Lhalung Monastery

One of Spiti’s oldest monasteries is in Lha-lun, a two-hour drive from Dhankar. It is believed to have been constructed overnight by the Gods after Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo planted a willow tree here, stating that if it lived through the year, a temple be build next to it. The tree stands outside thegompa to this day.

There is a dark passage around the temple meant for circumambulation of the inner sanctum. Once, the passage walls were decorated with beautiful paintings, though these have now faded. Outside this temple is the lang-carpo (White temple), with four stucco images of Buddha facting the four cardinal directions. These statues are as old as the monastery.

The name Lha-lun god is the ‘Land of God’, from lha, god and lun, area. Local claim that the Lha-lun god is the head of all deities in the Tangmar Mountain located beyond the village in the valley. There is a strong belief among the local people that this mountain changes color from time to time, in conformity with the gods’ moods; for example, red in anger or yellow in joy.

Adventures in Spiti: Sky is the Limit

Spiti is a paradise for adventure sport lovers and offers a range of options from mountain biking, safaris (yak-a native species, horse and jeep), hiking and treating, river rafting down the Spiti & Pin River, skiing & boarding.

Some of our custom-made tours that will give you a feel of real adventure are:

1. The Spiti Safari:

Discover Spiti using a mix of traditional & modern conveyance. Drive in to Spiti & than traverse the region astride the sure footed Chumurti horses or on the yaks, an integral part of Spitian life.

2. Mountain Biking Trails:

Various trails that take you in & out of unknown realms coupled with breathtaking views make biking the ideal way of traversing this mystical land. Despite the ruggedness of the terrain there are umpteen camp sites that will have you spell bound.

3. Trekking:

Spiti is a paradise for trekkers and offers a range of options. Mountain passes provide an easy access to neighboring areas of Ladakh, Kinnaur, and Kullu & Lahaul. Some of the well known treks we offer are the Pin-Parbati, Parang-La & the Pin-Bhaba. We also provide you the opportunity to experience the true essence of trekking by traverse through remote pristine and forgotten trails.

4. White water Rafting:

For a thrilling adrenaline adventure, which will exhilarate your senses and invigorate your spirits, we offer white water rafting down the Spiti and Pin rivers.

5. Skiing & Boarding:

The winters shroud Spiti in white and make the region a delight for skiers. We offer long and short trips in Spiti.

Himalaya in Indian Mythology

Himalaya hold a prominent place in the culture and mythology of Indian people, particularly the Hindus.

Shiva, the most important among Trinity of Gods, resides on Mt Kailash and his consort, Parvati, is the daughter of Himalaya (or Himavan).

In Sanskrit, the word Parvati means ‘of the mountain’. When Ganga descends from the heavens after the long penitence of King Bhagirath, Shiva received her in his locks, and let her descend slowly on the Earth.

The river Yamuna is considered to be the daughter of Sun and sister of ‘Yama- the God of Death’. According to Buddhist mythology, Guru Padmasambhava was born from the lotus in a lake on the west of Mount Kailash.

This legend is similar to that of the birth of Lord Brahma in Hindu mythology.

AYURVEDIC PANCHKARMA – For a better quality of life

The Himalayas have remained an inspiration for spiritual pursuits down the ages and many sages have come seeking refuge in its secluded and serene valleys. This vast mountain chain is also the source of many rare herbs that have medicinal properties and have been used to heal many an ailing soul.

Himachal Pradesh, sheltered in the Himalayas has a rich bio-resource of medicinal plants and a rich stream of Ayurveda, a system of treatment indigenous to the Indian sub-continent, has been developed in the state. Some of the rarest medicinal plants with unique curative and preventive properties only grow in the rarefied altitudes of the Himalayan landscapes and are procured with great difficulty.

Ayurveda takes an holistic approach to life in which the objective is to achieve balance of the mind, body and spirit for internal and external harmony. When translated ‘Ayurveda’ literally means ‘Science of Life’.

Ayurveda as a system of treatment approaches life as a union of body (Sharir), sense organs (Indriya), Psyche (Mana) and Soul (Atma). It holds that disease erupts only when the equilibrium between three biological forces namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha breaks down. The treatment achieves results only when the balance in this ‘tridosha’ is established.

Of the varied ways of Ayurvedic treatment, Panchkarma therapy is unique and has become very popular. Panchkarma consists of five methods of treatment namely, Vamana, Virechana, Anuvasana Vasti, Niruhana Vasti and Nasya Karma. Panchkarma is a type of Shodhan Chikitsa where unlike Shaman Chikitsa, toxins are expelled out of the body and all the microcirculatory channels of the body get purified. This is a therapy based on three channels Purva Karmas, Pradhana Karmas and then Paschaat Karmas. Purva Karmas are the body preparatory procedures done before the actual process.

However, all five procedures are not always utilized. The treatment modality is based on the needs and circumstances of the individual,, so has Panchkarma always been an individual process. Therapies are chosen based on person’s innate constitution, strengths and weakness, imbalances, emotional state and even the season of the year. The digestive capacity of the individual is also considered. The Panchkarmas are intense treatments, done under the supervision of a qualified practitioner and require proper preparation.

TIBETAN CULTURE

The State of Himachal Pradesh is not new to Buddhism. Its two border districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti have been under the influence of Buddhism since 618-649 AD. It was, therefore, no surprise when Dalai Lama, In April 1960, chose Dharamshala, a hill station in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, to be the place where he would reside and later made it the Headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile. Immediately McLeodganj, a small bazaar dotted with bungalows here and there, Dharamshala came to limelight and found place in world map. Today little Lhasa is the sobriquet attributed to McLeodganj because one sees the prayer wheels, Buddhist monks, the ochre red robes, chinky-eyed smart girls, Tibetan Jewellery, ornaments and crafts here. The whole environ is Lhasa like. Daily chant of prayers from Namgyal Monastery has a mesmerizing effect. Names like Yak or Shangri-La restaurant immediately takes one’s imagination to the spicy and hot Tibetan cuisine, which is delicacy for tourist and attraction for natives. Yes, the natives have also accepted the culinary intrusion of the foreigners gladly and without resistance. The cuisine is so palatable and in demand that many an Indian restaurant all over the State has accommodated Momo (meat dumplings) and Thupka (noodles in broth) in it’s a la carte.

Eco-Tourism in Himachal Pradesh

The Indian State of Himachal Pradesh is a mostly mountainous area, neighboring Tibet and China in the East, the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir in the north and northwest, Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh to the south. It has a geographical area of 55,673 sq. Kms. and a population of 6.1 million people and is located at altitudes ranging from 350 to 7000 meters (1050 ft. to 21000 ft.). Nestled in the Western Himalayas, it has provided refuge and abode to the Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama and his Tibetan followers. This majestic, almost mythic terrain is famous for its beauty and serenity.

 

The forests of Himachal Pradesh (H.P) constitute two-thirds of the state’s geographic area and are crucial to the region’s environmental and economic well-being---a storehouse of rich bio-diversity, vital in preserving the fragile Himalayan eco-system, and a primary livelihood source for its rural population. The ‘forest sector’ encompassing the entire biophysical and environmental components, highly sensitive to the uniqueness of the mountain environment, must place its people at the centre.

 

Accordingly a new course has been charted to shift forest policy in a way that recognizes the ecological and social value of environmental services as well as its economic values. Tapping environmental services through eco-tourism offers a way to lighten poverty and enhance livelihood options.