Kalpa Tour & Travel Guide

A Bewitching Beauty at the Foothills of Kinnaur Kailash

Perched at 10,900 feet in Himachal Pradesh, Kalpa is any traveler’s paradise. The town is along the NH22 in Kinnaur District and at the base of the impressive Kinner Kailash mountain range and Shivling peaks. The humongous mountains rise up to around 20,000 feet, soaring above the clouds and surrounding the Kalpa valley. This along with apples and apricot orchards, mountain blossoms and red millet farming all around makes Kalpa a riot of colours and a picture-perfect postcard hamlet. Around 13 kilometers uphill from Rekong Peo – the nearby market town, Kalpa is in the Sutlej River Valley and spread amidst pine nut forests and deodhars woods. Beautiful temples and monasteries makes this place divine. Known as Chini Bangla in the past, Kalpa’s natural beauty is no less than a dreamy village perched atop a mountain with clouds floating and flowers blooming.

Kalpa is either to just be lazy and relax or to pull up your socks for some good trekking. Chakka peak is an adventure enthusiast’s delight. At an altitude of 15000 ft. above the sea level, Chakka is a wonderful trek uphill by the side of gurgling rivers and water channel. Another attraction here is the Kinnaur Kailash, which is 6050 meters high. The Kinner Kailash Shivlingam is a 79 foot vertical rock in the Kinner Kailash Mountain and is highly sacred for Hindu and Buddhist Kinnauris. On any clear day, you can see the Shivlingam and interestingly it changes color, owing to the sun’s position during the course of the day. There is a route to this Shivlingam rock taken by pilgrims and locals to reach this holy destination.

This trek is of medium difficulty level and can take 2-4 days. Sightseeing enthusiast tourists can visit the Suicide Point to enjoy the scenic beauty. Dangerous trench and vertical slopes here contributed to its nomenclature. A walk to suicide point will take you through lush green apple orchards. Another replace of interest here is the Roghi Village, where you can experience the ethnicity and traditions of Kalpa. A walk through the village will take you to a “no-worries” land. Explicit Kinnauri craftsmanship is best seen at the Narayan-Nagini temple. Constructed in traditional Tibetan Pagoda this temple is on the top of a hill at Chini Village. Even the Hu-Bu-Lan-Kar monastery, founded by Rinchensang-po (950-1055 AD), is indeed a place to see. The Sapni Fort and the Kamru Fort are known for art and architecture and stand as epitome of architectural grandeur, here. Sapni Fort is a seven stories high mountain fort exemplifying the rich-relics of past. Kothi village is another place that interest travelers.

When here, go for an early morning walk and experience the mystical magic of Kalpa. As the sun rises, the pink hues on snow-cladded peaks, created by rising sun, gradually goes shimmery golden with the crystal clear blue sky atop is a sight to behold forever. As you walk through the slopes and the woods, the freshness in air, the cool fragrant breeze, sound of relentlessly flowing Baspa River, music of chirping birds and entire atmosphere that brings natural harmony will leave a note in your heart, to come back again.