Kinnaur Spiti - Photos That'll Make You Wish For This Journey!

Zooming in, right from the gregarious green of Kinnaur to the brown barrens of Spiti, here's a photo essay on Kinnaur and Spiti. Taking you from right across world's most treacherous road, hollering rivers, sparkling waterfalls and rolling meadows to the lofty Himalayan cold deserts and hidden lakes. It's as close as you can be to the paradise that is Kinnaur and Spiti. For an itinerary and route map for a trip to Kinnaur and Spiti, read our other story on the same.

 

Hand-painted, carved gateways to even the tiniest of villages, trademark Spiti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] En route Tabo, Spiti[/caption]

 

Spiti, a desert that's often paid visits by colours though...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Speck Of Pink In The Barrens Of Tabo, Spiti[/caption]

 

 no place can be as colourful as Kalpa in Kinnaur... 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Kinner Kailash Guarding the Kalpa Monastery, Kalpa, Kinnaur[/caption]

 

Or, as magical as the Kinner Kailash range that guard the ancient temples there

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="625"] Evening Lights Coming Alive at Kalpa Temple, Kalpa, Kinnaur[/caption]

 

There would be days of just cobalt blue and muddy brown

[caption id="attachment_1110030" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Army Bunkers Standing In Contrast To The Blue Skies, En route Tabo[/caption]

 

But then, you would have astoundingly green lakes and cotton clouds coming in!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="625"] Clouds Hovering Over the Nako Lake, Nako Village, Spiti[/caption]

 

there would be days when you will have nobody else, for miles

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="625"] You'll Run Into People Lost In Such Reveries, Solitary Roaming The Spitian Himalaya[/caption]

 

Only to have the loneliness broken by such sudden and grand company!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="417"] A Masked Dancer Entering The Monastery Courtyard At Ki Monastery, Spiti[/caption]

 

For one moment, you'll chuck your religion and worship nothing but nature

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Kinnar Kailash Range Indulging In Some Cloud-Play, Kalpa, Kinnaur[/caption]

 

And the very next, you'll be putting your faith in prayer flags!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="639"] Buddhist Prayer Flags Guarding A Mantra On Mountainside at Tabo, Spiti[/caption]

 

Though brown would take over every other colour for days...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The Dusty, Barren Road Towards Komic, Spiti[/caption]

 

It'll be waved off with starkly surprising green soon enough!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="625"] Rolling Meadows At Chitkul, Kinnaur[/caption]

 

While you would be listening to Buddhist mantras in the front lane...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="625"] The Buddhist Monastery At Kalpa, Kinnaur[/caption]

 

there would be ancient Hindu symbolism waiting in the back lanes

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Part Of Kalpa's Ancient Temple And Fort Complex, Kalpa, Kinnaur[/caption]

 

For hours, you would be driving on "World's Most Treacherous Road"

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The Gorgeous Kinnaur-Spiti Highway Is Riddled With More Than Just Shooting Stones![/caption]

 

Only to be comforted by the sight of another tiny monastery and prayer flags guarding your way!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="625"] Chorten And Prayers Flags Riding the Wind Near Kunzum Pass[/caption]

 

Though I could go on and on, writing more about Kinnaur-Spiti and uploading some hundreds of photographs that might be the next wallpaper for your computer's screen, you must be yearning to hit the roads for yourself. Do so now, or maybe in winters when the region turns stark white, everything going for a camouflage under thickly falling snow. Whatever the weather, Kinnaur-Spiti wouldn't disappoint you ever. 

 

Text and photos by

Shikha Gautam, she loves to play with steering wheels, roads, words, flute and guitar among other things. Not necessarily in that order! You can contact her on twitter @ShikhaGautam

 

All the photos and text are copyright reserved.