It was May and I was wondering where to Travel this summers, when one friend called up and said that he has some work to do in Spiti Valley !! Well, then it all started and I ended up Spiti in first week of May. Though the overall trip was disappointing with very less pictures being taken, most roads being closed to various places and nothing much exciting that happened on whole trip apart from one or two incidents. Hence, instead of penning down the detailed travel tale as I used to do, this time I will be sharing a series of posts as a Photo Tale to one these amazing Places in Trans Himalayas that is so close to my heart: Sptiti Valley

Day 1 | Delhi – Shimla – Fagu – Matiana / Narkanda

4th May 2013: This day wasn’t really anything but a hassle free drive to a village called Matiana near Narkanda from Delhi via Shimla – Fagu, where we stayed at Kirsh Rauni Resort which was pretty decent and I liked it very much with warm hospitality of Mr. Kishore. It is at a village called Rauni near Matiana with lovely views upfront and even of NH – 22 🙂 … We stayed in relaxing way there for a long drive next morning to Tabo. Here are some of the pictures from Day 1.

Weather turning dark near Shimla
Weather turning dark near Shimla
View of Shimla – Narkanda – Kinnaur road from the room
View of Shimla - Narkanda - Kinnaur road from the room at Matiana near Narkanda
A wider view of Shimla – Narkanda – Kinnaur road from the room/span>A wider view of Shimla - Narkanda - Kinnaur road from the room at Matiana near Narkanda
The view from Matiana Village near Narkanda
The view from Matiana Village near Narkanda
A Sunset in Himalayas
A Sunset in Himalayas
A little view of Rauni Village near Matiana
A little view of Rauni Village near Matiana
Day 2 | Matiana / Narkanda – Powari (Kinnaur) – Khab – Sumdo – Tabo

5th May 2013: We left next morning early so as to reach Tabo, Spiti Valley in time because there were some section of roads in Kinnaur Valley between Powari and Akpa & then Akpa – Spillow – Sumdo which were landslide prone and were under maintenance by BRO. Hence, for reaching Spiti Valley in time there wasn’t really much time spared for photography with an intent to do it while coming back. But, I have learnt a lesson when you want to click a picture then do it that moment as you cannot be sure what is in store next day or while coming back 😉 and that was the biggest mistake made on the trip.

Again nothing much happened on this day too with not so interesting drive from Narkanda to Tabo. There were couple of landslides we encountered in Kinnaur & an incident of stones coming down at us at Sumdo as we make a mad dash through that 100 Mtr section. Here are some of the pictures from Day 2.

Men at Work on Hindustan – Tibet Highway
Men at Work on Hindustan - Tibet Highway
A Bridge in Kinnaur Valley
A Bridge in Kinnaur Valley
A Scary trap over Bridge in Kinnaur Valley 😯 😀
A Scary trap over Bridge in Kinnaur Valley
Yes, we were traveling on the most treacherous or deadliest roads of the world 🙂
Yes, we were traveling on the most treacherous or deadliest roads of the world
Some call it Moorang Fort, Some Call it Pandav Fort. You can see it from Hindustan Tibet Highway itself
Moorang Fort or Pandav Fort
A common sight on Hindustan – Tibet Highway
A common sight on Hindustan - Tibet Highway
The right goes to Namgia – Shipki La but we have to move on to left 🙁
Namgia - Shipki La Road
A Turtle Shaped Rock near Khab Bridge
A Turtle Shaped Rock near Khab Bridge
Aah, Resting at Ka-Zigs before Nako
Aah, Resting at Ka-Zigs before Nako
Sun is about to set as we approach somewhere near Chango, rock does resemble moonland at Lamayuru
A Landscape at Chango Village

The Journey ahead…

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I am Dheeraj Sharma - a traveler, techie, and Himalayan lover. Since 2009, I have been helping thousands of travelers every year plan memorable & budget-friendly trips to the Himalayas - Smartly, Safely, and responsibly.

10 Comments

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  2. Pankti Mehta on

    Wow…you are so lucky that you can go to these fabulous places. BTW, did you go on a bike or in a car?

    • Pankti, its just a passion that keeps me driving back to these Higher hills of Himalayas 🙂 … I went in a car. IN case you make some plans to Spiti Valley, feel free to shoot your queries here on the blog or in community 🙂

  3. ramesh babu on

    sir, splendid and beautiful travel got impressed . let me know the ‘possibility! last week of November and may fall to December 2013, Tour to spithi valley or trip i can do in Himachal pradesh with own enfield bike with pillion rider? pl suggest itinerary of 7 to 10 days. ? range cloths required and other essential things to be carried. i am 55 years but of-course no ailments. physically fit.

    • Hello Ramesh ji,

      Thanks alot. Well, December is generally cold and going towards Spiti means alot of trouble with very very cold conditions. Not suggested at all. May be if yo are OK with riding in cold with 7-10 days in hand you can make a trip to Pabbar Valley (3-4 days) + Kinnaur Valley (5,6 days)

      Please let me know in case you have any queries or doubts.

      Regards
      Dheeraj Sharma