MIYAR VALLEY TREK

I must have been 9 when I first witnessed the spectacle of Lahaul. I remember us snaking through the dusty roads sitting in a Jeep. The desert setting had stunned even a 9-year-old like me.

I was there because my father worked for the State Bank of India. He was inspecting remote branches of the bank in Lahaul. Somehow, he fought all ends to take us along with him. He knew the value of these travels.

As a young boy, I was mesmerised. I couldn’t believe barren mountains could have snow-capped summits. I could not imagine that in a land where no trees grow, there can exist a lush oasis teeming with life and colour. That image stayed with me as I grew up.

Later when I started trekking, I longed to see Lahaul once again. Somehow none of our expeditions ventured around Lahaul. It was too far and inaccessible.

Then around 10 years ago, in the early years of our explorations at Indiahikes, we launched the expedition to the Kugti Pass. The trek climbed famously over a 16,000 ft pass to drop down to the heart of Lahaul.

And there I was, the same 9-year-old mesmerized by what I was witnessing. It was as if time had stood still. The snow-dusted brown mountain tops, the valleys, and the oases were the same.

But there was more this time. I noticed the serene Buddhist culture. I noticed the harmony in the villages. I noticed how every village did not scatter beyond an understood perimeter.

And then I saw the colours.

Colours beyond the realms of imagination. I could not imagine brown with green. Or white with purple or yellow with orange. They were startling!

Recently, our teams have been exploring Lahaul. I think we are poised to open one of the greatest treks in Lahaul soon. But deep down, I wish I was part of this exploration. The 9-year-old is still mesmerised.

The Miyar river confluences with the Chandra Bhaga river near Udaipur village, which along with Trilokinath in Tunde are much-sought-after pilgrimages in the Lahaul and Spiti region. The open valley supports multiple glacier systems that extend from the Miyar glacier onto Kang La Jot which lies at an altitude of 17,939 feet. 

The much-revered peaks of Neverseen Tower and Castle Peak are within a 2 km radius of the Miyar Glacier. The Miyar Nala broadens at the end and functions as a support system for the farming villages in this region.

River crossings also set this trek apart. You frequently come across wooden bridges on this trek. Crossing each one is an adventurous experience because you cross the rickety wooden bridge with a furious river roaring beneath you.  In two sections, there are no bridges. But the flow of the water can easily be negotiated. Just be prepared for the ice-cold temperature of the water.

The natural vegetation mainly involves Juniper trees, Willow trees, Pine trees, Cedars, birch trees, Alder trees, Poplar trees, colourful Orchids, and lupins. The region also attracts a lot of birds post-summer, So you will get to hear them constantly. If you speak to the local shepherds you will hear stories about snow leopards attacking their sheep. Also, the region is full of wildlife, you will find blue sheep near the rocks of Zardong.

Miyar Valley also offers views of certain rarely-seen mountains. They include the Castle peak, the magnificent Menthosa peak, and also Tharang  I, II, III.

The valley near Tharang goes towards Keylong via Tarsar Lamo pass. In the ancient past, people used to use this route to travel from Udaipur to Keylong via this route. This colourful valley showcases hanging glaciers, snowfields, waterfalls, flat rock faces, fold-type mountains, various orchids, and nameless snow-capped peaks.