Help - Quick Fact Check on Spiti & Kinnaur details.

Anna_N · Apr 17th, 2008, 14:31

I am writing an article on mountain biking in only Kinnaur & Spiti Valley. I'd appreciate anyone's help in checking a few quick facts:

1. Is it Hindustan-Tibetan Hwy or Indo-Tibetan Hwy?

2. Is climbing, skiing,and rafting done here,or only in other areas of HP?

3. Rhotang Jot and Kunzam La - is this more correct than using 'Pass'

4. Correct road distance (km) from Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar, is it 65km?

5. Is the biggest peak in the area Kinner Kailash (6,050m) and is it in the range you seen from Kalpa and Sangla?

6. Sutlej River or Satluj River?

7. Lastly, can anyone recommend an electronic map of the area(that I can source from internet), showing the key roads and townships including Shimla and Manali? Not a detailed guide map, but topographic background would be ideal.

Many thanks
Anna

Khak · Apr 17th, 2008, 17:27

1. Is it Hindustan-Tibetan Hwy or Indo-Tibetan Hwy? .
- Hindustan-Tibetan

2. Is climbing, skiing,and rafting done here,or only in other areas of HP?
- trekking and rafting can be done, no idea of agencies doing them

3. Rhotang Jot and Kunzam La - is this more correct than using 'Pass' -
jot, la, pass all mean the same

4. Correct road distance (km) from Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar, is it 65km?
tabo - kaza = 47 km
highway to dhankar and back = 9*2=18 km
total - 47+18=65 km

5. Is the biggest peak in the area Kinner Kailash (6,050m) and is it in the range you seen from Kalpa and Sangla?
- from kalpa you get much better view, from sangla you see only the highest peaks

6. Sutlej River or Satluj River?
- in english it is spelt sutlej

7. Lastly, can anyone recommend an electronic [b]map of the area
-

http://www.masterlyinactivity.com/spiti/zoom.html

for more details on the region get the following book

A Ready Beckoner For Baspa Kinnaur Spiti And Lahaul

Anna_N · Apr 17th, 2008, 18:25

Cheers Khak - thanks so much. Especially for the map. To whom does it belong? I want to ask to use it in an article - need to check for copyright and give credit....

Khak · Apr 17th, 2008, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna_N

Cheers Khak - thanks so much. Especially for the map. To whom does it belong? I want to ask to use it in an article - need to check for copyright and give credit....

the link to map was posted in some indiamike thread

i see your location as hyderabad......... do you get chance to do mountain biking near hyderabad?

also in my recent trip to kinnaur & spiti i bought the book "A Ready Beckoner For Baspa Kinnaur Spiti And Lahaul" by Nest & Wings....... I can lend you teh book in case you don't get it in any bookstore

voyager61 · Apr 17th, 2008, 23:30

HI! The highway is called Hindustan-Tibet. In Spiti no rafting so far,despite some people thinking of starting it. Trekking is easy to organise and skying very possible in winter,a french party did it a couple of years back. Not so far from Kalpa,at the beginning of the indian part of the Sutlej(it's written like that,the locals call it Satluj) you can see Reo Purgyal,which is the highest mountain in H.P. according to several people at just over 6800 meters.

Anna_N · Apr 19th, 2008, 13:08

Cheers Fellas

Khak - yes I'm in Hyderabad - you too? The book sounds good, do you know where I could find it here?

As for mountain biking here in Hyderabad - I've never done it, do you know any places around here? My bike is actually a hybrid - so it can take some rough trails but really it's more of a road bike. And I'd love to ride it but not on the main roads - it's just too dangerous and unpleasant with the traffic and trucks and horning and pollution. Somewhere more remote however, would be fantastic (after May!). Any suggestions?

However I also have a mate here who is a super keen mountain biker and who would love to know some close by places to go. So again, any suggestions would be appreciated?

Ta
Anna

Khak · Apr 19th, 2008, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna_N

Cheers Fellas

Khak - yes I'm in Hyderabad - you too? The book sounds good, do you know where I could find it here?

initially i had ordered the book "A Ready Beckoner For Baspa Kinnaur Spiti And Lahaul" at Rediff Shopping but I got my money refunded after they could not deliver the book. Finally after much effort I could get the book from Jain Book Store at Delhi. Hence i doubt whether you can get the book in Hyderabad.

i have absolutely no idea about cycling tracks around hyderabad

vistet · Apr 19th, 2008, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna_N

Cheers Khak - thanks so much. Especially for the map. To whom does it belong? I want to ask to use it in an article - need to check for copyright and give credit....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khak

the link to map was posted in some indiamike thread

I think it was two years ago I posted it here the first time , I keep it on my desktop for quick reference.Very useful.

It is the work of Tracy Maund & Colin Chapman.

gobbledegeek · Apr 20th, 2008, 19:38

I loved it!

Cheers

Anna_N · Apr 21st, 2008, 16:17

yeah it's fantastic - thanks Vistet.
Why is it so difficult to get an accurate map of HP? No two maps are the same....!

gobbledegeek · Apr 23rd, 2008, 12:39

Partly due to archaic Indian laws under offical secrets act regarding maps and photography. A few years back I went to the local Survey of India office to procure some 1:50,000 maps. The office babu there though he had chanced upon a spy and subtly tried to interrogate me about my background and also gave me some misleading cues, hoping I would make a "mistake" and agree about them. His eyes were glinting with exitement, no doubt imagining in the back of his mind, picturing himself being awarded a medal by the President of India for successfully trapping a spy. I came back without the maps. Sigh!

Cheers

Dilliwala · May 9th, 2008, 02:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna_N

I am writing an article on mountain biking in only Kinnaur & Spiti Valley. I'd appreciate anyone's help in checking a few quick facts:

1. Is it Hindustan-Tibetan Hwy or Indo-Tibetan Hwy?

2. Is climbing, skiing,and rafting done here,or only in other areas of HP?

3. Rhotang Jot and Kunzam La - is this more correct than using 'Pass'

4. Correct road distance (km) from Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar, is it 65km?

5. Is the biggest peak in the area Kinner Kailash (6,050m) and is it in the range you seen from Kalpa and Sangla?

6. Sutlej River or Satluj River?

7. Lastly, can anyone recommend an electronic map of the area(that I can source from internet), showing the key roads and townships including Shimla and Manali? Not a detailed guide map, but topographic background would be ideal.

Many thanks
Anna

1. Hindustan Tibet Road. Which is not the same as NH 22. And HTR doesn't enter Spiti. More here.

2. Climbing, sure. No skiing or rafting.

3. For the first, depends where you are approaching from

. From the Kullu valley, it's Rohtang Jot and from Lahaul it's Rohtang La.

Altho, Rohtang being a Lahauli word ("pile of corpses"!), I wud have to say the Lahauli has priority, so Rohtang La.
Kunzam La is correct.

5. Raldang and Jorkanden are higher. Yes, what you see in front of you from Kalpa.

6. SATLUJ!! Everything else is a corruption.

voyager61 · May 9th, 2008, 04:14

Hi! Skiing possible and done by a french party a couple of years ago in winter,I have the video they made here with me.

Dilliwala · May 9th, 2008, 04:56

I think what is meant is skiing facilities a la Manali or Kufri, and not a fully DIY thing, which is what I'm guessing the French did. I.e., "is it done" and not "is it possible".

Apr 17th, 2008, 14:31	#1
Anna_N Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 37	Help - Quick Fact Check on Spiti & Kinnaur details. I am writing an article on mountain biking in only Kinnaur & Spiti Valley. I'd appreciate anyone's help in checking a few quick facts: 1. Is it Hindustan-Tibetan Hwy or Indo-Tibetan Hwy? 2. Is climbing, skiing,and rafting done here,or only in other areas of HP? 3. Rhotang Jot and Kunzam La - is this more correct than using 'Pass' 4. Correct road distance (km) from Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar, is it 65km? 5. Is the biggest peak in the area Kinner Kailash (6,050m) and is it in the range you seen from Kalpa and Sangla? 6. Sutlej River or Satluj River? 7. Lastly, can anyone recommend an electronic map of the area(that I can source from internet), showing the key roads and townships including Shimla and Manali? Not a detailed guide map, but topographic background would be ideal. Many thanks Anna

Apr 17th, 2008, 17:27	#2
Khak Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: kolkata/hyderabad/atlanta Posts: 432	1. Is it Hindustan-Tibetan Hwy or Indo-Tibetan Hwy? . - Hindustan-Tibetan 2. Is climbing, skiing,and rafting done here,or only in other areas of HP? - trekking and rafting can be done, no idea of agencies doing them 3. Rhotang Jot* and Kunzam La - is this more correct than using 'Pass'* - jot, la, pass all mean the same 4. Correct road distance (km) from Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar, is it 65km? tabo - kaza = 47 km highway to dhankar and back = 92=18 km total - 47+18=65 km 5. Is the biggest peak in the area Kinner Kailash (6,050m) and is it in the range you seen from Kalpa and Sangla?* - from kalpa you get much better view, from sangla you see only the highest peaks 6. Sutlej River or Satluj River? - in english it is spelt sutlej 7. Lastly, can anyone recommend an electronic [b]map of the area - http://www.masterlyinactivity.com/spiti/zoom.html for more details on the region get the following book A Ready Beckoner For Baspa Kinnaur Spiti And Lahaul __________________ ~Khak~ Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover

Apr 20th, 2008, 19:38	#9
gobbledegeek Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pune, india Posts: 106	Thanks very much for posting the map. I loved it! Cheers

Apr 23rd, 2008, 12:39	#11
gobbledegeek Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pune, india Posts: 106	Why is it so difficult to get an accurate map of HP? Partly due to archaic Indian laws under offical secrets act regarding maps and photography. A few years back I went to the local Survey of India office to procure some 1:50,000 maps. The office babu there though he had chanced upon a spy and subtly tried to interrogate me about my background and also gave me some misleading cues, hoping I would make a "mistake" and agree about them. His eyes were glinting with exitement, no doubt imagining in the back of his mind, picturing himself being awarded a medal by the President of India for successfully trapping a spy. I came back without the maps. Sigh! Cheers

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Apr 17th, 2008, 18:25	#3
Anna_N Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 37	Cheers Khak - thanks so much. Especially for the map. To whom does it belong? I want to ask to use it in an article - need to check for copyright and give credit....

Apr 17th, 2008, 23:30	#5
voyager61 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ivrea Posts: 287	HI! The highway is called Hindustan-Tibet. In Spiti no rafting so far,despite some people thinking of starting it. Trekking is easy to organise and skying very possible in winter,a french party did it a couple of years back. Not so far from Kalpa,at the beginning of the indian part of the Sutlej(it's written like that,the locals call it Satluj) you can see Reo Purgyal,which is the highest mountain in H.P. according to several people at just over 6800 meters.

Apr 19th, 2008, 13:08	#6
Anna_N Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 37	Cheers Fellas Khak - yes I'm in Hyderabad - you too? The book sounds good, do you know where I could find it here? As for mountain biking here in Hyderabad - I've never done it, do you know any places around here? My bike is actually a hybrid - so it can take some rough trails but really it's more of a road bike. And I'd love to ride it but not on the main roads - it's just too dangerous and unpleasant with the traffic and trucks and horning and pollution. Somewhere more remote however, would be fantastic (after May!). Any suggestions? However I also have a mate here who is a super keen mountain biker and who would love to know some close by places to go. So again, any suggestions would be appreciated? Ta Anna

Apr 21st, 2008, 16:17	#10
Anna_N Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 37	yeah it's fantastic - thanks Vistet. Why is it so difficult to get an accurate map of HP? No two maps are the same....!

May 9th, 2008, 04:14	#13
voyager61 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ivrea Posts: 287	Hi! Skiing possible and done by a french party a couple of years ago in winter,I have the video they made here with me.

May 9th, 2008, 04:56	#14
Dilliwala Funky flunky Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dilli Posts: 3,591	I think what is meant is skiing facilities a la Manali or Kufri, and not a fully DIY thing, which is what I'm guessing the French did. I.e., "is it done" and not "is it possible".

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