Lahaul and Spiti district is surrounded by high mountain ranges. The Rohtang Pass, at , separates Lahul and Spiti from the Kullu Valley. Lahul and Spiti are cut off from each other by the higher Kunzum Pass, at . A road connects the two divisions, but is cut off frequently in winter and spring due to heavy snow. The valley is likewise cut off from the north up to eight months of the year by heavy snowfalls and thick icing conditions. A southern route to India proper, via Shimla and the Sutlej in the Kinnaur district, is periodically closed for brief periods in the winter storms of November through June, but road access is usually restored a few days after the storm ends.