Lahul and Spiti
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| Capital | Keylong |
| Area | 12,210 sq km |
| Population | 34,000 (2002) |
| Population Density | 2/km² |
| Literacy | 73.36% |
| Urbanization | 0% |
The district of Lahul and Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahul and Spiti. The present capital is Keylong in Lahul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahul, and Dankar the capital of Spiti.
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[edit] Geography
Lahul and Spiti are cut off from the rest of the world by high mountain ranges. The Rohtang Pass, at 3,978 metres, separates Lahul and Spiti from the Kullu Valley.
The district borders Tibet to the east, the Ladakh region (within the state of Jammu and Kashmir) to the north, and Kinnaur and Kullu to the south.
The Lahul sub-division consists of the Rangoli, Bhaga, Pattan, and Lingti valleys; while the Spiti sub-division consists of the Sham, Pin, Bhar, and Tud valleys.
[edit] Transportation
The Rohtang Pass has a reputation for avalanches and road-slides, and many travellers have been killed while crossing the pass. A newly built metalled road that leads over this pass to Ladakh is kept open for most part of the year because of its strategic importance. The building of a tunnel below the Rohtang Pass is under way, and is expected to be completed by 2012. Large quantities of potatoes, now the major crop of Lahul and Spiti, are transported over the Pass into Manali each year.
There are also passes that lead from Spiti into southwestern Tibet, but these are now shut due to the closed border between India and Tibet. There is another road leading west to Jammu through Kishtwar, the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Lahul and Spiti are cut off from each other by the higher Kunzum Pass, at 4,550 metres. A road connects the two divisions, but is cut off in winter and spring due to heavy snow.
Buses and taxis are available from Manali to Kaza, the headquarters of Spiti, during the summer months. The Kunzom pass remains open for vehicular traffic from around July to October. Road through Kinnaur, connecting Shimla with Spiti for vehicular traffic, is closed presently due heavy damage to the road, but the road remains open through the year , but people have to cover some parts on foot.
[edit] Climate
Because of their height, Lahul and Spiti have a very cold climate. This often results in disruptions to electricity and transport, and there is little tourism during the cold winter months. However, the Spiti valley is accessible all year along the Old Hindustan Tibet road from Shimla to Kaza. The Lahul valley is not accessible until June though.
The climate of Spiti is too cold to support even tundra vegetation, and much of the land is barren and wild. It is a rare phenomenon to see temperatures rising above 20°C during the summer months, even at the lower elevations.
[edit] Flora and fauna
The harsh conditions of Lahul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains under the guidance of their masters. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies have led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, Tibetan argali, Kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, making them endangered species.
[edit] People
The language, culture, and populations of Lahul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their close proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahulis.
The languages of both the Lahuli and Spiti Bhotia belong to the Tibeto-Burman family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahula society.
The Spiti Bhotia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit] Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahuli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their close proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhotia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit] Religion
Most of the Lahulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahul, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahul has temples such as Triloknath, where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestions, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahuli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth in the Buddhist religion.
[edit] History
The first inhabitants of Lahul and Spiti were a mixture of the proto-Tibetan Khampa and Aryan people, who eventually intermarried and settled down. At that time, the region and people were still very wild and barbaric, and human sacrifice was not uncommon.
It was not until when Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism arrived that the local people became civilised. Local rulers, known as "Nono", served as the main political administrators for certain regions. It was speculated that, in the 10th century, the local people killed the Tibetan king Lang-darma, who had severely suppressed Buddhism.
Lahul and Spiti came under the influence of Tibet sometime during the 9th and 10th century. With the downfall of the Tibetan administration in Lhasa, Ladakh eventually took political control of Lahul and Spiti until the early 17th century, when they took control of Kullu and Chamba.
Pattan Valley, Chamba and Upper Lahul came under the control of Raja Biddhi Singh from Kullu in the years of 1672 to 1688. Other Rajas conquered Lahul and Spiti in subsequent invasions. Although Spiti came under the control of Ladakh from the 18th century until 1846, the governor only held loose control over Spiti. It was therefore, in practice, controlled by the Wazir and Nono.
Spiti came under the rule of the Dorga in 1846, while Lahul came under the control of the British East India Company. This was done with the help of an appointed Wazir, led by the Kolong family. This pattern continued until World War I, when it was subsequently abolished.
Owing to their cultural and ethnic similarities and close proximity to each other, Lahul and Spiti were merged to form a single district in 1960, with headquarters re-established at Keylong.
[edit] Tourism
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo monastery, located 45km from Kaza, the capital of the Spiti region. Tibet. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. the ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. lama dzangpo heads the gompa here. there is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous monastery, Kardang Gompa, is located at an elevation of 3,500m. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist, Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are largely free of snow. though it is possible to access the region from kinnaur (along the satluj) all through the year, the road is permanently closed at mulling. this can be crossed by wire span or on foot.
Avalanches and poorly tarred roads are other problems, and cases of tourists getting killed or injured while making their way to villages have already occurred.
[edit] References
- Kapadia, Harish. 1999. SPITI: Adventures in the Trans-Himalaya. 2nd edition. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN 81-7387-093-4
[edit] External links
- Official Website of the district
- Hindubooks of Lahul and Spiti (28pages)
- The Himalayas-Lahul and Spiti
- Unknown Faces of Tibet
- Tibetan antelope
- Lots of Pictures of Spiti
| Districts of Himachal Pradesh |
|---|
| Bilaspur | Chamba | Hamirpur | Kangra | Kinnaur | Kullu | Lahul and Spiti | Mandi | Sirmaur | Shimla | Solan | Una |
