Pin Valley Trip in Spiti
¤ The Valley Attractions
Pin Valley, along the Pin River, is aptly called the land of the Ibex
and Snow Leopard. The valley has several gompas each following a
different sect of Buddhism.
Take a trip to the village of Guling and visit Buddhist Gompa,
belonging to the Nyingmapa order, where you stay for a few days.
Nyingmapa, a sect of Tibetan Buddhism, follows the old school of
discipline.
 It
is said to be founded by Padmasambhava because a large number of the
Nyingmapa scriptures are connected with him.
The main doctrines of this sect are sub–divided into nine
vehicles. These nine are further divided into two groups: Casual
Vehicles and Resultant Vehicles. The former is stages of practice for
collecting insight and intelligence. The latter is stages of practice
during which one has the full authority to visualize oneself, as the
enlightened one even before its attainment. This tradition is also
known as the Terma, or ‘Treasure Text Tradition’.
¤ Festivals
Sanchoti or post–death ceremony is a peculiar festival of the
Pin Valley. In this festival, the lamas pray and festivities last for
four or five days. Meat and chhang – an alcoholic drink –
are liberally served to all.
¤ Facilities
Transport
The Pin Valley is a trekking and camping valley, so public transport
is rarely available. Even guesthouses are non–existent though
there is a Government rest house at Sangnam.
¤ Sightseeing
Kungri :Take a trip to Attergu, 10km along the Pin Valley.
Visit
the 600–year–old Kungri Gompa, it is perhaps the oldest
gompa in Spiti. This is another monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa
sect. The gompa is covered with old carved wooden sculptures.
Sangnam : 1 km from Mikkim
It is situated at the confluence of the Pin River and one of its
tributaries. Sangnam can be reached by one of two pulley systems. The
one nearest the bus stop requires your own harness. The other has a
person–sized bucket to take you across. Both require a reasonable
degree of fitness to negotiate especially if crossing alone.
¤ Facilities
¤ Accommodation
 The
Norzang Guest House and the PWD rest house are the only hope for the
travellers.
¤ Pin Valley National Park
The Pin Valley National Park is situated in the high cold desert of
Spiti Valley – a trip to this park is recommended for only those
who are physically a perfect. It is just beside the Great Himalayan
National Park and Rupi Bhaba Sanctuary.
The Bara Shigri Glacier forms its north boundary. The park covers
675sqkm with a buffer zone of 1,150sqkm to its east where there are
villages.
The altitude varies from 3,600m to 6,630m. The scenery is rugged
until the summer brings in some colour. It is the habitat of big herds
of Siberian ibex, bharal, red fox, pika, weasels, lamergeier,
Himalayan griffon, golden eagle, Chakor partridge, Himalayan snow
cock, a variety of rose finches and the ever–elusive snow
leopard.
¤ For further information or
assistance
DFO, Wildlife Division
Sarahan.
ACF, Wildlife
Kaza
R.O., Wildlife
Tabo.
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