An unexplored destination in the North: Lahaul and Spiti

Do you know the second least populated district in India?

It's Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh! It was hardly that tourists visited here due to uneven terrain and unusual landscapes. And just a few years that the tourists have started exploring this hidden gem as holiday destinations. And the place witnessed an unusual hike planning and visits. And as we know, unusual things attract the most crowd. So, won't you love to know the wonders housed by the district? Here's all of it which would let you know about the expectation to seek and the reason why  Lahaul and Spiti curates as such a coveted travel destination.

The places to see

The 1000 year old Key monastery is home to about 250-300 lamas, spiritual leaders in Tibetian Buddhism. The architecture and the historic significance are a major attraction of the place.

Chandratal lake is also known as trekkers paradise. One of the most enticing lakes on the himalayas. It is   located 4300 metres above sea level on Samudra Tapu plateau. It is crescent shaped and gives you a chance to climb on glaciers while reaching the spot. The turquoise blue waters, majestic mountains and the calm surrounding makes an atmosphere that is heaven on earth in winter.

Ever thought of visiting a cold desert?? The pin valley national park, the variety of landscape, habitat, vegetation and atmosphere this place offers is difficult to express in words. the spread of the enchanting view is endless and is influenced by tibetian Buddhist culture.

the third highest lake in India and 21st highest across the world, the Suraj tal lake also known as lake of sun god. It is believed to clean all your sin by dipping in this lake. its beauty during winters is splendid and offers a mesmerizing view. Do not forget to visit the Ajanta of Himalayas, 'tabo monastery' sits on the bottom of the valley still 3050mts above sea level. it is also declared as 'national historical treasure'. It is also  famous for its paintings which are centuries old but still seem fresh.

The kunzum pass is a beautiful pass amidst himalayas. Located at an altitude of 15060 ft. and an excellent place for photographers. The town Kaza is home to a number of historical wonders, monasteries, and gompas . Currently the town features an exotic amalgamation of ancient cultures and modernism that is sure to leave you spell bound. The beliefs related to this beautiful lake in the lap of himalayas, dhankar lake is that  Lord Shiv had visited and stayed at this lake during his quest for lord Vishnu and nandi also drank some water from this lake and several myths related to the place. Village kibber located in the high altitude valley of Spiti, curates kibber monastery and kibber wildlife sanctuary. An interesting fact is that the barter system is still prevalent in this small village of Spiti. Unbelievable right? But it does!

Another town called "Tabo", sits on an elevation of 10760 ft. and is a cold desert town. With a picturesque location and surrounding.  The famous attractions here are the 1000 year old monastery, some temples, ancient caves with historical significance and backstories.

Dhankar monastery has been listed on 100 most dangerous monuments in the world due to the deterioration. It is the main centre of Buddhist culture and houses centuries old 'Thangkas'. It was built 1000 years ago, and still offers a spell binding view from the valley.

Over 500- year old mummy of a Buddhist monk called 'giu mummy' is placed inside glass attracting visitors from across the country. The liveliness of the mummy is sure to give you goosebumps, hair, nails, teeth. Such preservation of the human body without using any chemical is a wonder.

World's highest post office in village hikkim is another wonder, the work often hindered by heavy snowfall.

Apart from the above, Tabo caves, Spiti river gandhola monastery, Nazo village and river, Komik, sopona lake, sakya tangyud monastery, kungri monastery, lhalung monastery, langza village and tashigang village are the among other famous places to visit in the district.

Activities to try.

A biking trip on the valleys of Spiti, is one of the popular activities, when a bike is rented for the number of days you desire. River rafting is also an important activity due to multiple water bodies in the district. The whole women tour of Spiti valley to the majestic himalayas is again a popular venture, there are several more such all women trips to Lahaul and Spiti where the activities and performances and tourists enjoy to the fullest. Manali Chandratal Kaza jeep tour to explore the valleys and surrounding of Spiti, It also lets you explore some iconic destinations like monasteries on the way.

The lake of the moon, 'Chandratal lake' is well known for its spell bounding surrounding and camping is a popular activity in the place. Trek to mount Kanamo, this 7 day trek or trip can give you a rejuvenating experience. The height of 5964 metres gives you a splendid view. Jeep safari to Chandratal lake is another popular activity

 and comfortably lets you explore the Himalayan ranges. Chandratal lake is coveted among trekkers and campers.

Some local food to try

Madra has its origin in chamba and is prepared from soaked chickpeas and vegetables in a yogurt base to form a singular, kadhi like dish. It is cooked in ghee or oil and seasoned with onion-ginger-garlic paste, cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, coriander powder and turmeric powder. Thenktuk, a  soup noodle dish of tibetian origin. A gravy consisting of mutton, chicken, tomatoes, onions, spinach, potatoes, radish, garlic, ginger and cilantro. noodles are mixed with wheat dough chunks; Yak meat is often used here. Dhaam, a complete dish in itself. No auspicious occasion in the place is complete without Dhaam. It is prepared from Rajma, moong daal, yoghurt, boor ki kadhi and fragrant mountain rice.

Bhey, a unique dish made from lotus stems. Also made with gram flour, onions, cayenne pepper, garlic-ginger paste and mountain herbs. Chaa Gosht, for a true non-vegetarian. The dish is prepared from a lamb meat added to a gravy of yogurt and gram flour and seasoned with strong spices – red chili powder, cardamom, coriander powder, garlic-ginger paste, asafoetida and bay leaves. Babru, a kneaded dough stuffed with a paste of locally grown black gram lentils is deep fried. Aktori, the local food made from buckwheat leaves and is shaped like a pancake or cake. Channe Ka Khatta is served with rice, local food. Mittha is prepared by adding generous portions of dry fruits to sweetened rice. Patande batter is prepared from milk, wheat flour and sugar. And the snake prepared with ghee is similar to Dosa. Gahat Ka Shorba, stew is prepared with a local grain known as Gahat and flavoured strongly. with garlic and coriander.

The culture of Lahaul and Spiti is an amalgamation of hindu and Buddhism.

Similar to Ladakhi and tibetian culture. It is also called as land of unique festivals. The beauty of Lahaul and Spiti is among the less known beauty in India. It is forth least populated district in India. Due to proximity with Tibet, people of Spiti share a lot of Tibetan traits, language and customs while Lahaul people have a mix of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan. Bhotia families in Spiti follow the traditional of Tibetan heritance system in which eldest daughter inherits the mother’s jewellery, eldest son inherits family property and the younger siblings don’t get anything much. Polyandry was a common in Lahaul but it’s almost out of fashion right now. Tourism, handicrafts and jobs in government are gaining numbers too. Houses are more or less constructed in same Tibetan design with flat roofs apart from a  few superficial  difference. Fuel in form of wood, straw and dung is stored on roofs. Fagli is an important Lahauli festival celebrating New Year according to Tibetan New Year between February and March. Losar festival is celebrated between the months of January and February every year and has the same significance as the Diwali but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion. It is celebrated by lighting communal bonfires between January and February in which people pray to Shiskar Apa (Vasundhara), goddess of wealth.

Lahuli (Lahauli), also known as Stod Bhoti is a Tibetic language spoken in the Lahaul and Spiti region. Hindi, Manchas Dialects, Bhoti, Sanskrit is also spoken.

The summer months of March-June are considered to be the best to visit Spiti and Lahaul, not only due to the pleasant weather but also fewer crowds. For that perfect winter vacation, the months of October-February are the best time to visit the district but the cold is at its peak. when the landscape is frosted in white and one can see the elusive wildlife and the striking frozen waterfalls and lakes, it's an unforgettable experience. travelling during monsoon to this region would require a lot of planning and precaution.

Consult your doctor if you are suffering from conditions like Asthma or Chronic Heart disease and wish to visit Spiti valley. Irrespective of which vehicle you are travelling from, you must have an experience of wheels on mountain areas, as the landscape of Spiti is not a kind path where you can try or learn. traveling alone on a vehicle is not recommended here generally, at least a group of 2. Any sort of unintelligent thrill seeking is advised to avoid these valleys of Spiti.

The numerous wonders in experience are almost impossible to count, name or even describe with words, so you better understand that visiting is the only option. And here we stand to curate an unforgettable stay at Mytravaly, providing you the hottest deals on  best of services, options and much more. So hurry up to grab the best deal while planning an amazing holiday trip!