Natural Wonders in Lahaul-Spiti's Miyar Valley Travellers Can’t Miss!

What the Lahaul-Spiti connect and Spiti valley itself present to nature lovers and travel-hungry people looking to explore India’s hidden gems is way beyond imagination.

It’s equivalent to a bouquet of mesmerising cultures and villages, high passes and glaciers, snow-capped and sandy terrains, and all that the beauty of nature’s rawness on earth showcases.

Let your city lifestyle take the backseat for a moment.

Think of landscapes brimming with tongue-tying peeks of mountain rivers and their tributaries flowing through quaint settlements.

Forested cliffsides, Himalayan communities, and regions buzzing with immersive sounds, scents, and sceneries – there’s plenty of opportunities to immortalise your travel memories in Lahaul-Spiti’s Miyar valley.

S-shaped Valley

Considering its sublime location nestled between Zanskar and Chamba, Miyar valley takes the shape of the letter S, being almost 85 km long.

A few mere strolls in the region will reveal hanging flowers silently swaying amidst chilly winds and your presence being dominated by the orchids naturally positioned along the length of every alternate trail.

The Buddhist culture and thriving flora and fauna will leave a mark on your dictionary of travel experiences. Even better, the surrounding areas of Tharang and limitless meadows will ring bells of appreciation in your head.

Miyar to Zanskar Trek

Acknowledging its remoteness, the valley continues to unfold into cascading backgrounds, several of which prove the beauty of grasslands extending beyond your vision.

Look for the dozen farming villages that lie through a narrow area at the valley’s lowermost ends. The natural aesthetics and rural atmosphere between the height of 9300 and 11500 feet are blessed by the caretaking of 3000 inhabitants.

Since most of these locals are followers of Buddhism, you can find pitstop options at tiny Gompas sprinkled all over.

Keep in mind, stepping into the actual wilderness of the Miyar to Zanskar trek guarantees you won’t be crossing any homestays equipped with amenities. As you progress, there are high chances you’ll enter the Himalayan tiger’s core settlement. If lucky, you may even see herds of blue sheep.

Fact: Blue sheeps take refuge within 200 meters of clifftops to avoid being attacked by predators.

Glaciers

Amongst Lahaul’s most acclaimed glaciers stands the Miyar Glacier. Tiny indigenous communities peppered across this freezing cold area stock up for winters for as long as eight months.

This glacial valley originates at Kang La Pass and discards its collection of ice blocks and enormous water quantities into Miyar Nala, giving it the consistently torrential flow it maintains.

The waters released merge into Chandrabhaga River near Himachal’s Udaipur, making it a must-try pilgrimage starting from Lahaul.

Even better, the Miyar glacier opens the doors to a trekking route famous amongst hardcore trekkers. This route exposes hikers to seven sacred water bodies, all of which strongly connect to mythology swimming in Buddhist culture.

Verdict

Apart from nature’s masterpieces, experiential travellers are treated to a list of culinary delights ranging from dried mutton to saag pulav.

Knowing that each ingredient is farm fresh and grown using the purest farming etiquettes, travellers hunting to taste the handmade dishes of mountain cooks will have their jaw drop.

Avid road-trippers seeking to partake in the day-to-day happenings of Spiti valley can stay at Sonam Homestay, placed at an altitude of 12500 feet in Kaza.

NotOnMap conducts frequent travel expeditions to such lesser-known hamlets in Spiti Valley.