The Kinnaur district in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh has long been revered as the land of fantasies and fairy tales, thanks to the enchanting lush green landscapes and snow-covered peaks. One of the most important cities in Kinnaur and the tribal circuit en-route is Kalpa. Also, here the majestic Kinner Kailash mountain range of the Himalayas provides the perfect backdrop, along with the mighty Sutlej flowing alongside. The morning sun reflects off the high, snow clad mountain peaks of the Kinner Kailash create a surreal view.
The town and in fact the whole district is known for its sprawling orchards of apples and this also incidentally forms the major cash crop in the region. At 83.5%, Kalpa stands amongst the cities with the highest literacy rate in the region. Also, the first ever voter in the country belonged to this very city. The most celebrated musician in Himachal, Surender Negi, also hails from Kalpa. Two well-known religions of the world – Hinduism, and Buddhism find their rooting in Kalpa.
Huddled under a blanket, a drowsy opening of the eyes as the curtain is pulled back: and there stands the mighty Kinnaur Kailash mountain range in Himachal Pradesh - in one word, breathtaking!
The mountain range, wrapped in a white sheet of snow, appeared no less than a fairy tale land. As the sun rose from behind the range, kissing its peaks, its rays cast a magical spell on the small village of Kalpa, located in the lap of nature, surrounded by hills.
One would not be mistaken in believing mother nature had adopted the tiny village and nurtured its natural beauty.
This enchanted village of Kalpa is located at 9,711 feet above sea level in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh on NH-22, also known as the Hindustan-Tibet Road.
Known for its apple orchards, it's an abode of nature's beauty. Since it is not a popular tourist destination, the village has maintained its natural untouched beauty.
But the journey to Kalpa is not for comfort-seeking travellers, no less than a roller coaster ride from Himachal capital Shimla. It's probably one of the most dangerous roads in the state. If you ignore the rough and rugged landslide-prone terrain and soak in the pine and spruce trees, the tranquil Baspa river and the mighty Himalayan snow-covered range, nature will amaze you with its awesome beauty.
The journey is hectic and physically tiring. But it is the beauty of nature that keeps the eye glued to the window of the bus.
The moment one reaches Kalpa, the soothing silence of the valley and its virgin charm energise, taking you to an imaginative world far away from your chaotic city schedule.
The chants from a Buddhist monastery, the Buddhist flags waving as the cold breeze whistles across the pine and spruce woods creating a wind symphony: that's how the morning greets you at Kalpa.
Though there are no tourist spots to visit, the ecstatic charm and uninhibited feel of the village will mesmerize you. A small walk across the village covers it all within a day.
While talking a walk along the narrow hilly lanes in the area, the dead maple leaves crunching below my feet, the lines of Robert Frost from his poem "The Mountain" came to mind: The mountain stood there to be pointed at/Pasture ran up the side a little way/And then there was a wall of trees with trunks/ After that, only tops of trees and cliffs.
The village is an amalgamation of Hindus and Buddhist residents. Take out time to seek solace at the Buddhist Hu-Bu-Lan-Khar monastery or blessing at the Hindu Durga temple.
Kalpa also provides a treat for your taste buds if you are looking for Tibetan food. Taste some authentic Tibetan food at restaurants run by locals; slurp on thukpas, chomp on mutton momos and noodles and sip some hot tea on a cold wintry evening; pluck apples from the orchards; visit the Roghi village - and the day is gone!
As the sun sets behind one of the hills, it leaves behind a majestic view of the Kinnaur Kailash range - probably one of the the best scenic appearances. The sky gets enveloped in a reddish hue and the snow-capped peaks get ornamented in red, making the way for moon-kissed night.
How To Reach Kalpa
By Air: Jubbarhatti Airport of Shimla is the closest airport to Kalpa, located at a distance of around 270 km. The airport is connected to many major cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, etc. Here onwards, the journey to Kalpa should take about 10 hours by road, either in a taxi or a bus.
By Train: Shimla has a small railway station, through which the popular toy train travels. It is connected to Kalka through a narrow guage track. The ride is about 96 km covered in roughly 7 hours. Therefore Kalka is the nearest rail head to Kalpa that connects to cities like Chandigarh and Delhi
By Road: The HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation) have regular buses travelling from neighbouring cities like Punjab or Delhi. Along with that, there are intracity buses as well that take you around the place. Going to Kalpa by road is the best bet since the journey itself will take you through the enchanting natural vistas of Himachal Pradesh
Best Time To Visit Kalpa The ideal time to visit Kalpa is the summer months of April to June as the temperature dances between 8 degree Celsius to 24 degree Celsius during this period. Carrying light woollen clothes should suffice during this season. Irregular monsoon rains and freezing winters with temperature dipping to almost -20 degree Celsius, make these seasons unfavourable to visit. PC: Gili Chupak
Kinnaur Kailash Kinnaur Kailash, locally known as Kinner Kailash, is a sacred mountain with an altitude of 6050 m. The mountain is considered sacred because of the 79 ft tall rock formation, that supposedly looks like a Shivalinga. Mount Kinnaur Kailash is a popular spot for trekking, especially as a pilgrim trek. There are two main trails for trekking. One of them is a simpler 8-10 km trek, with a night to be spent in caves before heading to the Shivalinga. The other trek is relatively harder and takes two or more days to complete since it covers a distance of 32 km.
Sangla Sangla is a city in Kinnaur district of Baspa Valley. Sangla produces some of the world's best quality apples! Apart from the rich natural beauty of the meadows and saffron trees of Sangla, there are a few places of interest here. A major tourist attraction at Sangla is the Bering Nag Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It attracts a lot of people during the months of August to September, because of the Fulaich Fair - a flower festival, that happens every once a year. Dances are performed and many colourful stalls come up during this time. It is also a festival celebrated to remember the ones who have passed away.
Kamru Fort Kamru Fort is an ancient regal wooden fort, built at an altitude of 2,600 m. It is now turned into a temple with Kamakhya Devi as the deity. It is located just 2 km from Sangla. The fort also houses almost 36 crore gods and goddesses! A statue of Lord Buddha welcomes all the visitors at the entrance. The balcony of the fort offers a view of the magnificent ranges of the Himalayas.
Baspa River The Baspa River begins from the Baspa Hills and later merges with River Sutlej. This serene river is the reason for the formation of Baspa Valley, which is a home to the locals of Tibetan culture. A unique boat made by the locals that looks similar to a basket, takes you through the river and gives you the view of all the breathtaking hills, trees and mountains that surround the region. Glacier formations around the river add to the scenic beauty. The river happens to be a favourite spot for anglers' since fishes of great variety is found here.
Roghi Village Built on the slope of a mountain, the Roghi Village is located just 8 km from Kalpa. The village gives a spectacular view of the Kinnaur Kailash range. It portrays the simplistic lifestyle and traditions of people living in Himachal Pradesh. The road from Kalpa to Roghi village is dangerous since it is a cliff-hugging road. However, nothing usually stops adventure buffs to get there because of the enchanting view
Kothi Village Kothi village is nestled at the base of Rohtang Pass. Just like Roghi, Kothi village also offers the mesmerising views of the snow-capped mountains, along with the view of River Beas that flows through deep gorges in this region. Kothi is a perfect site for camping, if you wish to trek to Rohtang Pass. The beauty of this village has attracted many movie directors to shoot scenes of their movies.
Suicide Point Suicide Point gets its name due to the perilous furrows and steep vertical slopes of the cliff. It is found on the way to Roghi from Kalpa. However, it is a viewpoint from where one can witness a view that will leave them spellbound. Mountain ranges covered with snow at the peaks and the untouched natural beauty surrounding it can be witnessed from this point. You can just stop here on the way to Roghi village.
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