Page 136 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

134  DELHI & THE NOR TH

Spiti: The Sacred Valley

The heart of Himachal’s cold desert,
Spiti is a land of fascinating contrasts.
HIMACHAL Monasteries and prayer flags are
PRADESH
dotted along the banks of glacial
streams, while blue sheep and
ibex graze amidst sparse pastures
sprinkled with marine fossils. Once part of a West Bare multi-hued rock faces, a typical feature of
Tibetan kingdom, Spiti submitted to Ladakhi rule the Spiti area
in the 17th century and became a part of British
India in the 19th century. Through these changes
in its political history, Spiti remained a locked land,
enclosed between tall mountain ranges and
international borders. Though now part of Himachal
Pradesh, it has retained its Tibetan character and is
an important preserve of ancient Buddhist heritage.

Chandra Tal, or the “Moon Lake”, at a
height of 4,270 m (14,009 ft), lies at the
entrance to Spiti when approached
from Lahaul. Oval in shape, with deep
Tsarap Lingti blue waters, it is overlooked by craggy
peaks and hanging glaciers.
Chandra Chandra Tal Hansa Kaza is the
administrative
Losar headquarters of Spiti.
Key Monastery, possibly
founded in the 13th century, Kibber
is the largest monastery in Spiti. Key
Perched on an escarpment, it Manali Spiti Kaza Lingti
has a fine collection of thangkas Pin Valley
and is the seat of Lochen Tulku, National Lara
Lalung
a reincarnation of Rinchen Losar, the first Spiti Park Dhankar
Zangpo (see p123). village encountered Kungri Tabo Sumdo
en route from Lahaul, Gulling
is beautifully situated
below the wide Pin Chango
Key
confluence of the three
Area illustrated rivulets that combine
Major road to form the Spiti river.
Minor road
Kungri Monastery in Pin Valley belongs
to the Nyingmapa sect (see p143). The
uppermost hall, in the main temple,
0 km 25
contains some ancient wall paintings
0 miles 25 and wooden sculptures.
The land of the ibex and the snow
leopard, the Pin Valley National Park
is an untrammelled pastureland in the
shadow of virgin snowcapped peaks.
It surrounds the upper reaches of the
Pin river and its tributary, the Paraiho.
Among the carnivores, the fox and the
snow wolf are common, while
the beautiful snow leopard
is more elusive. Chorten at a village in Pin Valley

For hotels and restaurants in this region see p695 and p707 For keys to symbols see back flap

134-135_EW_India.indd 134 26/04/17 11:43 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm