Places to Visit in Kinnaur

Places to Visit in Kinnaur

Kinnaur is a small beautiful place in Himachal Pradesh situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is one of the 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh, famous for its scenic beauty, apple orchards, and green limitless meadows. Kinnaur is a valley on the bank of the Baspa River, surrounded by mountains, divided into two parts - upper and lower. The upper part includes areas like Khab, Pooh, and Nako, whereas Sarahan, Chitkul, Kalpa, Sangla and Reckong Peo come under the lower part.

Location-wise, Kinnaur shares its border with Tibet to the east and it is connected to the remaining part of India by National Highway 5. Kinnaur sees a long winter from October to May, and sometimes the roads get closed due to heavy snowfall in winter. There are so many stunning places to visit in Kinnaur and the best time to explore those places is in summer, from June to September.

Let us introduce five must-visit beautiful places to visit in Kinnaur that you should not miss while planning a trip to the valley.

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Best Places to Visit in Kinnaur

• Chitkul: 

Chitkul is known to be the last inhabited village in India. It is located on the right bank of the Baspa River and geographically, the last point any Indian can travel to without a permit. The best way to reach Chitkul from the headquarters of Kinnaur, Reckong Peo is via Sangla. It will take approximately two hours to reach Chitkul from Sangla. The scenic beauty of this place is incomparable. It is a small village and can be explored within a few hours. But, if you’re a nature lover, it will be suggested to stay in Chitkul for a few days. 

• Kalpa:

Kalpa is one of the must-visit places to visit in Kinnaur valley. It is famous for its breathtaking views of snow-covered mountains, apple orchards, and a peaceful environment. Location wise, Kalpa is very close to Reckong Peo, the headquarters of Kinnaur. You will get a stunning view of Kinner Kailash peaks from almost any point of this village. It is always recommended to stay here for a couple of days and not to miss watching the sunrise and sunset over the peaks. Moreover, you can also explore places like Kothi Village, Roghi Village, Suicide point, Narayan-Nagini Temple and Hu-Bu-Lan-Kar Buddhist Gompa while in Kalpa.

• Sangla:

Sangla is a picturesque valley on the bank of the Baspa River, also referred to as Baspa Valley. It is located 38 kilometres away from Reckong Peo and is one of the most charming places to visit in Kinnaur. There are miscellaneous trails around this valley and you can always opt for a hike. You can also visit the Trout Fishery Farm and have trout over a barbecue dinner. There are several other places around Sangla you can visit, such as Kamru Fort, Karcham Dam, Badrinath Temple and many more.

• Sarahan:

Sarahan is one of the hidden gems of Himachal Pradesh, which is known as the ‘gateway of Kinnaur.’ The place has importance in Hindu mythology as the Bhimakali or Bhimadevi Temple, which is one of 51 Shakti Peethas is located here. Sarahan is well connected with the other parts of the country via regular public transport service. Other than the Bhimakali temple, you can explore places like Bird Sanctuary, Royal Palace, Hawa Ghar and Nalati Stadium.

• Nako:

Nako marks the last village of Kinnaur Valley. It is a small quaint hamlet situated at an altitude of 3,662 metres. Nako becomes a popular tourist destination for a highly revered monastery and a small lake. There is a footprint-like impression found on a rock, which is believed to be ascribed to Guru Padmasambhava, who introduced Buddhism to Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur. Nako is also the starting point of the expedition to Rio Purgyil peak, which is the highest peak in Himachal Pradesh. 

Several beautiful places in Kinnaur Valley are worth visiting. These above-mentioned places are some of them that you cannot miss while planning your trip to Kinnaur.