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Kalpa in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

Written by Sudhir Kumar

Nestled in a valley along the Sutlej river, Kalpa is a picturesque town in Himachal Pradesh. Part of the Kinnaur district, this Himalayan town is noteworthy for its apple orchards. The beauty of Kinnaur is praise worthy for its blend of Buddhist and Hindu culture, holy sites, gardens and blossoming valley in summer.

About Kalpa in Kinnaur :

Kalpa features exotic beauty especially from the height of 2,960 meters above sea level. This district is a drive of around 265 km from the capital of Shimla. What makes Kalpa a memorable experience is the view of the snow covered Kinner Kailash range. This peak in Kinnaur is famous as the abode of Lord Shiva. The trek up to the peak is a delightful experience. Shivling peaks have an elevation of up to 6,000 meters above sea level. Kalpa is located just above Reckong Peo that is a hub of Buddhist culture and home to several monasteries. While, Kalpa is home to Hindu shrines.

The surrounding peaks, pine and deodar forests and Sutlej River enhance the beauty of the town. Agriculture is the main industry while tourism is fast taking over. There are at least 5-6 places of accommodation around the town. Hotels are located in Reckong Peo, where people stop over to get the Inner Line Permit. Kalpa forms an important base to trekkers traveling to Reckong Peo and then to Spiti Valley. As few people visit throughout the year, Kalpa remains unexplored. The view from the cliffs of this town is spectacular, especially in winter when Kinner Kailash remains snow covered. You can as well explore the deep gorged valleys having the meandering Sutlej.

Geography :

Kalpa is at. It has an average elevation of 2,960 metres (9,711 feet). It is located 265 kilometres (165 mi) beyond Shimla on the NH-22 in Kinnaur district. It is located at the base of the Kinnaur Kailash snow-capped ranges. The Shivling peaks rise up to 20,000 feet (6,000 m). Kalpa is among apple orchards, pine-nut forests and the stately deodhars. It is above the town of Reckong Peo, the district headquarters of Kinnaur, which has a hundred-year-old Buddhist monastery.

Attractions of Kalpa:

Sangla Valley : Sangla Valley is an arresting valley marked with rich greenery, snow draped mountains and Bapsa River. And as one visits this valley, one comes across various attractions such as Sapni, Kilba, Rackchham, Naga Temple as well as Kamru Fort. The entire valley is one of the much admired places to visit in Kalpa.

Mount Kinner Kailash : Mount Kinner Kailash is an amazing mountain lying at a height of 6,500 meters. The peak has holy significance for both Hindus and Buddhists residing in Kinnaur.

Kamru Fort : Kamrru Fort is an important monument in Kalpa which lies close to the Sangla Valley. One can spot a number of gates in this fort and the primary gate contains Lord Buddha’s picture. The upper portion contains a balcony formed of wood. One can also find a Badrinath Tempe in this fort that belongs to the 15th century. The third floor of the fort is home to the Goddess Kamakhya Devi.

Kothi : One can spot Kothi close to the Rohtang Pass and it lies at a distance of 12 Km from Manali. In Kothi, there exists a temple dedicated to Chandika Devi, whose image is formed in gold. The place is a wonderful attraction in Kalpa which catches the eyes of tourists with snow covered mountains.

Reckong Peo : Reckong Peo, the capital of Kinnaur lies at an altitude of 2,290 meters above the sea level. On reaching this spot, one gets the chance to behold the appealing sight of the Mount Kinner Kailash Ranges. Tourists can also choose to go for trekking and it is the ideal place for the same.

Roghi Village : Roghi is a beautiful village which captivates a visitor through its apple orchards and its soothing village life. The village also has a temple in it and it lies in the vicinity of the Suicide Point and lies at a distance of 113 Km from Shimla.

Climate : 

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

How to Reach Kalpa :

By road – The route opted by tourists is mainly via National Highway 22 and Hindustan-Tibet Road. There is also direct bus service available from Rampur. From Manali, you need to travel via the Rohtang Pass.

If you are coming from Shimla then take bus of taxi till Rekong Peo which is at a distance of 14 km from Kalpa. Direct buses from Delhi to Rekong Peo are also available. But if you are coming from Delhi then it is better to take a halt at Shimla otherwise your journey will be too hectic. Route from Delhi is Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla-Narkanda-Rampur-Karcham-Powari-Rekong Peo-Kalpa.

By Rail – The nearest railway station is at Shimla around 270 km away and from Shimla take taxi or Bus to reach Kalpa

By Road – The nearest airport is at Shimla, Jubbar Bhatti airport at a distance of around 270 km. From there you have to travel by road to reach Kalpa and by road journey will take about 10 hrs.

Best Time to Visit Kalpa –June- August
Location of Kalpa – Himachal Pradesh
Distance from Major Cities :
About 270 km from Shimla
The Buddhist town of Kaza is 400 km drive from Kalpa.

 

About the author

Sudhir Kumar

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