Kinnaur

Situated at the height of 2758 Mts. above the sea level and 110 km from Sarahan, Kalpa is a beautiful and main village of Kinnaur. Across the river faces the majestic mountains of the Kinner Kailash range. These are spectacular sights early in the morning as the rising sun touches the snowy peaks with crimson and golden light. From Kalpa we can get views of three peaks Roldang 5499 Mts., Jarkanden 6473 Mts. and the Kinner Kailash at 6050 Mts.height.

Kalpa village is a small village with almost all facilities like post office, hospital, shops and small restaurants. These restaurants are offering Indian and Chinese foods for the tourists. There are many small guest houses inside the village offering rooms. Main attraction is Narayan-Nagini temple and Hu-Bu-Lan-Kar monastery. This monastery was founded by Rinchensang-po ( 950-1055 AD ). 

 

CLIMATE : In winter, the temperature can drop to below freezing point when heavy woolens are required and for summers light woolens are recommended.

 

What To See

 

Reckong Peo

 

Reckong Peo is situated at an altitude of 2670 m from the sea level, Located 240 km from Shimla, 7 km from Powari and 13 km from Kalpa. . It is the District Headquarter having a panoramic view of Kinner Kailash. Kinner Kailash mountain is regarded as one of the mythical homes of Lord Shiva, here is a 79 feet high rock formation that resembles Sivalinga. This Sivalinga changes the colour as the day passes. Also visible on the stretch is the peak of Raldang (5499 m). Reckong Peo has many hotels and rest houses. There is a Buddhist Monasteries in the Reckong Peo.

 

Kothi

 

Just 3 km from Recong Peo. Kothi has a temple dedicated to the goddess Chanadika Devi. Set against a backdrop of mountains and graves of the deodar the temple has an unusual architectural style and fine sculpture. An exquisite gold image of goddess is enshrined in sanctrum. Kothi is also called Koshtampi is an ancient large village. The village is environed by the fields and fruit trees punctuated by vineyards. It is over shadowed by Kinner Kailash peak which forms a magnificent backdrops. The village with its attractive temple, tanks and gracious willows makes an altogether lovely landscape. The goddess Shuwang Chandika temple is in the village. The local people hold the goddess in great reverence and consider her to be one of the most powerful goddess.There is an image of gold seated in an ark. It is danced up and down by four persons at the time of worship.There is yet another temple dedicated to Bhairon.

 

Sangla Valley

 

 If a landscape had the powers of casting spells, then the Sangla valley would be a magician extraordinary. It is built on a slope with the house rising one above the other; the scene being closed by the gigantic Raldang peaks towering behind. The forest scenery all-arround and the eternal snow peaks are picturesque. Journey from Karcham onwards is enjoyable and adventurous throughout the valley.  Once seen, it is a place that can never be forgotten. Even the rushing waters of the Baspa river, that flow through its 95 km length, seem to absorb some of the magic and slow down to savor its snow-frame beauty. 2 km from Sangla is the fort of Kamru (300 m) its tower like architecture resembles that of the Bhima Kali complex and this was the origin of rulers of Bushehar.  

 

 

Leo

 

About 105 kms from Reckong Peo preached on small rocky eminence, on the right bank of Spiti river, and at the confluence of the Lipak torrent flowing from the west is the hqrs. of sub-tehsil Hangrang in pooh sub-division. At the east of it is an insulated rock once surmounted by a fort, now in ruins considerable It occupies a slip of soil embosomed by sterile masses of the earth glowing under the ardor of a tropical sun. From such a situation the climate has acquired a delicious softness.

 

Chango

 

Chango (3058m)  At a distance of 122 km from Kalpa, is a collection of 4 hamlets in Pargna Shuwa, sub-tehsil Hangrang on the left bank of the river Spiti. It is encircled on every side by high hills which is witness to the presence of a former lake. Buddhism is generally practiced here but there are some local Hindu deities too namely Gyalbo, Dablaand Yulsa.

 

Chitkul

 

Chhitkul(3450m):This is the last and highest village in the Baspa valley. It is situated on the right bank of the Baspa river. There is a road along the left bank from Karchham. There are three temples of local goddess Mathi, the main one said to have been constructed about 500 years ago by a resident of Garhwal. The square ark of the goddess, is made of walnut wood and is covered with clothes and surmounted by a tuft of yak tail. Two poles called bayanga are inserted into it by means of which it is carried. The goddess has a mouthpiece.

 

Jangi

 

26 km from Powari, the inner border is located here beyond which foreigners require permit to travel upto Tabo. From this point the famous Kinner Kailash Parikarama Trek starts touching Morang, Thangi and Kunocharang villages and entering Chitkul village in Sangla Valley.

 

Puh

 

Situated at the hight of 2837 Mts. Puh has Lush green fields, orchards of apricot, almond trees and vineyards, are to be seen on route to Puh. Just 58 km from Powari along the NH-22, Puh has rest house and basic hotel facilities.

 

Nako

 

At 3663 Mts Hight and Situated 3 kms above the Hangrang valley road, is 119 kms from Kalpa. In Hangrang Valley it is the largest village above sea level. It is also famous for Nako Lake which has boating facilities in summer and during winter its frozen surface is used for ice skating. The existence of lake formed out of the masses of the ice and snow above adds beauty to the village.The lake is fringed with willows and populars. Yaks, kine, horses and asses are reared here in abundance. Local village deity is Deodum and another Lagang temple with several idols exist here.There is a staying hut for visitors.There are small, but significant Buddhist temples and a rock is regarded to have the imprints of the saint Padmasambhava. This is the base for the trek to pargial peak and is en-route to the Thashigang monastery, where an image is said to grow hair.

 

Temple And Monasteries of Kinnaur

 

Chandika Temple, Kothi

 

Chandika Temple, situated in Kothi village, is a magnificent temple dedicated to Goddess Chandika. In the village, she is considered as the most powerful goddess. The temple houses a gold image of the Goddess, seated over an ark. The rituals followed during the worship are unique in their own way.  The legend of Chandika goes that she was the daughter of the demon devta Banaasur who presided over the Kinnaur. He had 18 sons and daughters. Chandika was the eldest among all.

 

Mathi Temple, Chhitkul 

Mathi Temple is located at Chhitkul village and is dedicated to the local deity Mathi. It is a group of three temples and the main one among them was is 500 years old, built by a Garhwal resident in ancient past. The ark over which the idol is seated is made up of walnut wood, covered with clothes and surmounted by a tuft of yak tail.

 

Chango Temples, Chango 

In the village Chango, three temples are situated. Rinchen Zangpo temple stands in lower Chango. Near this temple, another village temple stands which is more frequently used by the devotees. This temple has clay idols, a prayer wheel and contemporary paintings on its wall. Between these two temples, a huge stone idol of Avalokiteshwaran is located crudely carved in stone.

 

Maheshwar Temple, Sungra 

Maheshwar Temple is a significant historical structure exhibiting intricate and beautiful wooden panels. The temple is dedicated to prominent Hindu deities and the idols are exquisite with deeply cut structures. On the eastern wall of the temple a beautifully carved panel depicts the Vishnu Avatars and the symbol of the Hindu zodiac.  Near the temple, an ancient stone shrine belonging to eighth century stands. 

 

Charang Temple 

 

An ancient temple stands beyond Charang, known as Rangrik Tungma complex. The temple belongs to 11th century. The name of the temple is derived from its presiding deity Goddess Rangrik Tungma. The temple houses an old metal image of Goddess astride a horse. It is believed that Rangrik Tungma was a pre-Buddhist deity. Apart from this, two bronze statues are also housed in the temple. The main hall of the temple has clay idols of certain protective deities and ancient wall paintings. 

 

Brelengi Gompa, Brelengi 

A Buddhist monastery, known as Brelengi gompa, is situated in Brelengi, near Reckong Peo. The attractive monastery was built by Mahabodhi society for the Dalai Lama for performing the Kalachakra ceremony in the year 1992. Just beside the monastery stands a 10 metre tall statue of Lord Buddha which is visible even from a far off distance. 

 

Rarang Monastery, Rarang 

Rarang Monastery is a newly built monastery of Tashi Choeling. The monastery came into being owing to post-1960 Tibetan influences and was constructed by Drugpa sect. Near the monastery, remains of old temples and settlements can be witnessed. The remains are believed to be associated to Nyingmapa adherents. 

 

How To Reach

 

 Nearest Airport (267 km) and Railhead (244 km) is at Shimla. The route is on NH - 22 (The Hindustan Tibet Road) which bifurcates to Kalpa from Powari. Buses and Taxis are available at Shimla and Rampur. One can also reach Kalpa via Manali - Rohtang Pass - Kunzam Pass - Kaza (400 km).