Overview of the destination
Weathered and barren landscapes, monasteries perched on high mountains scooped into by glaciated valleys, a bleak high altitude desert. This is Spiti ? ?Surely the Gods live here; this is no place for men.? as proclaimed by Rudyard Kipling.
India?s been a backpacker?s destination for years, as crowds of twenty-some-things from all over the world, armed with maps, rucksacks and guide-books make a beeline for the mighty Himalayas. These species are found across the world in huge numbers and don?t believe in traveling down the beaten track. Spiti valley is one such destination which has a lot to offer to its visitors in respect to History, Geography, Paleontology, Culture and Geology. Spiti is a part of Himachal Pradesh, a state in India. This region falls in the rain shadow of the Himalayas.
Spiti has most basic facilities with Kaza, Kibber, Ki Gompa, Tabo and Dhankar Gompa as the main places of interest. Spiti is predominantly a Buddhist inhabited region with impressive monasteries and traditional Tibetan architecture. The language used in the area is Bhoti, very similar to Tibetan. The one magical word used in Spiti as well as other areas bordering Tibet and means hello, please, good-bye and thank you is jule (pronounced as joo-lay).
History
Lahaul, Spiti and Zanskar were part of the Guge kingdom of Western Tibet in the 10th century. It was in the 18th century that Ladakh was defeated by the Mongol-Tibetan armies. Since Spiti was more geographically isolated it remained untouched and still remained a part of Ladakh. In 1849, it came under the British Administration. When Chinese invaded Tibet in 1949, Spiti?s cultural links were severed. However, with the formation of Tibetan Government in exile a lot of work has been done to preserve the serenity and the art and culture of the ancient Buddhist gompas in the region.Food, sight-seeing and shopping
Must See and Do
Ki Monastery, Trek to Kanamo peak (2 day trek from Kibber), Dhankar Monastery, Tabo Monastery, The Thangka painting school founded by the Dalai Lama, Trek to Parang La (an arduous trek of 4-5 days to the glacier and one of the highest passes which offer the best views of the Himalayan ranges), visit to the local national park. Activities & things to do
The local beer is a must try for all to knock you out. The main crops are barley, wheat and hops (which is used for making the local beer). Another crop here is peas for the winter market in the cities. Raw they are the sweetest, that you will ever come across anywhere.
Festivals
Chaam festival ? Ki Monastery in June/July
Losar festival ? Ki Monastery in February/March
Ladarcha festival ? Kibber in July Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc.
How to reach ?
The nearest international airport is at Delhi. From here one can either, catch a flight (once a day) to Bhuntar (Manali) airport, in Himachal Pradesh and take a taxi to Manali or take an over night bus from Delhi to Manali (12 hrs). With a days stop at Manali, one can start for Kaza the next day morning either by the bus that leaves at 5:30 am (12 hrs) or take a taxi which comes at a price of Rs. 3000-4000. Once you are in Kaza; Kibber, Ki Gompa, Tabo and Dhankar Gompa can be reached by using the local buses and taxis. Foreigners require Inner Line Permits which are easily available at the magistrate?s office in Kaza.
Regional Weather and Best Time to Visit
Spiti is cut off from the main State for almost up to eight months of the year due to heavy snow. However the best time to visit is between June and mid October. During the rest of the year, frequent landslides and flooding, block the route giving travelers a chance to hike some of the way. The climate is typically that of a desert, hot in the day with very bright sun and cold in the nights with chilly winds.
Places to stay in Kaza
Hill View Guest House is highly recommended.
HPTDC Tourist Lodge is a high end choice (tel 91-1906-222566)
Snow Line Hotel and Little Italy Restaurant (tel 91-1906-222257)
Places to stay in Kibber
Norling Guest house is highly recommended for its good rooms and clean western toilets. The owner is a Buddhist monk (Tseten Lama) and loves trekking. He is familiar with the whole region like the back of his hand. He also works as a guide, for treks or visits to nearby gompas and can arrange for tents, rations, stove, etc if pre informed (tel 91-1906-226242) |
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