Few know that many of the seemingly harmless visitors are actually quietly smuggling out antiques and other treasures. According to a Buddhist scholar of repute, some of the monks at the Kee and Dhankar monastries have developed a knack for good salesmanship. After exchanging smiles and tasting yak butter, salted tea, a visitor can place orders for thanka paintings, bronze buddhas, prayer wheels, rosaries, bells and precious stones. Spitan jewelry can also be purchased. In case the deal doesn't go through, the monks even ask the visitors to make a fat donation to the monastery.
Contributions are welcome in dollars and pounds.
Celebrities ranging from Richard Gere to Cindy Crawford have visited Spiti. Huddled among the sea of monks can be seen the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader who often addresses the saffron clad monks. The government has launched a desert development program across Spiti with the objective of converting the barren terrain into green. Millions of rupees pour in each year from Central agencies and world bodies. The programs mainly involve the growing of high altitude trees and bushes such as buck thorn.