Everything To Know About Spiti Valley

OVERVIEW

Spiti Valley, in the northeastern part of Himachal Pradesh, a piece of land between Tibet and India, is one of India’s coldest desert mountain valleys. This sparsely populated valley, located on the Tibetan Plateau, displays the rich culture of Buddhist traditions. Most adventurers and trekkers are familiar with the Spiti Valley’s allure and have become regular visitors. Small villages, monasteries, pristine rivers, green meadows, snow-capped mountains, and warm locals living a simple life can all be found in this area! Visit now to persuade your mind and heart to embark on a colourful adventure! Here’s how to get started:

Spiti can be reached via one of two routes: Manali or Shimla. The journey is not easy due to the rocky terrain, harsh weather conditions, and snow-covered passes that make the journey dangerous. But the adventure was well worth it!

To begin your journey, arrive in Shimla or Manali:

To get to Shimla or Manali, you can fly, train, or drive from your city.

VIA MANALI-

 If flying, the closest airport is Kullu, from where you can take a bus or hire a taxi to Spiti, which will take approximately 12 hours. Every day, overnight Volvos depart from Delhi and Chandigarh for Manali. There are no direct trains to Manali, but you can take a train to Chandigarh and then take a 9-hour cab ride to Manali.

TRAVELLING BY FLIGHT VIA SHIMLA?

 Take a flight to Chandigarh and then drive to Spiti via Sangla, which can take up to two days if you want to see the Sangla valley. If you are travelling by train, you can disembark at Chandigarh railway station and take a bus or tempo to Spiti via Sangla valley, or hire a taxi. In order to get to Chandigarh, Volvo buses are also available.

This is the route you will take from Manali to Kaza-Spiti Valley via Rohtang Pass, Chattru, and Kunzum Pass.

Tourists prefer Manali because it is the easier route to Kaza, despite the fact that it includes a steep ascent in altitude that may cause sickness, especially for those coming from lower altitude regions.

Due to heavy snowfall and landslides during the rest of the year, Manali is only open for a few months from June to October.

Shimla – Kinnaur – Reckong Peo/ Kalpa – Nako – Kaza – Spiti Valley itinerary:

Because of the gradual ascent to high altitude, the Shimla route takes longer, but it has the advantage of causing almost no altitude sickness. In addition, the Shimla-Kinnaur route is open all year. This route is more scenic, and you’ll pass through many interesting locations.

The best route is the circuit, which begins in either Shimla or Manali and travels through Spiti and Manali. This is only possible between June and September, and it takes at least 9-10 days to visit all of the important sites.

A suggested itinerary for a tour of the Spiti Valley:

A 10-day trip’s basic itinerary will look something like this:

Day 1: Leave Delhi for Shimla

DAY 2: Narkanda to Shimla (100 km, 3-4 hrs of drive)

DAY3 ,Narkanda to Chitkul

DAY 4,Chitkul to Kalpa, 

Day 5,  Travelling from Kalpa to Dhankar via Nako, Tabo, and Gue.

Dhankar to Kaza via Pin Valley on Day 6

Day 7: Kaza to Kee- Kibber- Komik-Hikkim-Langza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza-Kaza- Day 8, Kaza to Batal/ChandraTal Lake

Day 9, Batal to Manali via Chandra Tal Lake

Day 10, Arrive in Delhi. 

What can you do in the Spiti Valley?

The Spiti Valley is an experience you must have at least once in your life. We’ve compiled a list of 10 must-do activities for your next trip to Spiti, including camping at 14000 feet on Chandratal Lake, sending a letter from the world’s highest post office, and trying to spot the famous snow leopard, among other things.

On the way and in the Spiti valley, there are a few sights to see:

Look out your window as you ride uphill through this beautiful valley to see the charming little villages and scenic mountain passes that will make your ride even more memorable. When you arrive in Spiti, explore the dozens of monasteries and breathtaking lakes, as well as participate in local activities and festivities that will lift your spirits!

Passes:

Baralacha La is a difficult pass on the Leh-Manali highway, where you can see the intersection of three mountain ranges: the Zanskar, Pir Panjal, and the Great Himalayan range.

Kunzum Pass, at 15,060 feet, connects the Lahaul and Spiti valleys and is one of the highest motorable mountain passes in the world. This is a well-known pass that is only open for 3-4 months a year. On the way to Spiti from Manali, this is one of the highest mountain passes. \

Spiti Valley’s Most Important Monastery

Monasteries:

Key Monastery is one of the oldest, largest, and most well-known monasteries in Spiti’s Kaza region.It also functions as a Llama training facility. This 1000-year-old monastery is perched on a rocky outcropping.

The term “metre” was first used in the 11th century. Around 250 monks live here, with the majority of them staying throughout the year.

Dhankar Monastery is a Buddhist centre famous for the Vairochana statue, which depicts four Buddha figures in meditation. The architecture and paintings of the monastery will enchant you. This monastery is located between Kaza and Tabo at a height of 12700 feet. The Spiti and Pin rivers are visible from this Gompa, which stands 1000 feet tall.

Lakes:

Chandratal Lake, also known as “Lake of the Moon,” is a high-altitude lake named after its crescent-moon shape. Its allure stems from an intriguing phenomenon in which the water’s colours appear to shift from red to orange to blue to emerald green as the day progresses.

Suraj Tal Lake is the world’s 21st largest lake and India’s third largest lake, and is revered as a divine lake by the locals.