Villages Of Spiti Valley – A Bawray Banjaray Guide

Once hailed as the Highest motorable village in world, Kibber, originally known as Kyber, is unarguably not only one of the most beautiful but most famous villages of Spiti Valley. Perched in the narrow valley of Parilungbo Canyon at an altitude of 4270 meter above mean sea level, Kibber is the base for Kibber Wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary covers around 1400 square kms in the cold deserts of Spiti valley and in it reside the Ibex, Blue Sheep, Red Fox, Tibetan Woolly Hare, Himalayan wolf, Lynx, Pika, Tibetan Wild Ass and the most famous of all – the Snow Leopard. Kibber is located on the outer limits of the sanctuary and becomes a base in winters for people interested in spotting this rare, shy and beautiful large cat. Kibber is also the starting point for Parang La and Kanamo Peak trek.

To understand the significance of Kibber as a village or of Kibber monastery, we must take into account that HH Dalai Lama wishes to retire in Kibber someday. The Kibber Monastery was established by Serkong Rinpoche, the teacher of the current Dalai Lama who died in Kibber in late 80s.