Lahaul and Spiti district.. the most unexplored destination..

Lahaul and Spiti: Himachal Pradesh

Lahaul and Spiti  is a district of Himachal pradesh in India. Lahaul tends to be a bit more green and fertile, while Spiti is mostly stark high-desert. 

Most sparingly populated region, Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh is located in the southern side of Ladakh. The surrounding snowline, climate, sky-touching mountain ranges, Buddhist monasteries and outstanding scenic beauty have made this place calm and truly grandiose

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Cities

Kaza – the regional headquarters of Spiti district.

Keylong – the regional headquarters of Lahaul district.

Other destinations

Kibber – a small village at alt. of 4200 m, starting point of the Tso Moriri trek

Ki – the Ki Monastery

Pin Valley – Beautiful valley best place to get a glimpse at rare snow leopard in winter

Chandra Taal – Origin of Chandra river , a big and beautiful lake 7 km away from kunzum pass ideal place for camping in summer

Tabo – a charming little village set around a monastery

Route to Reach

 The common way to travel to Lahual is through ‘Rohtang La’ mountain Pass from Manali and to visit Spiti valley, you have to go from Lahual via ‘Kunzum Pass’, a 4551 metres elevated mountain Pass.To enjoy the unspoiled beauty of Spiti, entry from Manali via Rohtang and Kunzum La is ideal, the high altitude desert landscape with virtually no civilisation till Kaza is a sight to behold. There is bus service from Manali to Kaza, subject to weather conditions (open passes), please check with Himachal Roadways at Manali. After passing Rohtang pass (two hour drive from Manali) one away from civilization till next stop at Kaza, eight to ten hours away,  Highest point on the road is snow covered Kanzum pass (14931 ft), nearly five hours from Rohtang pass, provide breathtaking view of Shigri Glacier. Just before Kaza signs of civilisation reappear. On the way just before the climb of Kanzum La (La means mountain pass) starts at Batal, the road bifurcate for Chandra Tal (approx 10 km/2-3 hours), where basic camping facilities are available and time permitting, deserves a visit especially during full moon. it is advisable to hire a SUV from Manali. Nearly all tour operator provide service, prices fluctuate so do bargain and ask for a deal with accommodation Kaza and other places you intend to visit in valley. Insist on a experienced local driver from valley, as they understand the weather and topography, also ensure that SUV is in good condition.

The alternative entry is from Shimla (Capital of Himachal Pradesh) side from Kinnaur valley which more comfortable all weather road till Kaza, the route is longer and captivating but landscape is typical Himalayan, unlike the route from Manali. If taking Shimla route plan for overnight stay along the way preferably at Reckong Peo. Please not that you do need an inner line permit to travel on part of this road.

Accommodation beyond Manali and Shimla is very basic although Kaza does offer some better options with opening of few new Hotels but don’t have high expectations.

Caution

Sea-buckthorn also called Leh Berry grows in wild, ask locals before eating. At high altitude fresh water from snow is refreshing, but don’t drink before consulting local residence.

Bus drivers can be far less careful than you would like, especially on windy mountain roads. But government buses seldom meets accident as they have experience on those roads, private buses may be at risk.

Take care when heading out trekking, it's easy to get lured into thinking you're out for an easy stroll, but make sure you've got enough food and water for the whole trip and then some. Be sure not to wander on unknown tracks, u may get lost in cold desert, make sure someone know where you are going.

Images

Nubra Valley, an amazing valley...

It is like a desert in the midst of snow-capped mountains. This place has very scenic, natural landscapes. View from the top before reaching the valley is just out of the world. I felt humbled at the size of the mountains and the depth of valleys. 
There is a small desert with a small creek in the Nubra valley where camel rides are available. A few temples nearby are also good. Must visit are the hot natural hot springs nearby. A truly enriching experience. You require at least one full day to cover all the places and spend reasonable time at each place calmly.

Like the rest of the Tibetan Plateau, Nubra is a high altitude cold desert with rare precipitation and scant vegetation except along river beds. The villages are irrigated and fertile, producing wheat, barley, peas, mustard and a variety of fruits and nuts, including blood apples, walnuts, apricots and even a few almond trees. Most of the Nubra Valley is inhabited by Nubra dialect or Nubra Skat speakers. The majority are Buddhists. In the western or lowest altitude end of Nubra Valley near the Line of Control i.e. the Indo-Pak border, along the Shyok River, the inhabitants areBalti of Gilgit-Baltistan, who speak Balti, and are Shia and Sufia Nurbakhshia Muslims

Siachen Glacier lies to the north of the valley. The Sasser Pass and the famous Karakoram Pass lie to the northwest of the valley and connect Nubra with Uyghur (Mandarin : Xinjiang). Previously there was much trade passing through the area with western China's Xinjiang and Central Asia.

Special Attraction: Bactrian camels, Seabuckthorn berries, unexplored landscape, hot springs, Sand Dunes, Diskit monastery, Green dense Forest, Rivers and crystal clear Lakes 

Road: you can hire Bike, tourist cab, or bus to reach Nubra Valley, from Leh-Khardungla pass(the highest motor able road in India) - Nubra valley..

NOTE:one has to seek permission from tourism department to reach here as its at border area. taking permission is not a big deal one can easily get it by filling a form.. 

Season / Months to visit : April-September

Valley of Flowers (Uttarakhand)

                      Valley of Flowers National Park

Valley of Flowers National Park is an Indian national park, located at a height in West Himalaya. The valley is enriched with thousands of different species of flowers, flora and also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic Black Bear, Snow Leopard, Brown Bear and blue sheep. The Valley zone lies between the mountain ranges of the zanskar and Great Himalayas.

State: Uttarakhand, India

District: chamoli

Nearest town: Joshimath

Location: The Valley of Flowers is nestled in the upper expanses of Bhyundar Ganga near Joshimath in Gharwal region. 

The Valley is 20 km northwest of Nanda Devi National Park across the wide valley of the Bhyundar Ganga. It is one of two hanging valleys lying at the head of the Bhyundar valley, the other being the shorter Hemkund valley which runs parallel some 10 km south. It runs east-west approximately 15 km by an average of 6 km wide, in the basin of the Pushpawati river, a small tributary flowing from the Tipra glacier which descends from Gauri Parbat in the east.

Road Route from Delhi: Delhi – Meerut – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Rudraprayag – Joshimath – GovindGhat – Trekking (17 kms) – Valley of Flowers..

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest Airport to Valley of Flowers but the roads are only connected upto Govind Ghat from where you have to commence trek of 16kms to reach Valley of Flowers.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Valley of flowers is Rishikesh but the roads are only connected upto Govind Ghat from where you have to commence trek of 16 kms to reach Valley of Flowers

Best time to visit : From mid April to June temperatures are moderate to cool (19°C maximum). . The Valley of Flowers also has the microclimate of an enclosed inner Himalayan valley, and is shielded from the full impact of the southwest summer monsoon by the Greater Himalaya range to its south. There is often dense fog and rain especially during the late summer monsoon. Both Basin and Valley are usually snow-bound for six to seven months between late October and late March, the snow accumulating deeper and at lower altitudes on the shadowed southern than on the northern side of the valleys..