Lahaul - Spiti; Suggestions and help needed

kshil · 26th May 2010, 15:34

When I spoke to PWD in Kaza and couple of locals, what I got is Kunzum is not yet motorable, transhipment is going on there, people started crossing ofcourse but not by car. But chances are pretty high on Kunzum opening as a minister is supposed to come in Kaza in couple of days. Usually things move in India with ministers.

Also came to know at Hurling (between Tabo and Sumdo) road is cracked with a huge landslide and it would take atleast tomorrow evening before getting open from Nako side. I found a similar thread in bcmtouring but it says the dimension of damage is much larger. Read here. PWD also refused to comment when it could be open.

I sincerely hope accuweather should go wrong this time, it shows rains/showers/thuderstorms for whole first week of June atleast till 9th June in almost all parts of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti.

tsk1979 · 26th May 2010, 15:57

UPDATE Due to a major landslide near Sumdo, Shimla Kaza route is closed, and may take a week to open. Please confirm with PWD office before starting your trip, or if spiti is your destination, go the other way round.

hvkumar · 26th May 2010, 16:02

This is going to disrupt many planned Spiti trips. tsk1979, when were you planning yours?

wanderernomad · 27th May 2010, 00:43

Checked. They say atleast not before Monday. That would put a spanner in many a plans. Even Kunzam La doesnt look good for traffic till atleast another 4 5 days minimum.
Doc: I think it would be tough getting to Kaza anytime before mid of next week. Anyway it was nice talking to you and base don our conversation I would recommend the following alternatives:-
Sticking to original plans but limiting yourself to Chitkul and Nako and maybe till Sumdo.
Changing track fully and exploring the Pabbar Valley and drive upto the Chansal Pass, mountian biking scope a plenty in and around Chirgaon plus nature walks. I know its slightly later in the day to change the plans fully so you deciede. Here are a couple of pictures for comparison though.the first 3 show the Spiti region while the last 3 show the Chanshal Pass.

Tiger · 27th May 2010, 15:53

31st May we have planned to go to Tabo to Kalpa. Hope the roads are cleared by that time.
otherwise entire plan will go for a toss.
we have already paid for stay at Kaza & about to book for Manali.
fingers crossed......!!!

tsk1979 · 27th May 2010, 16:16

Kunzum has been opened again. As for the landslide, your best bet would be to call up PWD Tabo or Wangtu/Sumdo etc., and find out.
You can always do it the "other way round".

kshil · 27th May 2010, 17:32

When I spoke to KAZA PWD, today at 3.00pm they clearly told Kunzum is not yet opened for car. Transhipment is in place and if car waits in other side and someone ready to walk couple of km, it's possible, even MLA of L&S came to kaza like that yesterday.

But the if you cross Kunzum on 2nd/3rd June I think it should be opened by that time, only constraint is weather as a fresh western disturbance is going to hit the region today/tomorrow.

Hope all is well and wish you a nice and safe journey.

Tiger · 27th May 2010, 20:15

Just 30min back I spoke to Asst Commissionar, PWD, Kinnaur. He told Sumdo landslide cleared.
Hope its true...
Final iternary.. as of now..

28th - reach Delhi at 6.30pm - stay at chandigarh (hotel booked)
29th - C'garh to Karapathar - (HPTDC booked) didnt get anywhere nearby..
30th - karapathar to Chitkul or rakcham or sangla(yet to book, trying for some homestay nearby
31st - Kalpa (booked)
1st - Tabo(to try there itself)
2nd - kaza(booked)
3rd - Manali (to be booked)
4th - manali (...)
5th - Day drive to Delhi
6th - back to Hyd

Tiger · 27th May 2010, 20:17

can you pl suggest some good petrol pumps for filling.. on this route mentioned above..

Tiger · 28th May 2010, 12:16

Bye for now..

Closing my laptop now & will only open on 6th june.. will upadate on the trip once back.

Tks everyone for suggestions..
Hemanth

wanderernomad · 29th May 2010, 02:58

Sumdo road is through as of today but Kunzam is still dicey. Small vehicles did a test run and some of them went through but the locals speak of impending snow again soon so in all probability Kunzam La is not going to be through for small vehicles till Monday, if it doesnt snow that is.

hvkumar · 29th May 2010, 06:51

I suppose the reopening came just in time as many expeditions start off for Ladakh and Spiti.

docfreak · 29th May 2010, 16:37

everybody tahnks for the support and input, tomorrow morning i am deepam take off, i am putting the attachment of our itenary .

mods kindly change heading to : lahaul ,spiti and kinnaur travelblog as we will be updating with pics on a daily basis.

will fill in from mashobra tomorrow.

wanderernomad · 29th May 2010, 21:54

Doc you got the sms?

akshay4587 · 29th May 2010, 21:59

@Tiger,why are you going to Kharapathar?
Did you try for Accomodation in Narkanda?
If not for HPTDC hotel hatu,there are lots of options around.
You would be wasting time and energy by going to Kharapathar,it has nothing to offer.

26th May 2010, 15:34	#61
kshil Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 24 Thanked: 2 Times	When I spoke to PWD in Kaza and couple of locals, what I got is Kunzum is not yet motorable, transhipment is going on there, people started crossing ofcourse but not by car. But chances are pretty high on Kunzum opening as a minister is supposed to come in Kaza in couple of days. Usually things move in India with ministers. Also came to know at Hurling (between Tabo and Sumdo) road is cracked with a huge landslide and it would take atleast tomorrow evening before getting open from Nako side. I found a similar thread in bcmtouring but it says the dimension of damage is much larger. Read here. PWD also refused to comment when it could be open. I sincerely hope accuweather should go wrong this time, it shows rains/showers/thuderstorms for whole first week of June atleast till 9th June in almost all parts of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti.
	() Thanks

26th May 2010, 15:57	#62
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	UPDATE Due to a major landslide near Sumdo, Shimla Kaza route is closed, and may take a week to open. Please confirm with PWD office before starting your trip, or if spiti is your destination, go the other way round.
	() Thanks

26th May 2010, 16:02	#63
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	This is going to disrupt many planned Spiti trips. tsk1979, when were you planning yours?
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 00:43	#64
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Checked. They say atleast not before Monday. That would put a spanner in many a plans. Even Kunzam La doesnt look good for traffic till atleast another 4 5 days minimum. Doc: I think it would be tough getting to Kaza anytime before mid of next week. Anyway it was nice talking to you and base don our conversation I would recommend the following alternatives:- Sticking to original plans but limiting yourself to Chitkul and Nako and maybe till Sumdo. Changing track fully and exploring the Pabbar Valley and drive upto the Chansal Pass, mountian biking scope a plenty in and around Chirgaon plus nature walks. I know its slightly later in the day to change the plans fully so you deciede. Here are a couple of pictures for comparison though.the first 3 show the Spiti region while the last 3 show the Chanshal Pass. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 15:53	#65
Tiger BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Blr -> Hyderabad Posts: 101 Thanked: 8 Times	31st May we have planned to go to Tabo to Kalpa. Hope the roads are cleared by that time. otherwise entire plan will go for a toss. we have already paid for stay at Kaza & about to book for Manali. fingers crossed......!!!
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 16:16	#66
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Kunzum has been opened again. As for the landslide, your best bet would be to call up PWD Tabo or Wangtu/Sumdo etc., and find out. You can always do it the "other way round".
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 17:32	#67
kshil Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 24 Thanked: 2 Times	When I spoke to KAZA PWD, today at 3.00pm they clearly told Kunzum is not yet opened for car. Transhipment is in place and if car waits in other side and someone ready to walk couple of km, it's possible, even MLA of L&S came to kaza like that yesterday. But the if you cross Kunzum on 2nd/3rd June I think it should be opened by that time, only constraint is weather as a fresh western disturbance is going to hit the region today/tomorrow. Hope all is well and wish you a nice and safe journey.
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 20:15	#68
Tiger BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Blr -> Hyderabad Posts: 101 Thanked: 8 Times	Just 30min back I spoke to Asst Commissionar, PWD, Kinnaur. He told Sumdo landslide cleared. Hope its true... Final iternary.. as of now.. 28th - reach Delhi at 6.30pm - stay at chandigarh (hotel booked) 29th - C'garh to Karapathar - (HPTDC booked) didnt get anywhere nearby.. 30th - karapathar to Chitkul or rakcham or sangla(yet to book, trying for some homestay nearby 31st - Kalpa (booked) 1st - Tabo(to try there itself) 2nd - kaza(booked) 3rd - Manali (to be booked) 4th - manali (...) 5th - Day drive to Delhi 6th - back to Hyd
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 20:17	#69
Tiger BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Blr -> Hyderabad Posts: 101 Thanked: 8 Times	can you pl suggest some good petrol pumps for filling.. on this route mentioned above..
	() Thanks

28th May 2010, 12:16	#70
Tiger BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Blr -> Hyderabad Posts: 101 Thanked: 8 Times	Bye for now.. Closing my laptop now & will only open on 6th june.. will upadate on the trip once back. Tks everyone for suggestions.. Hemanth
	() Thanks

29th May 2010, 02:58	#71
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Sumdo road is through as of today but Kunzam is still dicey. Small vehicles did a test run and some of them went through but the locals speak of impending snow again soon so in all probability Kunzam La is not going to be through for small vehicles till Monday, if it doesnt snow that is.
	() Thanks

29th May 2010, 06:51	#72
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	I suppose the reopening came just in time as many expeditions start off for Ladakh and Spiti.
	() Thanks

29th May 2010, 21:54	#74
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Doc you got the sms?
	() Thanks

29th May 2010, 21:59	#75
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	@Tiger,why are you going to Kharapathar? Did you try for Accomodation in Narkanda? If not for HPTDC hotel hatu,there are lots of options around. You would be wasting time and energy by going to Kharapathar,it has nothing to offer.
	() Thanks