05 Kinnar-Spiti
Kinnaur & Spiti Valley
Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa, Rekong-Peo, Nako, Tabo, Khibber, Ki, Dhankar
Use cursors buttons at Map's top-left corner ... to move around the map and zoom-in/out
Highlight Pictures from Spiti:
Head Monk at Dhankar Gompa
Two French Visitors at Dhankar Gompa
Ki Gompa... built into the rocks.
View looking down from Dhankar Gompa
I must give credit to Lonely Planet's India Guide for bringing this region to my attention. Its description
"For places of stark and utter beauty, and landscapes to touch the soul, head for the bleak, high-altitude regions of Lahaul, Spiti and eastern Kinnaur. Once forbidden to foreigners, the region is in the rain shadow of Himalayas and has much in common with nearby Tibet".
After reading this description I had to go there and see for myself. I must say Lonely Planet's claim, if anything, was an understatement! After seeing some of the pictures below, hopefully you too will want to visit this region some day.
Trace the Route and the Places I visited on the map above .....
Starting from Shimla, I went North-East on NH-22 (known as Indo-Tibetan Highway) first to Sarahan, then to Sangla and then on to remote Chitkul.
Retraced back to NH-22 and go North, along Sutlej River to Kalpa, and then further North to Chango (Yangthang) and Nako.
Crossing North over the Himalayas emerged into the Spiti Valley. Heading West along the Spiti River to Tabo, Dhankar, Kaza, Kye (Ki) and Khibber, all Gompa, Monastery towns.
Day-wise Diary in sub pages listed in left margin column