The Lahaul and Spiti district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative center is Kyelang in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti. The district was formed in 1960 and is the fourth least populous district in India. It is the least densely populated district of India, according to the Census of India 2011.
Image: Kardhang Biling Bhaga Dhauladhar Oct 22 A7C 04645
Image: NH505 Spiti Kaza Losar Jun 18 D72 7800
Cousinia thomsonii (Thomson thistle), Sissu, Lahaul
Mother and child near Gandhola Monastery, 2004
Spiti is a high-altitude region of the Himalayas, located in the north-eastern part of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The middle land", i.e. the land between Tibet and India. Spiti incorporates mainly the valley of the Spiti River, and the valleys of several rivers that feed into the Spiti River. Some of the prominent side-valleys in Spiti are the Pin valley and the Lingti valley. Spiti is bordered on the east by Tibet, on the north by Ladakh, on the west and southwest by Lahaul, on the south by Kullu, and on the southeast by Kinnaur. Spiti has a cold desert environment. The valley and its surrounding regions are among the least populated regions of India. The Bhoti-speaking local population follows Tibetan Buddhism.
Spiti River upstream of Kaza
View of Spiti Valley and Key Monastery in winter, January 2008
Tabo Monastery viewed from monks' caves
The Spiti emerges from a gorge to merge into the Satluj near Khab, June 2018.