Kinnaur & Spiti
Cycling the Old Hindustan Tibet Road
The Old Hindustan Tibet road ran through the Indian Himalaya from Shimla NE to the Tibetan border. Since the Chinese annexation of Tibet in the 1950s this ancient trade route has been closed at the border, with access beyond India's "inner line" denied to all but locals and government officials. In recent years, however, restrictions on the Indian side have been relaxed and inner line permits are now obtainable — reputedly (but not officially) even to individuals. I couldn't resist, and in October 2003, set off…
I stayed at Delhi, Shimla (3 nights), Narkanda, Rampur, Sarahan, Kalpa (3 nights), Puh, Nako (3 nights), Tabo, Kaza (3 nights), Losar, Chhatru, Manali (3 nights) and Delhi (3 nights).
Return to home page.

Shimla

Shimla

Shimla

Leaving Shimla

NH22 descent to Sutlej Valley from Narkanda

Sutlej Valley

Rampur, Sutlej Valley

Hanumaan statue, Rampur

NH2, Sutlej Valley heading East

Sutlej Valley, near Sarahan

Sutlej Valley, near Sarahan

Sutlej Valley

NH22, Sutlej Valley

NH22, Sutlej Valley

Kalpa (2870 m), Kinnaur

Kalpa, Kinnaur

Apple pickers near Kalpa

Sutlej Valley

Sutlej Valley

Sutlej Valley

Near the confluence of the Sutlej and Spiti rivers

Nako (3645 m), 11 km from the border - permits required

Nako

Wedding, Nako

Wedding, Nako

Wedding, Nako

Wedding, Nako

Nako

Near Nako

Nako

Nako

Nako

Nako

The Malling slide

Beyond Nako, the road is more difficult…

Close-up

Road to Spiti

Tabo

Tabo Gompa, founded 996

Tabo Gompa

Tabo Gompa

River Spiti

Ki, with Sumling on the far bank

Ki village and gompa

Ki Gompa

Ki Gompa

Ki Gompa

Ki Gompa

Upper Spiti valley

Lossar
Jun 24
Lossar
Lossar

Upper Spiti valley

Near Batal, Chenab valley, Lahaul

Kunzum La (4590 m), between Spiti and Lahaul

Near the Kunzum La

Chenab valley, Lahaul

Chhatru, Chenab valley, Lahaul

Chenab valley, Lahaul

Rohtang Pass (3978 m)

Rohtang Pass

Diwali celebrations, Manali

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi
×
❯
❮