National Highway 505 (India)

The terminus at Khab, Kinnaur district is the preferred point of entry to Spiti valley which is located at an average elevation of 3,350 m (10,990 ft).[4] This mostly all-weather access point to Spiti valley from Khab is at an elevation of about 2,600 m (8,500 ft). Travelling from Chandigarh or Shimla to Khab gives a chance for travellers to gradually acclimatize themselves to avoid altitude sickness. NH-505 climbs steeply from Khab Sangam up to Nako (3,662 m (12,014 ft)). It descends to Chango on the Spiti River, then enters Lahaul and Spiti district at Sumdo.

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  NH-505 enters Spiti Valley from bridge over Sutlej river
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  Enroute Khab to Nako
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  Switchback hairpin bends climbing to Nako
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  Leo village on right bank of Spiti, opp. Nako
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  Nako village from NH-505
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  Enroute Nako to Chango

Broad riverbed of Spiti river above Kaza, Kaza-Kibber road on right

From Sumdo, NH-505 runs mostly alongside the Spiti river for about 130 km (81 mi) until Losar. After passing through Hurling, the next town is Tabo with the well-known Tabo Monastery and caves. The highway passes through some unusual clay pillars[9] en route to Kaza, the largest town in Spiti valley. Near Lingti, 15 km (9.3 mi) before Kaza, the 33 km (21 mi) road to Pin Valley National Park branches off over the Attargo Bridge to the right bank of the Spiti.[10] On the Tabo side of Lingti is the road to the Dhanker Monastery. In this section, the riverbed is very wide, up to 500 m (1,600 ft) in places. The river itself is much narrower and meanders in braids along the broad riverbed.[9]

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  Tabo with Spiti River beneath distant cliff, Jun '18
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  Clay pillars, Tabo - Lingti, Jun '18
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  Pin Valley Nat'l Park, Mudh village, Jun '18
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  Kaza in Spiti valley

Key Monastery

After Kaza, NH-505 crosses to the right bank of the Spiti river over the Rangrik Bridge. At the bridge, the Kaza-Kibber road continues on the left bank to Key Monastery (8 km (5.0 mi)) and the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary (15 km (9.3 mi)).[11] NH-505 continues on the right bank running through a flat, narrow valley in which the Spiti river has carved a gorge about 300 m (980 ft) deep. The road crosses back to the left bank 3 km (1.9 mi) before Kialto village. Here, the Kaza-Kibber road rejoins NH-505, a distance of 22 km (14 mi) from Kibber. After Morang and Hanse villages, the valley broadens before Losar village.

After Losar, NH-505 turns up the right bank of the Lichu, a right bank tributary of the Spiti. The road climbs gradually up to Kunzum La, elev. 4,551 m (14,931 ft). There is a temple at the pass.

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  Spiti gorge above Kaza with NH-505 on the right bank (view from Kibber-Kialto road)
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  Spiti gorge with NH-505 on the right and Kibber-Kialto road on the left.
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  Enroute Kaza to Losar
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  Bridge across Spiti river
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  NH505 entering Losar from the east
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  Losar-Kunzum Road
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  Kunzum La, Elevation 4551 m

From Kunzum pass, the highway descends through steep hairpin bends to Batal village on the left bank of the Chandra river. Chandra Taal is a pristine lake on the Chandra River popular with tourists and high-altitude trekkers. The road to Chandra Taal branches off from NH-505 about 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi) from Batal and 8 km (5.0 mi) from Kunzum Pass.[12]

From Batal, NH-505 follows the left bank of the Chandra river, practically running on the riverbed in some places as both sides of the narrow valley are very steep. This section is largely unpaved and impassable during the winter months. Passing through Chotta Dara the highway reaches Chhatru where it crosses to the right bank. It climbs steeply and runs along the top of a cliff overlooking the Chandra river until the terminus at Gramphu (Gramphoo).[5]

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  Bara Shigri Glacier on the right bank of the Chandra
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  NH-505 runs along Chandra riverbed below Batal
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  Batal to Chhatru
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  Chhatru village
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  Chhatru to Gramphu
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  Junction with NH3 on left at Gramphu