Lahaul & Spiti used to be 2 different districts but are now a single district and has a continuous border with Tibet. Lahaul & Spiti is a mesmerizing high-altitude cold desert, a rain shadow area, with many fiercely gurgling rivers flowing from the glaciers, with many pristine blue colored glacial lakes, picturesque barren lands of nothingness, a rich Buddhist history & culture and arguably a place where you will feel closest to wilderness and nature. Of the two Spiti has a harsher and more rugged terrain that Lahaul, where there is some amount of vegetation. The area is so remote and sparsely populated that on an average it is inhabited by just 2 persons per square kilometer.
Most of Lahaul & Spiti Valley remain closed to tourists from November till May as the mountain passes live Rohtang & Kumzum La close due to heavy snowfall. Hence the traveling season for tourists is from June to October. Access to Spiti Valley is there during winters months from Shimla-Kinnaur, however this road also closes temporarily due to frequent avalanches and landslides. Lahaul and Spiti are accessible from Manali by crossing over from Rohtang Pass and from Shimla via Kalpa & Nako in Kinnaur Valley.
There are two national parks located in Lahaul & Spiti – Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary and Pin Valley National Park. Area around Kibber is famous for the snow leopards and wildlife photographers from all over the world come here for their sightings. Other animals found in the valleys are Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Tibetan Antelope, Himalayan Blue Sheep, Ibex, Tibetan wild Fox and Yaks.
Two thirds of the population is Buddhist and rest are Hindus. Spiti is one of the important centers for Buddhism in India and the valley is dotted with many monasteries and some very historic ones like Tabo Monastery, Kye Monastery, Gui Monastery and Lalung Monastery. For trekkers the area of Lahaul & Spiti is nothing short of paradise. The area offers numerous treks with different durations and difficulty levels. Some of the very popular treks start from Kaza, the administrative headquarters for Spiti. Some of the popular routes are Kaza – Langza Village – Hikkim Village – Comik Village – Kaza; Kaza – Ki – Kibber – Gete – Kaza; Kaza – Losar – Kumzum La & Kaza – Tabo - Sumdo – Nako. There are high altitude treks available to Hamta Pass, Baba Pass, Parangla Pass and Pin Parvati Pass.
This Road trip can be under taken by people of all ages provided you are physically fit and young at heart. People suffering from Asthma heart ailments and back problems must consult their doctor before undertaking this trip. However, everyone needs to make some preparation for this trip and should try to have as much local information as possible on the places you will be visiting.
Spiti can be describe in two words as “Magical Valley” and it is here that you get a true feeling of being in the lap of Himalayas. Spiti is summer home to Gaddi’s the nomadic tribes who are sheep and goat herders they graze their animals during summers and leave just before the snowfall starts. Lahaul & Spiti is a place where you can be at complete peace with yourself with Buddhist prayer flags relentlessly fluttering all over the valley and many famous monasteries synonymous with the serenity of the place.
One can travel to Lahaul & Spiti for various reasons. It provides you an opportunity of adventure and thrill of motor bike safari and SUV Safari and tens of exciting hikes & treks of varying durations and difficulty levels. Lahaul & Spiti offers one of the world’s most challenging roads and terrains that tests your driving skills and endurance both. For photography enthusiasts it is dream come true weather it is photographing the Chandrataal or the breathtaking Kumzum Pass or the landscapes or starry nights or photographing the milky way Lahaul & Spiti offers it all. If you are a nature lover and looking for some peace and quiet it is an ideal destination for you. If you are interested in Buddhist culture and monasteries there can be no better place in the world than Lahaul & Spiti. Spiti also offers you an opportunity to dig for fossils from millions of years ago which you can carry as your souvenirs back home.
Month of June to October are best months to visit Lahaul & Spiti.
One can drive from Shimla up to Kaza. The route is Shimla – Narkanda (61 Kms) – Sarahan (100 Kms) – Kalpa (94 Kms) – Nako (109 Kms) – Tabo (64 Kms) – Kaza (48 Kms).
One can visit many other places and take 3-6 night halts enroute to Kaza depending on your interest and time available.
The other route to Kaza is from Manali. Manali – Rohtang (52 Kms) – Gramphu (15 Kms) – Chhatru (18 Kms) – Batal (32 Kms) – Kumzum La – 13 Kms – Kibber (58 Kms) – Kaza (19 Kms).
