Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district has been included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves, becoming India’s first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under the prestigious Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
The clip quickly stirred concern, with many pointing out the lack of safety gear — especially the absence of a helmet — while riding on dangerous mountain terrain.
In a tough operation in the Himalayas, rescuers on Sunday rescued nearly 200 tourists stranded in the vicinity of the glacial-fed Chandertal or moon lake in Himachal Pradesh's Spiti Valley owing to heavy rain that triggered snapping of road links, officials said.
Nevertheless, it is an important achievement as it will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km during a major part of the year and will cut down driving time between Lahaul and Spiti valleys from five or six hours to about 30 minutes.
Kinnaur district till date has reported as many as 138 Covid-19 cases and presently there 38 active cases.
The natives under the banner of Spiti Tourism Society, Kaza has appealed to the both domestic as well as the foreign travellers and tourist, not to visit the area, as the Spiti valley is closed for any kind of tourism activity for this year, specifically till 31 October.
Hundreds of primary school students in these distant tough terrains have been introduced to the new world through picture and story books in Hindi, English and even Tibetan by a Delhi based NGO, Let’s Open a Book, over the last three years in their school libraries. Spiti tribals also include many Buddhists.
The youth, Amar Chand Thakur, 19, belonging to Manali town reportedly drowned in the Chandertal lake on August 22 while holidaying.
The distant land of Spiti valley, the abode of ‘lamas’ (monks) and also an attraction for tourists from around the globe for its age old Buddhists monasteries.
These religious places include all the five famous monasteries Kye, Tabo, Dhankar, Kungri, Tnagud located in the picturesque Spiti Valley.
