Lahaul & Spiti Travel Guide

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

Lahaul & Spiti - Twin Valley of Himachal Pradesh
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. Tourists can make his/her journey more memorable by visiting the local market, which provides best woolen carpets, shawls and caps.

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.

Accommodations
There are variety of options available for staying in Lahaul & Spiti. From the state owned heritage hotels to five star private hotels, this place has got everything based on the individual's choice.

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

Manali
Manali is a small hill station in Himachal Pradesh, located at a distance of 40 km from the Kullu Valley. Manali is one of the famous tourists destinations in India, which is known for its natural beauty and healthy atmosphere. Besides, Manali also offers number of adventure activities like trekking, hiking and skiing.

Darcha (24 km)
Another excursion site located near Keylong, Darcha provides base for the trekkers to Padem. Situated amidst dry and deserted mountains Darcha offers an excellent venue for camping and outdoor activity.

Baralacha (73 km)
One of the perfect hill station of Himachal Pradesh, Palampur is located on the turf of Dauladhar ranges. Famous for the tea gardens, rice fields and flowers, Palampur is considered as best excursion sites nearby Dalhousie. The best way to explore this beautiful scenic destination is through trekking and mountaineering.

Dhankar Monastery (25 km)
Baijnath is known as a famous pilgrimage center, located on the Dauladhar ranges. A landmark in the Baijnath is the famous spire temple of Baijnath, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva (Hindu Deity). A large number of tourists and devotees travel to this place to get blessing from the Lord Shiva. Especially the waterfall at Baijnath is famous among the tourists, it is believed that the water contains some medicinal value in it.

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.

Major Attraction of the City
Fairs & Festivals
Fairs and festivals symbolizes the whole meaning of life, even in the toughest condition of existence people forget all their worries and tensions to make most of the festivity. Especially in the mountainous region festival adds extra charm and beauty to nature. A large number of fairs and festivals are organized in Lahaul & Spiti. Apart from the regular Indian festivals the people of this place celebrates some of the famous festival based on their local gods and goddesses. To name a few Halda, Phagli, Gotshi are some of the important festivals of lahaul & Spiti celebrated during the month of January and February.

Shopping In Lahaul & Spiti
While travelling in Lahaul & Spiti, tourists must not forget to visit the Keylong market, which is famous for carpets, Kullu shawls and caps. For best products and affordable rates visitors can shop from state government owned shop besides local shops. Himachal Emporium, Local Self Help Group and Bhuttico are some of the government recognized shops located in the market.