Department of Education

Headquarters	Keylong, 3,350m
Climate	Severe winters with minus temperatures, heavy snow fall and cold summers (Best season to visit is between April and October months)
Area	13,835 Sq. Km
Population	31,294 Persons
Density	2 Persons per Sq. K

General Information: Beyond Rohtang Pass 3980m on the leeward side of the mighty Pir Panjal range of Himalayas lie the exquisite twin valley of Lahaul and Spiti, a habitat of gentle, robust, tolerant, highly religious and superstitious tribal people mainly of Mongoloid stock. They are followers of Hinduism and Buddhism . Till 1961, Lahaul and Spiti subdivision was a remote Kangra district of Panjab State. It was carved out as a district for overall development of this tribal area. Lahaul Valley (Headquarters Keylong 3,350 m)

General : At once stark and forbidding - yet, Lahaul has an ethreal beauty. The word Lahaul is regarded as a derivative of the Tibetan Lho-yul 'Southern country' or country of the gods'. Some feel that Lahaul was named after Lord Buddha's son Rahul. This vast country is known for its holy humble peace loving tribal people, passes, glaciers, lakes and monasteries. It is a traveller's paradise and mountaineer's destination. Gyephang a sacred peak is also the patron deity of Lahaulis. Drug-pa sect or Red hats of Buddhism dominate Lahaul valley.

It has four valleys namely
i) Rangoli 112 km long located between Chader Tal 4,270 m., the source of Chandra river upto Tandi, confluence of Chandra and Bhaga rivers near Keylong on NH.
ii) Bhaga valley (Tod or Stod Valley) 64 km long valley between Suraj Tal 4,800 m. source of Bhaga river upto Tandi.
iii) Pattan Valley : Between Tandi upto Udaipur combined Chandra-Bhaga river valley, is the most fertile and densely populated valley of Lahaul.
iv) Lingti Valley: A cold desert in the north whose drainage is part of the Indus river valley towards North with nil habitation excepting migratory visitors or shepherds.

Access:
Air : Helicopter emergency services available.
Road 115km, Kaza 188 km, Leh 373 km.

Places of Interest:
Guru Ghantal Monsatery: 3,020 m. Situated on the right banks of Chandra river and about 4 km above Tandi, it is the oldest gompa of Lahaul having pyramidical roofs, wooden stuctures with exquisite wooden carving dedicated to Padambhava and Brajeshwari Devi,(Do-je-Lha-mo) famous for Ghantal festival jointly celebrated by Lamas and Thakurs during full moon in the month of June.	Kardang Monastry : 3,500 m. Once a capital of Lahaul it is only 5 km away from Keylong. Built on a hill top located on bank of Bhaga river it has a rich collection of valuable manuscripts in Bhoti of Kangyur and Tangyur exquisite collection of thangka paintings, musical old weapons and horns of wild animals. It is a structure with huge prayer wheels.
Sissu: 3,120m. 28 km from Keylong on NH, it serves as a stop over for migratory birds in its marshy plains. It also has a small monastery with an image of sacred deity Gyephang.	Gondhia : 3,160 m. 16 km from Keylong on NH is famous for unique 8 storyed old historical castle, a residence of Thakurs built in 1700 AD, with stones and wood. It is also for its masked devil dance held annually duringthe month of July.
Udaipur : 2743 m. 166 km from Manali and 52 Keylong is situated on the bank ofMayar (Miar) Nullar the confluence of Chandra -Bhaga river. From here the road further goes utpo Killar, the subdivisional headquaters of Pangi tehsil of Chamba district and further a trek links it with Jammu and Kashmir valley along Chenab (Chander-Bhaga) river. Its local deity is Markula Devi and its ancient name was Markul . It was changed to Udaipur by Raja Udai Singhof Chamba state. The temple of Markula Devi is famous for its wooden carving. There is a PWD rest house available here besides few guest houses.	Gemur : 18 km from Keylong. It is a small gompa for annual devil dance held during July every year. Shashur Gompa : 3 km form Keylong, this gompa of 17th century was founded by Deva Gyatsho and is famous for devil dance held annually during June/July. Monks dressed colourful costumes and masks amuse the village folks by leaping and twirling. This festival is celebrated in Shashur Tseshe. Trilokpur: 14km from Udaipur. Located on opposite bank of Chander Baga river is approachable from udaipur. It is famous for 6 armed fabulous image of Avalokiteshvara in white marble.
Tayul: 6 km from Keylong. Tayul locally means the place of choice. This gompa is known for a huge statue of Padamsambhava and a library with 101 volumes of scared Kangyur text.	Gramphoo : 51 km from Keylong is the nodal the roads to Kaza, Keylong and Manali meet. Khoksar another village is 5 km ahead and is famous for an annual fair held in January.
SPITI VALLEY -Headquarter - Kaza, 4,160 (Average altitute of Spiti valley is 4,000 m.)Formed by Spiti river and its tributaries it is situated between the main Himalayas and Zanskar mountain range. Spiti locally means called 'Pitti' is a cold desert or referred to a middle country sandwiched between Ladakh, Kinnaur and Kullu regins. It is also referred to as a land of tale and fantasies- besides being called 'A Little Tibet' . Temperatures generally remain below freezing poin winters and touch upto -35 degree C. Spiti is also divide into 4 regions namely: Sham : Lower region on both sides of the Spiti river, Pin : Lower region on both sides of the Pin river Bhar : Middle region between Spiti river and Shilla nullah Tud : The highest region above Bhar region. Kaza :160 m. It is a sub-divisional headquarter and is connected with Keylong over Kunzum pass 4,551 m.
Ki Monastery-4,116 m. Ki village famous for its monestary is 206 km from Manali and 424 km from Shimla via Sumdo village on Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH22). This monestary located at a height of 300 m. above the bank of Spiti a distance of 12 km from Kaza.	Dhankar Monastery : 3,870 m. At a distance of 47 km from Tabo this monastery can be reached by a road branching off from Shchichiling. This famous monastery is Iiterally perched on a razor's edge on the left bank of Spiti river. It virtually appears to be hanging in the air giving an impression to the onlooker that it will fall very soon.
Tabo- Ajanta of the Himalayas 3,050 m. Tabo Monasterylocated on the steep banks of Spiti river at a distance of 365 km from Shimia and 65 km from Nako.This monastery is extremely sacred.Its sancity is next only to Tholing gompa. The complex having nine temples, 23 chortens, a monk's chamber and a nun's chamber is spread over an area of 6,300 sq. The core is fortified by earthen wall. Numerous caves and dwelling units of monks and nuns are scattered above the steep cliff.	Kibber Vilage : 4,205 m. Kibber village only a km away has the distinction of being the highest inhabited village connected with a mettled motorable road and is worth visiting.