Spiti Valley alone - June 2016

Tripoto
24th Jun 2016
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Day 1

02/06/2016 13:00 - Arrived at Chandigarh airport. Took direct HRTC bus at 14:30 to Shimla from bus stand.

Thought of renting an Enfield for whole trip , but dropped the plan so that I can travel at night and save couple of days and also save expenses.

Road maintenance is going on but driver drove bus very fast and so reached Shimla on time to catch Kaza bus at 18:30. There are only two buses(including special bus during peak tourist season) and most of the seats are reserved and full , luckily got last seat in special bus.

Day 2

03/06/2016 06:30 - The bus stops at Reckong Peo for couple of hours to freshen up from 04:30 to 06:30 next morning after overnight journey and continues journey to Kaza and this is the only bus in the day from Peo to Kaza. Most of the seats are booked by people coming from Shimla and I was given seat only till Kaza as special bus stops here and will not go to Kaza.

I managed to stand in bus as many others did.

I had no proper sleep yesterday night and was travelling non-stop for more than 24 hours from Bangalore till Peo and continuing till Tabo which will take 8 more hours from Peo.

My physical and mental stress are relieved from the time I met an Israeli girl at Peo bus-stand. I helped her get seat in bus. After some time in bus journey , we became temporary friends.

I got an idea to travel with her for couple of days and so got down at Nako where she got down though I planned to go till Tabo skipping Nako. I told her that I was very tired and I cannot travel any further when she asked why I got down(She might have understood why I actually got down).

We walked into Nako village from the outskirts where we got down. We checked a budget room in local home stay , I asked her if both of us can share a room or she needs a separate room. She was okay to share and my wish came true finally(I had a wish to experience travel with a female partner).

Though it was new and surprising to me , it was common for her.

After little rest and freshing up , we went out for lunch. We had discussed a lot on our personal and culture issues of both India and Israel having Israeli special food at a famous local hotel.

I was lucky to stop at Nako as it turned out to be memorable day as Nako is the type of village I wanted to visit in this trip. Friendly local people in small numbers , farmers and cattle , their small old brick houses. Also the small lake for a leisure and peaceful walk.

She met many of Israelites in the evening at Tea time , many of them she had already met earlier in Kinnaur Valley. One thing I understood is that more than 50% of Spiti tourists are foreigners and 90% of them are Israelites. I see very few South Indians are travelling here.

Most of the Israelites are either travelling alone or as a group of 2-4 most of India for few months. Few of them are drug addicted and are travelling just for complete fun and entertainment as they had finished serving in Army there. These people are actually corrupting the local youth.

Photo of Nako, Nako, Himachal Pradesh 172112, India by Anil
Photo of Nako, Nako, Himachal Pradesh 172112, India by Anil
Photo of Nako, Nako, Himachal Pradesh 172112, India by Anil
Photo of Nako, Nako, Himachal Pradesh 172112, India by Anil
Day 3

04/06/2016 - 10:00

There is only one bus to go to Tabo/Kaza from Nako and that is the bus from which we got down yesterday at Nako. We decided to go by taking lift instead of waiting till that bus comes. Luckily , we got lift on a truck.

We reached by noon and had taken room in a hotel on main road. After lunch , visited centuries old Tabo monastery and famous Tabo caves. Idols of Buddha and the paintings in the monastery are absolutely beautiful and stunning.

Day 4

05/06/2016 - 09:00

I am parting with my Israeli friend today and so decided to make our day special. I had rented a private cab for just both of us on my expense to save our time and also because I saved some rupees sharing room with her and travelling for free previous day.

We went to Dhankar. She checked in dormitory at Dhankar new monastery. We had visited Dhankar old monastery. Then , we trekked to Dhankar lake which are the most memorable moments of my trip and one of the few of all my trips so far.

The whole trek and at the lake , there was just both of us. Only few local Lamas were present far from us on other side who came on a picnic.

The peace and calm among the high altitude mountains on the banks of pure and serene high altitude lake and only one person around.

Those are the moments I wished in this trip and my purpose of travelling alone to Spiti is granted.

We came back to Dhankar and had a tasty,healthy fish meal in Mobastery kitchen. Monastery serve free to its visitors , but its our responsibility to make donation as gratititude and for them to serve more.

I bid farewell to my Israeli friend and thanked her for her time spent with me , for lot of things I learned from her and for making part of my trip memorable.

I moved to Kaza in same cab and I paid 2000 rupees for whole day trip.

Photo of Dhankar Monastery, Sichling-Dhankhar Gompa, Dhankhar, Himachal Pradesh 172113, India by Anil
Photo of Dhankar Monastery, Sichling-Dhankhar Gompa, Dhankhar, Himachal Pradesh 172113, India by Anil
Photo of Dhankar Monastery, Sichling-Dhankhar Gompa, Dhankhar, Himachal Pradesh 172113, India by Anil
Photo of Dhankar Monastery, Sichling-Dhankhar Gompa, Dhankhar, Himachal Pradesh 172113, India by Anil
Photo of Dhankar Monastery, Sichling-Dhankhar Gompa, Dhankhar, Himachal Pradesh 172113, India by Anil
Photo of Dhankar Monastery, Sichling-Dhankhar Gompa, Dhankhar, Himachal Pradesh 172113, India by Anil
Day 5

06/06/2016 - 09:00

I slept whole of yesterday after reaching the hotel Deyzor which I had already booked Online in Goibibo. Its suggested to book hotels in Kaza in advance , but dont book hotels in advance to stay in all other places of Spiti valley as your actual dates might vary and also you will get it cheaper coming directly without advance booking.

Kaza is very small town compared to Leh , but growing fast because of tourism.

I luckily got Enfield Classic 350 for rent at 1300 per day after I went to market to find out the travel agencies for bike rent.

I am not sure of riding Enfield in these high mountains as I am of 58 kg weight and 5'7 height. But I am well experienced bike rider travelling most of South India on my Platina and also rode Pulsar from Leh to Nubra Valley couple of years back.

I went for a test ride and I fely very comfortable with bike to my surprise. I immediately took it for rent for next two days and started straight to petrol pump which is one if the world's highest petrol outlet and also the only one for 200 km to the either side of Kaza.

I planned to visit Langza,Komic villages and Key monastery today and Mud village tomorrow. I visited both Langza,Komic and returned to Kaza by noon.

Had tea with locals and a whisky drink with group of tourists I met enroute. Enjoyed the ride.

Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Day 6

07/06/2016 - 07:00

Planned to leave Mud early and come back to Kaza by noon. But , after I got outside of my room , found that it was cloudy with little showers.

Waited for an hour and continued to Mud hoping it will be sunny as the day pass by.

The ride was perfect and nice. MUD is a small village with only one restaurant for all tourists going there named famous TARA Restaurant.

One can trek to Bhunter from MUD in two days over the mountains in PIN Valley which is a national park home to snow leapord and few animals..

Met a guy who is from our district , he was also travelling alone. We returned back together on Kaza , this is the day I had taken most of my pics/videos in my whole trip.

Reached Kaza late and returned bike. Had dinner with Andhra guy I met.

Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Day 7

08/06/2016 - 07:00

Had booked a seat to Manali in a private traveller for 1000 rupees. They told that I will be picked at my hotel. But , the driver of traveller went away forgetting to pick me. I called the travel operator to whom I paid advance , he sent a Scorpio immediately and I was dropped at the place where traveller was stopped and waiting for me.

The ride from Batal to Rohtang was like travelling in Moon or Mars. Millions of boulders , hundreds of mountains. Mighty Kunzum pass was absolutely stunning.

Reached Manali by evening. Though traffic at Rohtang was less due to NGT restrictions , vehicles are moving at snail pace from 5 km before Manali. After one hour , our vehicle moved just 2 km , with no option I got down and walked to bus stand and was on time to catch by bus to Chandigarh.

Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Photo of Spiti Valley alone - June 2016 by Anil
Day 8

09/06/2016 - 09:00

After taking rest in hotel , had breakfast and moved to Airport. My bags are full of dust and so cleaned those in hotel before going to airport. Even my face was changed considerably after travelling dusty mountains on bike. Reached Bangalore in the evening.

I felt heart broken leaving from Spiti. But comforted myself with thoughts of going back next year. Those are memories I will cherish once in a while to ease mental pressure in city life.