Moon: In the left columns, you can . I have heard that the camps are very basic there. Day 6 : 10th June : Tabo monastery in morning. Also, you will be able to see a lot of constellations and stars during that time. The western interior national parks are probably the very best places to view the Milky Way. It will help if you go there when there is no moon. March-May: The galactic core will first become visible a few hours before sunrise. Hi Dheeraj , When you do get to see it, on a moonless night and in its full splendor, its very hard not to be in complete awe. They are reminded each night how vast the universe is; what tiny, microscopic-nanoscopic specks we humans truly are; living in the outer edge of the Milky Way galaxy, a pin wheeling disk composed of 200400 billion stars like our sun. So, you have very little time in a year (mid-June to October), in case you are interested in the entire Spiti Valley circuit that is Delhi Shimla Kinnaur Kaza (Spiti Valley) Kunzum Pass Rohtang Pass Manali Delhi. Now we had to wait and watch. The Hindustan Tibet Road remains open throughout the year via Kinnaur Valley, and you can make a journey to Kaza or Spiti via Shimla Kinnaur all around the year because there is no high mountain pass that comes on this route which gets heavy snowfall. Moonlight. . Go when it's dark enough to see a clear star-infested sky. In April you can make individual trips to these places like flying into Leh for Ladakh trip and going coming back form Shimla Kinnaur side for Spiti Valley trip. I am planning to cross the Kunzum pass on the 22nd of September on the way from chandratal to Manali. It took us another hour to reach Manali and find a hotel to spend the night. The best time to catch the Milky Way is near midnight from June to early August. In recent years, even the roads from Delhi to Manali have also caused major concerns. (But say and think VEE-ga, not VAY-ga.). The ever-reliable weather.com can get you a forecast for any given location. All calendars are based on latitude, so if you dont find one for your location, you can use a Calendar from a different region as long as youre located at a similar latitude (just consider the possible time difference). Day 30 | Sangla/Chitkul (if you cannot extend, skip) Summer is the best time to see the Milky Way, according to astronomy experts based in the UAE. January, February, and March are called the extreme winter months in Spiti Valley when there is a dense blanket of white snow all around you in Spiti. Day 09 : Manali Delhi, WE R PLANNING TO VISIT KAZA,MANALI ON FEB 1 CAN YOU GIVE ME THE TOUR PLAN, You can read: Spiti in Winters Most Common Itinerary and How to plan a trip to Spiti Valley in Winters. As you plan to stay at Chandratal, I will suggest keeping it simple and stay either at Langza or Kibber. We me and my wife 50 and 47 years of age are planning to go Jalandhar-Simla-kaza-kunjum-Rohtang -Manali -jalandhar from 6 October to 13 oct. 2017 by Pajero sports. I with 2 of my friends planning to start my trip on 23rd June from Shimla and end on 30th June at Manali on bike . I will be traveling with my partner so Im thinking of taking rented self drive SUV or do you suggest to hire bike in respect to road condition. Where to See the Milky Way. Even the HRTC FB page posted about this and so did the Spiti Valley travels on their FB page. Finally around 1AM, I am done. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The whole experience in a short video: After coming down we drove to another spot where we found group of male Blue Sheep. Spiti Valley weather is quite cold during this time, and water starts to freeze in the water pipes. The car had covered almost 550km and even though I could just eek by visiting Mud and then eventually fueling at Kaza, I did not want to take a risk. Well, it is one of the good times to make a road trip to Spiti Valley and a desperate retreat from the HEAT of northern cities of India. 1 5. And how much should i keep in my pocket, are homestays become costly during this time. The Milky Way is difficult to view with much light pollution so it is important to view with dark skies. DO NOT miss to taste them or buy them if possible; I am sure you would not have tasted such an apple before . In the Eastern U.S., dark skies are pretty hard to come by, but in the west, they are quite abundant. No other animals spotted so we moved to a different location. For taking Lancer Cedia to Spiti Valley, Possible = Yes, Difficult = Yes, at quite a few place. Go to a dark place with no lights. Temperature To minimize issues with the moon, you need to be able to track when the moon will rise and set. Gompo spotted a pair of Ruddy Shelducks nearby a small pond but were quite far away. If possible postpone the trip by a week so that there is even higher chance of having the Manali Kaza road open. follow my YouTube Channel or follow me on Instagram to ask your travel questions. And we want to mix home stays and camping along the way. My husband and I just returned from a wonderful week visiting the five national parks in Utah and saw the dark sky in several places, especially at Capitol Reef N.P. Where: Bickley, 35 kilometres (22 miles) east of Perth. Is it good itinerary for spiti from delhi via manali The best time of the year, near the new moon dates, to image the Milky Way on the outer banks is in the spring: 1) Beginning in late February the central core of the Milky Way arches to the East over the Atlantic Ocean in dark sky in the early morning hours before dawn; Any music you love will work wonders, though classical, or ambient is often especially great. Posted on July 3, 2022 by . The road at Nako is closed due to a massive landslide at Malling Nala. A new Moon night with clear skies is the best time to visit Al Quaa, where you can also camp overnight. A pristine night sky reveals these regions of the Milky Way. Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik), Day 17 | Pangong Tso Lake Shey Thicksey Leh However, this is considered one of the better times to travel over the road to Spiti Valley that is Hindustan Tibet Highway. Pl suggest with regard to climate and weather on those days. (we are interested in doing a full circuit trip from delhi to spiti) It will be monsoon season, you should read: 10 Tips for a Trip to Spiti Valley in Monsoons. Millions and billions of stars glittering like diamond dust. We would have early dinner and if weather permitted come back up here for shoot before 9pm. These are the best months for planning your Spiti Valley road trip. [1] Ode to The Present by Anne Dillard. In the ancient worlda world free from bright lightsits something you couldnt help but marvel at. I will request that you please refer the following articles for planning a trip to Spiti Valley: Spiti Valley via Manali | How to Plan Your Journey AND Spiti Valley via Kinnaur | How to Plan Your Journey, They have all the details. Regards, Harish sir, It starts to get cold during that time of the year in Spiti valley and there can be occasional snowfall as well. This is the place where knowledge can safely be putaside. It will take about 10-11 Hrs to reach Kaza, Key monastery from Manali. Kunzum Pass gets closed by November for the next 6-7 months, so one cannot complete the circuit from Shimla Kinnaur to Manali during this period. I will try to rework & delay as much as possible. This glowing line of light is the center of our galaxy, as seen from one of its spiral arms where we are located. Appreciate your efforts for helping fellow travelers on their journey. Start early and reach the origin by sunset. To help you plan your Milky Way images in 2021, Ive created a series of Milky Way Calendars where you can see, at a glance, the best days of the year to capture our galaxy according to your location. But its also a fantastic experience to share. O/n Narkanda. Image: Arches National Park. we are 4 friends planning for spiti vally around 15th june, 2018. Cover Mulbekh Maitrey, Lamayuru Moanstery, Lunar Landscapes Located in northwest Georgia on Lake Allatoona , Red Top Mountain State Park is also a good place to see the Milky Way, Lancaster said. Previously, our galaxy was thought to possess four major arms. and which week should i prefer? The temp had dropped to around 0 making it harder to stay out. And where? how is american identity changed by the 20th century. Best Time To Visit Spiti Image Source May end to the beginning of October is considered the best time to visit Spiti because that's the time when Shimla - Kinnaur highway is open, which makes the valley accessible to the rest of the world. O/n Narkanda. September-November: The Milky Way will be best seen in the early evening. Checkout rock carved statue at Khartse Khar, Day 8 | Kargil Lamayuru Leh Both of these cameras are exceptionally good setups for the Milky Way and can produce stunning images from RAW files at ISO 6400 or even 12,800. Bring along a jacket or a nice blanket to keep yourself from getting too chilled while stargazing. In North America, thats during the summer months. The Milky Way is one of the most spectacular things to view in the night sky. In a new timelapse video by Shashanka Nanda, these sights of what is also known as "middle country" - seeing as it is located between Tibet and India - can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own. Red-tinted lights are great for seeing what you need to see, but not messing up your night vision. Arrived at Hikkim just before 2pm. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. As I wouldnt get my leave (for 14-15 days at a stretch), I have no other alternative than mid October. Generally speaking, the best time to see the Milky Way is during the Milky Way season, which goes from February to October, usually between 00:00 and 5:00, and on nights with a new moon. Well PRashad, please read: 5 Reasons to Avoid Manali Kaza Road in October. Its because our eyes cannot distinguish the individual stars that make up the glowing band of light that it all appearsmilky.. Shooting during a new moon can significantly reduce light pollution your shot. Sir , i am planning to travel spiti this october from 10 to 17 .which route should be taken by us ? But the so-called stargazing season starts in late August and ends in late April. The valley experiences the balmy and warm afternoons and the perfect time to explore the valley. We reached Chitkul just past 5pm. @Debanshu_B, alpha1, diffuser, digitalnirvana, Dr.AD, drpavan, GTO, haisaikat, Mustang Sammy, Rajain, Rehaan, RJ2285, Samba, Samfromindia, shipnil, supertinu, sweetvar26, thirugata, trippytragopan, veloce.95, YanTra Makto, Both of my rear tyres got big cuts in Ladakh which were replaced with new ones when I got back. In the most undisturbed areas, some 15,000 stars are on display as is the sprawling Milky Way. It's fun to see the stars emerge as the dark comes. In such a case, it will be better to visit from Manali side only. You can find star parties spread all across the country. The altitude is around 15000 feet and you feel you are as high as the peaks you see. considered the best time to view the Milky Way. Hi Dheeraj, A good book on tape, especially a space opera, is just the thing to spark your imagination. Hence, you need to prepare very well for your trip to Spiti in these winter months. I will recommend that you read: Spiti in Winters Most Common Itinerary and How to plan a trip to Spiti Valley in Winters. So when will best time of year to travel both together. The Spiti Valley temperature in winter can go well below -20 deg C, so you must go well prepared with proper woolen clothing. Sonmarg, Jammu & Kashmir 10. Driving license is necessary to drive/ride, Firstly thanks for your valuable information, O/n Kaza, Day 8 : 12th June : Kaza day trip to Langza, Hikkim, Komic & back. I need your help And low in the south where the Milky Way has a brightening and a bulge, thats the center of our galaxy. The Milky Way over Grand Canyon. My frank and modest advice will always be to avoid traveling from Manali to Kaza in later October and November. Its almost a religious experience. It's easy to make sure all photos save as RAW while using Pro Mode on the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Many major port cities offer nighttime cruises specifically to get out of the city and look at the night sky. It had started rising over the horizon around 10pm and the core would be visible a bit late in the night as it was hidden behind the mountains. We, five couple with children, wants to visit spiti valley during next May, 2018. The road is same but I can confirm from the locals and update. Its as if starry glow of our galaxys edgewise portion has suddenly been discovered after a long absence. Awesome, then, in that case, look no further and plan the trip as defined below to include Zanskar Valley too in the plan. Kaza/Key So, even the Spiti Valley weather is somehow becoming unpredictable nowadays. Enetering from Shimla or from Manali? Copyright 2009-2 Devil On Wheels (OPC) Pvt. It is estimated that the Milky Way contains 100 to 400 billion stars and the oldest are nearly as old as the universe itself. Please keep an eye on weather before planning to travel to Spiti Valley or Kinnaur Valley in monsoon. Then, the sky offers only a smattering of stars to see. It was quite cold around 5 and uncle went to sleep inside the car. Just had a question. Spiti Valley is located at an altitude of (9680 - 13450 ft) above sea level. If you stay at Kibber then you can travel to Chichcham and further to Chandratal directly and explore a new route too. Look between 8 and 10 P.M. in the evening, looking up and towards the south. Unlike other types of photography, shooting our galaxy requires you to consider many astronomical factors, like the sunset, the moon phase, and the Milky Ways location in the sky. There is very little humidity in the high-desert. See the, Check for clear skies. The presence of the moon will wash out the light of the stars, just like light pollution from the cities. Much appreciated. We first see the stars in motion, thanks to 26 years of data from ESOs telescopes. Yes, the roads especially Manali Kaza is worse than Ladakh roads. Can you please tell the how can we get the rohtang pass permit or is DL very necessary in those areas? Whats it like to sleep in a rooftop tent? I am. saurabh@siaphotography.in Call Us Now! You can enter from Manali side and come back from Shimla side. The Milky Way captured by Juan Carlos Dela Cruz . run, so I will not 100% rely on the authenticity as if it is coming from GOVT. I dont want to get disappointed coming from South, this will my first trip to north. You need to rely on limited homestay options in Spiti Valley. Gompo meets us at the homestay. Day 5 : Losar Chandratal Manali But, the struggle will be there due to low GC and car will surely take a beating. Thank you for sharing the contact details, will surely let you know whenever in future I will plan a trip. The dark sky window each month is the best time to photograph the Milky Way. Can you tell me what kind of things i can expect during this 1june to 10th june? Ladakh is one of the best places for stargazing in India. I have read your blog and your advise on the best season to travel to Spiti. (Thats only our point of view from Earth. These suns are so concentrated that you see billowing clouds ofstars! The sun would set after 7pm and will be dark after 7.30pm. Jul 2, 2016 - Milky way rising over Kunzum La The Galactic core rising over Kunzum la, a highest mountain pass in Spiti valley from our camp near Chandrataal. Is it usually passable without too many problems? I mean i love little snow but the greenery medows in between the route is also so wonderful, would i be see both during the route? So please kindly provide us itinerary for same. The road from Manali to Kaza is closed, and most hotels are shut off. TIPs- 1. Nestled amidst the Himalayas, at 13980 ft above sea level, with its desert climate and utter remoteness, the town of Kaza is probably one of the best places on the planet to capture the night sky. If you visit during April and May, try to face your telescope or binoculars south and start the session at the pre-dawn hours. The Milky Way neatly splits the sky and passes directly overhead. We have not visited Leh-Ladakh yet, instead we are visiting spiti valley first. The Ultimate Guide to Viewing the Milky Way. Camera settings. There was a major landslide this year which washed away the road so they had to cut the mountain more to to make the road again. This is like an encyclopedia into Spiti. We use cookies to provide our services, for analytics, marketing and to improve your experience. Group of 3 people. , My pleasure buddy !! Clear Night No clouds. A little bit later the traffic had stopped because a Maruti Ciaz was stuck at a. I was thinking to land Chandigarh and start trip from there. When is the best time for Spiti Valley road trip? Since you are versed with terrains, it should not be an issue but just dont any unnecessary risks. One is welcomed with a calm and serene environment. Its 8.45pm when we finally are on the main road. There's a shortcut as you leave and I had to take it. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Try to confirm the weather conditions before . Planning is key to capturing the best Milky Way images. We would leave early around 6am, do lot of hiking, find blue sheep, and maybe a snow leopard too. Overnight at Leh, Day 14 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping OR Monastery tour The aqua colors of water in the river add jewels to the pristine beauty all around Spiti Valley. I am not sure about the state of the road though. Indian Astronomical Observatory, Leh-Ladakh 7. It appears as a band of light because its the disk-shaped structure that is viewed from earth. The summer months of March-June are considered to be the best to visit Spiti not only due to the pleasant weather but also fewer crowds.