Located in the dizzy heights of the
Himalayas, with passes that remain closed for six months, Kinnaur, Spiti and
Lahaul were till now, a forbidden land. Now this area has been opened for
the daring and adventurous who can discover what had been hidden from the
world for centuries. From the riotous green of the Sangla Valley- filled
with orchards of apricots, peaches, apples and Chilgoza pine forests, to the
magnificent desolation of the Hangrang Valley, Mother Nature's portrait is
everchanging in Kinnaur. This land lying on the ancient trade route between
India and Tibet, ringed by the majestic mountains of the Himalayan and
Dhauladhar range is a land of plenty.
ENTRY
FORMALITIES Foreign nationals can travel with permits
issued by
(a) District Magistrate:- Shimla; Rekong Peo (Kinnaur);
Kullu; Keylong (Lahaul);
(b) Sub District Magistrate:- Shimla; Rampur;
Kalpa, Nichar (Kinnaur); Keylong, Udaipur (Lahaul); or
(c) Additional
Deputy Commissioner's office:- Pooh (Kinnaur); Kaza (Lahaul) only when they
are traveling in a group of four(4) or more persons with a predrawn
itinerary through a recognized travel agent. The permits can be obtained on
presenting the following documents,viz. i) Three passport size photographs,
ii) Police verification from home town or any other equivalent documents
like passport, driving license etc., which can establish the identification
of the applicant. Foreigners are required to present an itinerary and
introduction by a recognized travel agent. The tourists are advised to get
their documents verified at the check points at Chitkul,Lippa,Khud (Kinnaur)
and Kaza (Spiti).
HOW TO GET THEREA)
Kinnaur Air : The nearest airport Shimla is 224 kms from
Kalpa (in Kinnaur).
Rail: The nearest railhead Kalka, 314 kms
from Kalpa in Kinnaur, is connected with the major places in India.
Road:
Kalpa is one of the main places in the district of Kinnaur. Some of the
road-distances from Kalpa:- Shimla 224 kms, Rampur 108 kms, Pooh 94 kms,
Moorang 22 kms, Nichar 39 kms, Wangtu 34 kms, Narkanda 160 kms, Chakrata 248
kms, Kufri 210 kms, Sarahan 77 kms, Chaura 63 kms, Karcham 35 kms, Chitkul
102 kms, Tashigang 116 kms, Shipki La 126 kms etc.
Local
Transport: Buses, jeeps and taxis are available from Shimla and
Rampur
B) Lahaul & Spiti
Air : Kullu and Shimla
are the nearest two airports. By road Keylong is 158 kms from Shimla.
Rail:
Shimla and Pathankot are nearest railheads. By road Keylong is 436 kms from
Pathankot.
Road: National Highway No.21 connects
Manali to Lahaul & Spiti and Leh. Keylong is one of the main places in
the district of Lahaul & Spiti. Some of the road-distances from
Keylong:-, Kullu 158 kms, Manali 118 kms, Pathankot 436 kms, Jogindarnagar
284 kms, Rahla 102 kms, Rohtang Pass 67 kms, Khoksar 46 kms, Gondhla 18
kms,etc.
Local Transport:
Regular buses and taxis are available from Manali and Shimla.
PLACES
OF INTEREST AND EXCURSIONS: At Kinnaur Bhabha
Nagar (35 kms from Rampur on NH); Nichar (18 kms from NH on a link road near
Bhabha Nagar); Sangla Valley (Alpine meadows); Poari (Oil filling station 40
kms from Bhabha Nagar); Recong Peo (Dist. H.Q. 7 kms from NH on a link road
diverting from Poari); Kalpa (14 kms from Poari on link road); Kothi (House
of Goddess Chandika, 3 kms from Recong Peo); Ribba (16 kms from Poari,
famous for local brew `Angoori' made from grapes); Moorang (Famous for
apricot orchards, 26 kms from Poari on NH); Pooh (58 kms from Poari); Nako
(8 kms from NH on a link road diverting 1 km short of Yangthang); Tashigang
Gompa (Treking route); Tilasangh Monastery (1 km trek from Ka, which is 12
kms short of Yangthang);
At Spiti As Kullu is the
valley of Gods we can say Spiti is the valley of Monasteries. Monasteries
like Tabo, Gulling, Dhankar and Kee are located in this valley. Sumdo (Entry
point of Spiti, situated at the confluence of the river Spiti and Pare-chu,
at an altitude of 3350 mtrs); Schichiling (50 kms from Sumdo, famous for
Dhankar monastery); Attergu (From here one can turn right to enter the Pin
Valley to reach Kungri0; Kaza (A famous monastery situated 11 kms from Kaza
atan altitude of 4160 mtrs); Losar (60 kms from Kaza, near the confluence of
the Losar & Peeno streams); Kunzam Pass (4590 mtrs, gateway to Spiti
from Lahaul).
At Lahaul Batal (From here one can trek
to Chandra Tal and go up to Bara Lacha Pass, on the Manali-Leh road); Bara
Singri Glacier (On the left bank of Chandra River); Koksar (Coldest place in
Lahaul, 3140 metres, 21 kms beyong rohtang Pass); Gondhla (18 kms from
Keylong); Tandi (8 kms short of Keylong); Bara Lacha Pass (4883 metres, on
Manali-Leh road); Udaipur (Mrikula Devi Temple); Trilokinath Temple (4 kms
short of Udaipur); Suraj Tal (4883 metres, 65 kms from Keylong); Sarchu
(Ladakh border); Lake Chandra Tal( 4270 metres, approchble through Kunzam
Pass) and some Monateries viz. Kardang (5 kms from Keylong), Shashur (3 kms
from Keylong), Tayl (6 kms from Keylong), Guru Ghantal (4 kms).
Himachal
Pradesh Home|| Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul
Cities
To VisitDalhousie
-|-Dharamshala-|-Kinnaur,
Spiti&Lahaul-|-Kullu-|-Manali-|-Shimla
