Sangla valley Archives | Raacho Trekkers

Smitten by Sangla village of Kinnaur

Sangla – A blend of culture and natural beauty

Smitten by Sangla Visiting Kinnaur and spending some time with the locals was high on my bucket list for a long time. Finally, I got a chance to check out the Chitkul village in Sangla valley before our Lamkhaga Pass trek in May 2017, thanks to the impeccable planning of Gautam Baliga ji. On the… Continue reading Smitten by Sangla village of Kinnaur

Lamkhaga Pass Trek Blog – May 2018 Expedition

Jalandhari Gad amphitheater

Chitkul to Harsil/Gangotri trek Lamkhaga Pass (5282m) (Chitkul to Harsil), May 2018 The trek starts from the last village of Kinnaur, Himachal and ends at Harsil in the Gangotri valley of Uttrakhand. That is why, the Lamkhaga pass trek is also known as Chitkul to Gangotri trek or vice versa. This Himalayan high pass divides… Continue reading Lamkhaga Pass Trek Blog – May 2018 Expedition

Lamkhaga photostory: The Chitkul-Harsil Trek

Witnessing the onset of autumn in the Himalayas! Lovely contrast of fall colors against the snowy summits with clear blue skies, something I didn't expect before the trek.

Lamkhaga photoblog Lamkhaga Pass (5284m) is one of the most beautiful and challenging treks I’ve done so far. This 8-day trek connects the beautiful village of Chitkul in Sangla or Baspa valley of Kinnaur, Himachal to Harshil (Gangotri region, Uttarakhand) through some of the remote regions, usually not accessible for the civilians. The amount of… Continue reading Lamkhaga photostory: The Chitkul-Harsil Trek

Kinnaur Kailash Trek Blog

Charang - La base camp

Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama Trek Otherwise called Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama, this trek is circumambulation (parikrama) around the holy Kinnaur Kailash Range.Kinnaur Kailash is one of the 5 Kailash a Shiv Bhakt must-visit (others being Shrikhand Mahadev, Manimahesh Kailash, Adi Kailash, and Kailash Mansarovar). Kinnaur Kailash itself has two important routes from the pilgrimage perspective.1) Kinnaur Kailash… Continue reading Kinnaur Kailash Trek Blog

Baspa Valley Kinnaur: Valley Of Brimming Beauty

In the western Himalayas, bordering along with Tibet and Garhwal, the Baspa valley—also called Sangla valley—of Kinnaur has been open to visitors since the early 90s. The valley got its name from the Baspa river which originates from Chung Sakhago pass and meanders for around 30 km before meeting Satluj on its left bank near… Continue reading Baspa Valley Kinnaur: Valley Of Brimming Beauty

Sangla – A Buddhist Town in the lap of Himalayas!

Sangla,Baspa valley,Kinnaur

Sangla village of Kinnaur is a scenic & heavenly Himalayan village revered by travelers and backpackers alike. It is the largest village of the Sangla valley aka Baspa valley and one of the largest in Kinnaur. Located at the middle of the valley and about 18km from the nearest highway i.e NH 05, it has… Continue reading Sangla – A Buddhist Town in the lap of Himalayas!

Kinner Kailash Parikrama Trek in Winter

View from the 5,266 m (17,275 ft) Charang La

Kinnaur-Kailash Parikrama Trek Blog by Micah Hanson “How will you know the way, the weather is bad, there is a lot of snow,” the senior officer said. “I’ve hiked all over the Himalayas, I hiked the Pin-Paravati pass in a snowstorm,” I retorted. “Ok, I’ll give you permission if you write a statement that you… Continue reading Kinner Kailash Parikrama Trek in Winter

Baspa River Crossings:Nithal Campsite to Baspa glacier

Soaking up the sight and enjoying every moment in the valley

Baspa River originates near the Indo-Tibetan and Himachal-Uttarakhand border. The valley of Baspa is named after this river. It is also known as the Sangla Valley – one of the most scenic valleys in the Himachal Pradesh. The Chung Sakhago Pass lies at the head of the valley. Baspa river is fed by the perennial… Continue reading Baspa River Crossings:Nithal Campsite to Baspa glacier

Recent FAQs

Which cellular network works in Spiti valley?

BSNL works in all regions of Spiti valley and Kinnaur. Reliance Jio has started expanding its network in Spiti valley. It is expected to get functional by the summer of 2021.

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What to pack for Spiti valley?

In summers, the maximum temperature crosses the 20 degrees Celcius mark in Spiti valley. During sunny daytime, you’ll feel comfortable just by wearing a t-shirt and trousers. It is always good to get wrapped in layers of clothes as the weather can change anytime in the Himalayas. Even if the sun starts shining again, you can always get rid of the outer layers of clothing.

Here is the packing list (summers) for Spiti valley:

T-shirts.
A windcheater/ rain jacket.
Jeans/trousers.
Light woolen.
A cap/hat.
Sunglasses.
A pair of hiking shoes.
3/4 pairs of regular socks.
A water purifier and filtration bottle (avoid plastic bottle).
Personal hygiene essentials.
Sunscreen sunblock cream.

Spiti valley packing list (for winters):

A pair of good quality waterproof trekking boots.
Three pairs of cotton socks.
Two pairs of waterproof hiking pants.
One pair of shorts
Two pairs of fleece jumpers.
Two pairs of thermal tops and bottoms
One down jacket.
Headgear (1 beanie/skull cap, 1 buff, and 1 trekking cap).
A pair of thick gloves
Personal hygiene essentials(alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer, soap, towels, toilet papers, baby wipes, etc.).
UV-block sunglasses.
First aid kit.
A water purifier and filtration bottle.

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What is Spiti valley famous for?

Spiti valley is acclaimed for its distinctive Moon-esque landscapes and interesting landforms. 5 entities that define the Spiti valley are:

Chandratal —.the lake of moon.
Buddhist monasteries of Ki, Kaza, Kungri, and Tabo.
Snow leopards of Kibber — the grey ghost of the Himalayas.
Fascinating Tibetan culture and customs.
Fossils — dating back to the Triassic period (252-201 million years ago) — of Langza village.

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How to reach Spiti valley from Shimla?

Shimla to Narkanda-Rampur Bushahr-Powari-Pooh-Dubling village drive is on National Highway 5 (NH5). The Dubling village to Nako-Tabo-Kaza drive is on NH505. Kaza is the headquarters of Spiti valley. During winters, Shimla-Narkanda-Rampur road gets closed for a day or two whenever there is a long spell of snowfall. During such events, take the Shimla-Suni-Rampur Bushahr route along the Satluj river. This route stays open for all 365 days of the year.

It takes longer — when compared from Manali to Spiti valley (Via Atal tunnel) route — to reach Kaza from Shimla.

Shimla is one of the two places (second is Manali town) to start the Spiti valley circuit tour.

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How to reach Spiti valley from Manali (via Atal tunnel)?

The road from Manali follows the Solang Valley-Atal tunnel-Gramphu-Batal-Kunzum Pass-Losar-Kaza route. The distance from Manali to Kaza is 183 km and it takes about 4-5 hours to reach Kaza. Manali-Kaza is a shorter route than the Shimla-Kaza route.

Though the Atal Tunnel has hardly reduced the road distance between Manali and Spiti valley by nearly 20km, the drive time between the two places has now been reduced by over 2 hours.

Manali town is one of the two — the second is Shimla — places to start the Spiti valley circuit tour.

Is it possible to drive to Spiti valley from Manali in winter (via Atal tunnel)?

No. Not until BRO (Border Road Organisation) punches another hole under Kunzum-La — a pass that keeps Spiti valley closed to vehicular traffic from November to May from Manali’s side.

What precautions do you need to take while driving through the Atal (Rohtang) tunnel?

If you are coming from any city located on the plains (like from Delhi/Chandigarh), do take a break in Manali — or a place located at a similar altitude.

Driving straight from a place located at 200m altitude to a place at 3000m can take a toll on your body. Moreover, the temperature difference between the two places is enormous — from temperatures above 40 degrees celsius to subzero temperatures at the north portal of the Atal tunnel (during winters).

The second thing you need to consider is the speed limit. As the Atal tunnel is built under the Seri Nallah stream. Water ingressing into the tunnel walls from Seri Nallah could cause the formation of black ice on tunnel tarmac during the winters as the tunnel will act as a venturi for icy winds blowing in through the North portal.

If you drive above the speed limits on a slippery surface, your car can easily go into a slide causing a major accident!

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