UNKNOWN SPITI: THE MIDDLE COUNTRY

HARISH KAPADIA

MOST OF US have heard of Heinrich Harrer and Peter Aufsch-naiter. Their escape and their seven years in Tibet are legend. Like them, M. Paidar and Ludwig Schmaderer had also escaped from the British internment camp during the war. They followed a year after Harrer using much the same route to the frontier and into Tibet. But they returned to Spiti with tragic consequences.

'In July 1945 when still wandering aimlessly and not knowing that the war was over, L. Schmaderer was brutally robbed and murdered at or near the little village of Tabo in Spiti. H. Paidar returned to Poo on the Sutlej, and followed the river down to Sarahan where he gave himself up and made a full report to the police. The murderers were arrested.’1 It was the first such crime reported in Spiti for over 40 years.2 Perhaps this was for the first time that Spiti was reported in such a bad light.

The earliest travellers here were the famous Gerard brothers. They explored 'Bashair, Spiti and Kanwar* (Kinnaur) in 1817.3 Since then except for a mountaineering party it was cocooned in its own fold.

Spiti which literally means 'middle country' lies between India and Tibet, and across the main chain of the Himalaya. One of the routes from Kinnaur allows an easy route in to Spiti. It is now motorable and kept open for most of the year. The original 6 week journey on foot is reduced to 24 hours, but is equally tiring with crowded buses, road-blocks and unmetalled roads. About 10 km ahead of Puh, the Satluj river enters India cutting through the Himalaya near Shipki la. The Spiti river flows into Satluj after its turbulent journey, at Khab. The road climbs up a series of loops (Kah loops) in 10 km to enter the barren lands of Hangrang valley. About 30 km, ahead of Chango one enters Spiti at Sumdo. A road branches east to Kaurik, at the bottom of which Pare Chu river re-enters India. The Spiti river cuts the valley almost in the centre with side valleys joining it broadly from the east and west.

Eastern Valleys

The road goes along the Spiti river, the valley floor itself now above 3700 m (12,000 ft) all along. Valleys open up on the east. The first eastern valley is of Giu nala. This short valley leads to the Lingti valley in the north and also has an exit to Tibet. Ahead at the Lingti village, the river with the same name meets Spiti river. Iingti is one of the largest and the longest valleys of Spiti. It is 60 km long and at its northeastern head, on the Tibetan border stands Gya (6794 m) the highest peak in Himachal. (It is 3 m higher than Leo Pargial).

Fold-cut sketch 3

SPITI HIMACHAL PRADESH

SPITI HIMACHAL PRADESH

CENTRAL KARAKORAM

CENTRAL KARAKORAM

Further ahead one reaches Kaja (412 km from Shimla) the administrative headquarters of Spiti. It is a small place with a few locals but many government employees. It has electricity supplied through a hydro-electric plant from the Ratang valley. Complete with video-parlour, eating houses and rest house it is a far cry from the earlier days, and other parts of Spiti.

Ahead of Kaja the main road crosses the Spiti river onto its western bank. But to the east are the valleys of Shilla nala (though it does not lead to this legendary peak) and Parilungbi nala. This latter nala leads to the famous Parang la (5600 m) which leads to Chumar in the Rupshu district of Ladakh. Some early crossings of this pass by Europeans have been recorded.4 An alternate pass, Takling la (5500 m) is easier and completes the picture of eastern Spiti.

All these valleys are small in size except the Lingti which goes deep into the mountains taking a northwesterly turn at its junction with the Chaksachan Lungpa nala. At its head lies the pass of Yangzi Diwan (5890 m) and across lies the peak, Parilungbi (6166 m). Descending from the pass on the other side one joins the Parang la route, the relay completing the circle. At the head of Chaksachan Lungpa valley stands the majestic Gya. It is a stupendous rock monolith and offers one of the finest challenges. This peak is circumvented by Pare Chu river. Pare Chu starts at the foot of Parang la and flows to the northeast. After about 30 km it takes a huge turn to the south to enter Tibet for an 85 km journey. It again takes a sharp westerly turn to re-enter India at Kaurik and meets Spiti river at Sumdo. This peculiar course at a very high elevation with a fast flow of water is unique.

The Western Valleys

If the eastern valleys had relations with Ladakh and Tibet, the western valleys are joined to Kinnaur and Kulu. After entering Spiti from Sumdo, the large Pin river flows from the southwest exactly opposite the Lingti river. This long valley gives major accesses to Spiti. Teri Khango (4865 m) leads to Pin valley from the Bhabha valley of Kinnaur. The Manirang la (5520 m) allows access from the Ropa valley of Kinnaur to Pin. Little further to the west, the Pin-Parbati pass (5319 m) leads to the Parbati valley and Kulu.

North of the Pin valley lie three still relatively unknown valleys: Parahio, Ratang and Gyundi. Each is a narrow gorge, difficult of approach. Each has a host of peaks, side valleys and no easy passes on the Kulu side. Parahio bifurcates from the Pin valley. Gyundi has three major branches, each a valley by itself. It is proposed to declare the Parahio valley a National Park. This will forbid all entry into the valley by locals, in order to preserve the flora and fauna. The difficult Ratang gorge now boasts of a hydroelectric station right near the glacier. A 10 km road has been blasted out in this gorge. Finally, at the northern end the road climbs up to Kunzum la (4550 m) the traditional western exit into Lahul (and Kulu over the Rohthang pass). This road leads to Manali (201 km from Kaja) and is covered by buses (in 10 hours) and trucks, daily for 6 months in the year.

Climbs and Explorations

Mountaineers have visited Spiti sporadically. The first climber in the area was J. O. M. Roberts in 1939. He made the first ascent of Chau Chau Kang Nilda (CCKN) (6303 m) (then known as Guan Nelda).5 J. de. V. Graaff and K. Snelson recceed the area in 1952. But some of the most admirable exploration was done by P. F. Holmes in 1955 and 1956. In the first trip, with T. H. Braham he entered the Ratang valley and made fine ascents. They briefly entered Gyundi valley and made some detailed observations. CCKN was also climbed and the mystery about the height of $hilla clearly established.6 On his return visit in 1956, Holmes was most energetic in climbing and exploring the Ratang and Parahio systems. He ultimately crossed two interesting passes, first from Ratang to Parahio and then into the Dibibokri nala to Kulu. It is to his credit that such a difficult and unknown area was well recorded. To date, no other party has ventured into these gorges, which remain a most inviting area.

Similarly the Langti valley had no visitors till 1983. An Indian team led by Harish Kapadia entered the valley till the Tangmor gorge stopped the party. They returned to Kaja and explored the approaches from Shilla jot, further to the north. In the bargain, 5 peaks were climbed, but the full exploration of upper Langti eluded them.7 They returned in 1987 fortified by the earlier experience. Langti valley was penetrated to its head, the problem of locating Gya was solved and the peak photographed. Crossing over Yangzi Diwan pass (5890 m) they crossed the watershed to Ladakh and climbed Parilungbi (6166 m). {Shilla for the first time was attempted from the north and also from its eastern col. They returned via Shilla jot completing the full exploration and climbing various other peaks in the different side valleys.

Other climbers to Spiti, have mostly repeated the ascents of CCKN, Shilla and Kanamo, all near the Langja village. Their activities are tabulated with references, at the end of the article.

No account about Spiti would be complete without the mention of its many other facets. It has a unique store-house of shales and a unique geological collection. Its Gompas (monasteries) are gights to behold by their positions, and here the religion is a real guiding force. In the last few years it has witnessed much better administration, progress by way of road-building, bus services and canals. The average Spitian is better off even in the worst of winters. Of course some loss in cultural values is evident, but then, every progress has its price.

In spite of the greater access and communication, luckily for mountaineers there has not been an excess of climbing activity-To a mountain lover it is still an unknown and inviting proposition with several trekking routes and hundreds of unclimbed peaks. To an outsider, let alone the mountains, even the area and name Spiti inspires awe. It is as forbidden as ever. After Schmaderer's murder, Paidar had gone back to the internment camp. Thank God he did not stay seven years and write about it !

REFERENCES

  1. Abode of Snow, p. 286.
  2. See H.J. Vol. XV, p. 69 for the full account by H. Paidar.
  3. Abode of Snow, p. 86.
  4. See H.J. Vol. I, p. 79, Vol. VIII, p. 1181.
  5. See H.J. Vol. XII, p. 129.
  6. See Mountain and A Monastery by P. F. Holmes. Also H.J. Vol. XX, p. 185.
  7. See H.J. Vol. 40, p. 96 for details about Shilla.

 

Select bibliography of books on Spiti:

  1. Himalayan Wonderland by M. 3. Gill. (Describes rituals and traditions of Spiti).
  2. Himalayan Circuit by G. P. Kftosla. (Covers cultural traditions).
  3. Mountain and A Monastery by P. F. Holmes. (Describes two visits and climbs. Most exhaustive record).
  4. Himalayan Odyssey by T. H. Braham. (See chapter on Spiti).
  5. Men and Mules on Mission of Democracy by P. Sharma. (Describes work of an election party to Spiti).
  6. District Gazetteer of Lahul and Spiti. Government of Hima-chal Pradesh. (Covers mostly administrative details).
  7. Temples and Legends of Himachal Pradesh by P. C. Koy Chaudhury. (See chapter on Spiti).
  8. Indo-Tibet Border Police Bulletin, October-December 1975* (See article by K. C. Mehra, a most exhaustive work on Spiti).

 

CLIMBS IN SPITI

1. Shilla (6132 m)
(Place of Monastery)

Year Party Reference
1860 Climbed by unnamed kha-lasi of Survey of India. Synoptical Volume XXXV 1910.
1952 Recce by South African party. (J. de V. Graaff and K. E. Snelson).
1966 Climbed by Indian team (R. J. Kumar) on 19 and 20 July. HJ Vol. XXVII, p. 185.
HC NL 24, p. 5.
1985 Climbed by Indian team (S. Bhattacharya) on 31 August. HJ Vol. 42, p. 190
HC NL 39, p. 21.
1986 Attempted by Indian team. (S. Roy Chaudhury). HC NL 39, p. 21.
1987 Attempted by Indian team. (Harish Kapadia) from north and east cols. HJ 44, HC NL 41.

 

2. Chau Chau Kang Nilda (6303 m)
(Blue Moon in the Sky)

Year Party Reference
1939 First ascent by J. O. M. Roberts. HJ Vol. XII, p. 129
AJ Vol. 52, p. 233.
1955 Second ascent by Peter Holmes and T. H. Braham. HJ Vol. XX, p. 78.
1966 Third ascent by Indian team. (R. J. Kumar). HJ Vol. XXVII, p. 185.
HC NL 24, p. 5.
1981 Climbed by Indian team. (M. H. Contractor and R. Vora). HC NL 35, p. 25.
1983 Attempted by Indian team. (Arun Samant and M. H. Contractor). HJ Vol. 40, p. 96
HC NL 37, p. 30.
1984 Climbed by Indian team. (B. P. Roy). HJ 42, I/N 7
HC NL 38, p. 16.
1985 Climbed by Indian team. (N. Chakraborty). HC NL 40, p. 20.
1987 Climbed by Indian team. (A. Roy). HC NL 41

 

Kolahoi, Neve-Mason couloir and rock ridge.

Kolahoi, Neve-Mason couloir and rock ridge. (J. A. Jackson)

Carry to C 1. Seracs of north glacier. Kolahoi summit beyond.

Carry to C 1. Seracs of north glacier. Kolahoi summit beyond. (J. A. Jackson)

Climbing the Neve-Mason couloir.

Climbing the Neve-Mason couloir.

3. Other Peaks climbed or attempted:

1. (a) Kanamo (5964 m) Indian 1966 (R. J. Kumar) Climbed. HJ XXVII, p. 185
HC NL 24, p. 5.
(b) Rock Tower (c. 6100 m) (near Shilla) Climbed.
2. (a) Zumto (c. 5800 m)
(b) Tserip (c. 5980 m)
(c) Kawu (c. 5910 m)
(All near Shilla jot above Langja).
Indian 1983 (Harish Kapadia) Climbed all. HJ Vol. 40, p. 96
HC NL 37, p. 30.
3. (a) 5945 m (19,500 ft)
(b) c, 6100 m (c. 20,500 ft)
(Both near Ratang-Parahio pass)
British team 1955 (T. H. Braham and Peter Holmes). Climbed both. AJ Vol. 293, 1956 p. 296.
(c) Ratang Tower (6340 m) British team 1956 (Peter Holmes). Ref. Book 3.
(d) 'Moby Dick' c. 6100 m.
(e) Boomerang 6310 m.
Peaks in Lingti Valley:
Climbed these and 5 other peaks in Ratang valley.
4. (a) Lagma (5761 m)
(b) Sibu (5700 m)
(Near Tangmor gorge)
(c) Tangmor (5900 m)
(d) Sisbang (c. 5250 m)
Indian 1983 (Harish Kapadia) Climbed both.
Attempted both
HJ Vol. XX, p. 78.
HC NL 37, p. 30.
5 (a) Lama Kyent (6040 m)
(On Lingti/Rupshu divide).
(b) Parilungbi (6166 m)
(In Rupshu across Lingti)
(c) Labrang (c. 5900 m)
(d) Runse (6175 m)
(e) Geling (c.6100 m)
(f) Gyadung (c. 6160 m)
(All on Gyagar ridge opposite Chaksachan la)
Indian team 1987 (Harish Kapadia) Climbed all HJ VOL. 44, P. 96
HC NL 41, P. 39
6 (a) Lhakhang (6250 m) (North of Shila)
(b) Gyagar (c.6400 m) (North of Chaksachan la).
Attempted both Indian team 1987 (Harish Kapadia) HJ VOL. 44, P. 96
HC NL 41, P. 39

 

HJ = Himalayan Journal
HC NL = Himalayan Club Newsletter
AJ = Alpine Journal.

 

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