SPITI
Reach Manali in the morning from Delhi after an overnight journey and check-in. This day will be open and you are free to do whatever you want. But most important thing is to relax and acclimatize and not overexert. You can visit Hidimba or Manu temple or Vashisht to have a bath in hot spring, you can also sit next to the river and read book or just explore some good café with continental food in Old Manali. We shall help you decide and guide you to the same. In case you have missed packing something then this is the time when you should go shopping as Spiti valley doesn’t have such luxuries. We shall have a briefing session in the afternoon when everyone has arrived. Call it an early night as your body needs proper rest for the journey ahead as we leave early morning and also helps in acclimatizing.
Today we head to Spiti valley which will take around 10 hours (220 kms), if everything goes as planned. We leave early in the morning as we have a long way to go and ascend the mighty Rohtang Pass to begin with. We shall spend some time at the pass to have breakfast and then head towards Gramphoo. From Gramphoo you shall start noticing change in terrain where you will see less trees and more of steep mountain peaks and beginning of barren landscape. From here we head towards Chatru and face some of the biggest waterfalls crossing the road which can be a nightmare for any non-experienced driver. The terrain will take drastic change from Chatru and all you will see is rocks all over with huge streams crossing the road and converging in the ruthless Chandra river. We shall take regular halts for you to absorb the place, admire it and feel the fresh air. We shall have a lunch break at Batal where we meet the owners of Chandra Dhaba who have been a saving grace to a few hundred who have got stuck in bad weather at one of the toughest places in this terrain. From here we head to Kunzum Pass and pay our regards to the Kunzum Goddess and enter Spiti valley. The jumpy ride with non-existent road which started from Gramphoo will end in Lohsar. From Lohsar head to Kaza after a small break. It will take another 2 hours of beautiful journey. Reach Kaza, check-in and enjoy a cup of tea. We shall have a small briefing session at dinner table. This tiring day will end with a gaze at the gorgeous sky of a million stars and a prominent milky way.
We shall head out to spend our afternoon next to the river where we shall serve you lunch picnic style and you just spend time relaxing and soaking in the sun. After lunch, we shall head to Kye monastery, the centre of learning in Spiti valley. The setting of the monastery is on a small hill from where you get a complete view of the valley. We shall have a cup of tea and spend some time at the roof of the monastery from where you can click pictures and videos. From here we shall head to Kibber village, which use to be the highest motorable village in the world before Komic took that place. High mountains around Khibber are also home to the rarest Snow Leopard and Siberian Ibex. We head back to Kaza from here.
After a relaxed breakfast we shall head to Tabo Monastery in the morning via a short visit to Dhankar Monastery and Lake. Dhankar village use to be the seat of the Spitian King in the ancient times and the sect of the monastery changed to the sect that the king followed. Dhankar monastery, claimed to be 1000 years old, is on the cliff of a mountain over-looking the confluence of Pin and Spiti river. Due to the loose soil that is prevalent in cold deserts, Dhankar monastery is an endangered site and being on the edge it becomes one of the most beautiful monuments in this valley. There can be no better setting of a monument than Dhankar Monastery. We shall hike to Dhankar lake (source of water to Dhankar village) which is a steep walk of 45 minutes. The climb is optional. Spend some time at the lake and head back. We shall make a move towards Tabo monastery, also known as the “Ajantas of the Himalayas”, which is more than 1000 years old. Paintings and murals on the walls of the main sanctum makes it a master piece and worth visiting. We shall stay at Tabo from here and end the day.
After a relaxed breakfast we shall head to Pin Valley- we shall visit Khungri Monastery in Sagnam which is the strong hold of Buchen Lamas of Nyingma sec of Buddhism. We shall visit Mudh village- the entry point of Pin Valley National Park. Head back to Kaza for o/n stay.
Today visit the road less travelled or off beat places near Kaza. Great view of Chau Chau Kang Nelda peak from Langza. Statue of the Buddha near Langza looking down the valley. Tanggyud monastery at Komik, is one of the most important and the highest monastery in the Spiti Valley. You can move to Losar if you would like to stay away from hustle bustle of Kaza. About 2 – 3 Hrs of drive in the day excluding Losar. If planning to go to Losar, Enjoy the most scenic drive of entire Spiti Valley between Losar and Kaza at an easy pace. About 2 – 2.5 Hrs drive between Losar and Kaza, depending upon the breaks you take in between. Overnight at Kaza or Losar.
Visit Chandratal via Kunzum Pass and enjoy the day there. Camps are about 2.5 KMs from the lake, either stay there or back to Battal where there is a PWD rest house now though without electricity. But, no point going back a painful ride to Losar over Kunzum Pass unless you want to stay in guest house with electricity. Better stay at Battal and save time as well as energy for next day. About 4 – 5 Hrs drive minimum. Overnight at Battal or Chandratal Camps.
Head back to Manali via Rohtang Pass. Drive through Battal – Chattru – Gramphu towards Rohtang Pass is out of the world. About 7 – 8 Hrs drive easily if you do not get messed up Rohtang Pass. Overnight at Manali.
The Spiti Valley is a desert mountain valley located high in the Himalaya mountains in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The Middle Land", i.e. the land between Tibet and India.
