To us, the Himalayas were synonymous with lush-green forests, snow-capped high mountain peaks, and green-covered hills. A trip to Spiti Valley and Backpacker Hostel Spiti in India changed that. Spiti Valley, located across the main Himalayan range, has barren hills, bare mountain sides, rough terrain, and looks more like a dry desert. We are at a loss for words to describe the enthralling beauty of Spiti Valley. It is a land lost in time, a place that humanity has forgotten.
Spiti Valley and Backpacker Hostel Spiti is so peaceful that you can hear your heartbeat, the skies are so clear that you can see the Milky Way with your own eyes, the people are so amazing that they touch your heart and soul, and the land is so old that you can still find evidence of the Tethys Sea, which existed during the Mesozoic era.
This blog, Introduction to Spiti Valley & Hotels near Spiti Kaza, will give you an overview of Spiti Valley’s location, geography, history, culture, and weather.
Spiti Valley’s location
Where exactly is Spiti Valley and it’s Best Hostels in Spiti? Most city dwellers have never heard of the name ‘Spiti,’ let alone know where it is. The fact that it is unknown to most tourists adds to its allure. Spiti Valley is located high in the Himalayas in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The breathtaking valley is located on the India-Tibet border. Spiti Valley is a high-altitude trans-Himalayan desert with snow-capped mountain peaks, ancient monasteries, rough terrains, coloured face-rocks, pristine emerald lakes, narrow passes, and frozen glaciers.
The valley is named after the 16,000-foot-high Kunzum pass and is often referred to as “the middle land” – the land between India and Tibet or the land surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges. Spiti River, which originates east of the Kunzum Pass, flows through the heart of Spiti Valley, giving the valley and district their names. You can stay at Backpacker Hostel Spiti and enjoy the natural dessert mountain.
Understanding Spiti Valley’s Geography
Spiti Valley is located in a rain shadow area, so there is little to no rain because the mountains keep the valley out of the monsoon rains. In fact, the average annual rainfall in Spiti Valley is only 170 mm. Though there is plenty of ice water in the glaciers above and rivers below, the valley flatlands are parched. Spiti appears to be a land of contrasts, with almost no rain and excessive snowfall – a vast expanse of barren land encircles green patches of cultivation and cedar tree orchards. The terrain is dry and rough, and erosions carve the most incredible shapes and colours. Spiti Valley’s barren hills, grey slopes, and steep gorges are frequently photographed.
