| FACTS
& FIGURES
Area : 6533 sq. km.
Languages : Hindi, Himachali
Best Time to Visit : May to October
STD Codes : 01786
THE VIRGIN VALE
Lulled by the sweet folk songs of the Kinneri women,
the vale of Kinnaur provides a calm ambience to all
tourists, young and old. While the youthful and the
daring harness nature's hilltops with their trekking
expeditions, the more laidback traveler can savor the
delight of the tranquil mountains amidst the rich verdure.
Kinnaur, with its colorful and hospitable population,
can be an absolute delight for the ones who admire the
highlanders. This land of fairytales and fantasies has
a spectacular terrain of lush green valleys, orchards,
vineyards snow-clad peaks and cold desert mountains.
TOPOGRAPHY AND
WEATHER 
Kinnaur is a border district, located in the southeastern
part of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. It is
about 250 km from the capital Shimla and is situated
on National Highway No. 22, which is also called the
Hindustan-Tibet Road. The landscape of the area varies
from the lush green orchards of the Sangla Valley to
the stark magnificence of the Hangrang Valley. The massive
snow-clad ranges provide a regal dignity to the area.
There are about 77 villages in the district and Kalpa
is one of the biggest of them. There are almost no urban
centers.
Two turbulent rivers race through Kinnaur-the Sutlej
and the Spiti. The slopes are covered with thick forests,
while the basins hold orchards, fields and picturesque
hamlets. Kinnaur holds three of world's grandest mountain
ranges-the Zanskar, the Greater Himalaya, and the Dhauladhar-and
the famous 4,573-meter-high Kinner Kailash mountain
by whose side is the seventy-nine foot vertical rock
formation that resembles a Shivalinga and changes color
as the day passes.
It is very cold during the winters here but the summers
are pleasant. Being a dry zone, there is no monsoon
here. Therefore, the ideal time to visit Kinnaur is
from Mayto October.
THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
Before India's independence, Kinnaur
formed part of the erstwhile Bhushhar state. After independence,
Kinnaur formed the Chini Tehsil of Mahasu district.
As part of the reorganization of border areas, the Kinnaur
district was formed on May 1, 1960, to enable speedy
development of this area.
Kinnaur is home to some of lndia's oldest traditions
and legends. The Pandava brothers are said to have spent
several years of their exile in these tracts- an episode
from the epic Mahabharata. Ancient texts have gone to
the extent of placing the people of Kinnaur-the Kinners-as
halfway between men and gods. The highland tribes here
are simple, hard working, honest and very welcoming
to the tourists.
SITES TO VISIT
The beautiful valley along Bhaba River
is an important tourist spot. It is a link road to the
valley, which originates at Wangtu. It has a reservoir
lake and alpine meadows and is famous for the trek route
to Pin Valley in Spiti.
Karchham (1,899 m), located at the confluence of the
Sutlej and Baspar rivers, is the start of the picturesque
Baspar Valley of which Sangla is the largest settlement.
Sangla is 18 km from Karchham and is perched at a height
of 2880 meters. A link road that goes off the National
Highway into the Baspar valley offers an enchanting
spot at every curve. There are saffron fields, orchards,
and higher up, as the road climbs the steep, there are
lush green alpine meadows.
Rakchham is situated on the bank of Baspa River, at
an altitude of 2900 meters, and is famous for its scenic
beauty. It is about 13 km from Sangla on the way to
Chitkul. The last and the highest village in this valley,
Chitkul, 28 km from Sangla, is noted for its alpine
meadows and snowscapes. It has a rest house and is placed
at an altitude of 3450 meters above sea level. Powari,
70 km from Rampur, is the last major stop, on the Hindustan-Tibet
Road.
Located 240 km from Shimla and 7 km from Powari, Rechong
Peo is the headquarters of the Kinnaur district. It
is placed at an altitude of 2670 meters, has a rest
house and hotels, and offers a fine view of the Kinner
Kailash. At a distance of 3 km from Rechong Peo, Kothi
has a temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandika Devi.
Set against a backdrop of mountains and groves of deodar,
the temple has a special architectural style and fine
sculpture. At a distance of 14 km from Powari is Kalpa,
the main village of the district. It is at an altitude
of 2768 meters. Across the river, facing Kalpa, is the
majestic spectacle of the Kinner Kailash range
Riba is at a distance of 18 km from Powari and is known
for its vineyards and local wine "Angoori' made
from grapes. It is at an altitude of 2745 meters above
sea level. About 26 km from Powari is Jhangi, where
the inner border is located. From this point the famous
Kinner Kailash Parikrama Trek starts via Morang, Thangi
and Kunocharang villages and entering Chitkul village
in Sangla Valley. Perched at a height of 2837 meters
is Puh, which has a rest house and hotel facilities.
One can see lush green fields, orchards of apricot vineyards
and groves of almond trees, en route Puh.
Namgya is the closest village from the Indo-China border,
and the Shipki La Pass is just 13 km from this village.
The fine Buddhist Monastery of Tashigang Gompa is at
the confluence of the Sutlej and Spiti rivers. It is
accessible from Nangya, after a little diversion from
Khob, on the National Highway 22. Another monastery,
Tilasang, is close to Koa, 12 km short of Yangthang
and has facilities for visitors to stay. At a height
of 3662 meters is Nako, a little off the National Highway
22 along a link road just short of Yangthang. It is
a scenic village and the largest in the desolate Hangrang
valley.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
There are many local fairs and festivals
like the Ladarcha fair (July-August) in Kaza, Tribal
Fair (August) in Keylong, Tribal Festival (October-November)
in Rekongpeo, Phulaich Festival (August-October) in
Kastiar.
TREKKING
Unfrequented mountain trails crisscross
Kinnaur, offering treks ranging from gentle hikes to
challenging climbs over high-altitude passes. The routes
along the Sutlej valley, spattered with government rest
houses and villages, can be traversed without the aid
of ponies, but away from the main road, one has to be
completely self-sufficient. Porters can usually be hired
in Rampur and Rechong Peo for around Rs 100-150 a day,
except in early autumn (September-October), when they
and their horses are in great demand for the apple harvest.
The sedate Saharan to Wangtu hike is an ideal introduction
to the scenery and culture of the Sutlej Valley. The
trail begins just below Saharan and beyond several kilometers
of pine and oak forest, it continues towards Chaura
village. The track then continues via Tranda to the
rest house at Paunda, through the village of Sungra,
to Nechar Rest House and finally to Wangtu, where it
crosses the river. One can pick up transport back to
Shimla, or further up the Sutlej to Rechong Peo and
Kalpa.
Besides trekking, one can also indulge in river rafting
in the Spiti and Sutlej rivers.
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