Spiti Valley Road Status And Conditions 2020

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Spiti Valley Road Status And Conditions 2020

Magnificent cold desert valley in Himachal Pradesh, Spiti Valley is replete with pine forests, green meadows, charming ancient monasteries and inhabited villages that will leave you totally awe-stuck.

 Spiti Valley is located at an altitude of around 12,500 ft above the sea level and picturesque mountains over here change their shades every second. The hamlets in Spiti Valley under the shadow of huge mountains have a population of around 35 to 200 people.

Wherever you go in Spiti Valley, you can see beautiful Buddhist monasteries, fluttering colourful prayer flags and a large number of monks praying with their prayer wheels. A sparsely inhabited land, Spiti is a paradise for all those who get bore from the intoxicating city life.

You can also take panoramic glimpse of Dhadkan and Chandratal lake here. Although, you can get entire information regarding Spiti Valley Road Status and Conditions 2020.

 

Chopta Chandrashila

3D/2N – Starts From ₹ 6,199

Bir Billing

2D/1N – Starts From ₹ 5999

Spiti Road Trip

7D/6N – Starts From ₹ 16,499

Manali Trip

3D/2N – Starts From ₹ 5,399

Himachal Backpacking

7D/6N – Starts From ₹ 16,499

 

Spiti Valley Road Status

In May 2020, the road to Spiti valley is open from Shimla side and closed from Manali side. If you want to travel to Spiti in the near future, and until June, you have to get Kaza from Shimla side and return the same way. Currently, it is not possible to take the Manali route as it has blocked due to heavy snowfall.

Shimla to Spiti Valley Road Status

The road from Shimla to Spiti Valley actually remains open around the year. There could be temporary closure in the winter season if there is avalanches or heavy snowfall anywhere on the route.

However, the authorities clear the snow just as soon as possible, they able to restore the connectivity. So via Shimla Route, you can visit Spiti valley in any month of the year.

Manali to Spiti Valley Road Status

Manali to Kaza Highway is 202 Km long that usually opens up by the first week of June, and we do think that in 2020, it may open by the second or third week of June provided the weather holds up.

 Blizzards and sudden heavy snowfall are very common in this area like Batal and Chhota Dhara. Do not forget that you are also be crossing two high altitude passes to get out and if that did not happen, you will be stuck for good.

 

Chopta Chandrashila

3D/2N – Starts From ₹ 6,199

Bir Billing

2D/1N – Starts From ₹ 5999

Spiti Road Trip

7D/6N – Starts From ₹ 16,499

Manali Trip

3D/2N – Starts From ₹ 5,399

Himachal Backpacking

7D/6N – Starts From ₹ 16,499

 

How to Reach Spiti Valley

Traveling to Spiti by road is one of the most thrilling experience as well as convenient options for you traveling from nearby cities such Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and more.

There are two routes via which you can reach Spiti Valley, one is via Shimla and another is via Manali. You can get entire information about How to Reach Spiti Valley from here.

Spiti Valley is an offbeat and unexplored place in India, hence is not properly connected to rest of India.The nearest airport to Spiti Valley is in Bhunter, near Kullu which is about 260 Km far away from here. From there, you can take cab, taxi or Bus to here.

The nearest railway station to Spiti Valley is Joginder Nagar Railway Station which is on narrow gauge line. However, Chandigarh is major railway station which is 500 kilometers away from the valley.

Weather in Spiti Valley

The best time to visit Spiti Valley is summer season a temperature varies from 0 – 15-degree Celcius, which starts from March and lasts until June.

Winters in Spiti Valley are very tough. The road connectivity is unreliable during the winters with Manali-Kaza highway being cut-off due to avalanches and heavy snowfall.

Spiti Valley is a high mountain desert so,here is no monsoon season. You can plan your Spiti Road trip in monsoon season with keep 2-3 days extra.

Spiti Valley in Summer

The Summer season from March to June is the best time to visit spiti valley. The temperature remains moderate and the maximum temperature is around 15 degree Celsius. That means you can indulge a range of outdoor activities such as trekking, camping, mountain biking and hiking.

The mornings and evenings of Summer are quite cold with temperatures varies in between 2-3 degrees Celsius while the days are enjoyable. Do not forget to pack woolens clothes.

Things to keep in mind

  • Take 2-3 buffer days during Spiti Valley Trip
  • Gets cold at night in winters, so keep warm cloths
  • Cross certain places before 12 pm else highly likely chance to get stuck

 

Chopta Chandrashila

3D/2N – Starts From ₹ 6,199

Bir Billing

2D/1N – Starts From ₹ 5999

Spiti Road Trip

7D/6N – Starts From ₹ 16,499

Manali Trip

3D/2N – Starts From ₹ 5,399

Himachal Backpacking

7D/6N – Starts From ₹ 16,499

FAQ

The road to Spiti Valley remains open throughout the year via Shimla – Kinnaur while the road from Manali side closes in winter as soon as Rohtang Pass and Kunzum Pass close. So, you must know about the right time to travel to Spiti Valley.

 Manali to Kaza road connects Spiti Valley with Lahaul Valley and Kullu Valley and in 2019 year, due to heavy snow fall, the snow clearance operations took several months.  As of April 25, 2020, the road up to Kunzum Pass is still closed.

The expected date of opening of Manali Kaza road will be early May. By Shimla route, the road is open and you can visit Spiti free. There is no major road blocks in this route in winter.

How to Reach Spiti Valley from Delhi

Spity Valley is one of the best and must visited place by backpackers, bikers and trekkers. It is the Himachal Tribal circuits that provides alternate to the already overcrowded Ladakh bike trip.

The ice-topped Himalayan Summits, the river that follows you as a shadow throughout the valley, the waterfalls and the Grey-blue skies, will be your journey companion. You can get whole information about How to Reach Spiti Valley from Delhi mentioned below: –

April to early October is the best time to visit Spiti Valley. It is not advisable to plan your trip from mid-July to late August due to heavy rainfall.  The roads get narrow and muddy and even blocked. So, it is advisable you should have 1 or 2 spare days in the monsoon season. You can get detailed information of Spiti Valley Weather around the year from here.

Vibrant monasteries, picturesque hamlets, snow-laden peaks, plush forests and magnificent lakes build make one of the places to visit in Spiti Valley. Villages are few in number and far between in this serrated moonscape and they arrive like mirages, with clusters of whitewashed homes huddled by green barley fields below monasteries nestled on crags a thousand feet above.

Whether it’s a explore to the small villages, where life flows at an unbridled pace, or the ancient monasteries which are treasure-houses of Buddhist teachings, every experience is amazing.

Before you move on to the How to reach Spiti Valley, here is some essential info about Best Plces to visit Spiti Valley.

 

Chopta Chandrashila

3D/2N – Starts From ₹ 6,199

Bir Billing

2D/1N – Starts From ₹ 5999

Spiti Road Trip

7D/6N – Starts From ₹ 16,499

Manali Trip

3D/2N – Starts From ₹ 5,399

Himachal Backpacking

7D/6N – Starts From ₹ 16,499

Where is Spiti 

Literally means “the middle land”, Spiti Valley is located between Tibet and India. It is a cold desert valley nestled in the Himalayan range of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The Rohtang Pass situated at 13,054 feet (3,979 m), connects Spiti from the Kullu Valley.

How to Reach Spiti Valley from Delhi

You can get entire information about how to reach Spiti by Train, Bus and Air from below: –

How to Reach Spiti Valley by Train

The nearest railway station from Spiti which have good connectivity is in Chandigarh. Jogindernagar also has a railway station which is nearest to Spiti, but it has very poor connectivity.

How to Reach Spiti Valley by Road 

It is very buzzing to reach Spiti from Delhi by Bus, but trip offers lifetime experience. There are different two routes to get Kaza, the headquarter of Spiti Valley: one is via Shimla and another via Manali. The Manali route is shorter than Shimla route. Although, the difference is only around 20 Km if you compare.

Permits

Both these routes need permits. But, if you are hiring a cab or taxi, the driver would take it itself.

 Via Manali route

From Delhi to Spiti via Manali Route, you can pre-book seats of Volvo buses which departure from Kashmiri gate ISBT to Kullu and must prefer night buses (HRTC buses).

 Then, you reach Kullu by 11 Am, after that take a day break. Next day at very early morning, there is only one bus from Kullu to Kaza via Manali at 4:30 Am.

It is unthinkable to get ticket of the bus from Manali, that is why board on the bus from Kullu. Be smart and collect information from Kullu ticket counter regarding when and how you can book a ticket.

There is second option to stay at Manali and pre-book a shared cab/traveller to Kaza for next morning. It will be slightly expensive, near Mall road, but better to stay near Mall road though. You will arrive Kaza around 5 pm, unless there’s a blocked road/accident.

Chopta Trip

3D/4N – Starts From ₹ 5999

Bir Billing

3D/4N – Starts From ₹ 5999

Spiti Road Trip

3D/4N – Starts From ₹ 5999

Manali Trip

3D/4N – Starts From ₹ 5999

Haimachal Backpacking

3D/4N – Starts From ₹ 5999

 

Via Shimla route

 It’s a much longer route! So, if your trip is shorter than 8-10 days, then don’t go via this route. For Shimla route, there is a direct bus from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi to Reckong-peo which takes 21–23 hours to reach Peo, it is bustling. It probably departured around 7–7:30pm from Kashmiri gate and get Peo by next afternoon.

 There are Rs. 100/bed dormitory next to Peo bus stand where you can stay, but the toilet is a mess. There are also very cheap hotels around Rs. 300/night after bargain near the uphill opposite to Peo bus stand.

In the next morning there is only single bus for Kaza probably at 7:00 am, there is a huge rush for tickets, you must reach bus stand at least an hour before to buy tickets.To enjoy mesmerizing views of spiti Valley ask for a ticket on left side window, if you don’t get it, request some locals to switch seat.

How to Reach Spiti Valley by Air

There is no direct air connectivity to Spiti Valley. The nearest airport to Spiti Valley is in Bhuntar, near Kullu, 245 km away from the same. However, Bhuntar airport is small with few daily flights. Chandigarh Airport, situated at a distance of 522 km is the nearest international airport.

Nearest Airport: Chandigarh Airport (IXC) – 522 kms from Spiti Valley

FAQ

 

You should have at least 8 days for Spiti Valley trip as you need 5 days in total to reach Spiti via Kinnaur side and come back from Manali side. So, having three more days will assist you to visit Pin Valley, Langza, Hikkim, Komic, Ki and Kibber Villages around Kaza.

Yes, Spiti is safe for foreigners as well as for Indian citizens. But, as a foreign national, you must take a permit to travel through the valley. Without the permit, you will be not allowed to enter from any of the check posts in route. This permit can be obtained from Shimla, Manali or Reckong Peo.

Spiti valley is popular for its natural beauty of Himalayas and cultural heritage. Tabo monastery is one of the most prominent Places to visit in Spiti. The monasteries in Spiti are acclaimed for spectacular murals, ancient temples, and several stupas.

Only BSNL or MTNL mobile network works in Spiti Valley in places such as Kaza, Tabo, Dhankar, Pin Valley, Key, Kibber, Langza, Komic, etc. There is no other network including Reliance Jio, Airtel or Vodafone that works in rest of Spiti Valley.

The distance of Delhi to Spiti Highway is around 732 km and the total travel time is approximately 17 hours.

Best time to visit Spiti Valley by road is from June till September. This way you can able to complete the circuit and will not be limited to just explore Kaza. You can visit places like Chandratal and Kunzum Pass during this time only.

 

 No permit is needed to visit Spiti Valley for an Indian National. The only permit an Indian National required can be – a vehicle permit to cross Rohtang Pass. If he/she plans to enter Spiti Valley from Manali by his/her own vehicle or self-driven rented vehicle.