The geographical landscape makes spiti valley unique ,moreover this is a desert area - mountainous desert area .There is also difference in rock and overall structure of the mountains .Spiti is one of the remotest area in the world ,probably the most remote area in the India.In Spiti there are World’s Highest motorable and highest villages. If you are planning a trip to Spiti I requested you to keep in mind that you are visiting a place where the lack human - noise is what makes it different .This is the place where you can absorb ,be lost in ,hear the land,mountains ,birds ,animals and river…There is one frequent quotes “Don’t be Gama in land of Lama” that you will read when you come across in Spiti. It means listen to locals,be mindful of your surroundings,don’t disturb anything.
Best time to visit :- September is the best time to visit Spiti.Since the route to chandratal lake and the entire circuit is open .After monsoon you can see the clear blue sky at day time and at night you can capture galaxy view .I travel to Kinnaur and Spiti Valley for 8 days in the month of july 2019,so that time we crossing few pagal nallas (waterfalls flowing on the road). If you wish to experience altogether different view ,then this is the best time.
Travel Tips :- Pack winter clothes as per the weather requirment ,drink lots of water !
Route :- Shimla - Kufri-Theog-Narkanda-Rampur-Sangla-Chitkul-Kalpa-Nako-Tabo-Dhankar-Pin Valley-Kaza-langza-Komik-Hikkim-Ki Monastery-Kibber village-Chichham Bridge-Losar-Kunzam Pass-Chandrataal-Batal-Gramphu-Rohtang Pass-Manali .
Shimla :- Our journey started from Shimla. Shimla is the biggest city of Himachal Pradesh .It is vey beauiful place. On the way to Narkanda we were seeing many scenic veiws like A heaven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers as the Himalayan Nature Park i.e situated at Kufri.
Narkanda :-
We were here for an evening .Narkanda is very beautiful place .The main attraction of this place is hatu peak and Hatu Mata Temple.
Sangla: Sangla valley is situated at Raksham (not a sangla village) with very beautiful and picturesque.
After then we visited Chitkul the last village of Baspa valley appox 59 kms from Karchham inhabited near Indo-China border at an altitude of 3450 meters .It is a beautiful place at its best nature.
Kalpa : At evening we reached kalpa .Kalpa is a bustling little mountain transit town in Kinnaur Valley.Here we visited suicide point.
Tabo :- And finally we enterd in Spiti valley. Tabo is a small,remote and rustic place .There is 1000 years old monestery .You can meditate here.
Dhankar :-
Make a stop for a Dhankar monestery and Dhankar lake trek when on your way to Kaza. A lot of people find this trek pretty hard.Because of its high altitude ,so one has to be careful. So I was very happy and surprised that I managed to reach the lake and back.
After than we went to pin valley.Here our first stop is Kungri Monestery.Kungri is Spiti’s second oldest monestery,built around 1330.
Kaza :
Kaza "Heart of Spiti ".It is very beautiful place. We stayed here for two nights that is pretty awsome.You can trek around if you have more days.Next day we visited to Langza,Komik ,Hikkim and Key Monestery.
- Komik is one such place, which is set beautifully amid the stunning mountains . Komik Village is the highest village in Asia.
- Hikkim village has the World’s highest Post office and India’s Highest Polling Booth .
- Langza village in Kaza, is one of the highest villages in the world that can be reached via a motorable road.The main attractions of Langza Village is statue of Lord Buddha and fossil.
- Kye Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery.It is the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley and a religious training centre for Lamas. It reportedly had 100 monks in 1855.
There are even more villages like Kibber that you can visit if you have the time.
Chicham bridge :- On the way to lahaul we cross the chicham bridge .This bridge connects two valleys lahaul and spiti
Chandrataal :-
Enroute to Chandrataal from kaza you cross Chichim bridge ,Losar village and Kunzum pass.The Chicham Bridge is said to be the World’s highest bridge from sea level at 4.037m.It connects Kibber village to Chicham village .Losar is a small town with a monestery and temple.And finally we reached Chandrataal.Chandrataal is also a beautiful placefor sure but as usual too hyped by tourists .It is most famous place in the Spiti.Suggest you go for a walk around the lake ,instead of just clicking pictures.
And if you know any Shiva Bhajans then sing because Spiti is a region of Tibetan plateau.Tibet is also a region of Kailas and mansarovar .
So “Shiva’s Land”
A place for Shiv Bhajans ,
All in all this is a doable trip in these many days.Another reason why you shouldn’t more too quickly through this land is Altitude Sickness .It can be dangerous.
This is a fairly standered Spiti itinerary .
How to reach Spiti :-
There are basically two motorable roads into Spiti valley. One is via Shimla the NH-5 which later is also called the Hindustan - Tibet highway .This route is also open all year round,unless of course such as landslides.
The other one is via Manali NH - 505 .To go via this second route you have to pass Rohtang pass and Kunzam pass . And these passes are not always open.
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