Lazy Sunday Photo- Spiti

The Sound of Silence, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

Friday is for Flowers- Violet Colored Wild Flower, Spiti

Violet Colored Wild Flower, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India

Friday is for Flowers- White and Pale Pink Flower from Spiti

White and Palne Pink Flower from Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

Skywatch Friday- The Sky at Langza, Spiti

Sky Watch Friday- Langza, Spiti, Himachla Pradesh

Sky Watch Friday (you can keep looking at skies from there site from all over the globe) looks like fun.

I came to know of them via Celine.

Lazy Sunday Photo- A River at Spiti

A River at Spiti

White Flowers and Green Berries from Spiti

Flowers from Spiti

When I trek, I try and click every flower that I see. I still remember that this twine was near the bridge that led to the village Lhalung. But no idea about the name of the flowers. I wonder if there is a good book on the names of Himalayan flowers?

Langza in Spiti

Buddhist Prayer Flags at Langza, Spiti

I was reminded of Langza after reading this puzzle in a post by Manish. And when I get very nostalgic about places like Langza and start asking existential questions about my life, I just have to remind myself of the cold cold winter the place gets!

Old Pictures from Spiti

Beautiful Spiti

I was looking at my old pictures from Spiti (on a new laptop) and fell in love with the place all over again. And I didn't like even this one immediately after the trip!

A Souvenir Shop at Batal, Spiti

Souvenir Shop in Batal, Spiti

Batal is a lovely place on the way from Manali to Kaza. I remember it all the more clearly because it was our stop for lunch and I was clearly hungry by the time we had reached Batal. There is just one temporary shop for food and next to it was this small stall selling souvenirs. I still remember reading Arun's account and his stay at the Dhaba in Batal.

Even I remember the people running the Dhaba. I had asked them if we could stay there on our way back as I wanted to see Chandratal. They said yes, we would be welcome. My plans of visiting Chandratal did not materialize as my nephew refused to give me company and so did Sesha! So, Chandratal has to happen some other time.

Dhankar Lake, Spiti

I still remember the day so clearly. Dhankar was our last stop on the Spiti Homestay Trek. And the place is magical. The Dhankar village in itself is so charming, our homestay was in a house next to the fort in ruins.The river Spiti flows by the village and the sunset was over magestic mountains which we watched from the roof of our home stay.

Flowers on the way to Dhankar Lake

I went to sleep with that day quite tired but sure that the next day I wanted to trek to the Dhankar Lake. Anjan came with me and Sesha and Dilip (my nephew) refused to wake up in the morning. And what views he missed!

Dhankar Lake, Spiti

We trekked for a little more than hour, all mildly uphill to reach the lake. And what a place it was. I consider another picture to be my best shot of Dhankar Lake but even these two pictures are no less. I was so happy to click all these reflections in the water!

Another View of Dhankar Lake, Spiti

And the best part was there were just three of us around. the lake It feels like such a long time ago (it was June 2007) yet I can remember so much about the day without any notes, just from memory. Like the flowers in the first shot, they were actually quite far away from the road and try as I might, I did not manage to get a decent shot of them. And that Anjan found my habit of stopping to take a picture of every flower on the way quite amusing. That a village heardsman stopped and insisted that I took a picture of him. That there were a lot of workers walking up hill with heavy pipes and great difficulty for some water work in progress. We ate que for dinner the night before that Dilip and Sesha did not like too much but I did!

There is Something about Garlic!

Freshly Cut Wild Garlic Stems at Langza, Spiti

You either like Garlic or hate it. I have not met too many people who are ambivalent about it. I belong to the camp who love it. A few days back I was eating Pasta at our campus restaurant (the perks of being partially associated with a hotel management school, even though I am not directly associated) and there were cloves of cooked garlic in the dish. I just loved it. Today I was talking to the instructor and asked him how did it tasted so good. Hmm, they baked it after marinating it in umm, many things. Sounded really complicated to me. So I gave up all the plans of making something like that myself.

Wild Garlic Flower, Spiti Region

So, today I am going to be content with posting some pictures of wild garlic growing in the Spiti region. When I was there I loved the colors of the wild garlic flower. I was also allowed to take one wild garlic out of the heap that you see in the first photograph.

Green and Serene- Langza, Spiti

Langza is a really small village in Spiti (Himachal Pradesh). You can see how green it is and how serene too. The beautiful range of Cho-CHo Khang Nilda forms the backdrop to the Langza village.

Sea Buckthorn Drink- Spiti Magic, Spiti

Spiti Magic- Sea Buckthorn Drink

Last year when we were trekking in Spiti we were introduced to this refreshing drink called Spiti Magic. When asked what is it made of, pat came the reply- Sea-Buckthorn! Now what was that?

We were patiently explained that it is made of the same thing that Leh Berry is made of! Now that felt familiar as Leh Berry is available even in the plains.

Spiti Magic- Sea-Buckthorn Drink

When I sipped it first, I was not sure if I liked Spiti Magic, after all it had a strange taste. But gradually over the trek, I grew to like the drink. So next time you find yourself in Spiti, try it. They also make tea of Sea-Buckthorn that is also different and has a tangy taste! But I somehow prefer my tea boiled and with milk and sugar! Unless I am trekking.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Komik, Spiti

Komik, Spiti

A Picture Every Other Day- Spiti Again

Magnificent Spiti- Demul to Lahlung

I need some inspiration as it is death by grading till this weekend. Will catch up with the blog world as soon I am through.

Suhana Safar Aur Ye Mausam Haseen!

View While Walking from Komik to Demul

I don't know how this Spiti picture escaped my notice for such a long time. Komik to Langza was the longest walk on this trek but the day was so beautiful, there were clouds and I think the song 'suhana safar aur ye mausam haseen' (it is a pleasent journey and the weather too is pleasent is the poor translation of the song in English) fits the mood perfectly.

I found the video of the song on Youtube.

Time to Head Out Again

Que (rhymes with Queue) A Dish from Spiti

No, of course I am not heading to Spiti but I am heading out soon and how I am yearning for it. We realized that in the entire 2007 we never took a train (apart from coming back from New Jalpaiguri, from Sikkim). So we are not going to make the same mistake again. We take a train and head out to Uttrakhand this time.

Last few months it seems have been work, work and more work. However much I try, something remains. I have been carrying work home almost daily. I can see things being extremely hectic till the semester ends. So while we are heading out I know as soon as I come back, I will be swamped with work, work and even more work. And even now I have so much unfinished work that it is going to give me nightmares even on vacation. But as Sesha is so fond of saying ... "This too shall pass." I mean I am really tired.

Lazy Sunday Photo- The Chang Story

Chang- The Local Home Brewed Beer from Spiti

Once again, I decided to write about food or rather drinks, this time. I generally do not like alcoholic drinks and stay away from them. Given a choice I like soup over alcohol any day. And both tend to cost a ton in restaurants! I know it is strange comparison but that is how it is.

This changed a little when I discovered chang in Spiti. The locally brewed beer tastes nothing like a Foster brewed in Aurangabad or some such place. I mean I can't stand Foster or Kingfisher. They have such a nasty stink (or so I feel and I know I am alone in this) that after one sip I do not try another. Chang has no nasty sting about it and I liked both the barley and the rice versions.

Then on the trip to Oxford last year we had a dinner hosted by the university (no and this is not the Oxford I am referring to) at a Thai restaurant called Chiang Mai. There were four of us, my colleague from India and two of my colleagues from UK. So when we started ordering soon the question came, "What would you like to drink?" I gave the default option, "Nothing." Then I browsed the beer list anyway and discovered Chang on the list. Not thinking too much, I changed my mind and decided to order Chang. It of course turned out to be a popular beer from Thailand but minus the stink. It was not the Chang I wanted but it was quite OK. The end result was that I ended up trying a lot of beers in UK and now I have to say, once in a blue moon I may pick them up over soup.

More Food, from Spiti this Time

Bread from Spiti- The Taste still remains. And along with local butter it was heavenly

So were these greens.

I wonder why it took me so long to post these images.

And once again, it has been very hectic at work, but we would be heading out soon, though not to Corbett! It didn't work out.

Right Noises about the Incredible India Campaign?

Langza- Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

Finally I saw once sensible and balanced piece about Indian tourism and the Incredible India campaign. I mean who can quarrel with the concept, many parts of India are incredibly beautiful.

As CII and Ministry of Tourism celebrate 'Incredible India@60' in the Big Apple, leading global communication services player WPP's Chief Executive Martin Sorrell said: "If people don't live the brand promise... It's dead. We can advertise a bad product (only) once." India's Tourism Ministry Joint Secretary Amitabh Kant agreed that branding was fine, but welcoming tourists with garbage and filth will ensure the initiative never takes off.

In short, India requires its creaking infrastructure to be set right for the experience to change, experts felt. New Delhi has estimated that it needs USD 492 billion to revamp urban and rural infrastructure, including roads, ports, airports and power sector, besides water and sanitation.

View from a Train near Pathankot, India

I mean who can deny that this is India too. And a site more common than anyone of us would like to see.

Finally, the Spiti Tale!

Magnificent Spiti

Months after I actually trekked in Spiti, my travel tale is up at the Gonomad website. I even got poked by Priyank that it was about time I wrote this tale. Here is a short excerpt from the article-

The walk from Komik to Demul was the longest. It took us 6 hours, though I met a gentleman from Austria who said he did it in 3 hours. Hats off to him, is all I can say. It was the day when I realized that when pushed a lot my back is capable of hurting like mad.

However, the route was so beautiful and the weather pleasant due to a clouded sky. At our lunch point we were visited by Yaks, who came to drink from the same source as us! But at that time, I found it difficult to eat and was lying flat on my back waiting for others to finish the lunch.

Images from Spiti

Mountain Goats

Mountain Goats- On the way to Dkankar

While walking from Lhalung to Dhankar, at this particular point, I was alone and everyone else was ahead of me. It was then I met this group of goats. Now I am dead scared of all kind of animals particularly if they try to come close. But this much even I have learned that mountain goats give you way if you just try walking through unconcerned. And true to their nature they did part way, when I started walking towards them after taking this picture.

Langza, the Most Beautiful Place after Dhankar that I Saw in Spiti

Lagnza- Beautiful Town Village in Spiti

I found Langza to be the most beautiful village in Spiti after Dhankar. If you look at one side, there was Cho Cho Khang Nilda. And on the other this beautiful landscape. There were numerous butterflies on the flowers. What more can one ask for?

From Kye (Ki) Monastery, Kaza, Spiti

Both the landscapes were clicked near the Kye Monastery area. There are a few times when I feel so happy with my wide angled lens. I think I got even more fabulous views at least twice on this route but I did not request the taxi people to stop. That is why I love walking so much. You can stop where ever you please.

Some Say this Post Office at Hikkim is the Highest Post Office in the World

Post Office at Hikkim, Is it the Highest in the World?

Some say the post office at Hikkim is the highest in the world. Vistet, what do you say? After all, when I tried writing about what I thought was the highest ATM it was you who corrected me.

PS. OK, Sesha took this photo.

PS1. These days, either I put pictures and write a few words or let this blog come to a stand still. I somehow feel till I find more time, I will let this blog become a photoblog :(

The Highest Point on the Spiti Homestay Trek- Komik

Komik, Spiti- Altitude 4275 Meters

And I guess if you just take one step after another, you reach somewhere in the end!

Yak, Yak, Yak ...

Yaks at Lunch Point- On the Way from Komik to Demul, Spiti

Flowers from Spiti

The semester has started and it already feels like I have been hit by a bus. Just worried that this blog will come to a stand still. So, to keep it going here are flowers from Spiti. And no, I do not know what they are called.

Day 3- Manali to Kaza

Spiti Trip, Day 1- Delhi to Manali

Spiti Trip, Day 2- At Manali
Practical Information about Home Stay Trek in Spiti
Pictures from Spiti
A Note on Acclimatization

So, at Manali I set the alarm clock to 3.45 and soon fell asleep. It felt as if the alarm went almost the next moment. I got up first, gulped Avomine (anti-nausea medicine for motion sickness on hill roads) and let the others sleep while I captured the wash room. Soon, it was the turn of the others to gulp Avomine and get ready.

The lazy bones made it 4.30 by the time we left. We walked to the bus stand and located the Kaza bus and found ourself three seats. We were given the start time of 5.00 am but the bus moved at 5.30, though at that hour 5 or 5.30 hardly makes any difference.I wake up like a dead fish in the mornings.

We Stopped for Tea at Rohtang Pass, near Manali

I was wide awake till we stopped for tea at Rohtang Pass around 7.30 in the morning. At that hour the place was empty but otherwise it is known for attracting huge crowds. Had a nice cup of tea in the chilly weather and soon the driver gave his customary honk to let us know that he was about to start again. By now the Avomine was taking its effect and I was getting zonked. Yet I remember opening my eyes at Gramphu and I was stuck by its beauty. But I was too sleepy to take out the camera and take a picture on the moving bus.

.

Batal- Our Lunch Point

The only time I properly opened my eyes on this was to eat food at Batal. The rice and rajma
tasted heavenly and the tea after it was just what I needed. However, once again the bus started moving and I became aware of myself at Losar, another beautiful village and another stop for tea, some hours later.

I also remember Kunzun-La vaguely and I took a hazy picture too. I became quite awake at Rangrik, and that is quite close to Kaza. Sesha told us that at some point a well built (probably intoxicated too) man boarded the bus and refused to pay his fare and made quite a ruckus. He says, after looking at the man's built the conductor and the driver let the ticket issue pass. Well, I slept through all this.

Finally, around 4.00 in the evening nearly 11 hours after we boarded the bus, we were at Kaza. We saw two hotels quote close to the bus stand and checked in at the first one (Delley Hotel) and it was quite OK. We always promise ourselves that we will explore a lot of hotels before we check in. But the reality that almost always we check into the first acceptable option because we have no energy left.

Later, we went for a cup of coffee and soon had food and once again called it a day.


Other related posts-

Spiti Trip, Day 1- Delhi to Manali

Spiti Trip, Day 2- At Manali

Practical Information about Home Stay Trek in Spiti
Pictures from Spiti
A Note on Acclimatization

Lazy Sunday Photo- On the Way to Demul, Spiti, India

Wild Rosebush is Quite Commonly Found in the Spiti Region. I took this picture on the way to Demul, Spiti.

Spiti Trip, Day 2- At Manali

Spiti Trip, Day 1- Delhi to Manali
Practical Information about Home Stay Trek in Spiti
Pictures from Spiti

So, we finally reached Manali after 20 long hours of starting from Delhi (that account is available from the first link above) once again on a private bus.

The first thing we needed to find was a hotel. We wanted to try our luck at Sunshine Guest House in Manali as it was recommended at Indiamike. Sesha offered that we take an auto (that means he was too tired, otherwise it is always on foot) to the place. However, on reaching there we found it was completely booked.

Sesha once again asked us to guard the rucksacks while he would find us a room. So, off he went and quite quickly returned and walked us to D'Chatel (picture below). When he started paying for our room (he just loves lousy hotel rooms) I was quite surprised that he took out multiple 500 rupees notes to pay. The room was large, had an extra bed for Dilip (my nephew) and I guess it was Sesha's way of saying he was sorry he dragged us through 20 hour Delhi-Manali ordeal.

D'Chatel at Manali

The room was just fine at Rs 1500 and the next thing to hunt for was food. The hotel had a restaurant called Mom's Kitchen and we wanted to grab something quickly. With hindsight I can say we were lucky that the restaurant was not serving lunch at 4.00 in the evening. The people at the hotel pointed out the Shanti Dhaba and we had an excellent late lunch there, of course followed by tea.

The Shanti Dhaba

After lunch, it was time to book tickets for Kaza. We were not sure if the buses had started plying on Manali-Kaza route but our first stop for inquiry was the government bus stand. We were in good luck and buses were running and we bought three tickets for the next day 5.30 am bus.

Cars at Rohtang Pass- Manali

After the booking the bus ticket we were free to roam around but we are not very fond of Manali. It is just way too crowded in the season. And anyway we were too tired to do much. So, we came back to the hotel. Dilip and I had another tea session. Then for dinner Dilip and Sesha decided to have dinner at Mom's kitchen ignoring my advice against it. Well, the food was very ordinary and quite overpriced. The patron too was acting quite pricey and we did not enjoy the meal at all.

After the meal, it was time to read our books (all three of us were reading different books) and set the alarm in my mobile for 3.45 am.


Other posts related to Spiti

Spiti Trip, Day 1- Delhi to Manali
Practical Information about Home Stay Trek in Spiti
Pictures from Spiti

How Does a Typical Home Stay at Spiti (Himachal Pradesh, India) Look Like?

This video has the partial answer. How I wish I had moved the camera gently and not with the jerky movements that will probably give you a headache. The video was taken at Langza, our first day at the Spiti trek. The first room where there are a lot of people is typical of a living room/dining area and the second room is where we would sleep. Usually, all the rooms would have a view. I would often be glued to one of the windows with a book in hand.

PS. Not writing about day 2 as could not find time. I wonder what I do with my days!

Lazy Sunday Photo- Chocho Khang Nilda, Langza, Spiti

Another View of Chocho Khang Nilda at sunset from Langza, Spiti

Spiti Trip, Day 1- Delhi to Manali

The Lousy Private Bus that we Took from Delhi to Manali

After delaying for sometime, I have finally started writing my Spiti trip account. This time, I thought I will record it one day at a time. There are two reasons for this, first, if done at one go, the post becomes too long. And two, there are no travel plans for a long time now, as July is the more heavy semester for me, so I have to make do with my past travels for a long time.

I still very clear remember my excitement that Friday when we were about to head to Kaza. I had taken care of all the office work by Thursday and I was really restless on that Friday, it felt like 3.00 pm will never come. Even indulging in my favorite sport of teasing my colleagues who were not taking a vacation brought little respite.

We hired a taxi to ISBT and left home by 4.30, hoping to reach Manali early in the morning. Dilip (my nephew) asked the cab driver to put a 'Deep Purple' cassette on the player and that is what I listened all the way to ISBT. I keep asking him why he likes to listen to Ghara Bagnee (that is Deep Purple in Hindi) and he acts irritated and makes cute faces.

After reaching ISBT we had two options, to take an ordinary bus leaving immediately (5.30 pm) and reach Manali by 9.30 in the morning or to take a deluxe bus that started at 8.30 at the night. Dilip and Sesha dumped their rucksacks and said they will go and get the 8.30 bus tickets. I sat down with my novel guarding the rucksacks and waiting for their return.

When these two returned after 15 minutes they had a completely new plan! They wanted to take a private bus at 6.00 pm that would reach Manali at 6.00 in the morning. I was not at all keen but I was outvoted by two to one.

We walked with the private agent to the bus. It was a sleeper bus but we had normal push back seats. The bus did not move at all by six. I had started grumbling but then I did not want to spoil everybody's mood by doing so excessively. The bus started moving at 6.45 and just kept on going from here to there to pick up more passengers within Delhi. At 8.30 in the night it came back to same place from where we had started! By this time we all had realized that we were in for a very long trip to Manali.

By 9.30 at night we were still at the outskirts of Delhi. The bus would stop every 5 minutes and wait for passengers as they still had a few vacant seats. Many people inside were really getting desperate and vocal by now. Some shouted that they were given the starting time of 4.30 pm and yet at 10 in night we were still barely outside Delhi.

Anyway, around 10 at night, the bus finally started moving and by 11.30 we were at Karnal and stopped for dinner. After that, I feel asleep, hoping that we would wake up in Manali.

At around 3.30 at night the bus had a flat tire. We got out and thankfully the weather was pleasant, with lot of lightening. Meanwhile, they were trying to change the tire and after 25 minutes of struggling, they decided they have to move the bus a little ahead as it was standing on a slope and that was causing problems. We were somewhere in Punjab and still very far away from Manali. When we started off sometime later we were just not sure of anything anymore. The bus made a few more unscheduled stops for reasons best understood to the driver and the conductor only.

We finally reached Manali at 2.00 in the afternoon, completely exhausted and 20 hours after we had boarded the bus for a journey that takes 15 hours at the most. Sesha tried to make it up to us by finding a big lavish room in a comparatively expensive hotel without any such demands from our side.



Account of some of our other Bus/Road Journeys-

Mandi to Delhi on a Private Vovlo that we had to ditch mid-way

Delhi to the Tunnel at Aut in a Government Volvo Bus

Manali to Leh Road Journey

One Last Diversion before I set to Write the Spiti Account

Sunset at Komik, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India

Afterreading so much on photography forums about sunrise and sunset being ideal times for photography, I was very keen to utilize that time for clicking at least a few pictures. The picture above is from the second day of our trek. I was quite tired and Komik was anyway the highest village on the trek. But come sunset, and I ran with my camera to a place nearby from where many peaks were visible. It required a small steep walk but I did manage to do it. And when Dilip (my nephew) say these pictures on the camera diplay, he was like oh! what a glorious sunset!

PS. Sorry for still not being able to write the concrete account, actually I have a lot of stories to share but I wonder where all my time is going!

Hardly a Week and the Memories of Spiti are Already Fading

View from Dhankar, Spiti, India

I know life has treated me really kindly and I really have no right to crib but one week into the plains and all these beautiful memories of Spiti have already started to fade, sigh... I realized it with a start today when I was worrying about trifles, like a perceived slight when probably none was intended, a little of this and a little of that. And how easy it is to forget that just a week before I was in the paradise!

More on Spiti

Pictures from Spiti

Practical Information about Home Stay Trek in Spiti

Lazy Sunday Photo- Hikkim Village, Spiti, India

A View of Hikkim Village, Spiti, India

Acclimatize, Acclimatize and Acclimatize

Chhang- the Local Beer

Spiti is a high altitude region. Kaza, the base of the trek we did this time is situated at 3660 meters. The starting point of the trek is Langza and we were dropped there in a jeep. Langza is at the height of 4400 meters. Langza is beautiful and Chocho Khang Nilda (the mountain below) is a befitting backdrop. You can imagine if we went a little berserk at Langza.

Chocho Khang Nilda (translation: Chocho is princess, Khang is mountain, Nilda is sun facing) at Langza

I head started feeling a slight headache almost within half an hour of reaching there. Still, we had to go to the Gompa and see the fossils at a short distance of a kilometer or two. Sesha and Dilip (my elder nephew) wanted to visit a near by lake too. Our guide Anjan told us it is dry but those two still wanted to go.

A Fossil near Langza- Evidence of Sea Life

After looking at a few fossils I decide to drop out of the lake plan. I was feeling really tired and weird. I told the gang that I would wait for them at the Gompa and headed that way. It was quite windy and I crawled under the staircases of the Gompa to keep the wind out. After quite sometime, Sesha and Anjan came back and Dilip had went back to our home stay. We saw the Gompa leisurely and headed back.

A while later it started. Sesha started complaining of nausea. And soon enough, he started throwing up. It was still evening and we hoped it will stop. He skipped the dinner and went to sleep. At midnight I awoke suddenly and saw Sesha munching on a chocolate cookie. Relieved I thought he is feeling better. But a while later he started throwing up again, anything and everything, including water.

After the fourth time, I was really scared. After all, it feels like being in the middle of nowhere and the last thing I would like is to see Sesha getting really sick. All those horror stories of AMS (acute mountain sickness) started playing in my head. He was much calmer and said if it doesn't stop by the morning maybe he will go back and Dilip and I could complete the trek. Not a merry thought at all. I had started wondering if Ecosphere had a cancellation policy!

I was also reminded of our Ladakh trip where we tried to trek through Markha Valley but had to turn back after three days because I had a badly upset stomach that showed no sings of getting better. I said to Sesha that it seems our high altitude trek attempts are jinxed. Anyway, he took two Avomines, vomited both, and finally went to sleep. He feel asleep quickly and I was a lot relieved. Because even my head was aching furiously at night and I was not sure if I could take a sleepless night without falling sick myself.

In the morning, it was another day, bright and beautiful. Sesha was much better and the nausea of the night had completely vanished. He was raring to go. And here we are after completing the trek.

Moral of the story- don't take the altitude lightly, even if we are feeling fit and fine. If you are not used to it, treat it with a lot of respect.

Oh! and Dilip slept peacefully through the night, never even turning in his sleep!

Practical Information about the Home Stay Trek in Spiti

Magnificent Spiti- A View from Dhankar

I am still not getting my blogging flow and some people have asked for practical information about this trek. I will try to compile it here.

Delhi to Manali 570 km (by so called deluxe bus, private, don't ask me how we ended in one, yet again) tickets cost around 560 rupees per person. It took us bloody 20 hours to cover this distance but that is a blog post in itself.

Night stay at Manali, lots of hotels available for all budgets. This time we splurged a bit.

Manali to Kaza, 200 KM (Government Bus, Starts around 5 am from Government Manali Bus Stand, tickets can be bought the evening before) Tickets cost around 150 rupees per person. A seat in private taxi costs around Rs 1000 per person or so I am told. Booking an entire taxi would cost even more. It took us 11 hours to reach Kaza and the return trip took us around 13 hours. The route is beautiful.

Stay at Kaza- At Rs 400 per night we had a good room.

We trekked through an NGO called Ecosphere (Muse) and you can find the trek route and other details from this excellent thread at Indiamike. I promise I will do each day of the trek as a separate post.

For six days Ecosphere charged us Rs 5900 per person. This included all the meals, taxi where required and the home stay cost. I felt they gave us a good price.

I hope this will be of some help to those who want to head that way. Do let me know if I have missed on something that I should have added.

Pictures from Spiti- Warning there are Way too Many!

View Near Komik, Spiti

So if you want to look at just two, here are they below, for the rest visit my Spiti page at Picasa.

Women going Home at Sunset, Komik in Spiti

Two Pictures from Spiti

Till I upload more ...

Update- More Spiti Pictures here.

Dhankar Lake, Spiti, India

Chocho Khang Nilda at Sunset, Langza, Spiti