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Lahaul and Spiti

General Info
 ·  Lahaul
    ·  Baralacha Range
    ·  Chandra Valley
    ·  Bhaga Valley
      ·  Keylong
    ·  Chandra-Bhaga Valley
    ·  Great Mountain Mass
    ·  Lingti Plains
 ·  Spiti
    ·  Climate
    ·  Kaza
 ·  Pin Valley

Other Places of Interest

Passes
 ·  Baralacha Pass

Rivers
 ·  Chandra River
 ·  Chandra - Bhaga
 ·  Spiti River

Glaciers
 ·  Bara Shigri Glacier

Lakes
 ·  Chandratal Lake
 ·  Suraj Tal Lake

People
 ·  Lahaulas
    ·  Tradition & culture
 ·  Spiti

Religion

Fairs and Festivals

History
 ·  Lahaul
   Spiti

Visual Delights

The Himalayas - where earth meets sky
Indian Himalayas - Lahaul

Spiti
It is believed that Spiti too came into existence as a principality after the decline of central power in India as was the case with Lahaul. Local rulers had the title of Nonos. They were either descendants of a native family of Spiti or chiefs sent to look after the affairs of Spiti by the rulers of Ladakh.

In the lOth century, Spiti was given to one of the three sons of the King of Ladakh. After that, the history of Spiti was linked with the history of Ladakh for a long time. This region became autonomous whenever the rulers of Ladakh were weak. However they periodically sent tribute to Ladakh, Chamba and Kullu.

Spiti became practically free after the Ladakh-Tibet war of 1681-83. This prompted Man Singh, Raja of Kullu, to invade Spiti and establish a loose control over this principality.

Later on, in the 18th century, control once again passed back to Ladakh. An official was sent from Leh as Governor, but he usually went away after harvest time, leaving the local administration in the hands of the Wazir or Nono. There was a headman for a group of villages for day-to-day administrative affairs.

Spiti remained under the Dogras till 1846 and then passed on to the East India Company after the defeat of the Sikhs. The Nono or hereditary Wazir of Spiti was entrusted with the local administration of this region.

Now Spiti is a part of the district of Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh.

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