The Great Himalayas to the north, the Pir Panjal to the south, and the Spiti and Chandra to the east encompass the Lahaul plateau. Near Lahaul are the glaciers of Bara Shigri, Chota Shigri, Samundari, and Sonapani. Lahaul Valley, a thriving centre of Tibetan Buddhism, is home to numerous Buddhist monasteries that double as museums of culture and art. The English name "Lahaul" comes from the Tibetan words Lho-yul, which means "land in the south," or Lhahi-yul, which means "country of the gods." Chandra and Bhaga, two rivers that originate on either side of the Baralacha La, provide water to the Lahaul valley. Snow-capped mountains, lush green pastures, milky white rivers and streams, quiet lakes, and mountain passes are all part of Lahual's magnificent landscape. Its simple, rustic attractiveness, as well as its festivals, folk dances, and culture, draw tourists from all over the world.