Lahaul and Spiti are two remote Himalayan Valleys of H.P. lying on the Indo-Tibet border. Strange, exciting, primitive, these valleys are unsurpassed in mountain scape, in the rugged beauty of their rocky escapements and the splendour of their snow covered peaks. Lahaul is marked by a central mass of uniformly high mountains and massive glaciers. The two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga which rise on either side of the Baralacha La, flow through the narrow Chandra and Bhaga valleys.
Lahaul is a land of fascinating Buddhist art and culture. The monasteries of Lahaul-Spiti are rich repositories of ancient murals, thankas, wood carving and golden images of Padmasambhava. The valley lies at a height of 2,745 metres above sea level. Summer in this valley is cool and pleasant with green grass and alpine flowers. There are little monsoon in both these valleys and this enables climbers and trekkers to enjoy a long and unbroken season in perpetual sunshine to explore the wilderness and grandeur of the inner Himalaya. This unique feature makes Lahul-Spiti as an ideal destination for tourists and trekkers in the month of July, August and September. Keylong is 115 Km from Manali and is the District Headquarters of Lahul-Spiti District. its character.
PLACES
TO VISIT
Keylong (3,350 m)
The little town of Keylong is the headquarters of the administrative
district of Lahaul & Spiti. It has a marketplace, filling stations and
medical facilities. Keylong lies above the river Bhaga and is 6 Km from
its confluence with the waters of the Chandra at Tandi.
Keylong was also the base of the Moravian missionaries - and the poplar
trees still growing there, were planted by them.
Guru Ghantal Monastery (3,020 m)
This lies high over the confluence of the rivers Chandra and Bhaga and
is regarded as the oldest monastery in Lahaul. Two great figures of
Trans Himalayan Buddhism were associated with it - Padmasambhava and
Rinchensang-po. The monastery enshrines and image of the goddess
Vajreshwari Devi (Do-jeLha-mo), a wooden image of the Buddha and a
marble head of Avalokitesvara - legend has that this head was seen
emerging out of the sandbank where the rivers Chandra and Bhaga meet and
without waiting for the rest of the body to appear, someone lopped this
off. The faithful also believe that in the Guru Ghantal monastery, and
sealed in a dark airless room, is the visage of the demon Tsedak who
once ravaged that area till he was captured.
Khardang
Visible from Keylong the monastery and village of Kardang lie across the
Bhaga. With a backdrop of bare mountains, the monastery is believed to
date back to the 12th century and is one of the most revered places of
the Drug-pa (Red Hat) sect and has large library of the sacred Kangyur
and Tangyur texts - and is also the repository of some exquisite thangka
paintings, musical instruments and old weapons. For a long time the
monastery was in a state of disrepair till it was revitalised by Lama
Norbu in 1912. At Kardang, there are dozens of resident monks and nuns -
and many more who are there for short periods. Several monks are
believed to have undertaken marathon meditations - with the session
lasting for the traditional period of three years, three months and
three days. The village of Kardang was once the 'capital' of Lahaul.
Keylong
Guru Ghantal Monastery
Khardang
Shashur
On the same slope as Keylong, this monastery is surrounded by a rare
patch of woodland and was founded in the seventeenth century by Deva
Gyatso-and the name 'Shashur` means 'in the blue pines'. The festival of
Shashur Tseshe is held every June/July when monks dressed in masks and
colourful costumes perform dances. The monastery is known for the images
and paintings it houses.
Tayul
'Tayul' means the "place that is chosen", and so it must be for local
legend maintains that the main prayer wheel rotates on its own accord on
certain occasions. It has a huge statue of Padmasabhava and its library
houses the one hundred and one volumes of the sacred Kangyur text.
Gemur
This is a small monastery, but is held in great sanctity and is well
known for its 'dance-drama' enacted every July.
Shashur
Tayul
Gemur
BEST SEASON/ BEST TIME TO VISIT
City Facts Height:
3340 m (Keylong) Area: 13835 sq. Km Population: 33,224 Language: Lahauli, English, Hindi, Bhoti are
understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism
trade.
Temperature:
Lahaul remains cut-off from outside the world till mid June due to heavy
snowfall and closing of Rohtang Pass. There is little or no rain in
monsoons. The climate remains dry and invigorating. The days are hot and
nights are extremely cold.
Maximum temperature in summer is 26.8 C and minimum is 1.38 C.
Maximum temperature in winter is 6.1 C and minimum is (-)19.38 C
Visiting Season: June to October
Clothing:
Cottons and light woollens in summer and heavy woollens in winter.
