Summer Spiti

Mumbai - Delhi - Manali

Caught 8am flight from Mumbai to Delhi. Had a quick bite of Grilled Sandwich & Coffee at Mumbai airport. Lunch was also a quick one of a burger from KFC at Delhi airport. Took Metro from Airport to Shivaji stadium and a rickshaw from there to Ramakrishna Bus Stop for our overnight bus journey to Manali. Dinner was at Grand Saras Hotel on Delhi - Manali highway.

Manali

Woke up amidst foggy views in Mountains with gushing sound of Beas river. Took a rickshaw from Manali bus stop to our hotel Snow Peak Retreat near Hidimba temple. Replenished our stomachs with yummy buffet breakfast, freshened up & left to explore Manali by foot.
First paid our visit to Hidimba temple & left on foot towards mall road. On the way stoped at Il Ferno's for Italian lunch. Walked down Manali's village lanes taking a few shortcuts here n there with the locals to reach Mall road. Shopped for hand painted keychains and concentrate apple juices.
Took a cab back hotel as the descend was tiring after so much shopping 😉.
Had dinner at hotel instead of visiting old Manali as next day was the ascend to higher altitudes and we needed to rest our bodies after the long overnight journey.

Manali - Kaza

After a scrumptious buffet breakfast left for Kaza. Enroute stopped at Rohtang for few waterfalls and picturesque landscape. Had Maggie for lunch at Beas Dhaba after crossing Rohtang. Due to increased level of waters in Chenab river, our car got stuck at Chota Dara crossing & it took around 2 hrs to remove car tyres from between stones. Localities and travellers helped in towing the car as it was stuck real bad.
After crossing chota dara we stopped at the famous Chacha ChaChi dhaba for Ginger Black Tea & Maggie. Next came Bada Dara crossing is was even worst and so we had to trek this one to cross it as we didn't wanna risk getting our car stuck again due to human weights. This trek wasn't an easy one as we had to cross many big rocks to avoid the waters which had drowned the road. Altitude was worsening our bodies. However our car didn't get stuck!
Crossed Kunzum pass, visited Mata temple on top  and reached Kaza at around 10 pm. Entire route was pitch dark with heavy thunderstorms and rains. We all were low on oxygen & energy after the tedious trek and bad climate. Had healthy soups for dinner and ended the day.
Stay was at Hotel Kunphen which is 3 star property.

Kaza - Pin Valley

Started our morning late as were tired from previous day. Had buffet breakfast and left for Pin Valley. The cut edge mountains here are a bliss to eyes.
We had our lunch in Mud Village at Tara Cafe. They serve the best chowmein noodles & nutella and honey pancakes.
Returned to our hotel in evening as it got cloudy and could predict rains and rested for the day in hotel.
We transferred ourselves to Hotel Sakya Abode which is hardly 2 mins walk from Hotel Kunphen. This one is a 4 star property. The only one in Kaza.

Key - Kibber - Hikkim

Today we visited Key Monastery which overlooks Spiti river.
Later we visited Kibber village which is also known for snow leopards. Snow leopards are easily spotted here in winters for the one with patience. After having lunch here we tried visiting Tabo, Hikkim & Langza but rains didn't permit us as the roads had got all muddy and cars were going off track from roads. We returned to our hotel and spent rainy evening enjoying kanda bhaji with hot black ginger tea, the perfect combo to go with rains.

Dhankar - Langza

Today after Breakfast we tried visiting Kaza monastery however as it was closes we couldn't visit it from inside. Then we left for Dhankar where we visited Dhankar Gompa. A chat here with one of the monk was worth the visit. The view from the monastery is a fascinating one as it overlooks the entire Dhankar village. The roads were extremely bad due to rains and this resulted in our one car getting broke down.
Later we tried to visit Langza again in one car stuffed with people, this time was a lucky one as we couldn't get down but atleast saw the famous Langza Buddha there. Later we tried for Hikkim but rains had done it work on the roads and were making it worst for cars to keep its track. One slide and our cars could be in deep valley. So we returned back to our hotel and enjoyed the cozy weather with our human companions.
To make for the day hotel staff made pizzas n pastas for us for dinner. They were yummy!

Kaza - Chandrataal

Today after breakfast we bid adios to kaza and started our journey towards Chandrataal Lake which is also known as Moon Lake as Chandra means Moon in English. On the way we stopped at Chicham bridge and a few stops on the roads to capture picturesque landscapes.
Reached Chandrataal campsite at around 2pm and instantly left for the lake. Had to walk for about 45 mins to reach the lake. The first view was that of a shimmering blue in between brown green purple mountains. Spent few hours here soaking in its beauty. We however couldn't complete full parikrama as rains started its show and we had to come back from half parikrama. We did make up for it by staying on top of the mountain on our way back enjoying snow cladded mountain views with pure oxygen filled soothing breeze.
Returned to campsite in the evening and the staff welcomed us with tea and kanda bhaji. After dinner we all stepped out of our tents to see star filled skies. And we were gifted with Milky Way! 😍. Dense white patch of stars surrounded by twinkle and pitch darkness around us with chilly breeze, ohh the feeling.
Spent the night in tent under blankets as the night was pretty cold.

Chandrataal - Manali

We left early morning at 6am for Manali as we had to cross water logged roads off Chatru. We walked Bada Dara as we didn't want to take risk of car getting stuck with weights and also were not aware of the water level. Crossed chatru easily as water levels had decreased, stopped at Beas cafe before climbing rohtang for lunch. Entire Rohtang pass was jam packed with traffic and we took around 4 hours to cross it and reach our hotel in Manali. Missed my bus due to this traffic as i had booked my flights for the very next day. Had to call off the flight and booked myself on the next to next day flight. Reached hotel late evening Had early dinner and called the day off.

Manali - Delhi

Today we had half day in hand as we had to catch evening bus for Delhi. After breakfast we visited Hidimba Temple and walked down towards Monal Bird Sanctuary. Saw Monal bird and few other species of birds and continued walking ahead towards mall road for little shopping. Bought few souvenirs here and also ate cakes and brownies at a local bakery. Came back to hotel and left for Manali bus stop. Caught overnight bus for Delhi. Avoid this journey for people with motion sickness. I would personally recommend take a flight back one from kullu airport.
We were lucky enough to take this bus as all bus service stopped after this day due to heavy rainfall and land slides.

Delhi - Mumbai

Early morning reach Delhi bus stop and caught a cab for airport. We had demanded refund for our bus ticket as our luggage was completely wet and they hadn't kept it in its allocated luggage compartment. We dis get a refund for the bus ticket. Had lunch at airport and caught a flight back to Home Sweet Home.