10 Reasons Why Spiti Valley Should Be On Your Bucket List

A couple of weeks back, I got an opportunity through Wanderknots to take few travellers to the mystic valley of Lahaul and Spiti in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Spiti is a sparsely populated cold mountain desert which is still one of the most unexplored destinations in Himachal Pradesh. Of late, Spiti is slowly gaining popularity among travelers looking to drift away from the tourist trails.

The valley remains cut off from the rest of India for six months during winters but when it opens up, it is a beauty that should not be missed by any traveler.

Here are the 10 reasons why Spiti valley should be on every traveler’s bucket list:

1. Magnificent Landscapes

Spiti Valley is by far the most beautiful destination I have ever been to.  In your journey throughout the valley, you will find varied landscapes which are a feast to the eyes. And never does a person get tired of seeing these stunning views.

2. Rustic Travel

Spiti is not commercialised like Ladakh. Often called the long lost cousin of Ladakh, Spiti has bare minimum necessities for the travellers. Homestay in the villages is a humbling experience. With nothing fancy to offer, the rustic travel will remain one of the best travelling experiences I have ever had.

3. See a Naturally Mummified Body of a Monk

One can see find naturally mummified body of Sangha Tenzin in Gue, a Tibetan Buddhist Monk, who according to a folk lore, is believed to have sacrificed his life to save the town from scorpion infestation.

 

4. Send Postcards from World’s Highest Post Office

   Spiti boasts to have the World’s Highest Post office. The small post office is located in Hikkim village at an altitude of 14567 ft. You can send postcards to your near and dear ones from this post office and keep the letter writing culture alive.

   

   

5. Visit Highest Village connected with a motorable road

The world’s highest village connected with a motorable road, Komik, is in Spiti. Komik is located near Kaza, the district head quarter of Lahaul and Spiti District.

 

6. Visit ancient monasteries

Spiti is home to some of the oldest monasteries in the world. Tabo Monastery, Key Monastery, Dhankar monastery are some of the monasteries to visit in the valley.

7. View Marine fossils

   At 14000+ ft lies Langza village known to house marine fossils. One can see fossils of marine creatures and plants that lived on our planet millions of years ago. Currently government has put a ban on collecting fossils from here.

   

7. Enjoy simple yet tasty food

Be it Dal Chawal and paranthas at a homestay or momos and Thukpas in a small restaurant, Spitians offer you yummy food to relish.

 

9. Camping at Chandrataal lake

Camping at Chandrataal Lake is one of the highlights of a trip to Spiti.  Tucked in between snow-capped mountains, the turquoise blue lake is a stunner. The crescent shaped lake is accessible on foot from Batal and Kunzum Pass and there is also a motorable road. Camps are set up 3 km away from the lake. You can either trek or drive up to the lake.

10. To live without network

Lastly, with only BSNL sim cards working in few areas of the valley, one can enjoy a network free holiday. Today when we are used to updating every minute detail of our lives on social media, living without network for some time is highly recommended. It encourages you appreciate nature, food and the people you are spending time with.