LIFE AT THE TOP

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT READIES AMBITIOUS PLANS TO BOOST TOURISM IN THE REGION, SPITI LOCALS ARE GRAPPLING WITH CHALLENGES POSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND SCARCE RESOURCES

-  SHREYA CHEEMA

A WORLD WITHIN A WORLD. RUDYARD Kipling's novel, "Kim," may only be partly set in the majestic valley of Spiti, but there are barely any other descriptions that have surpassed his to become more accurate.

Set in the northeastern end of Himachal Pradesh, the high-altitude Himalayan region has interested diverse kinds of travellers. While adventurers are drawn to the surprises of the rugged terrains, plenty make the journey to discover its unique natural beauty and, even more, come to uncover the history of "The Middle Land." Even in October, when temperatures dip to minus degrees, the cafés run full and finding a room in one of the homestays or the few hotels becomes difficult.

However, this is not a simple stroke of luck. Continuous developments in the tourism sector have been a steady priority for the state government. "Tourism is the main source of employment here, second only to agriculture. We have over 200 homestays across Spiti Valley and Langza. Our current initiatives are centred around enhancing accessibility to these remote areas. The government is already working on air connectivity, proposing a heliport in Rangrik. The Manali to Kaza route is under improvement by the BRO, and once connected, accessibility from Manali will increase. We're also working on roads from Shimla to improve access," says Rahul Jain, ADC, Kaza. He also shares that an INR 370 crore project is underway to provide stable 24/7 electricity in Spiti, as the current supply in Kinnaur suffers from voltage drops.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS Efforts to develop Spiti into a thriving tourist destination are not just limited to legislation.

The region shines as a fitting example of how public-private partnerships can improve local lives and create more opportunities.