.nic.in
| footnotes =
}}

'''Leo''' (also '''Liyo''', Hindi: '''लियो ''' ) is a small village in [[Kinnaur district]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]. The village is situated on a mountain ridge on the right bank of the [[Spiti River]]. It is located {{Convert|116|km|mi|abbr=}} from Kaza on [[National Highway 505 (India)|NH 505]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kaza-Leo route|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=fossgis_osrm_car&route=31.8839%2C78.5935%3B32.2244%2C78.0723#map=12/31.9456/78.5126|access-date= 21 Dec 2022|website=[[OpenStreetMap]]}}</ref>

The people of Nako are largely agriculturalists. Leo is popular with trekkers.

==History==
One of the earliest descriptions of Leo is by the botanist Thomas Thomson based on his expedition in August 1847. He trekked from the [[Sutlej]] valley over the Hangaranj Pass, then descended via Hango to Leo (Lio). He found a sizeable village with many terraced fields.<ref name="Thomson1852">{{Cite book |last=Thomson |first=Thomas |title=Western Himalayas and Tibet |publisher=Reeve and Co. |year=1852 |location=London |chapter=Chapter IV}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Spiti Gorge Upstream Kinnaur Jun18 D72 6777.jpg|thumb|Spiti gorge below Leo]]
Leo is a small village in [[Kinnaur District]]. It is located at a distance of {{Convert|93|km|mi|abbr=}} from the district headquarters [[Reckong Peo]] on [[National Highway 505 (India)|NH 505]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Recong Peo-Leo route|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=fossgis_osrm_car&route=31.8839%2C78.5935%3B32.2244%2C78.0723#map=12/31.9456/78.5126|access-date= 21 Dec 2022|website=[[OpenStreetMap]]}}</ref> Leo village has an area of {{Convert|269|ha|acre}}.<ref name=CensusKinnaurA>{{Cite book|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/handbooks |last=|first=|title=District Census Handbook: Kinnaur, Himachal -- Village and Town Directory|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India|year=2011|isbn=|series=3 Part XII A|location=}}</ref>{{rp|page=108}} Leo is situated on the bank of a small right-bank tributary of the Spiti River. The Spiti River passes through a deep ravine with precipitous mountains on either side. The banks are covered with loose shingle.<ref name="Thomson1852" />

==Demographics==
The population as of the 2011 Census was 784 with 161 households.<ref name=CensusKinnaurA />{{rp|page=108}} Females comprise 46.8% of the population.<ref name="CensusKinnaurB">{{Cite book|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/handbooks |last=|first=|title=District Census Handbook: Kinnaur, Himachal -- Village and Town wise Primary Census Abstract (PCA)|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India|year=2011|isbn=|series=3 Part XII B|location=}}</ref>{{rp|page=52}} The percentages of Scheduled Castes is 2.0% and of Scheduled Tribes is 87.8%. The literacy rate is 71.6%, with males at 79.9% and females 62.1%.<ref name=CensusKinnaurB />{{rp|page=53}}

The languages are [[Spiti Bhoti]] and [[Hindi]]. The people of Leo are mostly Mongoloid. The main religion followed is [[Mahayana|Mahayana Buddhism]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Government of Himachal Pradesh |date=24 January 2023 |title=Culture & Heritage: The People |url=https://hpkinnaur.nic.in/ |access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref> Leo has a [[Gram panchayat|Gram Panchayat]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=List of PRIs|url=https://hppanchayat.nic.in/PDF/Names%20of%20Gram%20Panchyats%203226%20Final.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 Jan 2021|website=Panchayati Raj Department, HP Govt}}</ref>

==Amenities==
Leo has schools from primary up to senior secondary.<ref name="CensusKinnaurA" />{{rp|page=108}} The village is served by an [[India Post]] Sub-Post Office, with PIN code 172112.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Village/Locality based Pin mapping as on 16th March 2017|url=https://data.gov.in/node/2382441/download|access-date=25 Jul 2021|website=[[Data.gov.in]]}}</ref>

==Economy==
The economy is largely agrarian. Tourism is also important.

===Agriculture===
When the botanist [[Thomas Thomson (botanist)|Thomson]] visited Leo (Lio) in August 1847, he found a sizeable village with many terraced fields. Crops grown included wheat, barley, buckwheat and millet. The fields had many apricot trees interspersed with the crops. Thomson speculated that agriculture flourished due to good heat due to reflection from surrounding mountains. He expressed surprised at the complete absence of trees despite the altitude being below the tree line.<ref name="Thomson1852" />

Traditionally, up to 1980, five crops were important in Spiti valley, namely black pea, potato, barley (hull-less and covered) and wheat. A study done in 2007–2009, found that by 1990, farmers had diversified to 9 crops. One of the new crops, green peas, covered about 47% of the survey area by 2000. Some of the main reasons for adoption of new crops include better road connectivity and transport to reach markets, declining demand for traditional crops, and availability of hybrid seeds and favourable micro-climatic niches.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sharma |first1=H.R. |last2=Chauhan |first2=S.K. |date=2013 |title=Agricultural Transformation in Trans Himalayan Region of Himachal Pradesh: Cropping Pattern, Technology Adoption and Emerging Challenges |url=https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/158503/files/17-HR-Sharma.pdf |journal=Agricultural Economics Research Review |volume=26 |issue=Conference Number |pages=173–179}}</ref>

===Tourism===
Leo is located in Kinnaur in the northeast corner of Himachal Pradesh. Bordered by Tibet to the east, Kinnaur is a beautiful district having three high mountains ranges i.e. Zanskar, Greater Himalayas and Dhauladhar, and the enclosing valleys of the rivers Sutlej, Spiti, Baspa and their tributaries. The slopes are covered with thick woods, orchards, fields and picturesque hamlets. The much revered religious Shivlinga lies at the peak of the [[Kinnaur Kailash]] mountain.<ref>{{cite web |last=Government of Himachal Pradesh |date=24 January 2023 |title=About District Kinnaur |url=https://hpkinnaur.nic.in/ |access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref>

A popular trek passing through Leo is from [[Reckong Peo]] in the Satluj valley to [[Nako, Himachal Pradesh|Nako]] in the Spiti valley. The trek takes 6 days. After a steep climb to the Hango Pass, the trail descends to Leo (Liyo) on the south bank of the Spiti. There, the trail crosses the Spiti river and climbs up to Nako.<ref>{{cite web |last=Government of Himachal Pradesh |date=24 January 2023 |title=Kinnaur: Adventures: Reckong Peo to Nako |url=https://hpkinnaur.nic.in/adventures/}}</ref>

==Transport==
Buses ply from Shimla on NH 5 and NH 505 to Kaza in Spiti via Nako. From Nako, taxis are available to Leo.<ref>{{cite web |last=Government of Himachal Pradesh |date=24 January 2023 |title=Kinnaur: How to Reach |url=https://hpkinnaur.nic.in/how-to-reach/ |access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Nako, Himachal Pradesh]]
* [[Spiti Valley]]

==References==
{{Commons category|Leo village}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Villages in Kinnaur district]]

Liyo, Kinnaur - Revision history

BrandonNewquist at 17:24, 23 February 2026