Some vital statistics!

For the benefit of those who do not know Hindi:
Distance of various places from Kaza (in kilometres):
Poh: 37
Tabo: 47
Sumdo: 74
Pooh (Kinnaur): 130.
Rampur: 285
Shimla (via Rampur): 412
Jogindernagar (via Shimla): 618
Kibber: 20
Lossar: 50
Kunzum La: 76
Rohtang La: 150
Manali: 201
Kullu: 242
Keylong (via (Koksar): 187

Kibber

Lcated at a height of 14,200 feet from sea level, Kibber is alternately touted as the highest village in the world & in Asia. Whatever may be the truth, this little place was interesting. For one thing, there must be less than 100 households here (a rarity in India, surely?). For another, there were fields upon lush green, marking a strange contrast to the aridity of the mountains in the background.

Here is an interesting group of objects seen outside the otherwise unremarkable gompa at Kibber:

On the trail of the Buddha

Spiti has much to offer to travellers in search of enlightenment. And even if you aren't searching for enlightenment, but only interested in the art & architecture of this wonderful faith, there is much to satisfy you here.

Om Mane Padme Hum - the sacred mantra can be seen everywhere. Carved on rocks piled on the roadside. Painted in lime on the slopes of the mountains. Pasted in little slips of paper on doorways. This faith is alive and benevolent.

Chortens or Stupas:

The chorten is one of the earliest forms of Buddhist architecture. In Buddhism, the body, speech and mind are considered the primary components of a person. Where the Buddha is concerned, paintings or statues represent the body. The sacred texts of the Buddhist cannon and tantras represent enlightened speech, and finally, the stupa or chorten represents the enlightened mind of the Buddha.

The mud chorten shown in the picture above islocated in Tabo & the concrete one is in Kibber.

These lovely copper chakras are located outside every monastery. These are rotated clockwise s an act of devotion.





Tenzin, the friendliest lama on Buddha's earth, informed me that the Zimshung is the room where His Holiness the Dalai Lama conducts prayers when he visits the Kyi monastery. The little yellow band all around the window (it's only partially visible in this picture) indicates that this is the room in which he usually stays at Kyi.

There was also a room called the Kuntung. It contained a marvellous large silver chorten inlaid with coloured precious stones. However, since the lamas were at prayers, it did not feel right to photograph the room.

Scriptures I saw in the Zimshung at Kyi monastery.

I noticed this wonderful ornamental structure atop the roof of Kyi monastery. Since the lamas were all at prayer, there was no opportunity to ask them what it symbolises. (There were six other such ornaments).

More about Kyi tomorrow.

Strange encounters.... Let the pictures speak for themselves!

I told someone I wanted to see the wildlife in Spiti. Here's what I found...

10 Reasons To Love Spiti

1. Bleak mountains
2. Walkers’ paradise
3. Chandrataal
4. Gompas, gompas, gompas and a chorten or three to fulfil you for a lifetime
5. Friendly lamas & zomos everywhere
6. One lonely mummy at Geo
7. Cold air that slices through you
8. Wild flowers which don't care where they grow
9. Chocolate croissants at places you least expect
10. Did I mention Chandrataal?