Offbeat Lahaul

Get picked up from Chandigarh airport/ railway station this morning and head to Manali. Stop for lunch at Sundernagar or mid-way. Reach Manali and rest from your long day of travel. We start leave for Lahaul tomorrow.

Leave for Jispa early in the morning stopping at Solang Valley and Atal Tunnel along the way. Solang is a favourite as a ski resort in the winter and and adventure sports destination in the the summer like parachuting, paragliding, skating and zorbing. In the winters you can try your hand at Skiing as there are ski instructors to teach you the basics. Stop at Atal Tunnel, the highest single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet (3,048 m) in the world for some pictures. Take a break in Sissu for lunch before heading to Jispa.

An exciting day of offroad driving on the road to Shinkula Pass at 5053 mtrs which is higher than Baralacha La. The pass connects Zanskar Valley in Ladakh to Lahaul valley in Himachal Pradesh. The pass is accessible during the summers and is closed during the winters due to heavy snowfall. To improve the accessibility, the Government has proposed to construct an all weather tunnel at Shinkula Pass, which will be the word's longest and highest tunnel. Your journey to Shinkula top will give you adventure and thrill in the truest sense. Once you reach the top you can admire the road below with all the twists and turns filling you with pride to have taken on this offbeat experience.

Start your journey today with a visit to Deepak Taal just 20 kms ahead of Jispa. At an altitude of 3750 mtrs, this lake is known for its tranquility and is often less crowded than the other high altitude lakes in the region Next, we visit Suraj Taal - named after the sun or ‘Suraj’ this high altitude lake is known for its serene beauty. At an altitude of 4883 mtrs Suraj Taal offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. If accessible, your journey will take you to the iconic Baralacha Pass at an altitude of 4890 mtrs. The pass is known for its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions. If the pass is open you will be treated to some breathtaking views of the Himalayan landscape.

A day of exploring Lahual Valley, the monasteries and temples and what makes this place so special. We start off with a visit to Keylong which is the district headquarters. Keylong is known for its monastery and market and acts as a base to exploring the surrounding valleys. Continue your journey to Trilokinath, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a sacred pilgrimage sight for both hindus and buddhists.
Proceed towards Tandi which is the confluence of the the Chandra and Bhaga rivers merging to form the Chenab. From Tandi we head towards Shashur gompa - belonging to the Drugpa sect of Buddhism, Sha-shur means "blue pines" in the local dialect, as patches of blue pine can be seen around the monastery. Gondla monastery - Also known as Tupchilling monastery. The monastery has rare wooden idols of Guru Padma Sambhava Brijeshwari Devi and other lamas.
The last stop for the day is Sissu village where you can visit the Sissu Lake which is just a few hundred mtrs from the main road. If you wish to visit the Sissu waterfall, you will need to trek. The waterfall can be seen from the highway as well. But the trek to the base of the waterfall is the experience you don’t want to miss. The mesmerizing beauty of this place with dense green vegetation makes it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Himalayan region.

Check into your hotel and rest.

Say your goodbyes to enchanting Lahaul and head back to Chandigarh today.