To me gorgeous skies and Spiti Valley are synonymous. I first ventured there in the year 2007. My husband, my nephew and I trekked from Langza to Dhankar. I was an Assistant Professor at that time. Then came a lull of seven years. I went to Chandratal last year and I was a professor! Then came 2015 and I went back to the Spiti Valley again, only I had quit my job! I want to go back to Spiti again, that I am sure of, not sure of what will be the status of my job!
However, the status of the roads have not changed in the last eight years or so. There were almost no roads when I went in 2007 and there are almost no roads now. You can see the tire tracks above which go through water! There is more mud and stone than tar on the roads. It makes for a back breaking, neck spraining journey but I am willing to take it every year! I so love the region.
Batal is almost a no man’s land. There are just two small dhabas, in 2007 there was one, the Chandra Dhaba. Just one more dhaba in 8 years, the amount of time it took be to go from an assistant professor to professor to jobless!
There is a road that goes close to Chandratal now. Once again it is a mud track where only one vehicle can pass at a time. It two of them come face to face one has to reverse and find a spot which is wide enough to let the other vehicle pass! However, my major worry was the weather, as last year all I got was the rains and clouds.
This year I was lucky in the end. I did get the Spiti Blues literally in the sky and figuratively once I got back! I strongly recommend a trip to Spiti.
Magical landscapes we can get never have enough off. Ladakh and Spiti will always remain special to me and somehow I feel, spiti holds a special place in your heart too!
I simply love Spiti.
OMG the first picture is just breathtaking… mera number ka aayega yahan jaane ka Mridulaji… 🙂
Whenever you want to go Archana! 😀 Only the season in Spiti is short from July to September.
wow! the landscapes are just fabulous! And i must say you have great photography skills too. Very nice!
I liked the first 2 pics. 1st anyways looks like a great poster and the 2nd one is surreal.
Thank you so much.
A really Nice Post.. The Pictures are too eye capturing.. Thanks for sharing, Mridula!
Thank you so much for the kind words Sreedhar ji.
Just awesome,
Thanks a lot for sharing 🙂
Thank you Rupam.
Indeed a great place. I hope i will be able to visit some day.
Do go Indrani, it is lovely.
These are some seriously impressive and eye-catching images. No wonder, they come from a pro like you… 🙂
Thank you so much Abhijit.
Gorgeous pics Mridula, capturing the unique beauty of the Spiti valley but yes I wish the roads were better.
Somali I am in two minds about it. I know the locals need it but it will then like Ladakh.
Awesome pictures, Mridula!
Thank you Amit.
Gorgeous indeed, judging from your photos. Hope to make my way there one day 🙂
Do go, you will love it, it is just that the journey is tough.
Mesmerizing beauty! Great captures, Mridula, as usual. I, too, am ready for this back breaking & neck spraining journey to lost in the beauty. 🙂
Ravish do go, the season window is very short, July to September mostly.
Would you also post some night time pictures. I would like to believe that the night sky would be pure magic with the moon in its full glory and stars all over.
Suman there was a bright moon most of the time. I have only one night picture which I have posted in the next one. Do check it out.
some of the pics are mind blowing.
Thank you Mahesh.
Oh these are so so beautiful Mridula, I have become a fan of your photographs. Simply beautiful landscape and I would love to do this section sometime soon 🙂
It is tough but very beautiful. No airport as of now, roads also have more mud than tar.
Magical shots!
Thank you Lady Fi.
Fabulous photos of Spiti Valley. 🙂
Thank you Kashpals.
Gorgeous pictures. Thanks for sharing, dear. It was a visual treat to see these pictures of Spiti Valley 🙂
Thank you Purba.
I think they should have a bigger word than gorgeous or beautiful or mind blowing … to summarise what one feels when they look at these pics
Then imagine the feeling of being there! 😀
Aapke photo dekhkar aur post padhkar aisa man kar rahaa hai ki abhi apna bag pack karu aur Lahaul spiti ki valleys aur unki beauty dekhne ke liye nikal jaaun .
लेकिन वो कहते हैं न : कुछ तो मजबूरियां रही होंगी
कोई यूँ ही बेवफा नही होता !!
Yogi season bhi chota hota hai. Agle saal plan kar ke jaana!
Such beautiful place…i visited leh almost 12 yrs ago, missed out spiti…want to ….
Thank you Shoma for stopping by. I too last went to Leh 10 years back, but I have a better record with Spiti.
Breathtaking pics.You are a diva.
Cheers
Nature lover yes, Diva no. 😀
Mesmerizing and Beautiful Pictures !! Thanks for sharing the unique beauty of Spiti valley with us
Thank you so much Ankita.
Hey me and my family are planning to go to do the entire shimla kaza shimla stretch in about a weeks time, we are going oct last week, please suggest us must visit places, maybe a itenarary, essentials to carry and can this trip me done in a sedan (skoda rapid petrol)
Hi Aditya, I am really sorry I have not done the Shimla Kaza route. I am doubtful abut the sedan though, 4X4 vehicles do better on these roads.