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Spiti [cold desert] Spiti Valley is a Himalayan desert mountain valley situated at an average height of 13,000 feet in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh..
One of the still unexplored and insanely beautiful stretch of the Indian Himalayas, Spiti is a valley of stark landscapes and high snowy peaks stretching to the sky. Gurgling rivers and crystal clear lakes dot the highlands of Lahaul, while an ancient civilization has survived for nearly a thousand years and has preserved its culture against the onslaught of modernity in Spiti. Often regarded as a chunk of Tibet marooned in India, Spiti Valley is enigmatic and is interspersed with tiny hamlets and serene monasteries sitting precariously on mountain crags spread across its notched moonscape. The scattered villages comprise of whitewashed mudbrick homes amid rugged mountains and barley fields.
SPITI, HIMACHAL
AREA 13, 841 SQ KMS
POPULA T IO N
The Spiti Valley lies in the Western Himalayas at 3680 meters, in Himachal Pradesh in North India near the Tibetan border. Closed to the outside world for over 30 years, this ‘forbidden’ valley
~ 31,564
LITERACY RAT E 76.80 %
LAND BEYOND CHAOS
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Spiti, also known as the “Middle Land”, is a trans- Himalayan terrain located in the north-eastern part of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is a research centre for Buddhist due to its innumerable monasteries and temples. Tabo Monastery is the favourite of Dalai Lama and one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the world. It is home to the few surviving Buchen Lamas of the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism. The life at Spiti often leads to monastic forms of living for most of its inhabitants. People of Spiti are superstitiousthey talk of healing trees, spirits and monks possessing magical powers. People celebrate the local festivals and fairs. Natives communicate in Stod Bhoti, a subgroup of the Tibetic languages. You’ll find the kindest people residing in the harshest conditions. People of Spiti welcome you with warm smiles and open helping hands.
LHAKSO, TABO 24 JANUARY 2019
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PEOPLE OF SPITI
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Tibetan food dominates most platters here, reason being the Tibetan Buddhist culture prevails in this beautiful region. The local cuisine that you cannot afford to miss in Spiti includes Momos, Butter Tea, Thukpa, Chang (a locally-made beer) and Arkah (a locally-made whiskey). Spiti valley is also famous for its abundance of restaurants serving quality Israeli food. While at the valley, do taste some of their flavored and aromatic tea (made using ingredients such as dry fruits, salt, mint and honey).
KUNKHEN HOMESTAY , KAZA 20 FEBRUARY 2019
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LOCAL CUISINE OF SPITI
Spiti Valley is home to many small villages, beautiuful hamlets hidden deep in the valley along the Spitian river. The villages of Spiti, though remote, are home to some of the kindest, friendliest people in India, and very welcoming of travellers. Braving harsh terrain and extreme weather, the locals work hard relentlessly to sustain their families. The construction of the mud houses in the villages of Lahaul & Spiti is usually a community affair. The houses have flat roofs although the region receives heavy snowfall. These roofs are multifunctional and used for daily activities like sleeping, weaving and storage. The whole structure of the house acts as a homogeneous unit during earthquakes and thus reduces damages. The lintel helps in the uniform distribution of the load in the structure of the house. It is also decorated with white dots of flour to bring good luck and a black band is painted around every door of the house to avert spirits.
VILLAGES OF SPITI
TABO KIBBER KAZA DHANKAR LHALUNG DEMUL PIN VALLEY KEY HIKKIM LANGZA CHANDRATAL
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In early november, when the temperature dips down to -10 degrees, the hotels are closed for the tourists. The NGOs working to develop Spiti postpone their activities for the next tourist season, leaving the people of Spiti to face the harsh winters ahead. After a few more spells of snowfall, the temperature drops by another 15 degrees, and the road conditions become dangerous for travelers. Water scarcity, dry toilets, avalanches, frozen fuel, limited resources are some of the many difficult conditions that one faces. The BRO (Border Roads Organisation), continue to work under harsh weather conditions, risking their lives to make way along the treacherous roads covered with thick blankets of snow, with temperatures dipping to -25 degrees We respect and thank our real life night’s watch, for having our backs up north.
NAKO, KINNAUR 17 FEBRUARY 2019
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WINTERS IN SPITI
“ IN A LAND BEYOND ALL THE LANDS, WHERE ONCE LIVED THE GODS “
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