Spiti is a desert mountain valley located high in the Himalayan mountains in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It was not open to Indians until the mid-80s. ‘Spiti’ means ‘Middle Land’, i.e. the land between China, Tibet and India.
The stark contrast of the landscape when I went there shocked me, and showed me how minute we are in front of Nature. This was one place I felt I should be going again and again to be one with Nature. I am inspired by the very thought that places like this exist in this world.
There are some really beautiful Buddhist monasteries there – Key monastery and Dhankar, which is located near the Spiti River. The monastery there was built around one thousand years ago.
The people are very innocent, grounded in Nature, and also fighting with Nature for survival. There is an NGO there called Ecosphere, www.spitiecosphere.com, originally founded by Ishita, to help the locals grow Sea Buckthorn flowers and seeds, produce juices etc. and empower the local women.