Spiti Valley in Winter Travel Guide

No Wi-Fi. No rush. No noise, except the wind echoing through the mountains.

This winter wonderland is going to test your grit and push you past your comfort zones in the best way possible. Spiti Valley is an exciting destination for many adventurers because of its frosty mountains and the tranquillity it offers to most people who visit this location.

Here are the popular reasons why most people visit Spiti Valley during the winters:

Key Monastery

In this remote location, you will find a monastery that operates like a town. Key monastery is the largest monastery, and it  comprises of prayer halls, schools, hostels, and restaurants. Here, you will find monks of all ages, some boys who are as young as 5 years old. You may find them wearing their modern jackets over their traditional red robes, as they spend their evenings engaged in games like cricket and football.  

If you want a true experience of what it is like to be a monk, then you can consider being a part of the lunch prayers. At noon, all monks will gather in the main assembly hall to pray and perform chants before lunch, which comprises of rice and a lentil dish. Time spent at Key Monastery is the definition of tranquillity at 13,000 feet. The monks move slow and the clouds drift even slower. In other words, it is life lived lightly.

Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary

At 14,200 feet high, lies the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary within the Kibber or Khyipur village. At this sanctuary, you can expect to see rare wild animals such as snow leopards, Tibetan wolves, Siberian Ibexes, Red Foxes, among many other majestic beauties of the wilderness. 

It is the only cold desert in India and in 2009 it was declared as a Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve. It covers a ground of 2220.12 square kilometers and even has medicinal significance. In fact, India’s food security is dependent on the rivers that run through this sanctuary.

Gue

Do you know that scorpions are not seen in the village of Gue, a small village in Spiti Valley? That is because Lama Sangha Tenzin, or locally known as Lama Kambo, sacrificed his life so that the village would no longer be attacked by scorpions. He did this by meditating in a tomb, wherein he asked his disciples to put him in. During which it is believed that his soul left his body for heaven, and a rainbow appeared later.

This is just one of the many fascinating legends you will get to hear during your visit to Gue and meet the mummy of Lama Kambo, who is over 500 years old, and he remains in a seated position with beads in his hand at the Gue Mummy Stupa.

Dhankar Lake Trek

Movies have popularised the serene, clear blue waters of Northern India and if you ever wished to walk over it, then visiting the lake in Dhankar Village in Spiti Valley will help you fulfil just that.

The trek is of 2 kilometers and it takes about 2 hours to reach the frozen beauty from the new Dhankar monastery. As you trek the path, you will be delighted with the ice and snow-capped mountains that you can see in the distance. The trek is of moderate difficulty as it involves a high-altitude climb. However, it can be managed with thorough planning and preparation.

Komic

If you want to skip the Mount Everest quest but also want to know what it is like to be on top of the rest of the world, then Komic should be next on your adventure plans. It is at a height of approximately 15,050 feet.

Komic is also home to Tangyud monastery, which is the highest in India. It is over 500 years old that boasts of an architectural gem, in addition to the quiet spirituality it offers. You can even enjoy the milky way at Komic due to the vast expanse of the night sky. In fact, Spiti Valley is also recognised by the DarkSky International, a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to protecting the night sky from light pollution, so you can be well assured that your night-gazing experience could be filled with meteor showers and constellations.

Wrapping Up

Shimla is the ideal route through which you can get to Spiti Valley by a 4x4 vehicle. Since the journey to, through and from Spiti Valley can be challenging, it can be managed stress-free by planning well in advance and bracing yourselves for the serene but extremely chilly winters. Make sure to pack all your thermals, stay hydrated throughout the trip and begin your trip from a lower altitude so that your body is able to acclimatise as you move higher up the rugged and majestic mountains.

At Spiti Valley, nothing is wasted - Water is collected like gold, Food is shared, not stored, and Homes are built to last lifetimes and not for booking seasons. Sustainability in reports and roadmaps tends to be all talk. However, at Spiti Valley, you can witness it, in silence, simplicity, and soul. Some places do not need help. They just need their visitors to listen.

You can start your journey here.