The valley of Spiti derives its name from the Spiti River, which rises just
below the 16,000 ft high Kunzum Pass. After flowing for about 60 miles, it
joins the Sutlej River near the village of Namgiya in Kinnaur district. En
route it is fed several streams - Pin Cholmo, Gyundi, Rahtang, Ulah, Lungse,
Mane, Surahi, Hanze, Tagling, Thumpa Lumpa, Kaza, Lingti, Parechu and Tabo.
Valley Of Barren Splendour
Deep inside the inner folds of the
Himalays, behind the greater Himalayan ranges lies the valley of Spiti. The
sheer starkness of its beauty with its dramatic rock shapes and colours and
its distinct cultural identity gives it a unique character that makes it
stand apart from most of the other valleys of the Himalayas.
Huge mountains rise to very high elevations on either side of the Spiti
River and its numerous tributaries. The valley has largely been influenced
by the action of ancient glaciers. The river and its tributaries have
deposited almost barren river terraces. The river attains peak discharge in
late summers when snow on the mountains melts and it occasionally freezes in
winter.
The main settlements that have come up along the Spiti River and its
tributaries are Hansi and Dhankar Gompa.
