Lahaul, the moonscape of India, is an enchanting place not only for a quick sightseeing trip but also for a long sojourn. Here you’ll find yourself surrounded by the barren beauty of the Himalayas, in direct contrast to their lush green avatar in other parts of Himachal. The valley has long been a favourite with adventure enthusiast, who have a taste for the forbidden and the unknown. You can actually listen to the voice of the wind here and it’s sure to give you goosebumps.
A Home to Bara Shigri Glacier
Lahaul is a part of Lahaul–Spiti, the largest district in Himachal Pradesh. It is bordered by the Zaskar range and Tibet (the plateau of the world) on the east. To its southeast lies Kinnaur and to the south Kullu Valley. The Bara Shigri glacier – 10 km long and a kilometre wide – is one of the longest in the Himalayas and is right next to this valley. Other high–altitude glaciers are also a regular feature here.
There’s a slight confusion about how the name Lahaul came about. It could have been derived from either of the two Tibetan words Lho–yul, ‘southern country’ or Lhahi–yul ‘country of gods’, so take your pick.