Lahaul And Spiti

Two remote valleys of Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul & Spiti lies on the Indo-Tibet border, which is covered with snow-capped mountains and old monasteries.

Situated in the north eastern corner of Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul & Spiti came into existemce in the year 1960. Before that Lahual and Spiti were two separate Himalayan territories. The famous Chandra and Bhaga river plays an important role in making this twin valleys of Himachal Pradesh very attractive and charming. The valley offers magnificent view of the Himalayan ranges from its top, that lies at the height of 2745 m above sea-level. The place is best travelled by the buddhists and devotees as it marks the presence of several monasteries and temples on the turf of Lahaul & Spiti valley. Apart from the pilgrimage center, Lahaul & Spiti offers an excellent ground for the trekkers and mountaineer.

How To Reach

Air

Bhuntar airport in Kullu is the nearest airport for Lahaul & Spiti. From the airport tourists can reach Lahaul & Spiti by private taxi or bus.

Rail

Jogindernagar is the nearest narrow gauge railhead to Lahaul & Spiti. Apart from it Shimla & Chandigarh are two broad gauge railheads for Lahaul & Spiti. Private taxi and bus services are available from the station to Lahaul & Spiti.

Road

Lahul & Spiti can be accessed via two different locations:

Sumdo in Kinnaur district for entry into Spiti valley and Manali in Kullu district for entry into Lahaul valley. Tourists can take the following routes to reach Lahaul & Spiti:

Shimla to Kaza covers distance of 412 km on a stretch drive of 20 hours that falls under Spiti region. This route is accessible throughout the year.

Shimla to Keylong is another route covering distance of 375 km on a stretch drive of 18 hours that falls under Lahaul region. This route get closed during the winter season and opens only for six months.

Keylong to Kaza is another route covering the distance of 185 km on a stretch drive of 6 hours. This route remain closed for more than 9 months in a year due to heavy snowfall.

Internal Transport

Tourists can travel by state transport buses or private tourist buses. Apart from bus services there are jeeps and private cars that can be hired by the tourists to move in and around the city. But some of the remote destinations can only be reached by long walk.

Places of Interest

Tandi (8 km from Lahaul & Spiti)

Situated at a height of 2573 meters above sea level, Tandi is a historical place famous for the mythological stories. One of the stories that relates to Chandra and Bhaga, son and daughter of the Moon and the Sun fell in love with each other and decided to meet here. It is also believed that Raja Rana Chand has founded this place and named it Chandi which later-on corrupted to Tandi. Tandi is considered as one of the sacred places in Lahaul valley.

Guru Ghantal Monastery (4 km)

One of the oldest monasteries of Lahaul, Guru Ghantal Monastery is located on the bank of Chandra river. Fmous for its wooden structure and pyramidal roofs, the monastery houses the idols of Padmasambhava and Brajeshwari Devi. A famous "Ghantal" festival is celebrated in the month of June on full moon night.

Keylong

Located on the bank of Bhaga river, Keylong is the district Headquarters of Lahaul & Spiti covered with green-field, brown hills and snowy peaks. This is the only market place in Lahaul that attracts huge number of tourists for their arts and handicrafts work.

Kardang Monastery (5 km)

Founded by Lama Norbu of Khardong in 1912, Kardang Monastery is the largest monastery in the region. This huge monastery is beautified with the colorful frescoes and murals, on top of the monastery there is a huge prayer drum covered with strips of paper. There is a library in the vicinity of Monastery, that contains large collection of Kangyur and Tangyur.

Excursions From Lahaul & Spiti

Kunzum Pass (76 km from Kaza)

Kunzum pass is a gateway to Spiti valley, from where a panoramic view of Bara-Sigri glacier is fascinating and inspiring. There is a famous temple located on this pass dedicated to goddess Durga. Apart from the natural beauty and pilgrimage center this pass offers an excellent turf for mountaineering and trekking.

Rohtang Pass

Situated amidst snowy peaks of Northern Himalayas, Rohtang Pass could be described as a trekkers paradise. Here one gets an opportunity to see the majesty of the mountains at its great height. Covered by mountains, glaciers and rivers the long stretch of Rohtang pass provides an excellent venue for the adventurous sports

Adventure Activities in Lahaul & Spiti:

Situated amidst high hills of Indian Himalayas, the turf of Lahaul - Spiti is known for its adventure activities that comprises of trekking, skiing, mountaineering etc. Grand Himalayan trek and the Pir - Parvati trek are some of the best treks of Lahaul - Spiti that pases through the dense forests and gushing rivers of Himachal Pradesh. Apart from the trekking, the region is also known for the river - rafting activities, which is performed on the Chandra river. Himachal Pradesh tourism department organizes various adventure sports event between the month of July and September.