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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

Farmers at work in a village in Spiti. Credit: Discover India
Farmers at work in a village in Spiti
Credit: Discover India
Spiti
The people and the culture of Spiti evolved over the centuries largely isolated from the rest of the world. The population of Spiti had to deal with two problems. Arable land was one problem -- not much of it is available in this barren region. The other problem was that of the rising population. Unlike the neighboring regions of Lahaul and Kinnaur, polyandry is not followed in Spiti.

Girls from Kaza, Spiti. Credit: Discover India
Girls from Kaza, Spiti
Credit: Discover India

In the Spiti system, the eldest son inherits the property. The eldest daughter gets the mother's jewellery. The younger siblings get nothing. They have to fend for themselves. Many usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans Himalayas -- the monasteries and nunneries. This is one of the reasons why even today religion plays a major role in the lives of the people.

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