In Part 1, you travelled from Chandigarh to Tabo via Shimla. In this sequel, you now continue with this fascinating journey, this time from Tabo to Kaza in this Picturesque Spiti Valley- Part 2.
TABO
So, after reaching Tabo the following morning, Mr. Shree, your guide, is at the hotel lobby, ready to guide you to the nearby forest for Avian (bird) sightings.
Blue Whistling Thrush
Black redstart
Tabo Monastery
Over the hill slopes, you now watch caves Buddhist monks use presumably to meditate. Interestingly, the present Dalai Lama has expressed a desire to retire to Tabo, considering Tabo Monastery to be the holiest among other monasteries.
To have a personal feel for this holy place, you walk across the road and reach this ancient 1025-year-old monastery. This monastery comprises two parts. The old built in 996AD and the new presumably constructed in the 19th century.
Taking pictures within the old portion is a straight ‘No’. The camera lights create a deleterious effect on the 11-13th century murals/paintings placed on its walls. After depositing your camera at the entrance, you then walk in. With keen interest, you observe one after the other these frescoes (water paintings), thankas (scroll paintings), statues, manuscripts depicting tales of Buddhist pantheons (Gods).
Then, while crossing over to the newer part of the monastery, you come across a group of attractive European Goldfinch birds busy feeding on the pollen, probably for their breakfast.
In the newer part, however, you may take pictures that seem priceless. A religious function held outside has called in local Buddhists to take part and listen to the revered monk. Even as these rituals continue, you decide to leave and go.
Tabo Monastery
Tabo Monastery
It’s Day 5 on the tour. You now proceed swiftly towards the next destination–Mudh–via Dhankar.
On the way to Dhankar, the incredibly captivating confluence of Spiti-PinParvati Rivers on your left compels you to stop. Getting down to capture images of this riveting phenomenon is now the priority.
Dhankar
On reaching Dhankar, you see Dhankar Monastery built at an elevation of 3900 ft atop a mountain. This is the first place you would like to visit. The ravishing view of the Spiti-PinParvati confluence is visible from here too.
Dhankar Monastery
A three-hour trek from here will take you to the Dhankar Lake. However, you decide against going there for two reasons. One, paucity of time, and two, the trek seems arduous and challenging.
Mudh
From here, in the next couple of hours, you are at Mudh. Provision for night stay here is at the ‘Tara Home Stay’. Home-stays, incidentally, in this part of the valley are very common and favored by visitors.
Apart from giving you a feeling of a home, home stays provide you with nearly all amenities that you have staying in a normal hotel. The house host does/supervises all the food preparations, ensuring guests remain happy and satisfied.
The following morning, armed with a camera along with guide Shree, you visit the nearby jungle to encounter with local wildlife. Here, you are lucky to find Kestrel, a bird of prey feeding on a mouse like animal called Pika.
No sooner it sees you approaching, it takes off to the sky along with its prey.
On return, post breakfast, you then say goodbye to Tara Home Stay and proceed towards your next destination–Kaza. A near 4-hour drive through nondescript narrow secluded muddy roads thus ensues.
A few km downhill, you come across a constantly vacillating suspension bridge built over the Pin River. Slightly scary, but a thrilling experience as you walk cautiously over it.
Right from its center, you get a relishing view of the river below and snow-peaked mountains in the background.
Later, on the way, you visit the 13th Century Kungri Monastery, the second oldest Monastery in Spiti. Belonging to the Nyingmapa order of Buddhism, and considered as the oldest order of Tibetan Buddhism.
Kungri Monastery
Driving through picturesque road, seven km before Kaza you reach Shego. A brief halt here is in anticipation of spotting avian. Sadly, duck(real) is the only luck that comes your way.
On way to kaza
Duck-Northern Shoveler
Kaza
It is 2 pm, and you have reached Kaza. Being Lunch time, you locate a popular restaurant and enter to enjoy their delicious preparations.
Once satiated, you now go to check-in at the newly constructed Blue Mountain Hotel located not very far from here.
After some initial rest, you, along with Shree, then drive down to a nearby area famous for bird sightings. Here, you get to watch White Capped Redstart, Common Rosefinch, Desert Wheat-eater, Hoopoe, and European Goldfinch among others.
Later, back at the hotel, following your usual drinks and dinner, you finally hit bed for a night’s rest.
On the seventh day of this increasingly exciting trip, you are now at the local Kaza market. This place is evocative of any small-town market that exists in other parts of the country.
Thereafter, crossing the amazing Shila Nulla, you ascend further up the arid hills. Here you drive all alone over the rugged terrain for over 3 hours until you reach your next destination–Langza.
Over now to Part 3.
In Part 3, you travel from Lanza to Hakkim and Komic visiting World’s highest Monastery, World’s highest Restaurant and World’s highest Post office. Then finally you visit the beautiful Chandratal Lake before returning to Chandigarh via Manali.
