Lahul & Spiti Valley

01-July-07 to 12-July-07

[Introduction] [When to go] [Planning] [Dehra Dun - Narkanda] [Narkanda - Kalpa] [Kalpa - Tabo]
[Tabo - Kaza] [Kaza - Manali] [Manali - Dehra Dun] [Map]

Kalpa to Tabo

Total Distance: 179kms; driving time: 7hrs.

The moment you leave Kalpa say goodbye to comfort. The adventure starts now!

The initial 2hrs on the way to Puh is fairly dull with a bumpy road along the Sutlej. The greenery gradually disappears leaving barren mountains. There is a police check post at Jangi where you have to enter your details. Foreigners beyond Jangi need an Inner line permit.

Road to Tabo	Approaching Nako

After Puh the excitement starts, the roads narrows and climbs steeply. The next 42kms to Nako are exciting with heart stopping patches in between. Nako is a tiny village with a small lake. It is a favorite halt with Israeli tourists. From Nako (2950m) you again climb rather steeply to reach Chango at a height of 3658m. Road is narrow at best, disappearing altogether at times with the occasional heart stopping curves. This new 2yr old road bypasses the older route which was shorter but had “Maling Nala”, a dreaded place usually blocked by landslides. You do cross the upper parts of this Nala between Nako and Chango but it is an all weather “road”.

Nako Village	Nako Lake

From the height of Chango you descend for 15kms to reach Sumdo where you meet Spiti River for the first time. A “Welcome to Spiti Valley” board raises your spirits in this rather desolate place. From Sumdo it is a nice and spectacular drive to Tabo, 30kms away passing through a cute village called Hoorling.

Tabo at 3050meters is an exceptionally beautiful, green and clean village on the banks of Spiti River. It has a fascinating 1000yr old Monastery where one can spend hours relaxing. Just outside the Monastery is a pavement shop selling curios, the best in the valley with decent rates and good bargaining potential. We stayed at the very first hotel, just next to the SBI Branch called Sonam Rabgey Guest House. Rooms are clean and comfortable with decent bathrooms. Room rates are subject to bargaining and at Rs 300/- per day are a steal. On a hillside at Tabo are numerous caves, where in old times, Buddhist monks used to do meditation. They are about 10mins walking distance away. We stayed in Tabo for 2 days.

Tabo Village	Sonam Rabgey Guest House

Tabo Monastery

Download View of Tabo village from Caves 23 MB AVI FILE.

[Introduction] [When to go] [Planning] [Dehra Dun - Narkanda] [Narkanda - Kalpa] [Kalpa - Tabo]
[Tabo - Kaza] [Kaza - Manali] [Manali - Dehra Dun] [Map]