Spiti Valley Tourism

"Trekking mecca and a virgin paradise" Spiti Valley Tourism Long winding roads and picturesque valleys presenting glimpses of cold deserts and snow-crowned mountains, with intermittent greenery and picture-perfect villages welcome you when you set foot into Spiti Valley. Bordered on all sides by the Himalayas, Spiti Valley, located in Himachal Pradesh, has an altitude of 12,500 feet above sea level, and gets around 250 days of sunshine in the year, making it one of the coldest places in the country. With the thick Himalayan snow cutting Spiti off from the rest of the country for around 6 months a year, the summer months are the only time Spiti is directly accessible via motorway. The term Spiti means 'The Middle Land', and the place is very appropriately named, as Spiti Valley separates India from Tibet. Scantily populated, Spiti is an adventure lover?s paradise, with the famed Spiti trek attracting thousands of adventure enthusiasts every year. There are many trekking trails in Spiti that tourists can choose from. All of these treks start from Kaza (Spiti?s capital, where you make your base camp), to various peaks from where you can get panoramic views of the Himalayan mountains. An easy 1.5-kilometre trek along the Spiti River from Dhankar Monastery to Dhankar Lake promises gorgeous views of the villages below, and the Dhankar Lake itself is a place where you can sit back and relax amidst the cool mountain air. The mountain ropeway from Kibber to Chichum is a popular tourist attraction. Built entirely by the locals to avoid walking the long uphill path between the two villages, this ropeway is operated manually, and offers spectacular views of the gorge below, as well a bird?s eye view of the surrounding peaks. Download Spiti Valley PDF Guide > What's Great? Paradise for adventurers. Mesmerising view of the mountains with fresh air. What's not so Great? Risky highways. Hostile in late monsoons and winters. Become deserted during the winters. For Whom Ideal for all sorts of adventurers, whether trekking, or camping, or even hiking. Also suitable for backpackers from nearby sites like New Delhi, Shimla, Manali, etc.

The Middle Land Spiti literally means 'the Middle Land', situated between the region of India and the adjoining borders of the Tibet region of China, in the eastern part of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Strictly for trekkers and hikers, this is an adventurer's paradise. The terrain of this place is quite high and difficult. The Lahaul and Spiti district comprises of both the valleys which are separated by Kunzum pass. What Makes Spiti An Amazing Tourist Destination You don?t have to be a strict nature lover or a bird-watcher to find the little village of Langzha endearing. All you have to do is simply sit on the isolated slopes of this village and look up at the sky in order to get thrilling glimpses of eagles, hawks and even vultures. There are a few other places in Spiti that allow you to catch a glimpse of these elusive birds, but the scenic landscape of Langhza heightens that thrill by quite a few notches. Spiti Valley is known for housing some of the oldest monasteries in the country, such as the Key Monastery, which has a fort-like structure resembling traditional Chinese architecture and has a stunning Buddha Shrine on display. Other monasteries you can visit include the Tabo Monastery, the Lhalung Monastery, and the Gandhola Monastery. Spiti has its fair share of lakes too, the most famous ones being Chandratal Lake and Suraj Tal Lake. Chandratal Lake derives its name from its crescent moon-like shape and is a photographer?s paradise. Suraj Tal lake is another famous lake in Spiti, and it is the third highest lake in all of India, making it an idyllic spot for camping. High up in Spiti, roads are almost non-existent, so the idea of street food does not exist in Spiti. Thukpa is the standard fare of this little town, and it is a delicious respite from the bone-numbing chill which is perpetually present in the air. Culture and Traditions of Spiti The name "Spiti" means the middle land. Therefore, Spiti Valley is the middle land between India and Tibet. It has mixed culture and traditions of both the nations. It is a research centre for Buddhist due to its innumerable monasteries and temples. Tabo Monastery is the favourite of Dalai Lama and one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the world. It is home to the few surviving Buchen Lamas of the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism. The life at Spiti often leads to monastic forms of living for most of its inhabitants. People of Spiti are superstitious- they talk of healing trees, spirits and monks possessing magical powers. People celebrate the local festivals and fairs. Tribal fair Keylong coincides with the Indian Independence day, falling between 14th to 16th of August; in which cultural troupes are invited to perform the state arts from Chandigarh, Dharamshala etc. There is also Ladarcha fair held annually in July. Traders from Ladakh, Rampur Busher and Spiti, meet to barter their produce.

Itinerary For the much-awaited escapade to the mountains, Spiti is the go-to place for all you trekkers and backpackers out there. Here, we have a ready itinerary to make life easy for you. Day 1 Reach Rohtang or Solang Valley a day before and start for Kaza- headquarters of Spiti, via Rohtang Pass early in the morning. Spend some leisure time at Kunzum Pass on the way and the beautiful drive through Battal, Chattru and Gramphu. Spend the night at Kaza. Day 2 Drive to Tabo and visit the old monasteries and monk caves. On the way back to Kaza, visit the Dhankar villages and the famous Dhangkar Monastery. Drive through the less travelled roads of Langza. Visit the statue of Buddha and witness the great view of Chau Chau Kang Neldad peak. Enjoy the pleasing snowscape panorama and come back to Kaza for the night. Day 3 Visit the Ki- Kibber villages and the renowned Ki monastery. Enjoy the enthralling drive between Losar and Kaza. You can either camp at Chandratal or spend the night at a PWD rest house in Battal, which is without electricity. It is advisable to not ride back to Losar to save time and energy. Day 4 Drive through Battal - Chattru and Gramphu to Manali, back via Rohtang Pass. On your way back visit the beautiful Kunzun la Pass and end your trip on a high. Lastly, you can visit local sights in Manali and head back accordingly. Additional Days If you have additional days to spare, you can visit the Spiti river and indulge in river rafting or other adventure activities. Also, you can also visit Pin Valley National Park for a glimpse of Snow Leopards. It is a 1-hour drive to Pin Valley from Kaza and it will be worth your time.

Mid May- Mid Octis the best time to visit Spiti Valley This region experiences summer season during the months of May to October and the temperature ranges from 0 to 15 degrees Celcius. This is the best time to visit Spiti. Winters are very cold over here and should be avoided. The road connectivity is also unreliable during the winters with Manali-Kaza highway being cut-off. Weather in Spiti Valley Loading... Spiti Valley in Summer (March - June) This is the best for a visit to this destination, with the temperatures rarely dropping below 15 degrees Celcius. The days are hot but pleasant if you're visiting in the months of May & June. This is the best time for trekkers and campers, and hence also becomes the peak season for travelling to Kaza. Spiti Valley in Monsoon (July - September) Although the monsoon season receives moderate to heavy rainfall, this is not exactly the best time to visit Spiti, owing to the frequent downpours and dangerous landslides. Spiti Valley in Winter (October - February) Beginning from October, the winter season is the least advisable time for a visit to Spiti, owing to extremely chilly temperature and inhospitable roads.The roads connecting Spiti Valley to the rest of India are blocked most of the time in this season. Monthly Weather in Spiti Valley Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January -4 11 February -7 18 March -5 20 April 6 25 May 4 27 June 5 28 July 17 28 August 17 27 September 13 28 October 5 26 November -2 19 December -3 16

Events in Spiti Valley Pauri Fair 21st August A combination of festive and pilgrimage activities, this fest is celebrated every year in the third week of August. People of different castes and creed gather here to take part in it. Prayers and rituals are offered to Triloknath (Shiva Lord of Three Worlds) or Avolokiteshvara as it is regarded by Buddhists. Folk dances and temple processions also form a part if this fest. Activity: Mountain Biking July - September Among the highest biking tours in the world, experience the surreal beauty of the Spiti Valley, while being one with nature, on the back of a mountain bike