Lahaul And Spiti: Discover Nature and Culture

Nature in Pin Valley and around the lakes

Pin Valley National Park is located in the cold desert region of the Spiti subdivision of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh. The park is home to Himalayan snow leopards, ibex, bharal or blue sheep, and red foxes.

Chandrataal Lake (Chandra Taal) is so clear that you can see stones on the lake bed. It can be circled along a five-kilometre route. The summer route to Pin Valley National Park is open from July to October. Check conditions before your trip and take this time frame into account when planning.

A suspension bridge leads to Sissu Falls.

Access and travel planning

Road access differs by valley: the route into Spiti Valley is via Sumdo, while the route into Lahaul is via Manali. Kunzum Pass provides the main access from Lahaul Valley to Spiti Valley. The road between Keylong and Kaza remains closed for more than nine months in winter due to the closure of Kunzum Pass and heavy snowfall; its status depends on the weather. These differences are relevant when choosing a route and travel dates.

The nearest airport is Bhutar; the nearest rail connections are in Jogindernagar, Shimla, and Chandigarh. When planning accommodation, you can consider your preferred valley and travel dates together.

Temples, history, and traditions

Gondhla Fort, also known as Gondhla Castle, was built in 1700 AD by Raja Man Singh of Kullu. Triloknath Temple is located in the Udaipur subdivision of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh and is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Murals in Markula Devi Temple depict scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Shashur Gompa is a Buddhist sanctuary of the Drugpa school, built in the 16th century. These sites offer a range of highlights, from a fort with a documented date to temples revered by both faiths, murals, and Buddhist monastic traditions.

The Tsheshu Festival is celebrated in June at the monasteries of Shashur, Gemur, Kyi, Kardang, Tabo, and Mane in Lahaul and Spiti. If you would like to include the festival in your trip, check the dates for the relevant year. The month and the monasteries named here provide specific points of reference for your planning. In Himachal Pradesh, Tabo Monastery in the Spiti Valley is a thousand-year-old national historical heritage site.

Trekking from Darcha

Darcha is the starting point for treks to Padum via Shinkun La. If you would like to focus your trip on walking, you can make Darcha and the route via Shinkun La a key part of your plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Losar, Kaza, Dhar Sitikhud, Kinnaur, Hatkoti, Kangra, Una, Palampur.

Back to the main travel overview: Himachal Pradesh.