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Lahaul/Spiti is the biggest district within the Indian federal state of
Himachal Pradesh. The area measures 12,210 square meters. 35.000 people live
in the many valleys. These are surrounded by the Himalayan mountains with
altitudes ranging from 5400 to 7000 meters (i.e. about 2 people per sq.km).
Spiti borders north on Ladakjh, west on Tibet/VHina, southwest on Kinour and
south on the Kullu valley.
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Spiti, which literally stands for "land in the middle", is divided into 4 regions: Shan ( close to Taboo), Pin (the Pin valley), Bhar ( close to Kaza) and Tud ( Losar region).
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Spiti is a desert land. The spare watered fields with tillage of grain and pease are present only where the natives reside.
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The valley is accessible by driving from Delhi through Chandiger-Mandi-the Kullu valley-Manali- the Rothang pass (3970 meters)- the Chandra valley-The Kunzum pass (4450meters)-Spiti and southwest toward Kinnour. The trip from Delhi takes roughly 2 to 4 days, depending on the road conditions and physical endurance of the travelers (acclimatization!). October to June heavy snowfalls hinder access to the valley. As a result the only road in the valley connecting each village to the other can at times be impassable.
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The road in Leh-Manali that leads to the Chandra valley from the Rothang pass was built in 1960. Since the Spiti valley borders Tibet-China, the Indian government granted access to visitors only in 1991.
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