Lahaul - With its beautiful side valleys, is a massive trough that divides the Great Himalaya and Pir Panjal Ranges. This is a typical Himalayan Alpine area as high summits surrounds the valley and along the track lies massive moraines and glaciers. Its inhabitants, a mixture of Buddhists and Hindus, enjoy one of the highest per capita incomes in the subcontinents. Using glacial water channeled down the mountains through ancient irrigation ducts, Lahauli farmers manage to coax a bumper crop of seed potatoes and peas. The region is also sole supplier of hops to India's breweries. Lahaul generally used as a transit point to Ladakh, is a very interesting destination for tourists. The monasteries of Guru Gantal, Kardang, Shesur in Bhaga Valley and Temple and Monastery of Trilokinath and Udaipur are worth visiting.

Tabo Monastery  - Tabo (3050 Mts) monastery is the seat of Buddhist learning, the Gompa is regarded as next in significance to the Tholing Gompa in Tibet. The Tabo monastery was established about 1000 years ago and was a part of Western Tibet School that originally designed different Mandalas in the form of the statues hanging on the walls of the monasteries. However 800 years ago with the arrival of Guru Padmasambhava in Tibet and with the instructions of his new sect, old philosophy of Western Tibet School was lost and their unique philosophical practices almost died. Now Tabo is only living monastery outside Tibet, depicting similar Mandalas on the walls of the Dukhang.

DHANKAR (3890 mts) – About 30 km from Tabo through steep hillside along a dusty road slowly winds its way up to the village Dhankar, located at a height of 3890 mts. There situated in the middle of Ridge in a striking location, a 6th Century Gompa, though not well preserved still has some magnificent original Thankas tucked away in dark. There are some beautiful murals. Unfortunately a part of monastery was destroyed during severe winter of 1989.

Lahlung -    A small village consisting a cluster of 50 to 60 houses with a population over 300. The Gompa is situated on the top of the village, is invisible from the road. The main temple is decorated with unique Mandalas and statues with main statue of Bodhisattva in the center. A small but very attractive temple depicts. The monastery is over shadowed by a huge Fig tree. There is another small temple to the left of the main building, which houses a four headed clay idol of Buddha (Vairocana) looking in to four different directions.

KI MONASTERY The Monastery consists of large irregular heap of low ceiling rooms and narrow corridors, interconnected by dark passages and tortuous staircases, built on what must have been a crater of an extinct volcano. This is one of the biggest and the oldest monasteries belonging to the Ge- Lug – Pa sect in Spiti. It dates back to around 14th Century and is famous for its murals, valuable books and fabulous collection of Thankas. The instrument here deserves mention. There are two trumpets, two or three small brass instruments, a pair of large cymbals, a big deep voiced drum, and a pair of smaller ones. The drum pet, which is about three meters in length, rests on a triangular block of wood, placed on the ground, and rises in a long sweeping curve to the mouth of the player, who remains standing and blows into it with all his might. The sound produced by this magnificent instrument is surprisingly feeble.

PIN: Cross the Spiti River by a solid concrete bridge and following the Pin River, one of the major tributaries of Spiti River. The Valley is famous for wild life – Ibex, Snow Leopard. There is also a Monastery called Kungri Monastery is believed to be founded by Guru Padmasambhava. Though now renovated into a concrete structure but interiors of the monastery tell that the Monastery must have remained an ancient monastic site of the Padmasambhava days. Generally the Tibetan monasteries are built in a compact layout with all temples and apartments put together. But the Kungri Monastery is formed of three detached rectangular blocks facing due East. The Lhakhang being on the higher terrace on the North followed by Sampup – Chos – Ling in the middle and compact structure Tangyur and Gokhang. This belongs to the Nigma Pa sect. Buddhist Tantra called Bhusang. The villages of Sagnam , Mud Tilling are beautifully set amidst the valley.

These Villages are all situated over the height of 4000 Mts. With striking locations and house some of the most interesting monasteries in the Spiti Valley . The ancient monastery of Hikkim also known as the tangyug Gompa  is of unique importance as this is one of the two Sakya Pa Monasteries In Spiti Valley second being situated at Kaza. This Monastery was responsible for the revision or propagation of Tantra teachings during the 14th Century.

Abundance of fossils, comprising of Shells etc. takes one 50 millions years back when Indian subcontinent drifting northwards across the Ocean of Tethys on its tectonic plate slammed into the stationary mass of Asia and gave birth to the mighty Himalayas.

Keylong (3350 Mts.)  The district head quarter of Lahaul and Spiti. Keylong is quite a busy town as till falls as an important town between Manali and Leh. Usually used as a transit point between Manali and Leh, Keylong has much more to offer in terms of culture and nature.

Trilokinath

Kardang Monastery was founded 900 years ago but it laid in the ruins for long time and recently is renovated but some of the old paintings have been restored as it is. The Monastery is built against a backdrop of bare mountains, nestling in the lap of the Rangcha peaks, which rises above the Valley like a giant Cobra standing on iits tail , ready to strike. The monastery is the biggest in the Bhaga Valley. On the way we also visit the Tupchiling Monastery, though new but houses some of the ancient wooden idols as distinguished from the clay idols, which are commonly found in the monasteries of Lahaul. Sheshur Monastery - Built in the 16th century and dedicated to Lama Go Tsang of Zanskar, this gompa has some exquisite scrolls. This monastery has also spiritual links with Lion cave Temple of Bhutan. During the months of June and July, the festival Chham is held.