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] GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
Lahaul & Spiti has an whole area of 13,833 Sq Km(9,11,165 Hectares), comprising of Lahaul, Spiti And Udaipur regions.
Fact File
POPULATION 2001 Census Total Number 33,224 (Lahaul=13,099, Udaipur=9446, Spiti=10,679) Male Number 18,441 (55.51%) Female Number 14,783 (44.49%) Rural Number 33,224 Urban Number Nil SC Population No 2,605 (07.84%) ST Population No 24,238 (72.95%) Others No 6381 (19.21%) Sex Ratio 802 Women per 1000 Men Density of Population 2 Birth Rate(1995) 16.2 Death Rate 6.1
PEOPLE & CULTURE
Major Religions Hindu & Bodh Languages Spoken Manchad Dialects, Bhoti, Sanskrit Culture Tibetan & Bhoti Culture Art Forms Tibetan
LITERACY RATE
AGGREGATE 73.10% Male Literacy 82.76% Female Literacy 60.94% Bold text
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
TOTAL AREA 13,833 Sq Km OR 9,11,165 Hectares
-Lahaul 3472
-Udaipur 1,97,612
-Spiti 7,10,081
Forest Area(Hectare) 1,35,369 Total Agricultural Area 3,174 Cultivated Area 3,043 Irrigated Area 3,043
Area Under Major Crops
* Grain 107 * Maize 47 * Jo 473 * Potato 770 * Peas 1472
Area Under Fruits 333
Altitude 10,050 feet
Ranges lies between 5,480 meters and 6,400 meters Longitude Lies between East Longitude 76 46' 29" and 78 41' 34" Latitude Lies between North Latitude 31 44' 57" and 32 59' 57" Major Rivers CHANDRA + BHAGA =Chenab CLIMATE Generally Cool Humidity Generally Dry Rainfall/Snowfall Scanty/Heavy Rainfall 2006 348.2 milli meters DISTANCES Nearest Railway Station Shimla 341 Km Nearest Airport Bhuntar 166 KM Shimla for Spiti 341Km
ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP As on 01st July'2007 Sub-Divisions 3 (Keylong, Kaza, Udaipur) Tehsils 2 (Lahaul at Keylong, Spiti at Kaza) Development Blocks 2 (Lahaul, Spiti) Gram Panchayats 41 (Lahaul=28, Spiti=13) Villages 287 HEALTH SET UP As on 01st July'2007,CMO Office, Keylong District Hospitals 1 Community Health Centers 3 (Udaipur, Shansha, Kaza) Primary Health Centers 9 (Sissu, Gondhla, Gemur, Tholang, Jhalma, Thirot, Tingret, Tabo,Sagnam ) Civil Dispensaries 5 (Darcha, Phura, Kibber, Lossar, Hansa) Sub Centers 35 (25 in Lahaul, 10 in Spiti)
Ayurvedic Hospitals 1 Ayurvedic Dispensaries 21 EDUCATION Primary Schools 205 Middle Schools 33 High Schools/Sr Sec Schools 29 Govt Degree College 1 at Kukumseri (Udaipur) Kendriya Vidyalaya (KVS) 1 at Keylong DIET 1 at TandiUniversity ANIMAL HUSBANDRY Hospitals 13 Dispensaries 41 AI Centres - Mobile Units 1 CATTLE POPULATION 67,687
GENERAL Telephone Connections Around 800 Villages with link road 190 approx Katcha Roads (Km) 568 Metalled Roads (Km) 222 Electrified Villages 287 Drinking Water available 287 Nationalized Bank Branches 12 Post Offices/VPO 47 Telegraph Offices 6 Police Post/Chowki 7 (Police Stations-Keylong, Udaipur, Kaza)
(Police Chowki-Tindi, Jhalman, Koksar, CP Sumdo)
Major Crops Italic textPotato, Peas, Kuth, Hops, Seabuckthorn HP State Govt Employees 2318 Gazetted 138 Non-Gazetted 2180 Co-operatives Societies 113 Food Price Shops 67
RELIGIOUS PLACES
1. Triloknath Temple, Udaipur (Lahaul Valley) 2. Mrikula Mata Temple, Udaipur (Lahaul Valley) 3. Lady Of Keylong
BODH MONASTERIES
1. Kardang 2. Shashur 3. Gemur 4. Tabo 5. Kee 6. Tayul 7. Guru Ghantal
RIVER & LAKE
1. Chandra River 2. Bhaga River 3. Chandrabhaga 4. Spiti River 5. Tsarab River
1. Chandra Tal 2. Suraj Tal 3. Neel Kanth
PASSES
1. Rohtang (3978m) 2. Baralacha La (4830m) 3. Kunzam (4551m) 4. Pin Parvati (5319m) 5. Ghunsarng (5600m) 6. Monirang (5335m) 7. Sara Umga (5019m) 8. Hamta (4268m) 9. Kugti (5040m) 10. Kalicho (4803m) 11. Tarsalamu (5358m)
PWD CIRCUIT HOUSES 3 (Keylong, Udaipur, Kaza) PWD REST HOUSES 24 (Keylong, Jispa, Patseo, Thirot, Udaipur, Tindi, Gondhla, Sissu, Koksar, Chhatru, Chota Dara, Kaza, Tabo, Losar, Samd, Poh, Sagna) IPH REST HOUSES 7 Forest REST HOUSES 4 (Keylong, Jahalman, Udaipur) HPSEB REST HOUSES 3 (Karga, Thirot, Rongtong) HELIPADS
1. Stingri 2. Barring 3. Sissu 4. Tingret 5. Udaipur 6. Rawa 7. Jispa 8. Tindi
PETROL PUMPS
1. Tandi (Lahaul) 112 Km away from Manali on Manali-Keylong-Leh highway. 2. Kaza (Spiti) 421 Km away from Shimla.
[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. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[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 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 Lahuli 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 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 manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance.
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
Lahaul & Spiti, which now form, a district of Himachal Pradesh, bordering Tibet, were at one time separate Himalayan waziries or cantons of the Kullu sub-divisions, and Kullu itself formed a part of Kangra district of Punjab.
As is clear from the name ‘Lahaul & Spiti’, the district comprises two different mountains tracts, one known as Lahaul and the other as Spiti. Hence the name of the district came into being with the formation of these two parts into a revenue district. The names, Lahaul & Spiti, have different origins.
Hiuen Tsiang stated Lahaul to be 1800 or 1900 li (575 or 610 Km) distant by road from the middle of Kiu-lu-to (Kulu). It is a gross overestimate as the first village in Lahaul is only about 70 km from Sultanpur. Despite this error, whatever its source may be, Lahaul is clearly the country referred to here. But the Tibetan Li-yul has also ben identified by Rockhill with Khotan. If this is correct Hiuen Tsiang's placing Lo-u-lo at 1800 or 1900 li north of Kulu might be intelligible though an under-estimate. Probably Hiuen Tsiang confused the two countries as Li-yul (Khotan) and Lo-u-lo (Lahaul) in his estimate of distances, admittedly derived from hearsay.
In ancient Buddhist scripures, 'Padma thangyiang' and 'Mam-kambum' there is mention of a country named Khasa or Hasha to the south of Ladakh and Zangskar. It is possible also that 'Garzha' may be corruption of Khasa or Hasha. Between the 6th century B.C. and the 5th century A.D., the Saka and Khasa tribes, after having been driven out from Central Asia by the Huns, crossed over into India. many of these settled down in the valleys of Mid-Himalayas between Garhwal and Ladakh. This is borne out by the numerous remains of their graves found in these valleys. There is a nullah near Keylong known as Shaks, which seems to have taken its name after the Saka tribe settled in the Bhaga valley.
The Histroy of the District as an Administrative Unit
The two units of the district i.e. Lahaul & Spiti, have separate historical backgrounds. In the distant past Lahaul had been changing hands between the rulers of Ladakh and Kulu. In the second half of the seventeenth century with the disintegration of Ladakh kingdom, Lahaul passed into the hands of the Kulu chief. In 1840, Maharaja Ranjit Singh took over Lahaul along with Kulu and ruled over it till 1846 when the area came under the sway of the British. From 1846 to 1940, Lahaul formed part of the Kulu sub-division of Kangra district and was administered through the local jagirdars/thakurs. One of the thakurs was designated as Wizier of Lahaul & was invested with judicial and executive powers. Another thakur was given the powers of a Revenue Officer. These functionaries exercised traditional as well as other power conferred by the Government. The Assistant Commissioner. Kulu used to visit the area once a year for a month or so. In the late thirties the unprecedented prosperity of the people through growing kuth and their consequent awakening created a formidable challenge to the power and influence of the Wizier of Lahaul, which gradually started declining. The inadequacy was soon noticed by the Government which considered the extension of the regular system of administration. Accordingly in 1941, a separate sub-tehsil comprising Lahaul & Spiti was formed and a naib-tehsildar was posted at Keylong thereby divesting the thakurs of their powers. The system remained in vogue till June, 1960 when Lahaul & Spiti district came into being. Simultaneously, Lahaul was constituted into a separate tehsil, and, later on it was formed into a sub-division.
The East India Company took over the possession of the Spiti portion in the year 1846 after the cessation of cis-Satluj States as a result of the Anglo-Sikh War. Before that it formed a part of Ladakh, a subsidiary of Jammu & Kashmir. Because of its remoteness and poverty of natural resources, the British following the example of the Ladakhi rulers, did not introduce any substantial changes in the administrative set up of the territory. The Nono of Kyuling was recognized as the hereditary Wizier of Spiti (re-affirmed by the Spiti Frontier Regulations of 1883) and was suppose to represent the British India Government. He collected the land revenue for the Government, his judicial jurisdiction included trial of all criminal cases, except cases of murder; and he performed all functions and enjoyed all necessary powers for the fulfillment of his tasks and duties, as laid down in the regulations of 1883.
In 1941, Spiti,with Lahaul, was constituted into a separate sub-tehsil of Kullu sub-division which had its headquarters at Keylong. Later on, after the formation of Lahaul & Spiti into a district, in 1960, Spiti was formed into a sub-division with its headquarter at Kaza.
[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 in 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 across the river which is about 8 KM from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. 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. Even though it is possible to access the region from Kinnaur (along the Saltuj) all through the year, the road is permanently closed at Mulling.
Avalanches and poorly tarred roads are another issue, 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
  Geography of Himachal Pradesh   |
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| Lakes | Renuka Lake | Maharana Pratap Sagar | Gobind Sagar (more...) |
| Rivers | Beas | Chenab | Ravi | Sutlej | Yamuna |
| Districts | Bilaspur | Chamba | Hamirpur | Kangra | Kinnaur | Kullu | Lahul and Spiti | Mandi | Sirmaur | Shimla | Solan | Una |
| Other | Climate of Himachal Pradesh | Protected areas of Himachal Pradesh | List of peaks in Himachal Pradesh |
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http://www.pandeyji.com/lahulspiti/index.cfm Information and Pictures of Lahul & Spiti
