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49 Countries that provide eVisa or Visa on Arrival for Indians

Recent times have brought a lot of good news for Indian travelers as few more countries have started providing eVisa and visa on arrival for Indians. Notable additions to this list are Australia, Qatar, Ukraine, Armenia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, and Angola. So, what is eVisa and visa on arrival?

Visa on Arrival: A tourist visa is stamped in your passport on the first port of entry in the country and you don’t need to go through any visa process prior. Do check the requirements for getting a visa on arrival. Most countries demand a proof on onwards travel that is a flight ticket(s) that proves you will exit the country. Also, some countries only give visa on arrival, if you fly into the major airport(s). Therefore, if you are a land traveler, like me, then apply for a visa in advance for such countries.

e-Visa: For an e-Visa, you fill out an official visa application form and submit it with relevant information and required documents. If your visa application is approved then you get a visa by email or some other electronic form. Print the e-Visa, carry it with your passport and other required documents to enter the country.

27 Visa Free Countries For India Travelers

14 Asian countries with eVisa & visa on arrival for Indians

Petra, Jordan

Kyrgyzstan started issuing eVisa to Indians making it easier for all the mountain lovers who want to explore this unexplored mountainous nation. Jordan and Qatar recently started issuing visa on arrival for Indians. Here is a complete list of Asian countries that give eVisa and visa on arrivals to Indians:

eVisa: Singapore, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, and Myanmar*.

Visa on arrival: Qatar, Jordan, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

*only valid if flying into Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw or Mandalay airports.

Four European countries with eVisa & visa on arrival for Indians

Mountain monastery in Georgia

Armenia used to be one of the toughest countries to get a tourist visa for. Fortunately, they have started providing visa on arrival for Indians. That’s something Ukraine has also done which makes it easy for travelers who won’t cover Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine in the same trip.

eVisa: Georgia and Azerbaijan

Visa on arrival: Armenia and Ukraine

22 African countries with eVisa & visa on arrival for Indians

I have always been intrigued by Africa. A massive continent of diverse cultures, stunning landscapes, a multitude of languages, varied cuisine, and of course the wildlife. My next travel destination might just be Africa given 22 countries happily receive Indians.

eVisa: Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Lesotho, and Sao Tome and Principe

Visa on arrival: Seychelles, Kenya, Madagascar, Gabon, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Angola, Benin, Cape Verde, Comoros, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda

Four Countries in the Americas provide eVisa & visa on arrival to Indians

Majority of the Carribean islands provide visa-free entry to Indians which is why this list is short. Still, it has the undisputed superstar of South America – Bolivia. Read the Bolivia guide written by me.

eVisa: Antigua and Barbuda

Visa on arrival: Bolivia*, Saint Lucia, and Suriname

*only given at La Paz and Santa Cruz airports.

Five Countries in Oceania provide eVisa & visa on arrival to Indians

Australia eVisa is undoubtedly putting smiles on all the Down Under fans. While there, do check out least-visited and unspoiled island nations of the Pacific Ocean as well.

eVisa: Australia

Visa on arrival: Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa and Tuvalu

27 Visa Free Countries For India Travelers

49 Countries that provide eVisa or Visa on Arrival for Indians was originally published on Winds of Travel

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27 Visa Free Countries For India Travelers Plus Six Visa Free Territories

Having solo traveled in 13 countries, I can feel the pain of fellow Indian travelers due to the lack of visa free countries for India travelers. To globetrot the world, Indian travelers have to go through the long and arduous visa processes which sometimes makes it discouraging to even travel. Fortunately, there are some countries in the world that provide visa free entry to Indians. You can travel to these countries without a visa but do check other requirements that you might need to present when you enter the country like passport size photos, financial proof, round-trip flight reservation, hotel reservations etc.

49 eVisa & visa on arrival countries for Indians

Five Visa free countries for India travelers in Asia

Flores Island, Indonesia

Starting closer to home, here are the five visa free countries for India travelers plus four visa free territories in Asia:

Countries: Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Indonesia, and Qatar.

Special visa free territories: Kish Island (Iran), Macau, Palestine, and Jeju Island (South Korea).

Four Visa free countries for Indians in Africa

Tunisia

Africa, the land of the Savannahs and the Sahara, has been attracting Indian travelers since time immemorial. Here are the four visa free countries in Africa:

Mauritius, Senegal, Tunisia, and Reunion

12 Visa free countries for India travelers in the Americas

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Amongst all the continents, the Americas have the highest number of visa free countries for India travelers numbering 12:

Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Five Visa free countries for India travelers in Oceania

Beach in Fiji

Oceania is the area in the Pacific near Australia and New Zealand. There are plenty of blue paradises awaiting those who venture off-the-beaten-path. Here are the five visa free countries in Oceania:

Fiji, Micronesia, Vanautu, Cook Islands, Pitcairn Islands.

Visa free countries for Indians in Europe

Serbia recently became the first European country to allow visa free entry to Indians. It is one of the most beautiful Eastern European countries with hardly any tourists. South Ossetia and Transnistria are two special territories that Indians can travel to without a visa.

49 eVisa & visa on arrival countries for Indians

27 Visa Free Countries For India Travelers Plus Six Visa Free Territories was originally published on Winds of Travel

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Kutch Food Tour in Bhuj - Taste The Little Known Local Delicacies

Having traveled to over 15 countries, I learned the importance of tasting and understanding local cuisine. Whether in Peru, Patagonia or Cuba, I missed the food from Bhuj (my hometown) the most. Sshh! Don’t tell my family. I took several food tours in different countries like Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, the US among others. Inspired by those food tours, I decided to offer Kutch Food Tour in my own town of Bhuj, Gujarat.

Kutch is the largest district in Gujarat and second largest in India. Bhuj is the main town of Kutch district. Until some 200 years ago, Kutch was only accessible by the sea. Therefore, Kutchi culture, language, textiles, and lifestyle are unique and very different from the rest of Gujarat. Kutchi cuisine is also significantly different from Gujarati cuisine. Due to no road connectivity for centuries Kutchi cuisine grew independently utilizing local ingredients.

Kutch Food Tour in Bhuj

On the Kutch Food Tour, we will sample local delicacies and some dishes that we have localized. On each tour, we will stop at 4-5 appetizing food shops that serve up incredibly delicious food dishes that you won’t find elsewhere in India. Or at least they won’t be as tasty as here. We will also sample one local desert and one beverage. We will discover secret food havens nestled in the narrow one-pony alleys of Old Town Bhuj.

Marcha Vada (Green Chilly Fritter)

I will also share local legends, folk tales, and off-the-beaten-path places during the tour. I want to share as much of my region as I can with you one plate at a time :). And of course, I look forward to hearing stories and experiences of your travels as well.

Details

Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Type: Walking Tour

Language: English, Hindi, Spanish, and Portuñol

When: Everday, 5-630 pm, and 7-830 pm

Where: Bhuj, Gujarat.

Number of Dishes: Samples of 8-10 local dishes

Cost: Rs. 450 per person (US$ 7) including the price of all samples. To be paid in cash before the tour starts.

10% discount for students, defense personnel, senior citizens, and people with special needs. Valid ID required

Meeting Point: Outside Bhuj English School on Hospital Road.

Kutch Food Tour Booking

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Special Food Tours

For special tours send an email to vusuchday@gmail.com

Moped Food Tour

A 1.5-hour food + old town tour of Bhuj. We will visit little-known corners, one-pony streets, secretive food joints, chirpy chai joints, old vegetable market, tobacco rollers among other places. It can be arranged at any time of the day from 8 am to 8 pm. Night food + old town tour is a unique way to experience the tranquility of the old town. Optional moped driving included. Free hotel pickup provided

Cost: Rs. 950 including everything

10% discount for students, defense personnel, senior citizens & people with special needs

Special Needs Food Tour

A 2-hour food + old town tour of Bhuj tour for visitors with special needs can be arranged. Mode of transportation will be a hatchback, sedan, or SUV based on the number of people or individual necessity. It can be arranged any time of the day between 8 am to 10 pm. The cost to be determined after learning about the special needs

Other Culinary Food Tours

Kathiawadi Thali in Bhuj

Food tours focusing on other cuisines of India can be arranged in Bhuj as well. Punjabi, South Indian, Indo-Chinese, Mumbai, and Kathiyawadi food tours can be arranged. Price to be determined based on cuisine, the number of people and couple of other factors.

Kutch Food Tour in Bhuj – Taste The Little Known Local Delicacies was originally published on Winds of Travel

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Dark nights and bright skies. The maiden night is decorated with bright and colourful ornaments. She looks unlike any else. But, so do all the brides on their wedding nights (at Gujarat)

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On June 14, 1325, at the age of 21, Ibn Battuta rode out of Tangier on a donkey, the start of his journey to Mecca and the world. He traveled through North Africa, the Horn of Africa, West Africa, the Middle East, India, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. The legends of his travels live in the book titled "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling" (at Nako, India)

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On this day 50 years ago, a charismatic doctor, curious traveller, candid writer, and a revolutionary fighter was shot down by CIA trained Bolivian forces in Vallegrande, Bolivia. Ernesto Guevara died at the age of 39 having already fought in the hills of Sierra Maestra (Cuba), in the jungles of Congo, and the Bolivian altiplano. Despite all this, he was an Argentinean. So he was just 'Che'. Che, "Hasta la Victoria, siempre"! (at Havana, Cuba)

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In Reckong Peo we were told of the landslide that had occured recently. Some sources said that it could be a week before the road to Spiti will open. The Guitarist was visibly upset. Before the trip I had started reading about Buddhism. So, I told him about Buddha's First Noble Truth "All of life is a suffering" PC: @manthan_hirani (at Nako, India)

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The Guitarist! He plays like every song is the last one. And, the moment the strings stop rocking, it's time to roll. He is an entertainer, keen observer, and the CEO of our local cricket team. He is also the co-founder of CSC. To follow his shenanigans check out @hem_zaveri or @ashok_jewellers_kutch given that he has some of the finest and strangest pieces of jewellery being a pseudo jeweller (at Nako, India)

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The Doctor. For some he is a healer. For others a candid photographer. On the courts, he is our local Nadal. To me, he is a friend that each one of us needs in his or her life. Follow him @manthan_hirani to see how he brings magic to everyday people, places and objects with his #dslr . . . . . #kinnaur #himachalpradesh #himachalpictures #himalayas #InstaHimachal #beautifulhimachal #旅行 #viajar #السفر #viagem #путешествовать #旅行 #seyahat #Voyage #índia #Индия #Inde #Indien #印度 #Hindistan #amigo #друг #ami #arkadaş #صديق# دوست #朋友 #友人 #amico #freund (at Kinnaur district)

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Hanuman, is considered as one of the most powerful beings in Hindu mythology. Yet, he was cursed by sages which repeatedly resulted in him forgetting his own infinite potential. Jambavan, the king of the bears, had to remind Hanuman of his own powers. These momentary reminders helped Hanuman perform omnipotent acts. Don't we suffer from the curse? Can't we all use a Jambavan in our lives? . . . . . #indiatravels #indiatravelgram #indiatravel #indiatravelmagazine #ProjectDiscoverIndia #travelindia #indiatourism #bhuj #gujarat #ramayana #drama #ramleela #dusshera #drame #драма #دراما #dram #teatre #théâtre #Teatro #театр #مسرح# تئاتر #tiyatro #theater #ruralindia #rurallife #rural #剧院 #劇場 (at Kutch)

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Jatayu fought Ravana despite knowing his fate. After all Ravana had defeated Indra, the King of Heaven. Still Jatayu fought valiantly. We don't even know our fate, yet we fear the unknown. We need to conquer the Ravana inside us. Then only can we see our full potential . . . . . #indiatravels #indiatravelgram #indiatravel #indiatravelmagazine #ProjectDiscoverIndia #travelindia #traveljournalist #journalist #indiatourism #bhuj #gujarat #ramayana #drama #ramleela #dusshera #drame #драма #دراما #dram #teatre #théâtre #Teatro #театр #مسرح# تئاتر #tiyatro #theater #ruralindia #rurallife #rural (at Bibar)

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What is Navratri, Garba, and Dandiya? For 9 nights of Navratri, Dandiya and Garba dances take place in Gujarat, India. These dances are dedicated to Goddess Durga, the feminine form of divinity in Hinduism. 'Garba' dance is performed around a clay lantern with a light inside called a Garbha Deep ("womb lamp"). This lantern represents life and the fetus in the womb in particular. The dance is performed in a circle as a symbol of the Hindu view of time. The dance symbolizes that Goddess Durga is the only thing that remains unchanging in a constantly changing universe. In 'Dandiya', men and women dance in two circles with sticks in their hands. Dandiya is actually the staging of a mock-fight between the Goddess and Mahishasura, the mighty demon-king, and is nicknamed "The Sword Dance". The sticks (dandiyas) represent the swords of Durga. . . . . . #indiatravels #indiatravelgram #indiatravel #indiatravelmagazine #ProjectDiscoverIndia #travelindia #bailar #indiatourism #bhuj #kutch #indiandress #gujarat #navratri #garba #dandiya #dances #folkdance #navratri2017 #indiandance #tribaldance #traditionaldress #bailando #danse #danza #dança #baile #танец #رقص #dans #tanzen (at Gujarat)

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"Today, India will celebrate the killing of Ravan and the victory of Ram in the epic Ramayana. But, how do we draw the line between the devil and the deity? How do we justify one's action while condemning the other? Do the actions precede the title or is it vice versa? Shurpanakha, just like any other mother, wanted to avenge the death of her son who was killed by Lakshman. Do we condemn her motive because she was a devil, or did we coin her a devil due to her revengeful intentions?" . . . . . #indiatravels #indiatravelgram #indiatravel #indiatravelmagazine #ProjectDiscoverIndia #travelindia #traveljournalist #journalist #indiatourism #bhuj #gujarat #ramayana #drama #ramleela #dusshera #drame #драма #دراما #dram #teatre #théâtre #Teatro #театр #مسرح# تئاتر #tiyatro #theater #ruralindia #rurallife #rural (at Bibar)

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The Colours of the Slum . . . . . #delhigram #delhidiaries #streetphoto #streetphotography#streetphotographyindia #delhitravel#indiatravels #indiatravelgram #indiatravel#indianblogger #indiantraveller#indiantravelblogger #indianrailways#incredibleindia #indiantrain #trains #indianphotographer#indiantravelwriter #roadtrip #indiaroadtrip#delhi #newdelhi #slum #slumphotography#travel #travelingram #travelphoto#traveljournal #traveljournalist #journalist (at Delhi)

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PC: @manthan_hirani In Search of Buddha's Eight Fold Path (Day 2) On day 1, at around 9 pm plans changed. We had a fully reserved train ticket to Ludhiana. But, the train was too slow. I found a train in the evening from Ajmer to Chandigarh which would get us to Chandigarh the morning after, our goal. And, it would also give us half a day to explore Ajmer and Pushkar. Next morning, we got off at Ajmer at 6 am. My eyes fell on the train board – Ahmedabad-Chandigarh express was running late, approaching the platform in 5 minutes. If we could get on this we could reach Chandigarh by 5 pm, well ahead of our goal. We dashed to get tickets. We got General Class tickets and ran across four platforms just in time to make it . . . . . #indiatravels #indiatravelgram #indiatravel #eyecandy_collective #all2epic #globalnightsquad #huntgram #choasmag #vibesofvisuals #estheticlabel #indianblogger #indiantraveller #indiantravelblogger #indianrailways #incredibleindia #indiantrain #trains #indianphotographer #indiantravelwriter #roadtrip #indiaroadtrip #rajasthan #haryana #punjab #delhi (at New Delhi, India)

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A Road Trip to Spiti Valley India - A Journey through Photos

Spiti Valley India

The Planning

The Itinerary

12 Day Spiti Valley India Itinerary

The Cast – A Guitarist, A Doctor, and a Writer

The Journey

Day 1 – Gandhidham to Ludhiana (Or so we thought)

We got on the train from Gandhidham to Ludhiana

At around 9 pm plans changed. We had a fully reserved train ticket to Ludhiana. But, the train was too slow. I found a train in the evening from Ajmer to Chandigarh which would get us to Chandigarh the morning after, our goal. And, it would also give us half a day to explore Ajmer and Pushkar. We got off at Ajmer at 6 am. My eyes fell on the train board – Ahmedabad-Chandigarh express was running late, approaching the platform in 5 minutes. If we could get on this we could reach Chandigarh by 5 pm, well ahead of our goal. We dashed to get tickets. We got General Class tickets and ran across four platforms just in time to make it.

Day 2 – A Journey in General Class, like a billion other Indians

Forget seats, you are lucky to find enough space for your bum, that too next to the bathroom. Traveling in General Class takes you right into the melee of true India. Highly recommend it. A quintessential Indian experience.

We reached Chandigarh on time. Rented a Mahindra Scorpio from ZoomCar right outside the train station and drove towards Shimla. Reached Shimla around 11 pm. Stocked up on supplies on the way.

Day 3 – Shimla to Reckong Peo (350 km, 8 hours)

The road to Reckong Peo passes through prime Kinnaur Valley.

Here at the edge of humanity, noble spirits turn alchemists to conjure triple-halo mountains, unicorns drinking at glacial waterfalls, mermaids swimming in the Satluj, snow fairies dancing amongst the flurries, fruits of passion growing on sub-earthly slopes and dragons breathing smiles

We reached Reckong Peo at sunset. We dined at Muskan Chinese Food Corner, a family run restaurant that was a popular choice of Imtiaz Ali and Randeep Hooda during the shoot of Highway around these parts. And, yes Reckong Peo is the location where Alia Bhatt gets off the bus in the movie. After dining on the ‘best’ vegetarian thukpa you could imagine, we went in search of the white mythical spirit of the mountains – Chang, a popular rice wine only available in these neck of woods. Its legality is controversial therefore tread carefully and ask locals to get your hands on a bottle of this snow-white spirit.

Day 4 – Reckong Peo to Pooh, a Date with the Deity

To see God himself in Kalpa, you must pass through what is well called ‘The Suicide Road’

“Adjust the zoom of your binoculars, you won’t believe your eyes since you’ve never seen God before. The Shivlinga of Lord Shiva meditating atop Mount Kinnaur Kailash, his winter home. The peak of Kinnaur Kailash is in the shape of a Shivalinga. Shivalinga belonging to Nataraja, the lord of the dances, performs the dance of the colors. It changes colors as the earth rotates on its axis. The Shivalinga attains the following colors – orange, yellow, saffron, crimson and hue – at different times of the day”

Kinnaur Kailash, Kinnaur Valley

A month ago at the doctor’s clinic, the Guitarist had asked: “Will we get to see snow?”.

Locals told us the road from Reckong Peo to Pooh is the deadliest road. So much so to raise our spirits. Onwards we go. Doc’s friend had told him after seeing his Instagram activity “The kind of sins you and the writer have committed, you not gonna survive these deadly roads. Fortunately, you have the Guitarist’s good deeds to protect you. Don’t use them all up”

At the crossroads after the bridge some 5 km before Pooh, sunset-lit mountain awaited us. The doctor said “Looking at these mountains you know what I feel like, I feel that someone up there is watching us and he wants us to complete our odyssey”

We survived the road and spent the night in Pooh weighing our sins and his deeds. So far so good.

Day 5 – Pooh to Tabo, Maybe

The Guitarist woke us all up to capture the first rays of sun falling on snow-capped peaks. We waited, waited, and guessed the direction of the rising sun to no avail. Frustrated, we went to bed after giving him an earful.

The hotel owner told us the road from Nako to Tabo is closed due to landslide at Maling Nala. We decided to continue until the road disappears.

The first rays of the rising sun kissed the zenith of the snowy peak as the melting snowy teardrops of the peak wiped the grey grief of the mountain

Sangam of rivers Spiti and Sutlej

Crossing the bridge is a metaphorically crossing into a different world of ancient monasteries, different language, unique culture, simple lifestyle, indigenous cuisine, and most notably stark barren landscape, a far shout from the green valleys of Kinnaur.

Welcome to Spiti Valley!

On reaching Nako village, the Doctor asked: “Where is the Nako Monastery?”

The Guitarist spotted a bat: “Hold on! Where can we play cricket?”

The kids pointed to the helipad

The Guitarist – “At such heights these people travel miles and miles to play cricket and bija aapda dukkar jeva friends badhu hoy chata pan na ave ramva” (and yet our f*ck*ng friends despite having everything don’t come to play)

After the game of cricket we went to the Nako Monastery. To our surprise and pleasure, the full moon celebration was going on. The villagers were chanting, meditating, and celebrating the full moon. We chatted with the locals in the monastery. They offered us lunch and we promptly agreed. I shared some of the snacks from back home. They absolutely loved it. A good idea to carry snacks from your town for the folks up there.

After dinner and a walk in Nako Village, we drove on. We stopped at the ear of the landslide. Another 2 hours and Maling Nala would open. The Guitarist went to observe the work going on. The Doc and I took a nap. When we woke up he was still not back. “Has he joined the army in clearing the landslide?” we said in unison.

He returned with a gleeful smile on his face, “I found three of them”. The smile transpired onto us. Stay tuned till The End.

We reached Tabo around dinner time.

Day 6 – Tabo Monastery

We visited the oldest Buddhist monastery in India – Tabo Monastery.

“It has seen a thousand flurries of snow, withstood a hundred thousand storms, it has sent a million messages of Buddha through the winds blowing south and east, a billion bells have been rung to send ‘Om mani padme hum’ into the valley, the prayer wheels have been spun countless times with timeless wishes. Yet, the monastery stands in simple mortar and cement telling the tales of a thousand years of the golden past and blessing the travelers who take the road less traveled to the parts clad in barren beauty”

Day 7 – Kaza, Key Monastery, and Apocalypse

“It is here more than anywhere else, I felt like I was on the path that Buddha mentioned 2,500 years ago “I teach suffering, its origin, cessation, and path. That’s all I teach”

After Key Monastery, we drove to Komic – the highest motorable village in Asia. On the top of the mountain, we encountered a snowstorm. Our car got stuck in the mud. What followed is a story to be told over camp-fires and spirits. It stretched us to our physical and mental limits as we know it. Probably the worst 24 hours my traveling life. We survived the trial by fire, thanks to the friendly locals of Langza village. Maybe doc’s friend was right, our sins caught up to us.

Day 8 – The Way Back

On our way back we visited Dhankar Monastery.

Dhankar Monastery

  Sangam of Pin and Spiti rivers

On our way back we stopped by to pick them who the Guitarist had encountered at Maling Nala

Happy Endings

Memories of the Time Together

The Guitarist – “Going from traveling life to normal life is like going from 5,000 meters to sea-level”

12 Day Spiti Valley India Itinerary

A Road Trip to Spiti Valley India – A Journey through Photos was originally published on Winds of Travel

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Driving in Search of Buddha’s Eight Fold Path in Spiti Valley

Spiti means ‘the Middle Land’ that is the land connecting the Buddhist lands of Tibet and Leh. Therefore, we decided to go in search of Buddha’s ‘Middle Path’ in Spiti. Spiti Valley located in the remote northeastern corner of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is a cold desert mountain valley perched in the Himalayan mountains. Spiti Valley immortalizes the travel cliche ‘it’s not about the destination, but the journey’. As you drive through its cliffhanger roads, you will be mesmerized by the windswept mountains, extraterrestrial lunarscapes, centuries-old Buddhist monasteries, mammoth glaciers, glacial lakes, time-warped hamlets, and most of all the poetic hospitality of the locals despite their harsh living conditions. There is so much to discover amidst these gargantuan mountains, stark valleys, and well-traveled rivers, let’s not wait anymore.

Panoramic View from Key Monastery

How to Reach Spiti Valley

Despite being a public transportation preacher, I preferred exploring Spiti Valley in a rented car. The two main reasons being the freedom to stop at multiple photogenic places and the ability to reach remoter parts. State-run basic buses serve the main points of Spiti Valley. These buses don’t run after sunset, therefore it could increase your overall travel time. But, it is entirely possible to explore Spiti via public transportation. Hitchhiking is quite common as well. Do know that the locals might ask for some money in exchange for the ride.

Spiti Valley Inner Line Permit (ILP)

Foreign nationals need an inner line permit to visit Spiti Valley which can be obtained from Shimla, Rampur, Reckong Peo, Manali, and Keylong. Keep photocopies of the ILP to hand over to authorities when asked. For more info check out How to get ILP for Spiti.

Indians don’t need an inner line permit to visit Spiti.

Manali to Spiti Valley vs Shimla to Spiti

Spiti Valley can be accessed from Shimla and Manali. Traveling from Manali to Spiti Valley via Rohtang Pass and Kunzum Pass saves you a significant amount of time since it is a shorter route. But, this road is open only from June to October. The road from Shimla to Spiti is open throughout the year and passes through Kinnaur Valley. It is a slightly longer route but one advantage is that you get to see the magnificent Kinnaur Valley on your way to Spiti. You can check Spiti Valley roads status at the state official website.

NOTE: Parts of Shimla-Spiti road can be temporarily closed due to landslides. Ask the locals about the road status before you venture forward.

Self-driven vs Chauffeur-driven

Three of us chose to self-drive through Spiti Valley. It is no mean feat since the roads are adventurous or in other words dangerous. So, if you are used to driving with the Himalayas on one side, a death-defying valley on the other, and a road just wide enough to fit your car then you can rent a car from Zoom Car in Delhi. It is better to rent an SUV – Scorpio, Mahindra XUV, Ford Endeavour, or Hyundai Creta. We rented a Scorpio. A Self-driven trip is slightly cheaper than a Chauffeur-driven trip. Approximate round-trip Delhi to Spiti distance is 1500 km so pick a ZoomCar plan accordingly.

Zoom Car Rental

Chauffeur-driven trips in an SUV cost about Rs. 2800 to 3500 (US$ 44 to 55) per day. Chauffeur-driven vehicles can be hired from Delhi, Shimla, or Manali.

Another popular way of exploring Spiti Valley is via a motorcycle. Motorcycles can be rented in Shimla or Manali. They cost about Rs. 1200 to 2000 (US$ 19 to 31) per day depending on the type of motorcycle. Fuel cost is extra.

Best Time to Visit Spiti Valley

We went to Spiti in mid-April and we thoroughly enjoyed it because there were fewer tourists and the winter snow was still visible on the mountains and side of the roads. April is the best time to go if you want to avoid the crowds, see some snow, and pay off-season prices with the only disadvantage being that roads to some attractions could be closed due to snow. May to mid-July is the high season because of the hoards of summer vacationers who arrive from the plains driving the prices higher. Manali to Spiti Valley road is open from June-October.

It is best to avoid the rainy season from mid-July to August. Road conditions during this time are horrendous and frequent landslides result in delays. The months of September and October are due to fewer crowds, lower prices, and road access to all the attractions. The only downside being barren mountains without a speck of snow. Traveling at any time between November to March is for the braveheart intrepid traveler wanting to experience the harsh lifestyle of locals during the snowed out winter months when Spiti Valley temperatures are at its lowest.

Spiti Valley – A Journey through Photos

Eight Days in Spiti Valley in Search of the Eightfold Path

Day 1: Delhi to Shimla (350 km, 8 hours)

We started early morning from Delhi to cover the 350 km journey to Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh state. It took us 8 hours to reach Shimla. In the evening we walked around the Mall Road and visited the neo-gothic 19th-century Christ Church Shimla. After having dinner at Indian Coffee House (08:00 – 21:00), we went to bed early at Mountain Goat Bed & Breakfast.

Day 2: Shimla to Reckong Peo (244 km, 10 hours)

We started early from Shimla to cover the 244 km journey to Reckong Peo, the capital of Kinnaur Valley. The moment we entered Kinnaur Valley, the air attained a different romance. Lush green meadows, apple orchards, triple-halo mountains, rock-cut roads, and serene scenery to soothe the heart.

Kinnaur Valley Roads

We stopped at the Shri Bhima Kali Ji Temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India. According to Hindu mythology, when Lord Vishnu cut through the corpse of Sati to stop Shiva’s dance of destruction. Sati’s body parts fell at 51 different places. There is a temple at each one of the 51 sights. Her ear fell where the temple now stands. A street vendor outside Gobind Ballabh College sells mouthwatering panipuri, aloo-tikki, and burgers. It is an excellent place to stop for lunch.

We reached Reckong Peo around 6 pm, just in time to catch the last rays of setting sun illuminating the snowy peaks of Kinnaur Kailash mountain range. Later, we shopped for some local handicrafts, especially colorful Kinnauri hats, in the Indira Market. We dined on delicious and homely thukpa soup and vegetable momos at Muskan Chinese Food Corner before heading to our hotel Shivling View. Reckong Peo is the ideal place to look for the mythical spirit called chang, a popular rice wine only available in these neck of woods. Its legality is controversial therefore tread carefully and ask locals to get your hands on a bottle of this snow-white spirit. Fuel up on both petrol/diesel at Kinfed Fillisn Station and alcohol supply at local wine shop since neither will be available for another two days until you reach Kaza.

Day 3: Reckong Peo to Nako (103 km, 5 hours)

“Adjust the zoom, you won’t believe your eyes since you’ve never seen God before. The Shivlinga of Lord Shiva meditating atop Mount Kinnaur Kailash, his winter home. The peak of Kinnaur Kailash is in the shape of a Shivalinga. Shivalinga belonging to Nataraja, the lord of the dances, performs the dance of the colors. It changes colors as the earth rotates on its axis. The Shivalinga attains the following colors – orange, yellow, saffron, crimson and hue – at different times of the day”

After checking out from the hotel, we headed to Kalpa. The primary reason to visit Kalpa was to get a panoramic view of the mythological Mt. Kinnaur Kailash. The secondary reason, well an unavoidable one, was that the road from Peo to Kalpa featured on IRT Deadliest Road episode. Certain stretches of the road are barely wide enough to fit the wheels. Guess the name of the road? Suicide Road.

Kinnaur Kailash, Kinnaur Valley

Surviving the suicide road, we made it to the panoramic viewpoint near Hotel Golden Apple Kalpa. From the viewpoint, look at the leftmost peak with a pair of binoculars and start moving right. Shift your view a little to the right of the twin peaks, adjust the zoom, you won’t believe your eyes since you’ve never seen God before. The Shivlinga of Lord Shiva meditating atop Mount Kinnaur Kailash, his winter home. The peak of Kinnaur Kailash is in the shape of a Shivalinga and its color is distinctly different from the nearby bare gray peaks. Shivalinga belonging to Nataraja, the lord of the dances, performs the dance of the colors. It changes colors as the earth rotates on its axis. The Shivalinga attains the following colors – orange, yellow, saffron, crimson and hue – at different times of the day. If you give yourself enough time then you can see different shades of the Shivalinga.

After the date with the deity, we continued towards Nako. The road between Reckong Peo and Poo puts the aforementioned Suicide Road to shame. If you have time on your hand, I highly recommend visiting Poo, a beautiful Himalayan hamlet with ancient narrow cobblestone streets. 20 kilometers after Pooh marks the confluence of rivers Satluj and Spiti. The colors of the rivers are distinctively different and their confluence is one of the rare sights to behold. As you cross the bridge over the confluence, you officially enter ‘the Middle Land’.

Day 4: Nako to Tabo (64 km, 2 hours)

Nako Monastery

Crossing the bridge is a metaphorically crossing into a different world of ancient monasteries, different language, unique culture, simple lifestyle, indigenous cuisine, and most notably stark barren landscape, a far shout from the green valleys of Kinnaur. Historically, Spiti was part of Western Tibet until the 11th century when the king divided his kingdom among his three sons. This marked the separation of Spiti from Tibet. Over centuries Spiti fell under Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh rule but the locals never lost their own traditions and practices. People of Spiti follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order.

Nako (3,625 m/11,893 ft) is the first sizable village of Spiti we encountered. After spending the night at Moon Lake Guest House we visited Nako Gompa, a 11th-century Buddhist monastery with impressive artwork including a complete mandala. Walking distance from the monastery is the Nako Lake, a serene water body with bare mountains in the backdrop – a microcosm of Spiti. There is a helipad in town from where you can get superb panoramic views of snow-capped Manirang mountain range. And you can also play cricket on the helipad with the locals like we did.

Cricket at 12000 feet

Next day we continued onto Tabo. On your way to Tabo, you can take a small detour to Giu Thach to see the 500-year old mummy of a Buddhist monk named Sangha Tenzin. We reached Tabo in the evening and tired of our overtures, headed straight to the Tabo Monastery to lie down and relax. Yes, you got it right. We stayed at the Tabo Monastery. The experience of staying at a monastery was priceless. Yak butter lamps, rustic wooden rooms, delectable food, and morning chants to wake you up.

Day 5: Tabo to Kaza (48 km, 2 hours)

Tabo Monastery

Next morning we woke up to the chants coming from the monastery. We got ready and headed to the monastery for the morning prayers. Tabo (3,280 m/10,760 ft) village is home to the oldest monastery in India. Tabo Monastery was founded in 996 AD by Rinchen Zangpo, the famous translator of Sanskrit Buddhist texts into Tibetan. The old monastery has some exquisite murals stucco sculptures, and a large number of frescoes containing tales of Buddha, Llamas, and Tibetan kings. It houses priceless collections of thankas (scroll paintings) and ancient manuscripts.

“It has seen a thousand flurries of snow, withstood a hundred thousand storms, it has sent a million messages of Buddha through the winds blowing south and east, a billion bells have been rung to send ‘Om mani padme hum’ into the valley, the prayer wheels have been spun countless times with timeless wishes. Yet, the monastery stands in simple mortar and cement telling the tales of a thousand years of the golden past and blessing the travelers who take the road less traveled to the parts clad in barren beauty”

After meditating in the ancient hall of the monastery, we started our journey to Kaza. The landscape of Spiti transforms significantly as you leave Tabo. The lunatic landscape of Spiti, between Tabo & Kaza, is the crown of the devil. Saber-tooth peaks jutting out of silvery slopes. Rocks and pebbles sliding down as minions of the mammoth mountains. It felt like we traded our homely planet for inhospitable Mars or Moon. From far away, these saber-tooth peaks appear like a castle, a castle of the devil certainly.

On our way to Kaza, we took a small detour to visit Dhankar. Dhankar in the local dialect means ‘a place in the mountains unreachable for strangers’. Rightfully so, Dhankar is perched among mountains and not visible until you actually reach the entrance of the village. Dhankar Monastery is built on the edge of 1000-feet (300-m) cliff. The view from the monastery is postcard perfect, Pin and Spiti rivers flowing out of the shadows of the mountains to symphonically unify. It possessed us until we the hands of time forced us to leave for Kaza.

Day 6 and 7: Kaza and surrounding village

“It is here more than anywhere else, I felt like I was on the path that Buddha mentioned 2,500 years ago “I teach suffering, its origin, cessation, and path. That’s all I teach”

View from Key Monastery

Kaza (3,650 m/11,980 ft) is the capital of Spiti Valley. It is situated on the banks of Spiti river. On the other side of Spiti river lies snow-capped mountain range that runs for more than 12 kilometers. Kaza is used as a launchpad to nearby villages. After checking into Hotel Deyzor, we went to the iconic Key Monastery.

Perched at the height of 13,668 feet (4166 m), Key Monastery was built in the 11th century in Pasada architecture style, which gives it the look of a fort. It has three stories and one of the monks present at the monastery will give you a tour of it. Notable features of the monastery are ancient murals, rare thangkas, musical instruments collection, and ancient weapons. Standing atop the monastery, your breath will be taken away by the silvery Spiti river, snow-capped peaks on one side and rugged barren mountain terrain on the other. It is here more than anywhere else, I felt like I was on the path that Buddha mentioned 2,500 years ago “I teach suffering, its origin, cessation, and path. That’s all I teach”.

Key Monastery

After Key Monastery, we went back to our hotel to reflect on our journey and what we learned so far from this remote outpost of Buddhism. We bought some kangdi, a local barley wine to ease the outbreak of thoughts and emotions.

Next day we started early since we had to climb significant altitude to reach the highest motorable village in Asia – Komic (4580 m/15,027 ft). Centuries ago, frustrated by numerous bandit raids, villagers from lower villages decided to move further up into the mountains. They established the village of Komic. They were relatively cut off from the rest of the world until the last decade when a motorized road found their village. Hence, change is a new term around here. So, sit down to sip in the lifestyle and culture of a bygone era.

Hikkim, 3 km from Komic, lays claim to the title of the ‘highest post office in the world’. Send your loved ones a postcard. Further 8 km from Hikkim, lies the village of Langza with its idyllic whitewashed Himalayan houses and an enviable collection of million years old prehistoric marine fossils. Staying at a homestay in Langza is an authentic way to experience Spitian life. After Langza we drove back to Kaza and called it a day.

Day 8, 9, and 10 Driving home the four noble truths

If Kunzum Pass is open, then you have the option of traveling to Manali and then onward to Delhi. Or you can backtrack the way you came, which is what we did. For the return leg, it is better to break it down into three parts. Drive from Kaza to Pooh (144 km, 4 hours) and spend the night at Om Guest House in Pooh. Next day drive from Pooh to Shimla (296 km, 10 hours) and spend the night in Shimla before driving back to Delhi (350 km, 8 hours) the following day.

Spiti Valley – A Journey through Photos

Driving in Search of Buddha’s Eight Fold Path in Spiti Valley was originally published on Winds of Travel