Reach out and say hello

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.

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.

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.    

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.

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 6-7 hours (at one go) 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 20 km, 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 the 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!

Manali to Chandratal lake via Atal tunnel drive

Chandratal lake from Manali is 110 km away (via Atal tunnel). You need to follow the Manali-Kaza road route till Batal. From Batal, a 15 km long unpaved road (which was widened lately) connects Batal to Chandratal.

It takes about 5 hours to reach Chandratal from Manali (by your own car or taxi). Though, the HRTC bus (the only public transport service for Chandratal) takes about 6 hours to cover the 110 long route. If you are low on budget, this bus can take you to Chandratal in just Rs 250 from Manali. The bus returns to Manali town on the same day.

Manali to Kaza by HRTC bus

If you’re a slow traveler and looking for a budget-friendly and scenic way (take a window seat) to travel from Kullu to Kaza, the HRTC bus is a great option.

The Kullu-Kaza bus fare is 570 rupees, and women travelers will get a 50% discount. The bus journey takes about 9 to 10 hours and passes through the stunning 4551 meters high Kunzum Pass.

The bus operates between the Mid-June and Mid-October window, coinciding with the period when the Kunzum Pass is open to traffic. Be prepared for an early start, as the bus departs from the Kullu bus stop at 4:30 am. From Kaza, the bus departs for Kullu at 5 in the morning.

Tips for driving on Manali-Spiti valley road

• The common rule you need to follow while driving through Manali-Spiti road (also valid for driving through any Himalayan terrain) is to give way to vehicles going uphill. The only exception is when you have space and driving uphill is doable.
• When driving on narrow roads, if possible, make a mental note of all the places that come along the way where two vehicles can pass through. If you don’t know such places, tailgate (while maintaining enough space) a local car.
• Always keep your eyes far ahead as well and glance over the mountain road and be on the lookout for any vehicle that may be coming towards you. Tell your co-passenger also to be on the lookout.
• Never go to such places alone if you are not familiar with the roads. A trustworthy navigator is essential. Plus, you can reverse the roles whenever one feels tired.
• If the other vehicle stops to give you a pass, always smile, wave and say thank you. The smile you will get in return will be worth it.
• Always take the initiative and reverse. Don’t wait for a stalemate and ego to kick in. Just put your vehicle in reverse, of course, after checking that there are no vehicles behind.
• Learn to reverse by looking in the rearview mirrors.
• Be extra considerate and show compassion to others. Rest, the mountains will take care of you.

You need to follow Ambala-Zirakpur Expressway on National Highway(NH) 44 and Zirakpur to Shimla (111 km) on NH5 in Himachal Pradesh.  Shimla to Narkanda-Rampur Bushahr-Powari-Pooh-Dubling village drive is on NH5. Dubling village to Nako-Tabo-Kaza drive is on NH505. Kaza is the headquarter of Spiti valley.

Yes. The circuit is doable in October, though, the weather gets highly erratic — after September — in high altitude regions of Kinnaur, Spiti valley and Lahaul valley.   

No. The Manali-Spiti route gets closed when thick layers of snow blankets the Kunzum pass in November/December. The traffic movement resumes only after March month. 

Though the Manali to Spiti valley route gets closed — most often after November/early December till March — during winters, the Shimla-Narkanda-Rampur-Nako-Kaza road stays open even during wintertime. During long spells of snowfall, Shimla-Kaza road may get closed for a day or two. BRO team from Project Deepak and local administration employs dozers, snow cutters, and excavators to clear the snow and reopen the route after a spell of snow the route. Ping us to get the latest road and connectivity updates.