Pin Valley National Park: A Guide to the Home of Snow Leopards in Spiti Valley

Pin Valley National Park is one of the most beautiful and remote places in India, located in the cold desert region of Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. The park is home to the elusive and endangered snow leopard, along with many other rare and exotic wildlife and plant species. The park also offers some of the most adventurous and scenic treks in the Himalayas, crossing high mountain passes and exploring ancient villages and monasteries. If you are looking for a unique and unforgettable experience in the lap of nature, Pin Valley National Park is the perfect destination for you.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about Pin Valley National Park, such as its flora and fauna, trekking options, best time to visit, how to reach, and tips for visiting. We will also show you some of the other top ranking places in Spiti Valley that you can visit along with Pin Valley National Park. Read on to discover the wonders of this amazing place and plan your trip accordingly.

Flora and Fauna of Pin Valley National Park

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Pin Valley National Park is a biodiversity hotspot, with a rich variety of wildlife and plant species. The park is famous for being the home of the snow leopard, the king of the Himalayas. The snow leopard is one of the most elusive and endangered animals in the world, with only about 5000 left in the wild.

The park is also home to many other rare and exotic animals, such as the Tibetan wolf, the red fox, the Himalayan brown bear, the Himalayan blue sheep, the ibex, and the marmot. The park also hosts a variety of birds, such as the golden eagle, the bearded vulture, the Himalayan griffon, the snow partridge, and the snow cock. The park is a paradise for wildlife lovers and photographers, who can witness the amazing diversity and beauty of nature. The park is part of the Pin Valley National Park and Biosphere Reserve, which is one of the 18 biosphere reserves in India.

Pin Valley National Park Trek

Pin Valley National Park is a haven for trekkers, who can enjoy some of the most challenging and rewarding treks in the Himalayas.

Some of the most popular and famous treks in Pin Valley National Park are:

1. Pin Parvati Pass Trek

This is one of the most challenging and rewarding treks in the Himalayas, crossing the Pin Parvati Pass, which is at an altitude of 5319 meters. The trek starts from the Parvati Valley in Kullu district and ends at the Pin Valley in Spiti district, covering a distance of about 110 kilometers. The trek takes about 10 to 12 days to complete, depending on the weather and fitness level. The trek offers some of the most diverse and stunning landscapes, such as lush green meadows, dense forests, rocky terrains, snow-clad mountains, and glacial lakes.

2. Pin Bhaba Pass Trek

This is another challenging and rewarding trek in the Himalayas, crossing the Pin Bhaba Pass, which is at an altitude of 4865 meters. The trek starts from the Bhaba Valley in Kinnaur district and ends at the Pin Valley in Spiti district, covering a distance of about 50 kilometers. The trek takes about 6 to 8 days to complete, depending on the weather and fitness level. The trek offers some of the most diverse and stunning landscapes, such as green pastures, alpine forests, barren mountains, and glacial streams.

3. Mud Village Trek

This is a relatively easy and short trek in Pin Valley National Park, starting and ending at the Mud Village, which is the last village in the Pin Valley. The trek covers a distance of about 12 kilometers, and takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete. The trek offers some of the most beautiful and serene landscapes, such as green fields, apple orchards, and pine forests. The trek also offers some of the most authentic and cultural experiences, as you can interact with the local people, who are known for their hospitality and simplicity.

Best Time to Visit Pin Valley National Park

Pin Valley National Park is open throughout the year, but the best time to visit depends on your preference and purpose. The park has different seasons and weather conditions, which affect the accessibility, scenery, and wildlife of the park. Here is a brief overview of the best time to visit Pin Valley National Park, based on the season and month:

Winter (November to March): This is the coldest and snowiest season in Pin Valley National Park, with temperatures ranging from -20°C to 5°C. The park is covered with a thick layer of snow, which makes it difficult to access and explore. However, this is also the best time to see the snow leopard, as they come down to lower altitudes in search of prey. The park also offers a stunning contrast of white snow and blue sky, which creates a magical and surreal atmosphere.

Summer (April to June): This is the warmest and most pleasant season in Pin Valley National Park, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C. The park is accessible and easy to explore, as the snow melts and the roads and trails are clear. The park also offers a vibrant and colorful scenery, as the flowers bloom and the greenery returns. If you are looking for a relaxing and scenic experience, and want to enjoy the beauty and diversity of nature, summer is the best time to visit Pin Valley National Park.

Monsoon (July to September): This is the wettest and most unpredictable season in Pin Valley National Park, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C. The park receives heavy rainfall and occasional snowfall, which makes it risky and difficult to access and explore. The park also offers a dramatic and dynamic scenery, as the clouds, mist, and fog create a mysterious and enchanting effect. The park also hosts some of the most adventurous and challenging treks, such as the Pin Parvati Pass Trek and the Pin Bhaba Pass Trek, which cross some of the highest and most difficult mountain passes in the Himalayas.

Other Top Ranking Places in Spiti Valley

Pin Valley National Park is not the only attraction in Spiti Valley, which is one of the most beautiful and remote places in India. Here are some of the other top ranking places in Spiti Valley, which you can visit along with Pin Valley National Park:

1. Key Monastery: This is one of the oldest and most famous Buddhist monasteries in Spiti Valley, which is located at an altitude of 4166 meters. The monastery is a splendid example of Tibetan architecture, which has a fort-like structure and a golden dome.

2. Kibber Village: This is one of the highest and most picturesque villages in Spiti Valley, which is located at an altitude of 4270 meters. The village is famous for its traditional mud houses, which are painted in white and blue colors. The village is also famous for its wildlife sanctuary, which is home to the snow leopard, the ibex, and the blue sheep.

3. Chandratal Lake: This is one of the most beautiful and serene lakes in Spiti Valley, which is located at an altitude of 4300 meters. The lake is also known as the Moon Lake, as it has a crescent shape and a crystal clear water. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and meadows, which create a stunning contrast of colors and textures.

How to Reach Pin Valley National Park

Pin Valley National Park is located in the cold desert region of Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, which is one of the most remote and isolated places in India. The park is not easily accessible and requires a lot of planning and preparation. The park can be reached by road, rail, and air, from different cities and towns. Here is a brief overview of how to reach Pin Valley National Park, by different modes of transport:

By Road: The park can be reached by road from two routes: via Manali and via Shimla. The route via Manali is shorter and faster, but also more difficult and dangerous. The route via Shimla is longer and slower, but also more safe and comfortable. The road conditions and accessibility depend on the season and weather, and may vary from time to time.

By Rail: The park can be reached by rail from two stations: Kalka and Chandigarh. The nearest railway station to the park is Kalka, which is about 400 kilometers away. The nearest major railway station to the park is Chandigarh, which is about 500 kilometers away. The railway journey to the park is a pleasant and comfortable experience, as you can enjoy the views and amenities of the trains.

By Air: The park can be reached by air from two airports: Bhuntar and Chandigarh. The nearest airport to the park is Bhuntar, which is about 250 kilometers away. The nearest major airport to the park is Chandigarh, which is about 500 kilometers away. The air journey to the park is a quick and convenient experience, as you can save time and hassle of traveling by road or rail.

Pin Valley National Park is a place that can offer you a lifetime of memories and experiences, with its natural and cultural wonders. The park is a place that can satisfy your curiosity and adventure, with its wildlife and trekking adventures. The park is a place that can enrich your knowledge and spirituality, with its beauty and culture. The park is a place that can make you fall in love with Spiti Valley, and want to explore more of its attractions.

Pin Valley National Park Reviews

Sonali

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All of us have days in our lives that we are grateful for – days that end up having a strong impact on us and in some way change something within us. This was one such day in my life. During my volunteering term with Ecosphere – Spiti Valley, I got a chance to visit the Pin Nunnery. Even though it has been over a year and half since this experience, it still holds a special place in my memories. During my month long stint in Spiti, I visited many villages and monasteries, but this was my first experience in a nunnery. I was more than excited to interact with the nuns and understand their lives. On this particular day we had gone to install solar panels at the nunnery that would in turn generate electricity there for the very first time! Also read: pin valley national park The roads to Pin Valley had opened only a day prior and I was so grateful that on my last day of the trip I was finally making it to Pin. Having seen a large part of Spiti, Pin still left me awestruck – the landscape and the view were beyond magnificent. There is a traditional family rule in Spiti, where the third child of each family is sent to either a nunnery or monastery depending on the gender of the child. I would be lying if I said I had not made prior assumptions or judged the lives of these children. I thought to myself- What if they wanted to do something else with their lives? What if they did not believe in this institution or way of living? Why didn’t these children get the right to choose? I had so many unanswered questions in my mind. On our arrival, the team started with a recce to understand the best place to install the panels so as to ensure full coverage. The new building was still coming up and sadly, a storm earlier that year had destroyed a large part of where they were currently taking shelter. Despite these circumstances, there was not a sign of remorse or complaint in any of their faces – they greeted us with genuine warmth and smiles. As the day progressed, my impressions and understanding about them kept evolving. The group of youngest nuns aged 9yrs onwards smiled and giggled as they saw us working. They ran around, spoke to each other, and made their set of impressions about us. Slowly, they opened up to us. They asked our names and discussed their lives and schedule at the nunnery. Two young ones came and chatted with me about my whereabouts, my camera, why I was there and where I “belonged”. We spoke about their homes, since when had they been here and if they were happy or missed their families back home? I was pleasantly surprised to hear about how happy they were here and how this was their ideal life. It seemed that nothing but gratitude, prayers and smiles were present in their daily lives. Even though they had no electricity, just a couple of rooms to sleep, study and eat in, no real protection from the chilly cold and regular supply of water or food! They were strangely satisfied- happy and infused with passion and an inexplicable zeal for life. Studies, daily chores and prayers formed a large part of their day – but they were aware, smart and had a dream that they believed in. Later, the elder nuns helped us with all the raw materials and the set up required for the installation. They served us a delicious meal and we all got back to work. This day broke down a lot of my concepts – of how I perceived life to be for myself and others. It truly showed me simplicity and faith could be all that is needed to be happy. The choice of how to lead our lives is purely ours and how we deal with the consequences is also our decision. Along with the installation of the solar panels, I was also documenting the work and making videos of this process for Ecosphere. This gave me a chance to interact with the nun in charge of the place. The love and appreciation she had for Ecosphere and for us working on the installation is not something I can describe in words. I was touched by her gratitude and the regard she had for each one of us with this initiative. As the day came to an end, we were almost done with the cabling and connections, I then had my “Swades” moment- seeing the switch being turned on and the bulb flickering to life. The build-up to the moment was deeply moving. The older nuns sat together in the rooms and conducted prayers. They chanted and finally, the moment we were waiting for, THE LIGHT. Along with it, happiness and joy flooded the place. The smiles on each of their faces were priceless. That moment is etched in my heart forever. Following that, I ended my last day in Spiti Valley with a lovely dinner and some more time with the nuns. I am forever thankful to the team at Ecosphere and all the others involved, for giving me a chance to be a part of this experience. I also feel an immense sense of gratitude for their efforts at providing solar power to so many parts of this region and adding a little light to all the lives around. This trip was first published on https://freespiritedwanderer.wordpress.com/.

Neeraj Dhiman

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Pin Parvati trek is one of the most beautiful treks in Himachal Pradesh. This pass links Parvati Valley in Kulluwith Pin Valley of Spiti. Hence it derives the name Pin Parvati Pass. There is no other trek in all over the Western Himalayan region, which can match the grandeur of Pin Parvati Trek. Sir Louis Dane, an Englishman first discovered this high pass trek in 1884 as entry point to Spiti from Kullu valley. This is a very difficult trek owing to its high in altitude and remains under snowfall for most of the year, but also because it involves very long journey beyond habitation. An experienced guide is a must on this trek as this place is difficult to locate. Taking the trekkers to a maximum altitude of 5,319m above the sea level, the Pin Parvati trek is usually undertaken during the months of July to September and requires excellent trekking skills and techniques. This trek offers a linkage between Parvati Valley in Kulu to the Pin valley in Spiti and hence the name goes Pin Parvati Pass. Manikarandwelling between the splendid rivers namely Beas and Parvati, northeast of Bhuntarin the Kullu District is a must watch on this trial. Pine trees stands along throughout the trek. This trek being on a Buddhist region, all those traveling can make a visit to the Ki Gompo and Tabomonastery. A mixture of steep slopes, gradual climbs, barren mountains, snow-clad peaks and rugged passes, this 100km trek needs high trekking skills and can be completed in a course of 11 days. Also, as the Pin Parvati Pass trek takes you through some of the highest peaks, getting acclimatised to the environs also become a major requirement for successful completion of the trek. Pin Parvati Pass Day wise Plan Day 01:Arrive in Bhuntar from where a vehicle will pick you up and drop you to Manikaran. Day 02: Manikaran – Barsheni – Khirganga (3020m) Duration:5 hours Khirganga is a hot spring where Lord Shiva is said to have meditated. The difference between the spring here and in Manikaran is that after a bath in Khirganga, your skin will feel clammy and greasy whereas after a bath in the spring at Manikaran, your skin will feel dry. Day 03: Khirganga – Tunda Bhuj(3285m) Duration:5 hours The trek commences through dense forests and flower-strewn meadows. The progress is gradual and slow as it’s a steep climb to Tunda Bhuj. Day 04: Tunda Bhuj – Thakur Kuan (3620m) Duration:6 hours The trail continues through a landscape strewn with waterfalls, lakes and meadows till Thakur Kuan. Day 05: Thakur Kuan – Odi Thach (3800m) Duration:5 hours It’s another day of steep climb to reach the high altitude meadow of Odi Thach. On the path, you will cross the Pandu Bridge, which is made of a single rock on the river Parvati. It is said to made by the Pandavas during their exile in the Himalayas. Day 06: Odi Thach – Mantalai Lake (4115m) Duration:9 hours The trek up to Mantalai lake is a gradual climb. Once at the lake, you can see the Mantalai Glacier, which is the source of the river Parvati. Day 07: Mantalai – Base of Pin Parvati Pass (4300m) Duration:7 hours Ascend to the base camp of Mount Parvati which also serves as the base of the pass. Day 08: Base of Pin Pass – Campsite over Pin Pass (4110m) Duration:8 hours A steep climb takes you to Pin Pass (5300m). At the top of a large snow filled, crevassed hollow leads to the broad rocky saddle of the pass. At the top, one can see a splendid view of the snowy mountains of Hampta region on one side and the Pin valley of Spiti on the other. Day 09: Campsite over Pin Pass – Tiai (3700m) Duration:5 hours Trek along the Pin river in to the Pin Valley National park. Look out for the elusive snow leopards, musk deer and ibex. Day 10: Tiai – Mud (3650m) Duration:5 hours Trek through the barren, stark landscape of Spiti to Mud, a pretty village perched on a hillside. We will camp here for the night and in the morning government bus service to Kaza. Day 11:Drive from Mud to Kaza. Our trip ends once we reach Kaza. Pin Parvati Pass Cost Includes: – Camping Tents, Kitchen tents, Dining Tent and Sleeping bags (Holofill) and Carry mats. – Nutritious, high calorie vegetarian food. (Food Cycle starts with Lunch on Day 2 and ends with breakfast on Day 11) – Guide, cook and camp helpers. – Porters to carry loads on the route. – Tents on triple sharing basis (3 people in each tent)

Suraj Bajaj

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So as they say, every morning is new and a better one too, so was this one. A visit to the adjacent Tabo monastery was peaceful and informative. The monastery is noted for being the oldest continuously operating Buddhist enclave in both India and the Himalayas. There are several priceless ancient murals and artifact displayed on almost every of it's walls. The monastery is protected by the ASI as a national historic treasure of India. The roads from Tabo to Pin valley were something out of this world. We were finally witnessing the so called world within a world terrain while moving along the Spiti river. The sun was showering fire from above yet we were shivering to our bones. Such dichotomy in the weather conditions makes this region harsh and difficult for survival. The roads again were bumpy and narrow which required sharp driving skills to avoid any mishaps that may be life threatening. Dhankar Gompa was our first stop, well visible from a distance before we even started making the climb. The Gompa overlooks the confluence for Spiti and Pin rivers and is one of the most spectacularly located Monastery in the world built on a 1000 foot high spur. The Monastery hosts several artifacts and valuables just like any other monestary in the region. The Gompa also paves the way for the Dhankar lakes which was next on our list. It's an 60 mins steep trek under harsh weather conditions that provides no shade whatsoever till the lake. Even though the trek is not much challenging but it does drains out every last drop of fluid from your body. It is a rare sight to see a turquoise water lake situated amidst the snow capped hillocks. The surrounding land is morbidly barren as one can encounter large patches of thorny bushes on the way to the water body. One thing that stood out to me was that the water changed color every time i looked at it from a different angle. We circumvented the lake as it kept on changing it's shades. Undoubtedly it seemed more beautiful and pristine with each changing color. The road to Mud village, the base village for several high altitude treks including Pin Bhabha pass was yet another phenomenon. Now even the mountains started changing colors, as we could not help but notice yellow, red and orange tinge in the form of layers along the slopes. You would need to witness it in order to believe it, it's really hard to imagine such phenomenal beauty vicariously. Must Read: kinner kailash There were many small villages located on the slopes with not more than 10 houses, who cultivated their own crop and other necessities. The clouds were playing hide and seek with the mountains casting shadows on the foothills. We crossed numerous little bridges to cross the perennial streams and the biggest one was to cross the Pin river itself at Mikkim. We saw glaciers protruding on the way, frozen waterfalls vanishing under the bridges and smiling kids waving us goodbye. The journey itself was an unexpected treat as for the first time we didn't get enough of our time on the road and wished we didn't had any destination to go. After reaching, we had a evening stroll around the village as it was just about to get dark. It was end of the motor able road and any kind of further exploration of the valley could only be done on foot. We had a simple dinner and went on to the roof to witness a million stars scattered across the sky. The sky hadn't been so clear so beautiful ever before in our lives. We even made out certain constellations and lone bright stars out of curiosity. It seemed like god's very own planetarium and we were surely in for a treat in that moment.

Praveen

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2. Hiking in Pin Valley A. and I decided to travel together from Nako, and our next stop was Tabo. We took the Peo to Kaza bus, which arrives in Nako between 11am-12pm, and got down at Tabo (this was a gruesome ride as we didn't find seats and had to stand all the way). We stayed in Tabo Monastery guest house, and met a group of four geology students heading next to Pin valley to study fossils. We joined them next day, and took a taxi from Tabo to Pin valley, with a brief halt in Dhankar monastery. The drive to Pin valley is beautiful. One can also take a bus from Kaza to get there. Mudh is the last village in valley and has few home-stays. We found rooms at Tara home-stay, a seemingly popular place according to internet. Again, in peak season it is advisable to prebook, as rooms are mostly taken up for long-term stay by Israelis, who are very fond of the high (heh heh) places in Himalayas. Also read: pin valley national park Another thing to note is complete lack of network connectivity throughout Spiti and Pin valleys. Sometimes BSNL is rumored to work, but don't bet your life on it.Only in Kaza, there is a decent chance of getting phone and wifi connectivity. The owner of home-stay told us that we could go on a day-hike from village in the Pin valley national forest. One can walk as long as one wants, and then turn back. Eventually, if one keeps walking the trail leads one to Bhaba base camp, and Pin-Bhaba pass. Mudh is at an altitude of ~4000 m. and my estimate is that we didn't go beyond 4200/4300 m. during hike. So next morning, we got someAloo paranthaspacked for lunch, and headed out. We'd to cross a raging mountain stream over a foot bridge to get to the trail. The hike was more like a nice stroll, on a well worn trail. Though after 30-40 minutes of walking, we started running into ice-patches/mini-glaciers covering the trail, and for a while it was fun to walk over snow, which was a little slushy, allowing us some foothold. Though there were few rough patches, 20-30 ft long, with a sharp incline and once I just sat down and decided to slide instead of taking chance walking on an extremely slippery slope. In July-September timeframe, trail should be without any snow. We occasionally saw villagers herding sheep, otherwise we'd the whole trail to ourselves. We walked for around 4 hours, had lunch near a stream, and then turned back. As we got close to Mudh, we met two ladies from the village who were herding sheep and they offered us tea. They told that sheep are owned by whole village and people take turns throughout the year herding them. The views throughout the hike were spectacular, I'll let the pictures speak.

Priya Soni

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Day 6: we again visited the old and new tabo monastery and then we left from Tabo at around 10. On the way to pin valley national park and mudd valley. On the way we stopped by a monastery called dhankar monastery. Had lunch near shankar and reached a place where spiti river ran parallel to the road. We visited the banks of the river .once this river had huge water flow which reached up till the road but now it got narrowed due to some floods few years back. The river bank is full of amazing shaped stones and fine sands. We clicked lots of pictures at the river bank and and moved on to reach pin valley national park. Though a national park, we could hardly spot any Himalayan animals. This pin valley has a river flowing around the valley was as pin river. This river then merges with spiti river. This valley is one of the most quaint and secluded valleys. Part of this valley is a small village called as mudd village. This is a very small village but the kind of calmness this place exudes is amazing. You can see green peas farms all over the valley. Peas is the only vegetable that grows in this region. We reached mudd village around 3_4 pm. After having some rest we went for a walk and talk with the locals. This village is a host to lots of tourists indian as well as internationals who start treks for pin_Parvati and bhawa top treks. We met locals who narrated their stories about marriage culture tradition and their winter life in general...what they do in 8 months where the snow falls and mercury drops to minus 30 /35. Evening was a gala time which we spent in the company of local guys. These guys were to do a group dance performance in a neighbouring village school where sports tournament was being organised for children of nearby villages and followed by cultural dance performances. So this gang of guys showed us some of the dance moves. . Sang songs...local n Bollywood.. however we met a fascinating talkative local named navche, who was also a homestay owner and our conversations with him ranged from local food habits to lifestyle to their customs and their faith in Buddhism. Interesting to learn that in winters the elders of the family, aged folks of the entire village go down in lesser cold regions to do parikrama which is a sort of pilgrimage. Taking memories of this kool village we left for kaza the next day.