Everyone should visit Lahaul and Spiti once in their lifetimes. It was my third third trip to the region. I went in 2007 when we trekked through the region and then more recently to Chandratal in 2014. I say that one trip per year to Spiti is a must! I hope you will enjoy my postcards from Lahaul and Spiti.
Near Rohtang Pass
I have gone beyond Rohtang Pass only when I ventured into Ladakh or Spiti. It has never been a destination on its own for me. It used to be a pain with so many vehicles and traffic jams. The recent curb by NGT on the number of vehicles has certainly eased the situation.
The Road to Spiti
The road to Lahaul and Spiti is very beautiful, but at times there is hardly any road! I asked the driver, Ranbir ji, to break for a second while we were crossing this water pond! This is part of the road to Spiti!
The Bridge at Batal
Last year my nephew and I went to Chandratal. My nephew, the original brat, Brat 1 took a similar shot. I had to wait for one year to do a repeat performance but I got my shot too. It looks more dangerous that it actually was. But I would still recommend extreme caution if you wish to try this!
Women at Chandra Dhaba, Batal
It is always a pleasure to reach Chandra Dhaba at Batal because that means lunch and meeting the legendary Chacha and Chachi of the Chandra Dhaba. Their son Tenzing is no running a camp at Chandratal. In this picture we city slickers posed with the beauties of region!
Lift to Chandratal
There are many public vehicles plying on the Manali-Batal-Kaza route. Chandratal is a detour from Batal. If you do not have your own vehicle be prepared to reach in whichever way you can. This gentleman from Mumbai took a lift at the roof of our jeep. Ranbir was not too thrilled about it but he agreed as the Chacha and Chachi asked him to take the gentleman along!
The Tents at Chandratal
This year the tents have been pushed back further from the lake but I am not complaining. I want the lake to be there for Chhavi and her children too! And the blue you see in the sky is the Spiti Blue, no filter has been used in any of these pictures! Almost all the pictures here are straight from the camera!
The Horses near Chandratal
The vehicles go quite close to Chandratal but after a point they have to be parked. The walk to the lake is equally beautiful. The horses were enjoying their grass.
Looking away from Chandratal
I was not too happy about the cloud cover in the sky. I wanted the blazing blue skies that I see in other pictures. But the rain gods were not listening to me yet!
The Beauty called Chandratal
I know I should be grateful for standing at such an awesome place! But I wanted the typical Spiti Blue! Clouds denied me that for a second year in a row!
Crossing Kunzul La
Last year I ventured only up to Chandratal but this year I was headed further into Spiti. This was a last minute personal trip that I did with my trusted guide Ramakant Sharma. There is much more to the trip that these initial pictures! I am so happy that I could do this trip!
what a beautiful place it is !! your pictures are saying everything about the place ,. This place remains always in the list of adventure freaky …. welcome back Mridula ji
Thank you Yogi, I hope I will go back the next year again!
Next year !! may I make a request to go there with you , if you dont mind Mridula ji ?
For sure!
Chandertaal is a beautiful and equally beautiful is the road (or no road) that winds through the barren mountains! Having been there just a couple of weeks back, your images make me miss it so very much.
And that shot of the Batal bridge, I wish ye idea mere dimag me bhi aaya hota 😉
Cheers,
Rajiv
That shot on the bridge was my nephew’s idea. Be very careful whenever you try it. Did I miss out on your pictures or have you not posted them yet?
I am yet to post the Chandertal-post. The trek posts and pictures are coming before that though 🙂
I hope you will like them 🙂
Cheers,
Rajiv
Waiting for your post and pictures of Chandratal.
Thank you 🙂
Gorgeous images! So well framed!
Thank you Indrani.
Enjoyed ur post ! Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you Mahesh.
My my…the look at the first picture of Chadrataal and I was like ..this is a dreamworld. But then I also took note of the absence of road. Whatever its a journey worth making.
A journey worth taking every year!
Chandrataal is beautiful. Wish I could visit it someday. 🙂
The season is still on, September is a good month to visit! 😀
Amazing and heavenly……. That’s all I could manage…..
Thank you Debopam.
Amazingly beautiful, Mridula … I longed to visit this place… 🙂 And, I remember that picture taken by your nephew… 😀
Manipanrna he was not too thrilled that I did the same. What is safe for him is not so safe for bua!
lovely 🙂
Thank you Archana.
Wow wow wow! The pictures left me mesmerized. A wonderful post.
Lahaul and Spiti are mesmerizing 😀
The photographs are wonderful Mridula, I am having a really tough time to pick a favourite amongst these.. Simply beautiful
Thank you so much Vinay, it is easy to click good pictures in the region!
Spectacular and mind blowing pictures of the heaven on Earth…I am truly mesmerized by the brilliance of the place, the images and the write up!
Thank you so much Sunita.
Loved going through the pictures, absolutely stunning! And the Batal bridge picture is quite adventurous! 😉
Thank you ladies!
Awesome captures, Mridula! Absolutely out of this world 🙂 Thank you 🙂
Thank you Amit.
Lovely trip you had at the beautiful place, this time till Spiti !!… lovely pictures too… liked going through your writeup (:
Thank you so much.
Gorgeous, stunning, beautiful… I can go on! I have been to Ladakh but not to these parts. A must do like you said.
Do go Chaitali. As the place doesn’t has an airport, it is not too crowded yet!
Pure gorgeousness.
I can see why you say everybody must visit this place. Point noted. 🙂
And I wish you will get blue skies, whenever you go!
What wonderful shots!
Thank you Lady Fi.
Breathtaking!!!! This is so on my list! I am sure the feeling would be mind blowing!:)
Wow, such a beautiful place, your photos look like real postcards indeed. Great work!