Spiti Valley is a Himalayan desert mountain valley known for its spellbound scenery. The valley is in the Spiti and Lahaul districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is located between India and Tibet. Spiti means The Middle Land. Hence it got that name.
Ki Monastery (also spelled as Key Monastery or Kee Monastery or Kye Monastery) in Spiti Valley
About Spiti Valley
Spiti Valley and nearby areas are the gateways to the northern reaches of India. The district headquarters of Spiti and Lahul are separated from the Kullu Valley by The Rohtang Pass, situated at 13054 feet.
Locals follow Vajrayana Buddhism which is Buddhism followed by people in Ladakh and Tibet. Kye Gompa alias Key Monastery, and Tabo Monastery are situated in this region. The key monastery is also known by slightly different names like Kee Monastery or Key Gompa, Ki Monastery or Ki Gompa, Kee Monastery, or Kee Gompa. Tabo Monastery or Tabo Gompa is the largest monastery in Spiti. They are among the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the world. Dalai lama his holiness has visited these monasteries many a time. (Gompa means Monastery.)
Welcome to the Spiti Valley Board
Spiti River originates from this valley. Pin Valley is another famous valley in this area.
Bhrigu Lake
Bhrigu Lake, named after Maharishi Bhrigu (Maharishi means Great Hindu Sage), is at an altitude of around 14,100 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is situated east of Rohtang Pass, at a distance of approximately six kilometers from Gulaba village. Bhrigu Lake is also close to Manali.
Movies shot at Spiti Valley
Hindi movie Paap (Sin in English), Pooja Bhatt’s directorial debut was shot in this valley. This film scored very high for its cinematography. Another film “Milarepa”, about the life of the famous Tibetan Saint and tantric yogi, Melarepa, was also shot in this valley, near the International Border between India and Tibet. Milarepa, a Tibetan language film, was directed by a Lama from Western Bhutan, Neten Chokling. This movie is also known for its cinematography. Milarepa is considered a national hero in Buddhist regions in India, Tibet, China, Pakistan, etc.
How do I go to Spiti Valley?
This valley is at a distance of 412 kilometres from Shimla, via Kinnaur. The Valley is accessible all through the year through this route. In the summer season, you can enter Spiti from Manali via Rohtang Pass & Kunzum Pass and the distance is around half the distance of the other route through Kinnaur.
Inner Line Permits
An inner line permit is required for non-Indian citizens, to enter the valley, via Kinnaur. Indians must carry a valid photo ID card to prove their nationality and do not require any entry permit.