Places to Visit

Top reasons why you must visit Jispa in June

If you are in love with lofty mountains, meandering rivers, deep valleys, and road trips to awesome but less-explored places, then you must add Jispa to your bucket list.

Jispa is a beautiful village, located literally in the lap of the Himalayas. Surrounded by towering mountains, Jispa is situated at an altitude of around 3200 meters or 10498 feet on the bank of Bhaga river on Manali-Leh highway in Lahaul Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. To reach Jispa, you first need to arrive in Manali. Manali to Jispa distance is around 100 kms and can be covered in around 3 to 4 hours, if you are driving your own vehicle and don’t get stuck in traffic jam especially in and around Manali.

From being a halting place for bikers and travellers on their way to Leh to one of the hottest mountain destinations, Jispa has come a long way. Once having visited Jispa, you will earn unforgettable experiences and form excellent memories of this place, to be cherished forever.

You can travel up to Jispa most months of the year except the winters of course. But June is the best month to travel to Jispa. Here are the top reasons why you should travel to Jispa in June, like we did.

1. Jispa road condition is best in June

The road condition especially from Atal Tunnel up to Jispa is best in June. The road becomes smoother in June as there is no snow left on the road. There is also no threat of nallas or rivulets cutting off the highway unlike during monsoon season in July or August or sometimes even September. June is also the safest month to travel as there is no danger of sudden landslides or even cloudbursts that frequently occur in Lahaul Spiti during rainy season.

2. Jispa weather becomes mild & pleasant in June

Jispa is quite a cold place most time of the year. The minimum temperature can drop to 0 or below even in the summer months of May and June, especially when it rains. June is the only month when Jispa has relatively more sunny days making the weather mild and bearable, almost pleasant. You can stay in a tent without shivering in cold the whole night. The day’s maximum temperature also raises enough to keep you warm without having to wear too many clothes. By September, the mercury starts to drop again, making the whole region colder. Bottomline: June is the best month weather wise.

3. Jispa valley is at its best in June

Jispa valley is the most beautiful in June. The days are warm and sunny, wild flowers are in bloom, bluish waters of Bhaga river sparkle under a bright sun, and the entire Jispa valley becomes vibrant and comes alive under snow-capped Himalayas, there is not much of a high wind, making it the perfect time for exploring this village and its surroundings. You can walk on the bank of Bhaga river, go for a day hike and visit nearby Buddhist monasteries.

4. You can also visit the nearby Dipak Taal

Dipak Taal is one of the three prominent glacial lakes in Lahaul and Spiti. The other two being the Chandra Taal, the source of Chandra river, and Suraj Taal, the source of Bhaga river.  Both Chandra and Bhaga rivers merge in Tandi village and is called Chenab after entering Jammu and Kashmir. Dipak Taal comes after Darcha and is around 20 kms from Jispa. It takes less than an hour to reach this beautiful serene lake. You can stop by the lake and explore the valley here.

5. Jispa road travel is awesome in June

The road trip from Manali to Jispa is one of the most awesome and beautiful ones in the Himalayas. While from Manali to Atal Tunnel, the mountains are pristine and lush green and a treat to the eyes, after Atal tunnel, the landscape transports you to a completely different world. You drive along meandering Chandra river (before Tandi village) and Bhaga river (after Tandi village) cutting through snow-capped mighty mountains.

6. Jispa is far from the madding crowd of Manali in June

Manali gets overcrowded during May and June. There are frequent traffic jams in the Manali town. Sometimes it becomes difficult to even freely move or walk. And if you are like those who have come to the mountains seeking peace and solitude, then you need to get out of Manali and head for quieter and quaint places like Jispa village. 

7. You can also visit other places of interest on way to Jispa in June

Another added advantage of visiting Jispa in June is that you get the time and opportunity to stop and visit some other fabulous places of interest on your way. Here are some of them:

*Atal Tunnel: On your way to Jispa, you cross the Atal tunnel, the longest highway tunnel (9.02 kms) at an altitude of above 10,000 feet (3048 meters). At the tunnel’s North and South portals, you can stop for a while to appreciate the nature at its most beautiful self.

*Sissu: Your next stop could be Sissu, another beautiful village situated on the bank of Chandra river and known for its trees and the huge waterfall. You can also trek up to the waterfall as by June, there is no longer any snow left on this short trek. You can walk up to the waterfall and reach here in less than an hour.

*Tandi village: Tandi village is the confluence of Chandra and Bhaga rivers. You can stop here and visit the Sangam point as many do on their way.

*Keylong town: Keylong, which is situated near Tandi, is the headquarters of the Lahaul Spiti district. Once, Keylong used to be the most famous place of the entire district. There is an old bazaar here you can visit. Here you will find banks, ATMs, garment shops, food stalls including those of Tibetan dishes like thukpa and momo.

8. Staying options in Jispa

And now the most important question of your trip: Where to stay in Jispa? The answer is that Jispa offers the best accommodation options on the entire Manali-Leh route. You can stay here in the hotels or in the camps. The homestays are also available in Jispa. Jispa is the most favourite staying destination for travellers as over 80 hotels and camping sites have come up here in the last few years. Along with the big brand hotels like Ibex, there are many camping options available — riverside camping, luxury camping etc.

Two persons can stay in a single tent, which have most of the amenities including attached washrooms.  The staying charges start at Rs 2000 per night in most of the camping sites. Extra money is charged for additional bed in the two-person tent. Camping is also available in the nearby Gemur village.

9. Milky Way camping

You can enjoy the best camping experience in Jispa at our partner camping site — Milky Way Camping. It’s one of the best camping sites and most preferred by travellers due to comfortable stay, hygienic premises, and healthy and delicious food. You can also enjoy campfire in the evenings at the Milky Way Camping.

Call or whatsapp Pushap Chander for inquiries and bookings.

Jispa FAQs

Most frequently asked questions and answers

When is Manali to Jispa Road opened?

The entire Manali-Leh road including the stretch from Atal Tunnel up to Jispa is closed every year after October 15, depending upon the amount of snowfall received at that time, and reopened again around May 15, again depending upon the snow condition. While parts of the road are reopened after clearing snow before May 15 for locals, but it’s risky to drive on a slippery highway.

Can elderly and children visit Jispa?

Yes. If you don’t have any medical condition that prevents you from travelling to high altitude areas. As you gain altitude in the mountains, the air starts to get thinner and oxygen level drops. It’s also safe for children to travel to Jispa. It is generally recommended that a preschool child should not go above an altitude of 4000 meters.

What is the oxygen level in Jispa?

At sea level, the effective oxygen percentage in the air is 20.9%. At 3048 meters or 10,000 feet, the effective oxygen level drops to 14.3%. Jispa’s altitude is around 3200 meters or 10498 feet and here the oxygen level is around 14%.

How is the Jispa weather?

It’s mostly cold and extremely cold in winters when minimum temperature falls below several notches and maximum temperature hovers around 0 degrees Celsius. Only May and especially June offers some comfort from the cold and that too if it doesn’t rain.

How’s the road from Manali to Jispa?

It’s a two-lane wide road and a total joy for the motorists. Only when it snows, the road can become slippery and prone to accidents.

How to reach Jispa?

You first need to reach Manali. From Manali, Jispa is around 100 kms via road and this distance can be covered in three to four hours. If you are travelling from Delhi or other parts, then you need to first reach Chandigarh via road, train or air. From Chandigarh you can reach Manali via road in around seven hours. There is air connectivity between Chandigarh and Bhuntar town, which is near Kullu, but it’s poor.

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