Kaza – Chicham – Ki – Lhalung

After two days in Kaza, we said our goodbyes. Our original plan included a trek to Dhankar Lake and a visit to Lhalung today, but the kids were not keen on trekking. This allowed us to visit the remaining places from yesterday. Vikram, our driver, told us to be ready by 10:30 AM.

Chicham Bridge:

At a height of 13,596 ft, this bridge connects Chicham and Kibber villages. Looking down, you gape at a 1000 ft deep gorge known as Samba Lamba Nallah. This bridge shortens the journey from Kibber to Losar by 40 km. The crowd was buzzing with tourists creating vlogs and taking adventurous photos. We walked through the bridge despite the crowd and occasional passing vehicles.

We then headed towards Kibber village, but the road was closed. So, we visited Key Monastery, which was bustling with activities and events due to the auspicious day today.

Key Monastery

Today’s trip to Key was magical, coinciding with Buddha Poornima. Visiting a Buddhist monastery on this auspicious day felt serendipitous, almost as if Buddha himself guided us here today.

Entering the main temple, we saw prayer wheels along the way. Inside, the serenity was really overwhelming. Little N lit a lamp, and the monks offered us butter tea and Panjiri. The divine aroma and the calming experience were unforgettable.

Though photography isn’t allowed inside the temples, the monks allowed us to photograph them upon request. The place looked like the kitchen which was located very next to the main prayer place.

Lhalung: Spiti Home Stay Experience

After lunch in Kaza, we headed to Lhalung, a small village near Dhankar Monastery, for a homestay. The car stopped a few meters away from our home stay, and we walked along raw roads to a small, warm house with basic amenities.

The house was adorned with Spiti culture but the kitchen was the highlight of the house. The entire house was built using mud and wood. Everything was in its own place and very clean.

Our host greeted us with fresh hot tea, much needed after the day’s travel.

Exploring the house, the kids found knitted socks and headgears handmade by the owner’s spouse. She showed us more of her knitted products which were handmade using yak wool.

The owner suggested visiting the local temples nearby today itself as the Poojari might come late the next morning. These temples were simple, calm, and serene, with a main tree associated with them, like in our traditions.

By 7 PM, the hosts started preparing momos. The kids were excited and joined in, noting down the recipe. Dinner was a delightful spread of whole wheat momos, barley soup, and Shunaali—a traditional Spiti sweet made with whole wheat flour, dried yak cheese, sugar, and yak ghee. The lovingly prepared meal reminded me of tales of Sudama-Krishna, Kubera- Ganesha, where love and care make food more fulfilling.

The night grew colder, and my socks weren’t enough, so I bought a pair from our hostess, which kept me warm throughout the night. I also got one for Little N.
We retired for the day with a contented heart and tummy!

A.