Spiti Valley : Trekking Mecca And A Virgin Paradise
Long winding roads and valleys that present unforgettable glimpses of cold desert and snow-crowned mountains 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 just 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 best time to visit Spiti Valley is between March to June when the weather is pleasant and cool. These months are the best for adventures like trekking, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and much more.
Tourist Attractions:
Kaza: The administrative capital of Spiti Valley, a starting point for exploring the region. Spiti Valley to Kaza distance 5.5km
Key Monastery: A prominent Tibetan Buddhist monastery located atop a hill overlooking the Spiti River. Spiti Valley to Key Monastery distance 13.8km
Dhankar Monastery: A 1200-year-old monastery perched on a cliff overlooking the confluence of the Spiti and Pin Rivers. Spiti Valley to Dhankar Monastery distance 39.3km
Tabo Monastery: Known as the “Ajanta of the Himalayas,” famous for its ancient murals and sculptures. Spiti Valley to Tabo Monastery distance 53.5km
Chandratal Lake: A pristine high-altitude lake surrounded by majestic peaks, popular for camping and trekking. Spiti Valley to Chandratal Lake distance 91.2km
Pin Valley National Park: Known for its wildlife, including the endangered snow leopard. Distance from Spiti Valley to Pin Valley National Park 30.9km.
Located at a height of around 4600 meters above sea level, the Kunzum Pass is one of the highest motorable mountain passes of India. It serves as a gateway to the beautiful Spiti Valley. Kunzum Range to Spiti Valley distance 69.9km.
The term Spiti means ‘The Middle Land’, as Spiti Valley separates India from Tibet. Scantily populated, Spiti is an adventure lover’s paradise, with a number of trekking trails that tourists can choose from. All of these treks start from Kaza (Spiti’s capital from 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. The Dhankar Lake itself is a place where you can sit back and relax amidst the cool mountain air.
