Spiti Valley - Trekking mecca and a virgin paradise
Entering Spiti Valley, you are greeted by long, twisting roads and valleys that offer breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains and chilly desert. Spiti Valley, in Himachal Pradesh, is one of the coldest areas in the nation. It is surrounded by the Himalayas on all sides, sits 12,500 feet above sea level, and receives only around 250 days of sunshine annually.
Since the Spiti Valley divides Tibet and India, the name Spiti means "The Middle Land." As the name suggests, Spiti is home to numerous monasteries. Especially the magnificent Key Monastery, which is the biggest monastery in the entire Spiti Valley and dates back more than a millennium.
Rich in population, Spiti is a haven for thrill-seekers, offering a plethora of trekking routes and mountain passes for travelers to select from. The second-longest glacier in the world, Bara-Shigri Glacier, can be seen in an amazing 360-degree panorama from Kunzum La. Each of these treks begins in Kaza, the capital of Spiti, where you set up base camp and hike to a variety of peaks offering expansive vistas of the Himalayan ranges.
Beautiful views of the towns below can be had on an easy 1.5-kilometer journey from Dhankar Monastery to Dhankar Lake along the Spiti River. You can unwind at the Dhankar Lake itself while breathing in the crisp alpine air. The Chandratal Lake is another ethereal location worth seeing, with water that varies during the day from reddish to orange to blue to emerald green. Spiti is only directly accessible by motorway during the summer months due to the heavy Himalayan snow that isolates the region from the rest of the nation for around half the year.
Places to See in Spiti Valley
Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh has an abundance of tourist attractions despite being a frigid desert region! The landscape of Spiti is distinct and varied, ranging from untamed, rocky mountains to verdant meadows; from swift-moving rivers at the foot of mountains to snow-covered glacier passes; from vibrant Buddhist monasteries to little villages. The sky is a brilliant blue and the surroundings are free of pollution, allowing you to see the Milky Way's incredible beauty at night! If you're craving a jolt of excitement, consider trekking.
Here are some best places to visit in Spiti Valley:
- Key Monastery
- Trilokinath Temple
- Tashigang
- Tashigang
- Pin Valley National Park
- Nako
- Kibber
- Dhankar Monastery
- Dhankar Lake
- Chandra Taal
- Tabo Monastery
How to Reach Spiti Valley
Lahaul and Spiti are located on the Manali-Leh route and are divided from Kullu by the Rohtang and Kunzum passes. During the summer, this path is suitable for reaching Spiti Valley; however, because of excessive snowfall, it is unusable for most of the year. Nonetheless, Spiti Valley is reachable all year round from Shimla through Kinnaur (except from sporadic disruptions brought on by landslides or significant snowfall).
Best time to visit Spiti Valley
Spiti is best visited between March and June. This season, which runs from March to June, is ideal for those looking for a calm getaway because the temperature there swings from 0 to 15 degrees Celsius. In Spiti, the winters are for the brave. The Manali-Kaza highway is closed throughout the winter, making road connectivity erratic. One activity that really stands out during this season is the snow leopard trek. Planning a trip to Spiti during the monsoon season (July to September) is best avoided because the torrential rains that continue to fall, together with the landslides and treacherous roads, can seriously ruin your vacation experience.