Wikipedia

Kibber

Kibber, also Kibber Khas and Khyipur,[1]: 61  is a village high in the Spiti Valley in the Himalayas at 4,270 m (14,010 ft) in Himachal Pradesh in northern India. It contains a monastery and is a base for visiting the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located 19 km (12 mi) from Kaza and a bus service connects them in the summer months. Agriculture forms the backbone of the local economy and lush green fields are abundant. It is the base for visitors to the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, home to about 30 snow leopards. Treks to nearby peaks and to a high pass in the Zanskar range between Spiti and Ladakh start from Kibber.

Kibber
Khyipur[1]: 61 
Village
Kibber village in summer, ca. Sep '15
Kibber village in summer, ca. Sep '15
Kibber is located in Himachal Pradesh
Kibber
Kibber
Location in Himachal Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 32°19′54″N 78°00′32″E / 32.331667°N 78.008889°E / 32.331667; 78.008889
Country India
StateHimachal Pradesh
DistrictLahaul and Spiti
Elevation
4,270 m (14,010 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
366
Languages
 • OfficialHindi and the indigenous languages of the Ladakhi peoples of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent.
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationHP-41
ClimateDfc
Kibber Village in winter (ca. Dec '07)
Kibber Gompa

History

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Kibber is the last village in Spiti on the traditional trade route to Ladakh and Tibet. One of the earliest descriptions is by botanist Thomson based on his expedition in September 1847. The route crosses the Zanskar range through the Parang La (pass) at an altitude of 5,578 m (18,301 ft). It then descends along the Pare Chu (river) to Hanle and the Indus River. Thomson observed that houses in Kibber were constructed of stone, unlike the mud construction used in the rest of Spiti. He noted that farmers had terraced the hillside for 90 m (300 ft) above Kibber.[2]

In earlier times, annual trade fairs were held in Kibber and other locations in Spiti. Traders would come from Tibet, Ladakh, Chamba and Kullu to barter their wares. With the closing of the Indo-Tibet border, these fairs have lost their historical purpose.[3]: 59 

Geography

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Kibber Khas is located on a limestone cliff on the left bank of the Spiti River. With an area of 465.2 ha (1,150 acres) in an arid cold desert at 4,270 m (14,010 ft), Kibber is about 620 m (2,030 ft) higher than Kaza.[3]: 222  It is 19 km (12 mi) from the sub-divisional headquarters Kaza. After passing the Kye Monastery, the road from Kaza climbs steeply up a narrow gorge on the left bank of the Puri Lungpa, a tributary of the Spiti, to reach Kibber.[4] It is one of the highest villages in the world that is inhabited year round.[1]: 62 

The terrain slopes gently upwards from Kibber towards the northeast until the towering Zanskar Range. The streams in the area have cut deep gorges in the limestone strata. Mountain ranges on all sides provide some protection, and water from the streams is useful for irrigation. Farmers in Kibber are able to grow crops during the summer.[2]

Demographics and amenities

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Kibber Khas is a small village located in Spiti sub-division of Lahul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh with total 77 families residing. The Kibber Khas village has a population of 366 of which 187 are males while 179 are females as per Population Census 2011.[3]

In Kibber Khas village, the population of children of age 0-6 is 36 which makes up 9.84% of the total population of village. The average Sex Ratio of Kibber Khas village is 957 which is lower than Himachal Pradesh state average of 972. Child Sex Ratio for the Kibber Khas as per census is 565, lower than the Himachal Pradesh average of 909. Kibber Khas village has lower literacy rate compared to Himachal Pradesh. In 2011, the literacy rate of Kibber Khas village was 72.73% compared to 82.80% of Himachal Pradesh. In Kibber Khas, male literacy stood at 82.93% while female literacy rate was 62.65%.[1]: 98, 100–101 

Kibber has a civil dispensary, a high school, a post office, a telegraph office and a community TV set.[5]

Administration

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Barley and peas fields (ca. Jun '18)
 
Women hoeing barley field (ca. Jun '18)

The Gram Panchayat of Kibber or Kibber Gram Panchayat is a government office and local self-government body that governs the villages of Kibber Khas, Kee, Chicham, Gete and Tashigang. Kibber is located in the Development Block Spiti of the District Lahaul Spiti.[6][7]

Economy

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Traditionally, agriculture has been the mainstay of the economy. As the men were often traveling on trade to Tibet, Punjab and other parts of India, the women did the agricultural work primarily for subsistence.[3]: 22–23  As Kibber is the base for several treks and for visits to the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, tourism is now part of the economy. Several homestays have been setup, and locals guide treks.[8]

Agriculture

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When botanist Thomson visited Kibber in September 1847, he found terraced and irrigated fields up to 300 ft (91 m) above the village. Barley was ready for harvest.[2] Hugh Whistler, ornithologist, visited Kibber in July 1922 and observed barley and green peas in the fields.[9]

In 2011, an area of 389.2 ha (962 acres) of Kibber formed pastures for grazing. This amounted to 83.7% of the 465.2 ha (1,150 acres) area of the village. Only 11.3% of the land was used for agriculture, with 85.3% of this being irrigated. Barley and pulses including black peas and green peas are the major crops. With the opening of roads, there is a shift to cash crops.[3]: 22–23, 238–239 

Places of interest

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Kanamo Peak 5,998 m (19,678 ft) south face
 
Dwarf shrub (caragana versicolor)
 
Blue sheep foraging, Kibber WLS
 
Woolly hare, Kibber WLS

Monasteries

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Kibber has a small gompa. The well-known Kye Gompa is en route from Kaza to Kibber. The nearby village of Gete has a chorten on a cliff overlooking the Kye Gompa about 320 m (1,050 ft) below.[10]

Trekking and mountaineering

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Kibber is a base for climbing the nearby 5,998 m (19,678 ft) Kanamo Peak. The name Kanamo means either "mountain of good omen" or "white hostess (lady)". The trek is rated as an "easy ridge walk with scree on the lower slopes" by Indian mountaineer Harish Kapadia. The trek from Kibber takes 2-3 days. The season for this trek is late June to the end of September.[11]: 143  The trail over the 5,578 m (18,301 ft) Parang La to Ladakh starts from Kibber. This strenuous trek takes about 5 days to cross the Parang La and another 5 days to descend to Karzok on the shore of Tso Moriri in Ladakh. The total distance is about 92 km (57 mi).[11]: 139–142 

Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary

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The Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary was established on 1st Nov 1999 with an area of 1,400 km2 (540 sq mi). On 7th Apr 2013, the area was increased to 2,220.12 km2 (857.19 sq mi). The elevation range of this sanctuary is 3,600–6,800 m (11,800–22,300 ft) above mean sea level.[12]

Flora

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The vegetation here is sparse, Kibber being well above the treeline which extends to 3,500 m (11,500 ft).[3]: 20–21  The most common shrub is Caragana versicolor, a slow-growing, woody dwarf shrub with multiple stems forming a low canopy.[13] Thomson, the English botanist who visited in 1947, observed that the plants found at these altitudes of 4,200–4,600 m (13,800–15,100 ft) were similar to those found at 3,100 m (10,200 ft) in lower parts of the Spiti valley. He attributed this to the extreme aridity of the climate and the protection afforded to the Kibber area by the lofty mountain ranges on all sides.[2]

In a recent study, over 70 species of plants were identified in this sanctuary, compared to about 9,000 species in the whole of the Himalayas.[14] Several plants used in the traditional Tibetan medical system, also known as Sowa-Rigpa, are found here. Eight rare and endangered medicinal plant species have been identified in this sanctuary. Aconitum rotundifolium, Arnebia euchroma, Ephedra gerardiana, Gentiana kurroo and Dactylorhiza hatagirea are some threatened but medicinally important plants found in here.[15]

Mammals

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The Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary (Kibber WLS) is home to the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia). The Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh reported 25-30 snow leopards in the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.[16] A survey in 2021 estimated the total population of snow leopards in Himachal at about 73.[17]

Conservation of snow leopards is a priority. The Himalayan Snow Leopard Research Centre in Kibber village was setup in collaboration with the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore with the goal of instituting and encouraging focused short and long-term studies.[17] Snow leopard sighting tours are popular in winter.[18] These result in noise and pollution of many vehicles. In 2021, the Spiti district administration banned such car rallies in Kibber and other areas favoured by snow leopards.[19] The majority of snow leopards in Himachal were found outside protected areas, indicating that the local people are active in conservation of these big cats.[17]

Other big animals found in the Wildlife Sanctuary are bharal (Psedois nayaur), ibex (Capra sibirica) Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes). The bharal and ibex are prey for snow leopards.[7][20]

Birds

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Yellow-billed chough
 
Black redstart (female)

Owing to the sparse vegetation and the extreme winters, fewer birds are found in Spiti compared to the lower Himalayas and the plains of India. In July 1922, the English police officer and ornithologist Hugh Whistler made a short trip from Lahaul down the upper Spiti River. He reached Kibber (Kibar) and Kye Monastery before turning back. During his trip, he collected over 30 species of birds. Of these, about 20 were from Kibber and the area above (now the Kibber WLS). Species collected by Whistler around Kibber included a number of songbirds: several rosefinches, mountain finches and snow finches, redstarts, larks, wrens, house sparrows and martins. Larger birds included a kestrel, lammergeier and ruddy shelducks. Snow pigeons, snow cocks and a griffon were found above Kibber from 4,575–5,185 m (15,010–17,011 ft). Alpine choughs were common.[9]

Most of the species reported by Whistler were also observed by the American zoologist Walter Koelz during his trip down the Spiti river in September 1933. Koelz did not explore the Kibber locality, though.[21]

The eBird.org website, used by birding enthusiasts to record sightings, lists 64 species sighted in Kibber village over the past several years. The most frequently seen species: yellow-billed or alpine chough and red-billed chough; snow finches, mountain finches; house sparrow and russet sparrow; black redstart and white-capped redstart; snow pigeon and hill pigeon; horned lark; Himalayan griffon. Most of the species observed 100 years ago by Whistler are in these eBird checklists.[22]

Transport

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Kibber is located 19 km (12 mi) from Kaza. A bus service connects them during the summer months.[5] Travellers coming from Manali or Lahaul on NH-505 over the Kunzum La can reach Kibber without going to Kaza. After passing Losar and Hanle, NH-505 crosses a bridge from the left bank of the Spiti River 3 km (1.9 mi) after Kialto village. Just before the bridge, a minor road continues on the left bank to reach Kibber after a distance of 23 km (14 mi).[23]

Accommodation

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Kibber has several homestays.[8] The nearest hotels are in Kaza.

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  •  
    New Gompa, Kibber (ca. Jun '18)
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    Traditional building in Kibber
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    Oxytropis spp. in arid soil (ca. Jun '18)
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    Purple geranium
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    Thorny rose in arid soil (ca. Jun '18)
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    Thomson's thistle (ca. Jun '18)
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    Brandt's mountain finch (breeding plumage)
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    Terrain above Kibber to Kanamo Peak
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    Kanamo peaks from the south
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    Kye Monastery from Gete Chorten
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    Road from Kaza winding up the gorge
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    Chicham bridge on road to Lahaul

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kibber.
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
  1. ^ a b c d District Census Handbook: Lahul & Spiti, Himachal -- Village and Town Wise Primary Census Abstract (PCA). 3 Part XII B. Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India. 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Thomson, Thomas (1852). "Chapter V". Western Himalayas and Tibet. London: Reeve and Co.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook: Lahul & Spiti: Village and Town Directory. Vol. Series-03, Part XII-A. Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh. 2011.
  4. ^ "Kaza - Kibber route". OpenStreetMap. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b District Lahaul and Spiti (18 August 2022). "Tourist Places in Spiti". Government of Himachal Pradesh. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  6. ^ "List of PRIs" (PDF). Panchayati Raj Department, HP Govt. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b Singh, R.; Sharma, R.K.; Babu, S.; Bhatnagar, Y.V. (17 July 2020). "Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Contemporary Changes in the Agro-pastoral System of Upper Spiti Landscape, Indian Trans-Himalayas". Pastoralism. 10 (15). doi:10.1186/s13570-020-00169-y. S2CID 220612882.
  8. ^ a b Anchal (31 May 2021). "Kibber Village, Spiti Valley – A Detailed Travel Guide: Where to Stay in Kibber". Devil on Wheels. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  9. ^ a b Whistler, H. (October 1923). "A Note on Birds of Spiti", Ibis, , pp". Ibis. 65 (4): 611–629. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1923.tb08227.x.
  10. ^ "Gete chorten". OpenStreetMap. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  11. ^ a b Kapadia, H. (2001). Trekking and Climbing in the Indian Himalaya: 25 adventure treks into the mighty Himalaya. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-2953-2.
  12. ^ Principal Secretary (Forests) (7 April 2013). "Notification No. FFE-B-F(6)-11/2005-11/Kibber" (PDF). Department of Forests. Government of Himachal Pradesh.
  13. ^ Iyengar, S.B.; Bagchi, S.; Barua, D.; Mishra, C.; Sankaran, M. (July 2017). "A dominant dwarf shrub increases diversity of herbaceous plant communities in a Trans-Himalayan rangeland". Plant Ecology. 218 (7): 843–854. doi:10.1007/s11258-017-0734-x. JSTOR 26165321. S2CID 21431726.
  14. ^ Kumar, R.; et al. (1 December 2020). "Diversity of Herbs in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary of Distt. Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh". Biological Forum. 12 (2): 1–12.
  15. ^ Kala, C.P. 2005. Indigenous uses, population density, and conservation of threatened medicinal plants in protected areas of Indian Himalayas. Conservation Biology, 19 (2): 368-378.
  16. ^ Bodh, A. (12 March 2018). "Up to 30 snow leopards in Kibber wildlife sanctuary of Spiti". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "78 endangered snow leopards found in HP in first population assessment". The Pioneer (India). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  18. ^ Khurana, Sanjay (21 February 2022). "Spotting Snow Leopards Of Kibber (in Spiti Valley)". Raacho Trekkers. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  19. ^ Sharma, S. (9 February 2021). "Spiti admin bans car rallies in snow leopard habitats". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  20. ^ Bodh, A. (28 January 2020). "Himachal Pradesh: Lahaul-Spiti residents help save Tangrol from poaching". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  21. ^ Koelz, W. (January 1937). "IV.—Notes on the Birds of Spiti, a Himalayan Province of the Punjab". Ibis. 79 (1): 86–104. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1937.tb02164.x.
  22. ^ "Kibber Village, Spiti". eBird. Archived from the original on 27 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  23. ^ "NH-505 (Kialto bridge) - Kibber route". OpenStreetMap. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
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