Standing in between India and Tibet, Spiti Valley is home to several monasteries, snow-clad mountains and a cool atmosphere. Every road here will take you to breathtaking views and the wonders of nature. Located at an altitude of 12,500 ft above sea level, Spiti Valley is considered to be one of the coldest regions in India.
Planning a trip can be overwhelming especially when there’s a lot of ground to cover and many things to do. Especially when you’re going to be swept away by the picturesque views and pleasant weather. Luckily for you, if you’re taking a trip to Spiti Valley, we’ve jotted down the best things you must have on your itinerary for the full vacation experience. By the end of it, we promise you’re going to mark the state as your favorite one.
Top 7 Things To Do In Spiti Valley
- Look At Mummies In Giu Village
- Visit The Monasteries
- Try The Exhilarating Treks In Spiti
- Shop At Kaza’s Main Market
- Indulge In Tibetan Cuisine
- Set Up Camp In Chitkul
- Stargaze In The Clear Sky
1. Look At Mummies In Giu Village
Allow us to make things more exciting and spice up your trip to Spiti Valley by adding an unexpected twist. While the mention of mummies sparks up a vivid imagination of a bandaged up Egyptian mummy – Spiti Valley has a version of its own! On a hilltop lies a scenic isolated village known as Giu Village. Tourists often visit the destination to bask in the picturesque views without knowing about this rare hidden gem.
Head to Giu Monastery where you’ll find a mummified body of a Tibetan monk. It’s believed to belong to Sangha Tenzin and has been preserved for over 500 years! The locals refer to him as Mummy Lama and he was retrieved during an excavation and road work after being buried in an avalanche. Be prepared to be struck by fascination as you come across his shrine where he’s still in a sitting position with some teeth intact. It’s surely wondrous for a body to have preserved itself without any chemicals or decaying for so long.
Entry Fee: INR 30
2. Visit The Monasteries
Spiti Valley is dotted with monasteries that invite you to explore the Tibetan culture and revel in tranquility. The Key Monastery is the biggest and the most renowned one in the valley. The gompa is an irregular but a striking feature of this monastery. It’s made of low ceilings and narrow passageways on a monolithic conical hill. You’ll find hundreds of lamas receiving religious training in this very monastery, preparing them for devotional life.
Another monastery worth visiting is the Tabo monastery situated in the Tabo village. The monastery is inside a complex with nine other temples, 23 chortens (Buddhist shrine), and a monks’ chamber. Till date, the Tabo monastery is the largest structure in all of Spiti Valley. As you stroll through the premises, you’ll find faint carvings of paintings once painted on the rocks.
Other Monasteries To Visit:
- Kibber Monastery
- Tnagyud Gompa
- Kungri Gompa
3. Try The Exhilarating Treks In Spiti
If you dislike lazing around during summers, bring your sporty side out and go for the Chandratal Trek! This trek usually begins at Manali in Himachal Pradesh and takes you all the way to the Chandratal Lake. The crescent-shaped lake literally translates to “Lake Of The Moon” and is totally worth it for trekking a distance of 80 km. You’ll be walking through patches of lush green meadows and freshwater lake before arriving at the final destination. The whole journey only enhances the surreal views that await you at Chandratal Lake. It’s a moderate trek, so even if you’re a beginner, you can still enjoy it.
Another eventful trek that you could go for is the Hampta Pass Trek which is also a moderate trek. It’s usually a six-day trek that starts with one side of Himachal Pradesh and takes you to the other side – where Spiti Valley is. As you reach the Hampta Pass, you’ll see that one side is decked with greenery and huge stretches of landscape that comes alive with flora and fauna. On the other side are deep valleys of barren land and rugged terrain that has a charm of its own.
4. Shop At Kaza’s Main Market
A great way to take back a piece of the destination with you is by shopping! You get a lot of souvenirs and you can always keep an eye out for local items like traditional dresses, spices, or anything that’s of significance. In Spiti Valley, the best place to go all out on shopping is in Kaza’s Main Market. The area is loaded with shops selling local wonders and something will definitely catch your eye.
Pure woolen shawls, woolen clothes, and carpets are some of the market’s top attractions. You can even find artisans setting up shop and sell their own artifacts every now and then. For checking out handlooms, head to the State Government Handloom Center for getting the products at reasonable prices. Another shop to surely give a check is Spiti Sea BuckThorn Society – they sell all products sea buckthorns like jams and teas. For those who are unfamiliar with the name, it’s a famous plant grown in Spiti Valley.
5. Indulge In Tibetan Cuisine
Immerse yourself in the local cuisine that’s full of flavors beckoning you to have a taste. We’re talking about the beloved Tibetan thukpa and momos. These tantalizing dishes are accompanied even better with their huge assortment of teas like the famous butter tea or ginger lemon and honey tea.
Start with the top and order a bowl of Thukpa – a noodle soup that’s made filling with pieces of meat or tofu and plenty of veggies. And you’re already familiar with momos, the steamed dumplings full of minced meat and vegetables.
They’re very popular as a street food in Spiti Valley, so you just might spot a stall where you can halt to eat the momo. A must-try and highly recommended item to try is the Tingmo. They’re fluffy steamed bread rolls that melt in your mouth and are made with wheat flour and yeast. You can pair Tingmo with a spicy curry or a stew to bring out the flavors.
When it comes to drinks, you must try butter tea! The locals call it the namak cha and it’s the definition of delicious. It’s prepared by boiling water and adding some tea leaves and then the drink is added to a churning mixture with yak cheese to make it thicker in consistency. You can also try the traditional alcoholic beverage of Spiti Valley – Chaang. It has a tangy and sour taste to it and is usually sipped through a bamboo straw.
Restaurants To Visit In Spiti Valley
- Cafe Kunzum Top
- The Himalayan Cafe
- Yak Cafe
- Spiti Organic Kitchen
6. Set Up Camp In Chitkul
Picture this: You open your eyes and right outside are many mountains towering you. You breathe in the fresh air and are greeted by nature itself. Gone is the morning starting with the loud city noises, you’re in the present and you cherish the moment. To have this experience, set up a camp by Baspa River in Chitkul.
You’ll already find a base of many different campsites that you can book for a traditional camping experience. Once you’ve reached your tent, you can embark on a nature walk and acquaint yourself with your surroundings. There are apricot orchards, apple orchards, and short hikes to take you to breathtaking scenery. At night, you can sit by the bonfire and enjoy the company.
Camps To Check Out
- Chitkul Cold Queen Camp
- Nargu Camp & Adventure
- The Himalayan Tribe Camps, Riverside Chitkul
7. Stargaze In The Clear Sky
As Spiti Valley has no tall buildings or advanced urbanization, you’ll be miles away from pollution. And you know what that means? A clear sky! Either at your campsite in Chitkul or during your trek, if you peep outside the tent, you’ll find a sky full of twinkling stars. You can spend some quiet time outside as you get mesmerized by the light they emit and how wonderfully they shine. If you know astrology, you might even trace a constellation!
Summing Up
With these things to do in Spiti Valley, you’re going to have one amazing trip that will stay with you forever and ever. From lip-smacking cuisine to adventures that get your heart racing to magnificent views that steal your breath, you’ll have everything covered by the end.
FAQs
How Many Days Enough For Spiti Valley?
To explore all the little villages tucked in Spiti Valley and cover the majority of the sightseeing and trekking, you’ll require a minimum of 7 days.
Where Can I See The Milky Way In Spiti Valley?
If you stargaze from Dhankar Monastery, you’ll be able to spot the hypnotizingly beautiful Milky Way in the clear night sky.
Which Is The Best Month To Visit Spiti Valley?
March to June are the best months to visit Spiti Valley as the temperatures are pleasant and the greenery is blooming everywhere.
