36-506: Hikkim is a village in Lahaul and Spiti district in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh at an elevation of 4,400 m (14,400 ft). It is 46 km (29 mi) from Kaza , the nearest town connected by road. It is one of the highest year-round inhabited locations in India, with residences from 4330 to 4400 m. Tangyud Monastery in adjacent Komic village 2 km to
72-490: A collection of rare scriptures, pieces of art, and wall paintings - Thankas, and Stucco. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and amenities. Kardang Monastery: Kardang Monastery , is located at an elevation of 3,500 meters across the river, about 8 km from Keylong . Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built-in the 12th century, this monastery houses
108-562: A decrease in food supplies have led to a large reduction in the population of the Tibetan antelope , argali , kiangs , musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. The locals of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals due to their religious beliefs. Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh. It is situated at an altitude of 3600m to 6700m, on
144-587: A large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures. Tnagyud Gompa : Built during the early decade of 14th century, Tnagyud Gompa is of historical importance and belongs to the Sa-kya-pa sect. Kungri Gompa : This is the second oldest monastery of Spiti, and is located in Pin valley. The natural scenery and numerous Buddhist monasteries are the main tourist attractions of
180-496: A parking lot 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the lake. One has to travel on foot for the final 1 kilometre1 km (0.62 mi). It takes approximately two hours from Kunzum Pass to Chandra Taal. Chandra Taal is also accessible from Suraj Tal , 30 km (19 mi) away. There are vast meadows on the banks of the lake. During springtime, these meadows are carpeted with hundreds of varieties of wild flowers. In 1871, Harcourt, Assistant Commissioner of Kullu, reported that there
216-647: Is Kyelang in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti. The district was formed in 1960 and is the fourth least populous district in India (out of 640 ). It is the least densely populated district of India, according to the Census of India 2011. Geologically located in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau , Lahaul and Spiti district
252-587: Is a favourite spot for tourists and high-altitude trekkers. It is usually associated with Spiti , although geographically it lies in the watershed of the Chandra River of Lahaul. Kunzum La separates Lahaul and Spiti valleys. Chandra Taal Lake is on the Samudra Tapu plateau, which overlooks the Chandra River (a source river of the Chenab ). The name of the lake originates from its crescent shape. It
288-521: Is a popular activity with tourists in Spiti. Yak Safari: Yak rides are used to see the flora and fauna of the trans-Himalayan desert. From Baralacha La to the confluence at Tandi, Lahaul. From the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi to Chamba district border downstream of Udaipur, Lahaul From the confluence at Tandi to Kunzum La separating Lahaul and Spiti From Kunzum La to
324-588: Is accepted in a few isolated regions. Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs and services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in
360-563: Is at an altitude of about 4,300 metres (14,100 ft) in the Himalayas . Mountains of scree overlook the lake on one side, and a cirque encloses it on the other. Chandra Taal is a tourist destination for trekkers and campers. The lake is accessible by road from Batal and by road as well as on foot from Kunzum Pass from late May to early October. The road to Chandra Taal branches off from NH-505 about 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi) from Batal and 8 km (5.0 mi) from Kunzum Pass. This 12 km (7.5 mi) motor road runs as far as
396-671: Is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass . Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m (14,931 ft)) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km (13 miles) from Chandra Tal . To the south, Spiti ends 24 km (15 miles) from Tabo , at the Sumdo where the road enters Kinnaur and joins National Highway 5 . Spiti is barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of
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#1732773287299432-599: Is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas. These are some of the important monasteries in the Lahul and Spiti valleys. Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery is one of the main learning centers of Buddhist studies in Spiti. The monastery is home to some 100-odd monks who receive their education here. It is the oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses rare paintings and scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddesses. There are also rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'like trumpets, cymbals, and drums in
468-590: Is popular with trekkers due to the challenging nature of its treks. These treks take people to remote areas including rural villages and old Gompas, as well as wildlife trails. High-altitude treks allow travelers to cross passes such as Parangla Pass (connecting Ladakh with Spiti Valley), Pin Parvati Pass, Baba Pass, Hamta Pass trek, and Spiti Left Bank Trek. Popular trekking routes in the area include Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Komic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La, and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Skiing: Skiing
504-455: Is rural. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 7.08% and 81.44% of the population respectively. Languages of Lahaul and Spiti district (2011) 41% of the population speaks Kinnauri , 27% Pattani , 3.0% Bhotia , 2.9% Hindi , 2.8% Nepali and 2.6% Tibetan as their first language. The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally, the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while
540-434: The 2011 census , the Lahaul and Spiti district has a population of 31,564. This gives it a ranking of 638th in India (out of a total of 640 ). The district has a population density of 2 inhabitants per square kilometre (5.2/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was -5%. Lahul and Spiti has a sex ratio of 903 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 76.81%. The entire population
576-485: The Himachal Pradesh state for half the year due to heavy snowfall over the mountain passes. An arduous track connects the village to Spiti Valley 's Kaza town, 46 km (29 mi) away, the nearest town with access to asphalted road. Hikkim village has a post office situated at an elevation of 4,400 m (14,400 ft) and this post office is one of the highest post offices in the world. Inarguably,
612-652: The Köppen-Geiger system , Hikkim's climate is a subarctic climate (Dfc). This Himachal Pradesh location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Lahaul and Spiti district The Lahaul and Spiti district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul ( Tibetan : གར་ཞ་ , Wylie : gar zha ) and Spiti ( Tibetan : སྤི་ཏི་ , Wylie : spi ti ; or Tibetan : སྤྱི་ཏི , Wylie : spyi ti ). The present administrative center
648-560: The Lahaul valley are able to grow some vegetables like cabbages, potatoes, green peas, radishes, tomatoes, carrots and leafy vegetables. The main cash crops are potatoes, cabbages, and green peas. Some of the most common species of flora found in the Valley of Spiti include Cousinia thomsonii , Seseli trilobum , Crepis flexuosa , Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninnikovia ceratoides . There are over 62 species of medicinal plants found there as well. Several species of juniper grow in
684-637: The Lahauli and Spiti Bhots is Bhoti , a Tibetic language of the Western Innovative subgroup . They are very similar to the Ladakh and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals. Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common and evolved from the polyandric system of
720-631: The Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behavior of the Lamas , who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers. The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of the celebration is decided by the Lamas . It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism , but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion. At
756-738: The Spiti Bhot is closer to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. The district has a Himachal Pradesh state legislative law in place to curb antique looting by travelers, given past incidents. In the pre-independence era, the ethnic tribal belt was divided into the British Lahaul and the Chamba Lahaul, which was merged with Punjab post-1947. This is the second-largest district in the Indian union. The language spoken by both
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#1732773287299792-743: The Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes. Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahaul, the Todh-Gahr (upper region of Lahaul towards Ladakh) region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Before
828-528: The border with Kinnaur district at Sumdo, Spiti. Chandra Tal Chandra Taal ( lit. ' moon lake ' ) is a lake in the upper Chandra valley of the Lahul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh , India . Chandra Taal is near the source of the Chandra River . Despite the rugged and inhospitable surroundings, it is in a protected niche with some flowers and wildlife in summer. It
864-571: The eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewelry, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas. The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhot are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practised by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhot does not generally practice polyandry anymore, although it
900-483: The left bank of the Spiti River in the district of Lahaul and Spiti. It is sprawled over an area of 2220.12sq km. This cold desert area sanctuary was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1992. The fauna of Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary includes ibex , snow leopard, blue sheep , and birds such as snow cock, griffons, and bearded eagle. The flora consists of Monkshood, Somlata, Pink Arnebia, Orchid, and Gentian. According to
936-497: The monastery. Tabo Monastery : Perched at an altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. It is located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh , the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery garnered interest when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. The Tabo Monastery was founded by scholar Richen Zangpo. The monastery houses more than 60 lamas and contains
972-506: The past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member of the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society. The Spiti Bhot community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only
1008-461: The post office located in India's highest altitude . The post office connects small villages in this isolated region to the rest of the world. It receives and sends postal letters. It also acts as a savings bank where villagers can deposit money in their savings accounts or withdraw money. Intrepid travellers make it this far to Hikkim village to take pride in mailing their letters from the highest post office on Earth. The Postal Index Number or PIN of
1044-471: The region. The dangerous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors only between the months of June to October when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches. To-do-Trails: The Spiti Valley
1080-440: The southeast has residences up to 4520 m, and Korzok Monastery in adjacent Korzok village on Tso Moriri has year-round residences up to 4570 m. Most of the population is Buddhist. People use stones and wood extensively to build houses and structures. Hikkim village is situated at a very high elevation (4,400 m (14,400 ft)) in the Himalayas . The village and the region itself remain cut off from other parts of
1116-476: The spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism , the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön the religion of Tibet . While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks, and caves. Vestiges of
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1152-474: The start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will walk in the procession holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (another name Vasudhara ) in the Buddhist religion. Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley
1188-731: The valley floor of 4,270 m (14,010 ft). It is surrounded by lofty ranges, with the Spiti River rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River . It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 in). The district has close cultural links with Ngari Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region . The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4 km (13,000 ft). Glacier lines are usually found at 5 km (16,000 ft). Due to changes in climate, people in
1224-605: The valley, noted for their adaptation to the cold desert climate conditions. They are used by local people for religious purposes and for subsistence. The juniper forests are threatened by overuse and habitat degradation. The valley is inhabited by snow leopards , foxes , ibex , Himalayan brown bear , musk deer , and Himalayan blue sheep. Snow leopards are protected within the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lingti plains are home to animals such as yaks and dzos . Over-hunting and
1260-485: The village is 172114. Rinchen Chhering has been the postmaster since its inception in 1983. The mail is carried on foot to Kaza. The post office is forced to shut during winter months due to heavy snowfall. Hikkim village was the world's highest polling station. It was recorded in the Limca Book of Records . Later the record was held with Tashigang, a small Himachal Pradesh village in the same district. According to
1296-461: Was a plain of good grass to the north of Chadra Taal, where shepherds brought large herds for grazing from Kullu and Kangra . Due to overgrazing, the grasslands are now degraded. Chandra Taal is home to a few species such as the Snow Leopard, Snow Cock, Chukor, Black Ring Stilt, Kestrel, Golden Eagle, Chough, Red Fox, Himalayan Ibex, and Blue Sheep. Over time, these species have adapted to
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