Spiti has been one of my personal favourites. Its barren valleys with the occasional patch of green reminds me that there is always some fun, something novel away from the hustle-bustle of city life. I was fortunate to have been one of the early visitors to Spiti. After exploring the Lingti valley in the east, I later visited the gorges of Ratang and Khamengar in the west. On such trips a good companion is very essential. And I was lucky to be with either Kaivan Mistry or Muslim Contractor, both of whom love the barrenness so much that they have been heard to complain that Garhwal is too green.

Paul Nunn, the doyen of British mountaineering left a mark on the history of Spiti by climbing Manirang. Paul unfortunately died in the Karakoram one year after we got to know each other well. Many trips together were in store with Paul when destiny snatched him away.

Trevor Braham and Sir Peter Holmes were two of the earliest explorers to Spiti. I corresponded with them and based on their books were some of my subsequent plans. Today things are very different—there are roads, schools and hordes of tourists.