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The Night Sky at Batal, Spiti, India

A Beautiful Starry Night at Batal, Spiti, India

Posted on July 20, 2014May 30, 2025

I was star struck, no literally, this time at Batal in Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh. You might have noticed that I vanished for a week, the plan was to visit Chandratal, the stunningly beautiful lake close to Batal. I managed to reach the lake this time though the blue skies eluded me. However, at Batal, for a brief period the weather gods were kind to me. They lit the sky with a million stars! I was so thrilled that I did not leave my tripod behind!

This is what I could capture and I have to say for novice at night photography, I am happy with it. Also it was not so cold at Batal that I would freeze to death when I stayed out. I do not enjoy freezing to death on cold nights at all. A good down jacket and I was fine outdoors. In fact, I actually enjoyed staying out and turned in only when clouds covered the sky at Batal.

tent batal
A Tent and the Night Sky at Batal, Spiti

No accommodation can beat staying in a tent under a starry sky, at least for me. There would have been a moon rise at some point but then the clouds obscured it! Though, I am not complaining at all.

We went in a jeep up to Batal. There is actually a jeep route all the way to Chandratal but on the day we were going the road was closed. I am probably happier that we walked about 14 km in the stunningly beautiful region. The very next day while coming back, the jeep could come in 9 km ahead as they were repairing the road.

I am really happy that I managed to sneak out to the mountains in the end. It always leaves me a much happier person. So, tomorrow while driving on congested Gurgaon roads to work, if I demonstrate more patience and you know why!

I trekked with Rama Kant Sharma who is a responsible trekking guide and family friend as well. I will leave you today with the pictures but of course the tales will follow.

25 thoughts on “A Beautiful Starry Night at Batal, Spiti, India”

  1. Najm Nisa says:
    July 20, 2014 at 4:42 pm

    I am craving a star grazing spree now ! Very beautiful!

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:09 pm

      Thank you Najm and I hope you get your chance soon.

      Reply
  2. Shrinidhi Hande says:
    July 20, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    Nice. Was it clicked using Lumina 1020 or Canon?

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:08 pm

      Shrinidhi these are Canon pictures with tripod and sometimes remote release as well.

      Reply
  3. Tushar says:
    July 20, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    Only two photos from 14 km trek? 🙁

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:07 pm

      Tushar, all in good time will post more.

      Reply
  4. sindhoooo says:
    July 20, 2014 at 8:39 pm

    Fantastic pictures! The simplest things make our happiest moments, right? I think, small pleasures keep us alive…

    Regards,
    Sindhu
    Tantu
    The Arts & Me

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:06 pm

      True Sindhu but seeing such starry sky is no longer simple in the cities 😀

      Reply
  5. Mahesh Semwal says:
    July 20, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    Getting such pic in night is quite difficult, you are not only a great photographer but lucky too 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:05 pm

      Mahesh for me yes, I do struggle with such pictures!

      Reply
  6. Lady Fi says:
    July 20, 2014 at 9:33 pm

    What a gorgeous starry sky!

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:04 pm

      Thank you Lady Fi.

      Reply
  7. VJ Sharma says:
    July 20, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    Beautiful views and well captured.
    Mridula, this is a common view from my home in Himachal and now I appreciate it better. Whenever I visit my parents, we try to spend some time on the roof-top to witness these beautiful views.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:02 pm

      VJ we do appreciate it when we no longer have it I guess? Great that you can see this often at your parents place!

      Reply
  8. Kokila says:
    July 21, 2014 at 10:05 am

    MY God! Mridula………….. Its amazing, beautiful…. surreal !! Speechless !

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:02 pm

      Thank you Kokila nature often leaves us speechless!

      Reply
  9. Anki S says:
    July 21, 2014 at 10:28 am

    Brilliant Night Shots dear.Very clear sky…Awaiting more stories 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:01 pm

      And in two hours it was completely overcast! But I got two hours to star gaze 😀

      Reply
  10. Maniparna Sengupta Majumder says:
    July 21, 2014 at 11:42 am

    Twinkle twinkle little stars ..so many of them !!!
    ..and really they are like diamonds…great night shots Mridula…

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 21, 2014 at 12:00 pm

      Thank you Maniparna.

      Reply
  11. Indrani says:
    July 22, 2014 at 9:04 am

    Wow! Sounds like a great adventure.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      July 22, 2014 at 10:30 am

      Going to the hills is always good for my health Indrani, it was an adventure too!

      Reply
  12. rupam { xhobdo } says:
    July 22, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    Truly Awesome photos and post.

    Reply
  13. Bikram says:
    July 22, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    I loved the sky and the tent .. a night in that place I bet it was awesome ..

    I so want to do that myself

    Bikram’s

    Reply
  14. Rachit Aggarwal says:
    August 12, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    I have never seen such beautiful starry night in my life. And also, I don’t know how you arrange to stay in tent at such a secluded place.
    Will definitely need your no. someday to involve you in planning for next trip..

    Reply

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About Me

I am Mridula Dwivedi and I started this blog in 2005. It has been an amazing ride. I have visited 33 countries till date! I have worked with many tourism boards and prominent travel companies. My blog was featured on the BBC and the Guardian.

I did my Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur. I worked full time in academics till 2015! I quit my job as a professor, thinking I will take a break for one year, which turned into five.

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