The climatic conditions of Spiti are harsh as much of the land forms part of a cold desert where the mercury drops below minus 20 degrees Celsius during winter.
Lahaul-Spiti district, spread over 13,835 sq km, is a place of remote, untouched beauty with just 31,528 people.
The entire district has just two petrol stations - one at Tandi in the Lahaul Valley, which is around 100 km from Manali, and the second in Kaza.
The staple food is buckwheat. Barley, wheat and rice are also consumed, as well as lots of 'chhang' (local extracted beer) and salted tea mixed with butter.
