If you are planning a Road Trip to Spiti valley, below are some of the Top Places to Visit in Spiti valley during your Road Trip.
1. Manali
If you are planning to do Spiti valley bike trip from the Manali side, then you will get to explore this beautiful town which is always filled with tourists and the town offers much more to explore. One can make Manali their basepoint before heading towards Spiti valley, can spend a day in Manali, and explore some important sightseeing places like Hidimba Temple, Naggar castle, Jana waterfalls, Mall Road, Vasishta temple and can do some adventure activities in Solan valley.
2. Rohtang pass
If you start Spiti valley road trip from Manali side, then you have 2 options to do it, one if through newly built Atul Tunnel and another one is via Rohtang pass which is situated at the height of 3980 Mtrs in the Himalayan ranges of Himachal Pradesh, it’s the gateway to 2 important valleys in the Himalayas. Rohtang pass connects Ladakh and Spiti valley from the Manali side which is disconnected during the harsh winters for about 7 months. Rohtang means the Pass of Corpse, named as such due to people working in road construction work dying in bad weather trying to cross the pass.
While taking a motorcycle tour from Manali to Leh or Spiti valley, this is the first pass we should cross, and trust me it’s beautiful and adventurous.
3. Atul tunnel
IF you want to save some time while riding from Manali to Spiti valley bike trip, then use Atul tunnel, you could save easily around 60mins. the Newly built “Atal Tunnel” is the world’s longest high-altitude road tunnel at the height of 3000Mtrs above sea level and surely it is one of the top lists to explore when you are doing Spiti valley road trip.
4. Kunzum Pass
Kunzum La pass is a high-altitude mountain pass situated in Kunzum Mountain range of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, it connects Lahaul valley to Spiti valley and so it’s called as Gateway to Spiti Valley. The roads are open from July to October every year and remain closed during Winter. If you are traveling from the Manali side towards Kaza you will get to cross this pass. The roads are in terrible condition and it tests all the skills of the riders and makes you suffer while climbing from Batal camp to the top of the pass. The Kunzum Devi Temple is located on the Kunzum Pass. The presiding deity, Goddess Kunzum Devi is an avatar of Goddess Durga and is the protector of the pass and the travelers.
5. Chandratal Lake
Chandratal Lake is 100 km from Kaza and it’s one of the most adventurous roads during the Spiti bike trip. Because from Kaza till Chandratal the roads are mostly gravel with slush and water crossing at multiple times. Before reaching Chandratal one will cross Kunzum La pass at the height of 4550Mtrs ASL. One needs t
o walk for about 1-2Kms to reach Chandratal Lake (Last few Kms there is no motorable road to Chandratal). The altitude of Chandratal is 14000Ft ASL. There are a lot of camps to stay near Chandratal
6. Kaza
Kaza is the headquarters of Spiti valley and the major town as well. Kaza is situated at the height of 3650Mtrs Asl and it is one of the major towns with all the facilities available during your Spiti motorcycle tour, it has all types of hotels, homestays, fuel pumps, and cafes. If you are a non-Indian/international traveller then you need to obtain an Inner Line permit from Kaza to proceed further in Spiti valley. Generally, people spend 2-3 nights in Kaza, because there are a lot of places nearby to explore and some of them are very fascinating.
7. Key Monastery
After reaching Kaza, one can take a chance to explore the local sightseeing in & around Kaza. To begin with, visit Key gompa or Key monastery, which is situated at the height of 4166 Mtrs Asl. It is the largest and oldest monasteries in Spiti valley with over 100 monks live there throughout the year. The scenic landscape which forms the backdrop for Key Monastery is also a factor in a large number of tourists making a beeline for the remote monastery. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers, the beauty of the valley is breath-taking. The
route to Key Monastery is also beautiful. The culture of Key, like the rest of Spiti, closely resembles that of Tibet. It is hardly surprising then that the whole of Spiti is known as Little Tibet. Chham (mask dance) by monks is very popular and an integral part of festivities. The themes of the dance emphasize the victory of good over evil.
8. Kibber
Kibber is a small village located 20kms from Kaza, it has a monastery and wildlife sanctuary as well. Kibber is famous for spotting Snow leopards during winters, during winters one has to trek from Kaza to Kibber and spend some may days here before experience the glimpse of Snow Leopard. There are a few nice cafes and homestays as well. The high altitude and pollution-free atmosphere are a boon for sky gazers. Watching the night sky from Kibber is an amazing experience.
9. Chicham Bridge
Chicham bridge is the new sightseeing place added in the recent years, Chicham bridge is the highest bridge in Asia which is built at the height of 13600 Ft ASL, this bridge Chicham village from Kibber village. Travelers can also move towards Chandratal Lake after crossing the bridge, another wonder that lies in the folds of the Himalayas here.
10.Hikkim Village & Post office
Hikkim is a small mountain village located at the height of 4400Mtrs Asl, which is 46kms from Kaza town. It is one of the highest year-round inhabited locations in India, with residences from 4330 to 4400 m. Hikkim village has a post office situated at an elevation of 4,400 m (14,400 ft) and this post office is the highest in the world. The post office connects small villages in this isolated region to the rest of the world. It receives and sends postal letters. It also acts as a savings bank where villagers can deposit money in their savings accounts or withdraw money. Intrepid travelers make it this far to Hikkim village to take pride in mailing their letters from the highest post office on Earth. The Postal Index Number or PIN of the village is 172114.
11.Komic
Komic is a remote isolated village situated at the height of 15027ft Asl, Komic is the highest village in the world connected with a motorable road. Undoubtedly Komic is one of the amazing villages in the entire Spiti valley, because of its snow-capped mountains, Monastery, remoteness, and peace. All these attributes make Komic a must-visit place in Spiti Valley.
12.Langza
Langza is also one of the remote and isolated villages in Spiti valley, situated at the height of 4400mtrs asl, and is divided into two sections, namely Langza Yongma (lower) and Langza Gongma (upper). It houses a population of approximately 137 people, who are dependent on agriculture and business for their livelihood. The production of vessels of all shapes and sizes and crafts such as shawls, carpets, etc. are common in Langza and helps residents earn money for a livelihood. The village has an ancient Lang or temple, which is regarded as the headquarters of all the Deities of the Spiti Valley. Langza Village is primarily dominated by the statue of Lord Buddha, overlooking the valley, an ancient monastery, and mud houses that the tourists can see during their visit to the village, this place is very rich in fossils of marine animals and plants that were found here millions of years ago and this is why many geologists and anthropologists visit the village each year to do research and to dig out more details about the fossils.
13.Tabo Monastery
Tabo is located in Spiti valley, Tabo is famous for its ancient monastery which is founded in 996CE. Tabo is noted for being the oldest continuously operating Buddhist enclave in both India and the Himalayas. While Tabo village is in a bowl-shaped flat valley, the monastery is also in the bottom of the valley, unlike other monasteries in the valley, which are perched on hills; in the past, the region was part of Tibet. It is located in a very arid, cold, and rocky area at an altitude of 3,050 meters.
14.Dhankar Monastery
Dhankar monastery is located in Dhankar village in Spiti valley at the height of 3894Mtrs asl, the complex is built on a 1000-foot (300-meter) high spur overlooking the confluence of the Spiti and Pin Rivers – one of the world’s most spectacular settings for a gompa. Dhankar was the traditional capital of the Spiti Valley Kingdom during the 17th century and has some features dating back to the 12th century.
15.Mud village
Mud village is one the remote and isolated places in Spiti valley situated at the height of 3600mtrs Asl, Mud village is located in Pin valley of Himachal Pradesh and one of the major attractions for famous trekking routes like Pin-Parvati trek & Snow leopard sighting. Mud village is home to around 200 people who live here throughout the year, even during the harsh winter.
16.Gue Mummy
Gue village is situated in Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh, the village is located just kilometres away from the India-China border where a 550-year-old mummified monk, Sangha Tenzin is being guarded. A few years ago, there were reports that it had been stolen from the shrine and found its way across the border. Though, due to the activeness of local authorities returned the mummy to the shrine. It is believed that natives claim to know of its existence since the mid-Seventies, inside a tomb at a different location. Several people saw the mummy for the first time after an earthquake disfigured the tomb. But it was only during the excavation by the ITBP that the mummy was “officially” found and moved to its current location
17.Nako lake
Nako lake is situated in Nako village at the height of 3660mtrs. The lake holds spiritual importance to the local villages and one of the hidden gems of the Himalayas. You can find a lot of backpackers in this region who come and spend quite a few days here before they head to their next destination in Spiti valley. Nako lake is bounded by 4 Tibetan temples. Close to the temple, there are four caves which are believed to be the meditation site of saint Padmasambhava. These were the caves from where Guru Padmasambhava gave disclosure to his followers.
18.Hindustan Tibet highway
Hindustan-Tibet highway or NH 5, connects Firozpur in Punjab state to Shipkila pass in Himachal Pradesh state. Shipki La is a zero border between India and Tibet. If you are traveling to Spiti valley by bike or car then this road is one of the major attractions because after crossing Nako village you will enter this highway and experience the most beautiful Himalayan highway, this road is built after cutting the rocks, tunnels, and valleys, few stretches also looks very scary and that’s why it is called as a human marvel of Himalayas.
19.Kalpa
Kalpa is a small town in the Kinnaur valley of Himachal Pradesh, known for its apple orchards. Apple is very famous in this region and most people depend on this crop for livelihood. It is situated at the height of 2960Mtrs, it has very famous ancient Hindu temples. Kalpa came into prominence in the wake of British Governor-General Lord Dalhousie’s visit in the 19th century. The Narayan-Nagani temple is exemplary of local craftmanship. There are a couple of Buddhist monasteries at Kalpa including the Hu-Bu-Ian-Car Gompa, said to be founded by Rinchensang-Po (950-1055AD). Kalpa is dramatically located close to the foot of 6050-meter high Kinner Kailash. This is the legendary winter home of Shiva. This is a spectacular sight early in the morning as the rising sun touches the snowy peaks with crimson and gold light.
20.Roghi suicide point
The Suicide Point is located around 3 km away from Kalpa village and the journey to this point takes place through beautiful apple gardens. This place is so lovely that tourists even forget the dangerous trench and vertical slope they pass through on their way to suicide point. This place is famous for its thrilling trench and enchanting atmosphere that gives a wonderful experience to the visitors.
21.Sangla
Sangla is a small village located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, it is supposed to be one of the most beautiful valleys in the country. In Tibetan, the term Sangala means “pass of light” which refers to the valley receiving sunlight during the day. situated on the right bank of the Baspa river, is famous for its highly fertile soil, at an elevation of 2621 m above the sea level, the journey from Karcham dam to Sangla valley is so amazing and scary as well, most of the places the road is built by cutting the rocks and it is very narrow as well.
22.Chitkul – The Last Indian village
Chitkul, the last inhabited village on India-Tibet international borders. It is the last point where one can visit without any permits; beyond this village, one needs a permit. The village is very remote and isolated which makes a perfect destination for those who love peace and tranquillity. The journey from Sangla to Chitkul is amazing that one should ride next to the Baspa river. The major attractions of this village are ancient wooden-style huts and some amazing local coffee shops.
23.Sarahan
Sarahan is one of the major places to stay while you are traveling on a Spiti valley bike trip, it is a small town that is densely covered by forest and apple orchards. Saharan is the base for numerous treks and is the gateway to Kinnaur. It is a place of pilgrimage, a heaven for nature lovers and the temple complex attracts a variety of admirers. Here is a place that offers an extraordinary travel experience. This sparsely populated tract is steeped in ancient legends and here is the famous Bhimakali temple regarded as one of the Fifty-One sacred Shaktipeethas. The temple’s unusual architecture and wealth of carvings have made it a resplendent example of what is loosely called the Indo-Tibetan style. Deep down the alley flows the river Sutlej and across lies the snow-clad Shrikhand peak.
24.Narkanda
Narkanda is a small town situated at the height of 2708Mtrs on the Hindustan – Tibet highway. Narkanda offers a spectacular view of snow ranges. This is an ideal retreat for tourists who seek seclusion in mountains. It commands a unique view of the eternal snow line, the inviting apple orchards, and dense forests. Narkanda is famous for Skiing & Winter sports. During these days the slopes come alive with skiers
25.Hatu peak
Hatu peak is situated in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh at the height of 3400Mtrs, Tourists can visit the quaint town of Narkanda that is situated atop the peak. The town serves as a transit camp for travelers heading to Spiti Valley and other higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh. At the top of the peak is a small wooden temple called the Hatu temple. According to local belief, the famous Hatu Mata temple is the temple of Maa Kaali. People come in great numbers on the first Sunday of Jyeshtha to pay ritual here. There is an ancient stove-like formation of rocks nearby the temple. Locals believe that it was used by the Pandavas brothers to cook their food during their Agyaat Vaas.