Popularly known as the ‘Land of Fairytales’, Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh is indeed a truly fantastical place with snow capped mountains. Kinnaur valley is located in the north-western corner of Himachal Pradesh, about 235km away from the state capital, Shimla.It is one of those impeccable, isolated places in Himachal Pradesh where people must go to appreciate raw natural beauty, one of those places where the journey itself becomes a destination.Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales

Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales

Kinnaur is divided into two valleys- Sangla Valley and the Hangrang Valley. While the Sangla Valley is brimming with orchards and plantations, Hangrang Valley is lush green. In addition to being endowed with natural beauty, Sangla Valley is famous for its challenging adventure sports like paragliding, river-crossing, angling and rafting. The peaceful and calm Kinnaur has numerous places for the tourists to traverse through and so many spectacular views to offer. Majestic hills, lush green valleys, meandrous rivers, orchards and vineyards. Kinnaur shares it’s border with Tibet, due to which the influence of the Tibetan culture can be strongly felt here. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales

Major Tourist Spots

• Lipsa-Asrang Sanctuary: A retreat for nature-lovers, it is accessible via the town of Moorang. It sits at a height of 4000-5022m. The park was proclaimed a sanctuary in 1962 and is dispersed over an area of 31 sq.km. It is part of a cold desert and dwelling of yaks, leopards, blue sheep, brown bear, musk dear, ibex and gorals. The best time to visit the sanctuary would be between April and October. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales
• Sangla Valley: Lying about 129 km before the indo-Tibetborder, it is one of the most magnificent and fascinating valleys in Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh. It is also known as Baspa Valley and is enveloped by dense forest slopes and offers striking views of the surrounding valleys. Inhabited by the tribals of Kinnaur, the valley is home to some interesting forts and temples. Popular among campers, it is also the place for adventure sports like trekking and river crossing. The best time to visit the place is around March to June and September to December. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales
• Nako: Is a small village situated in Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the mesmerizing treasures of Himachal Pradesh, known for its location in Hangrang Valley, at Tibet borders, the beautiful Nako lake and the monasteries. The Nako lake is an oval shaped lake encircled by hills, valleys and villages that make it a very quaint location. Here, boating takes place and that attracts tourists from distant places during the summer, while during winter, the frozen lake becomes a spot for ice-skating. While this village has spellbinding beauty, it is not a free zone for travellers. Tourists require inner line permit to enter the village. Since there is nothing much to do or see in the village, a one-day long trip would be sufficient, during the months between April and October, when its beauty is at its peak. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales
• Chitkal Village: It lies at a distance of about 28km from the Sangla Valley, resting at an altitude of 3450m, on the banks of Baspa river. The majestic beauty that this place offers is transcendent and beyond compare. It remains closed in winters and is mostly famous for its potatoes. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales
• Kamfru Fort: It lies at a distance of 2-3km from Sangla Valley and is considered to be one of the oldest forts in Himachal Pradesh. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales
• Kalpa: One if the best spots to see the sunset and sunrise over the Himalayas. This glorious place offers splendid views of the Kinner Kailash range and is sure to make jaws drop. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales
• Roghi Village: It is about 6-7km away from Kalpa and is surrounded by Apple orchards. It is very nice place for short hikes or strolls across the village from Kalpa. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales

Famous Festivals

• Flaich Ukhayang Festival: It is a festival of flowers, celebrated in the month of September, wherein the village deity is taken out in a lavish procession and the villagers sacrifice a buck. A fair is held throughout the day. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales
• Dakhraini Festival: It is celebrated in July. The village deity is brought out of the temple and the villagers present a folk dance before their goddess. Zongor and Loshar flower Garlands are offered to the goddess.
• Sajo Festival:It is celebrated in January. The locals bathe in the natural springs. Poltus, rice, pulses, vegetables, meat, halva, and chilta are some dishes that are prepared on this auspicious occasion.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Kinnaur Valley would be between April and October. However, this glorious valley can be visited throughout the major part of the year without too much fuss, but in winters it might get tough as the snowfall makes it inaccessible. Monsoons are also a bad time to visit Kinnaur as the rains make the roads tricky and landslide prone. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales

How to Reach

• Air: The nearest airport from Kinnaur is at Shimla, located at a distance of 280km. Shimla airport is well-connected to Delhi and Kullu. Bus and taxi services are easily available between Shimla and Kinnaur.
• Rail: The nearest narrow gauge railway station from Kinnaur is Shimla. The next half of the journey can be completed by either a car or a bus. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales
• Road: Daily bus and regular taxi services are available from Shimla and Rampur to Kinnaur. One can also reach Kinnaur from Lahaul and Spiti. Kinnaur: Land of Fairytales

You may also like

Sikkim – India

Ludhiana – Punjab

0