Leo
Liyo
village
Leo village, Jun '18
Leo village, Jun '18
Leo is located in Himachal Pradesh
Leo
Leo
Coordinates: 32°00′03″N 77°26′15″E / 32.00083°N 77.43750°E / 32.00083; 77.43750 <<< get from OpenStreetMap.org >>>
Country India
StateHimachal Pradesh
Area
 • Total2.69 km2 (1.04 sq mi)
Elevation
2,871 m (9,419 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total784
 • Density290/km2 (750/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Websitehttps://hpkinnaur.nic.in

Leo (also Liyo, Hindi: ) 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 116 kilometres (72 mi) from Kaza on NH 505.[1]

History

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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.[2]

Description

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Leo is a small village in Kinnaur District. It is located at a distance of 93 kilometres (58 mi) from the district headquarters Reckong Peo on NH 505.[3] Leo village has an area of 269 hectares (660 acres).[4]: 108 

The population as of the 2011 Census was 784 with 161 households.[4]: 108  Females comprise 46.8% of the population.[5]: 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%.[5]: 53 

The languages Bhoti and Hindi. Leo has a Gram Panchayat.[6] It is served by the India Posts Branch Office, Kamand with PIN code 175112.[7]

Education

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Leo has schools from primary up to senior secondary.[4]: 108 

Economy

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The economy is largely agrarian.

Agriculture

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When the 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.[2]

Crops

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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.[8]

Tourism

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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.[9]

A popular trek in passing through Leo is from Reckong Peo in the Satluj valley to 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[10]

Transport

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Buses ply from Shimla on NH 5 and NH 505 to Kaza in Spiti via Nako. From Nako, taxis are available to Leo.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kaza-Leo route". OpenStreetMap. Retrieved 21 December 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b Thomson, Thomas (1852). "Chapter IV". Western Himalayas and Tibet. London: Reeve and Co.
  3. ^ "Recong Peo-Leo route". OpenStreetMap. Retrieved 21 December 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c District Census Handbook: Kinnaur, Himachal -- Village and Town Directory. 3 Part XII A. Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India. 2011.
  5. ^ a b District Census Handbook: Kinnaur, Himachal -- Village and Town wise Primary Census Abstract (PCA). 3 Part XII B. Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India. 2011.
  6. ^ "List of PRIs" (PDF). Panchayati Raj Department, HP Govt. Retrieved 25 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Village/Locality based Pin mapping as on 16th March 2017". Data.gov.in. Retrieved 25 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Sharma, H.R.; Chauhan, S.K. (2013). "Agricultural Transformation in Trans Himalayan Region of Himachal Pradesh: Cropping Pattern, Technology Adoption and Emerging Challenges" (PDF). Agricultural Economics Research Review. 26 (Conference Number): 173–179.
  9. ^ Government of Himachal Pradesh (24 January 2023). "About District Kinnaur". Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  10. ^ Government of Himachal Pradesh (24 January 2023). "Kinnaur: Adventures: Reckong Peo to Nako".
  11. ^ Government of Himachal Pradesh (24 January 2023). "Kinnaur: How to Reach". Retrieved 28 May 2023.

Category:Villages in Kinnaur district