Location
The word SPITI means “middle Land”
The Spiti Valley is situated in the Trans-Himalaya Range of the Himalayan Mountains, on the Tibetan plateau which has almost no rain and is snow-covered for 8 months of the year. The average altitude is over 4500 meters or (12,000 feet), with temperatures dropping to minus 35°C in winter and rising to over 30°C in the summer.
This Valley became part of the state of Himachel Pradesh in 1960. Ladakh lies to the north, Kullu to the west, Kinnour to the south and Tibet to the east. The valley was once part of the Kingdom of Guge and then the Lahaul & Spiti area became part of the British East India Company territory in the 19th century. It lies between the two great powers of India and China.
The road to Spiti is usually open from June to September/October, providing the snows melt on the Kunzum-la pass to enable vehicles to go through to Kaza. There is a bus service which runs daily from Manali; the journey taking about 16 hours and stopping only for taking refreshments. Vehicles cannot go fast on the rough roads and there is always a risk of being held up by landslides or avalanches. The drive takes one over the Rhotang pass 13,500 ft and down to GRAMPO, a distance of 13 kms, and the road to the right leads to Spiti. The drive of 17 kms along the Chandra valley, through desolate scenery of gravel and weather beaten rocks, leads to the tea house at CHATRU. Here the speciality of good rice and Dahl makes a welcome break from the bumpy road.
The next tea house is 30 kms away at BATAL, before the climb up to the KUNZUM-LA pass, at 15,500 ft (or 4,550 metres) and where the air is thin and cold. A quick walk round the 3 Stupas is auspicious for a safe onward journey. The road then descends into the Spiti Valley following the river from its source. The next stop is 30kms on at LOSAR, a small village where all foreigners are obliged to register with their passports at the military check point. A long but beautiful drive of 58kms follows to KAZA, passing the KI Monastery on the way.
Many jeep safaris break the journey on the way to Kaza and camp overnight en route. The bus journey travels straight through from Manali to Kaza and takes 12-14 hours.
Kaza is the Governmental Administrative Capital of the Spiti Valley but not an attractive town but it is here where our hospital is situated.
Continuing south along the main highway, the road reaches the deep gorges beside the river as it makes its way south. From Kaza, the journey of 55kms leads to TABU. On the way after 8kms one reaches the turning to the road to DANKHAR Monastery. A short distance further on is the bridge to the entrance to the PIN Valley, then comes the turning to the LINGTI Valley beyond that is the road to MANE Village. Finally one reaches TABU, home of the famous 10thC temple complex. LARI Village is another 8 kms further on. From there the road continues through the narrow gorges to KINNOUR where the Spiti River meets the mighty Sutlej River There is a check post at SUMDU where passports have to be shown. It is worth finding out if a permit is needed to pass through this area. The rules change from year to year. This is the nearest point to the Tibetan border, a mere 17kms and therefore sometimes a sensitive area
