............. Aryan's words: "No words to describe the ride. First time doing a ride over 5 days and it has been mindblowing!"

Losar being inaccessible is probably due either to frozen ice near the Kioto village or land-slips in that area. This village lies almost mid-way between Kaza and Losar and the road takes a sinous route deep into a 'u' shaped gorge to cross the Spiti river from a bridge built over the narrowest part of the valley. This region perpetually remains in shade and ice from the winters (temperatures here touch -30 degC) takes longer to melt and clear away. Moreover, the mountain slopes around this place are loose shale that usually slips down all over the road due to the snows in winter. Takes a while to clear it.

Anyways, Kibber is great though it has recently been upsurped of its 'highest village connected by road' by another village in its neighborhood which is some 8kms distant and higher by another 1000 odd feet. Unfortunately I don't remember its name as of now.

And @Bandhav, if you talk to them again on the phone, tell them that they should try to visit the village if Geyu (pronounced 'gee-you' ..gee as in game) (its between Tabo and Chango) and is about 7-8 kms up from the Spiti highway. There is a diversion going up and left from a bridge some 25 odd kms from Tabo towards Chango. This village has a mummified body of a monk that was discovered by accident by a road building crew of the BRO. The monk mummy got hit by a digging shovel and started bleeding from its head. Caused quite a flurry in the international anthropology circuit. The mummy is still preserved under a glass case. Check out these links for info on the mummy:

Monk mummy found in mountains - www.phayul.com

The Mystery of the Self-Made Mummy - Stranger than Fiction

I wanted to visit this place in 2007 but the road there had collapsed. (It is a kuccha road all the way and the place is above 14000ft). Will try this time if I go to spiti in September.

Wish all of them my very best of luck for the return ride...

Sorry to interrupt sir, But this place called geyu can be very accessible on a two wheeler. Btw the road is a nice one apart from the last 500 or so meters. that temple is maintained by some army post. I did that in 29 Nov, 2007 and the road was completely tarred. Those army guyz were extremely friendly & were not even letting us go back cuz it was already 4 in the afternoon. actually he was from haryana & me too so tht statehood u see. Still that temple is usually closed & only if some1 arrives there, then they open it. then also they will ask why do you want to see it. But after a bit of persuasion, they do agree. He still have some hair & i tell you something, its really terrifying as that place is bit shady. Also we had to play volley ball for some time. then only we were allowed to leave. Still this was no compulsion. Other wise a great place to visit anyday. Only this army post. actually a huge one. And please correct me or update me if something have changed about that place.

@Sticky: In which part OF asuggested that Geyu cant be accessed on two wheeler? on the contrary he suggested the riders to visit that particular place.

No apologies needed there

I last went that side in the beginning of Sept '07 and the first km or so from the bridge up was all dirt. My ZMA was giving problems with misfiring and climbing those 8kms on a road that seemed rather broken (with my wife as pillion) seemed quite an issue with the bike un-cooperative. Asked a local passing by who said the road some 3kms ahead had caved in and so getting there on the bikes would not be possible. (That year for once in my five previous trips to the region did I experience almost near continuous rain/drizzle). The BRO guys were fixing it but then road repair is not counted in days but weeks at such places. So couldn't make it then. But I definitely plan to visit the place if I go this year.

Nice to know that you did manage to get there and see the mummy. Yes, there are restrictions to viewing it, primarily as it is considered sacred by people of that region and also repeated exposure to the moisture from our breath will degenerate the body rather quickly. In fact it is the dryness of the region that has helped its preservation.

Telling Aryan and co was a late thought actually. I doubt if they had time for it.

Thanks for the 'real' visit update. Keep these flowing.

Edit: Never mind Bandhav....he probably confused my stating the reasons for Losar being inaccessible with the Geyu thing.

There are many photographs and a lot of information that I want to share in the shape of a photo log (a trip log +pictures). But, quite naturally, that would take a few days.

But, in the meantime, I just wanted to share a picture; take it as a teaser!