Finally I am in Spiti Valley after the most stunning scenery I have ever seen on a road trip. On the way we had to cross two high passes - Rohtang la (4000m) and Kunzum La (4600m) - multiples landslides and rivers. Loosely translated, Spiti means 'the middle country' - a name given as a result of its location and traditional ties with both India and Tibet. Fed by several fast flowing streams, the river Spiti flows through the area and joins with the other large river of the region, the Satluj. With freckles of green over a dry weather-beaten face, Spiti is a cold desert where the monsoon rain never comes. It is characterised by a stark almost relentless beauty, narrow valleys and high mountains. A century ago, Rudyard Kipling in Kim described Spiti "a world within a world" and a "place where the gods live" and this is a description that still holds true to present day. Spiti's lunar-like landscape is spotted with Buddhist monasteries, small villages, chortens, piles of mani stones and prayer flags. The textures and colours of the different landforms are just mind-blowing. I hope the photos here can convey a sense of this amazing living sculpture.
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