Lahaul and Spiti
valleys, together form a district in Himachal Pradesh. The
Lahaul valley is nourished by the Chandra and Bhaga rivers and
the Spiti is linked to it by the Kunzam-la pass. Their height
ranges from 9,800 feet to 15,700 feet. Lahaul is glacier
country and the Bara Shigri, Chota Sigri, Samundari and
Sonapani glaciers are some of the glaciers which are found
here.
Spiti which means ‘middle country’ is a vast highland basin
for swift flowing glacial streams that have cut deep gorges
into the mountain terrain. Pin and Lingti are the two main
streams that feed the Spiti River. The narrow Spiti Valley is
carved out by the swift flowing Spiti River and rise from the
slopes of the Kunzam-la Pass. This valley is formed by the
gorges and dramatic mountain scapes. In summer, there is
greenery all over the Spiti valley, and all the meadows are
covered with flowers. Spiti Valley is barely three kilometers
wide and most of the villages are located along its wider
banks. The terraced fields, trees of juniper and flat roofed
houses are set against the background of rocky mountain sides
that seem painted in shades of purple and pink.
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People of
Lahaul & Spiti |
The people of
Lahaul & Spiti are charming, friendly, hospitable and unique.
These people have a unique and distinct culture of their own,
mainly Buddhist. It is also called the Litle Tibet in the
Himalayas. Their songs and dances are pure as the snow around
them and their “Gompas” are the collection of Buddhist
treasures.
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Best time to visit
Lahaul & Spiti |
Both, the Lahaul & Spiti valley remains cut
off from the rest of India for most of the
part of the year. The Rohtang Pass is opened
only from May to October and so during this
time the visitors can visit the Lahaul & Spiti
valley to enjoy its beauty and charm.
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Tourist Attractions in Lahaul & Spiti |
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The main tourist attraction in
Lahaul & Spiti are the monasteries. The Dhankar Monastery,
Tabo Monastery, Ki Monastery, Khardong and
Shashur Monastery are some of the famous monasteries which are
found in Lahaul & Spiti. Tabo monastery, the 1000 year old
monastery is the Spiti’s most sacred monastery. This monastery
is a treasure house of art and was built at the initiative of
the great teacher Rinchen Tsang Po in 996, the Tibetan Year of
the Fire Ape. Khardong is the largest monastery
in Lahaul and located across the valley from Shashur. It is
known for its huge barrel sized prayer drums, musical
instruments, ancient weapons and large life sized images of
the Buddha.
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Trekking in Lahaul
& Spiti |
Manali
in the Kullu Valley serves as base for supplies and
equipment for treks in the Lahaul Spiti area and
many exciting treks that originate in Kullu Valley
terminate in Lahaul and Spiti. A favourite trek in
this area is the 4 stage moderate trek that start
from Batal in Southern Lahaul at the base of the
Kunzam la, to the beautiful lake of Chandratal and
ends at the Baralacha-la pass. Over a part of the
way this route overlooks the magnificent Bara Shigri
glacier. Taking 8 strenuous stages another trails
starts from Udaipur in Upper Lahaul to Padum in
Zanskar over the Kang-la pass.
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How to reach here |
The Lahaul region can be visited only by road from
Manali via the Manali – Leh Highway. The Manali – Leh highway, one of the highest
mountain road in the world, is open for 3 months in
the year from early June to September. It traverses
the subdivision of Lahaul and crosses the Great
Himalayan Range into Ladakh. Manali, in the Kullu
district is the ideal base to visit this
fascinating region in the country. Manali is linked
by road and air to Chandigarh, Shimla and Delhi. To
enter the Spiti Valley, one has to cross the Kunzam
Pass, at a height of 14,800 feet. The longer but
popular route into the valley is along the old
Hindustan – Tibet road from Shimla across the scenic
district of Kinnaur.
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