Pin Valley National Park

Introducing Pin Valley National Park

Running south from the Spiti Valley, the wind-scoured Pin Valley National Park (1875 sq km) is famous as the ‘land of ibex and snow leopards’, though sightings of either species are rare. From July to October, a popular eight-day trek runs from here over the 5319m Pin-Parvati Pass to the Parvati Valley near Kullu.

The road to the Pin Valley branches off the Kaza–Tabo highway about 10km before Sichling, climbing through winter meadows to the cluster of whitewashed farmhouses at Gulling. About 2km above Gulling at Kungri, the 600-year-old Ugyen Sanag Choling Gompa has old prayer rooms and a huge new monastery with vivid murals of protector deities, including the many-eyed archer Rahula and one-eyed Ekajati, the Guardian of Mantras. There’s also a small museum (Rs 25; 10am-6pm) with ethnological and religious displays.

You can stay at the monastery in plain, clean rooms (r with shared bathroom Rs 250) or there’s the tiny Hotel Himalaya (01906-242314; r with shared bathroom Rs 150) in Gulling.

Southwest of Gulling, Sagnam marks the turn-off to the village of Mud, trailhead for the trek over the Pin-Parvati Pass. The wind moans between the whitewashed houses and there are some uplifting short walks around the valley. For accommodation, try the village-style Snow Leopard Guesthouse (r with shared bathroom from Rs 150) by the main road, or the modern PWD Resthouse (r with shared bathroom Rs 150-300), below the hospital.

Buses run daily from Kaza to Mud (Rs 40, two hours), stopping in Gulling (Rs 25, 1¼ hours) and Sagnam (Rs 30, 1½ hours). Taxis in Kaza charge Rs 700 to Sagnam and Rs 1100 to Mud.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009