Heart of Himalayas

I travelled through the Lahaul and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh for 10 days and most of that time was spent driving on rocky roads and through glacial streams.

All that time in this desert valley, I stared awestruck at the magnificence of the Himalayas, as we went from one place to the next, winding amidst them. Besides of course the beauty that surrounds you, the three things that remain with you long after you have come back are the lakes, the passes and the monasteries here.

Blanketed in the snow for most part of the year, lies a desert valley in the Himalayas in India. Remote and unspoiled, the beauty of this virgin landscape is unparalleled

These mountains, in the heart of the Himalayas, are indeed the ideal home to Buddhism and boast of some of the most striking Indo- Tibetan architecture. The most prominent of these Gompas (monastery) are at Ki, Dhankar, Kungri, Tabo and Kaza.

Kaza is the main town in the Lahaul and Spiti Valley and usually acts as a pit stop for most of you’re exploring in this district and the monastery right at the centre of this town is bright and gorgeous.

48km from here is the Tabo Gompa founded in 996AD. It is said to be the oldest continuously functioning monastery in India and it being declared a UNESCO Heritage Site has been in the offing for a while now.

This desert landscape makes for such a striking backdrop that the 2003 John Abraham starrer 'Paap' was shot here. Second on this list are the passes. Counted amongst the most popular of the Himalayan passes are the Kunzum and Rohtang.

Not only are they popular tourist destinations but they also figure high on most of the biking routes in the Himalayas. As you cross the Kunzum pass at 4551 meters above sea level, into the SpitiValley, you come to Chandratal.

This sweet water glacial lake is undoubtedly the most stunning and pristine in the country! It is also a designated wetland of international importance, according to the RAMSAR Convention.

It is believed that the elusive Snow Leopard & the Himalayan Fox are found in the catchment area of the ChandratalLake. Though the sightings here are rare, it is true that in the higher reaches, in the Pin Valley National Park, the snow leopard makes its home.

Wildlife or no wildlife, the lake in itself is splendid, for it reflects the color of the sky.If you watch the lake at sunrise it is a deep azure while it turns a rich emerald green during sunset, which makes it a coveted camping site.

So, plan your trip accordingly, you could maybe reach there in time for the sunset, camp over night and then leave early next morning after the sunrise.

Complementing Chandra Tal, literally meaning the Moon Lake is Suraj Tal, the Sun Lake. While Chandratal is the source of the Chandra River, the Bhaga River originates from Surajtal, thus bringing us the Chandrabhaga that continues downstream into Jammu and Kashmir to become the Chenab.Do not forget to include these lakes and others such as the Neelkanth in your itinerary.

To conclude, this district of Himachal Pradesh is not only a treasure trove of natural beauty and culture but it also has other interesting places such as Komik, the highest village in the world and Langza, a Buddhist village built around a giant Buddha on a mountain.

Fact File
The valley of Lahaul and Spiti is accessible only during the summer and is cut off from the rest of the world for the remaining eight months due to the cold and snow. June – September, therefore, is when it is open and is the ideal tourist season. You can get to this valley either from Manali or Shimla.

By:Neeharika Satyavada