Introduction

If one talks about the holy pilgrimage sites to visit in India, Kedarnath will surely make the list!

Spiti Valley in Winters is truly paradise personified. The whole valley is covered in a thick tapestry of snow, seemingly spreading to a vast expanse until one can’t tell where the land ends and the sky full of ivory clouds begin. For snow fanatics and people who’d rather be taking a stroll under the winter sun than being huddled in blankets, Spiti is nothing less than a dream. A dream that feels more than real when the chilly breeze fills your heart with warmth from within.  What makes the Winter Spiti trip perfect is that you get to experience Spiti the way it’s meant to be experienced, with snow under your boot and mountains overlooking you in all their glory.  Although the temperature drops below - 30 degrees and heavy snow makes it almost impossible for people to transport freely, the locals are happy because the more it snows, the higher the chance for them to get more water when the cropping season begins. 

There is a reason why a Spiti trip in winter is on every traveler's bucket list and it’s not just because of its mesmerizing natural beauty but also because of the serenity the valley provides, the monasteries that have been there for thousands of years, and of course the wonderful people who make you feel at home with their amazing hospitality.  It’s no secret that the best route for Spiti Valley in winter is via Shimla because the route stays open throughout the year and only closes if there is heavy snowfall. Apart from that, you get to glimpse the beautiful valleys and meadows en route while driving on the Hindustan-Tibet highway which is an amazing experience on its own. Not to mention that the gradual ascend towards the higher altitude through this road makes your body adapt to the conditions easily and with comfort. This real trip to Spiti Valley starts when we reach Chitkul, the last village in India which is considered to have the cleanest air in the country. It is after spending a night in this village, that will you realize how you’ve left the city life behind and the rest of the days that you spend here will be spent without any unwanted noise reaching your ears. Instead, there will only be the sound of chilly winds blowing and snow crunching underfoot.