KALPA OVERVIEW

Nestled in the midst of the sparkling & imposing mountains of the Kinner Kailash range, KALPA is a picturesque hill station which boasts of a peaceful & serene environment. Located at a distance of 14 kms from the base on the Shimla – Kaza road, a narrow dwindling zig zag road takes you to RECONG PEO & further to KALPA. A stay in KALPA is a unique opportunity to seek solace in the lap of mother nature. KINNER KAILASH mountain is opposite to KALPA & above the narrow gorge of the Sutlej river. You can also feast your eyes on Mt.Raldang & Jorkanden from KALPA. The holy Shivling on the Kinner Kailash peak is a absolute marvel to witness during the changing colours of the day.

Apples grown in this region are a major cash crop & are famous by the name of Kinnauri apples. The slopes of this magical land have an abundance of deodar & pine trees.

KALPA is not much frequented by tourists & is relatively peaceful compared to the other destinations of Himachal Pradesh. If you just want to be yourself & unwind, KALPA offers the right solitude in the nature’s lap. 

Scenic Kalpa
Kalpa & the Kinner Kailash Range

GEOGRAPHY

KALPA is located at the base of the KINNER KAILASH mountain ranges in the Kinnaur district of the Himachal Pradesh . It is at a distance of 233 kms from Shimla & 7 kms from Recong Peo, the headquarters of the Kinnaur district. It is at a height of 2960 metres (9,711 feet) above sea level.

CLIMATE

Summers would be pleasant with bearable temperatures, monsoons would be intense while winters would be absolutely cold with reasonably good snowfall.

MARCH to JUNE

With the minimum temperatures mostly below 0 deg.C in March, daytime may see about 8 deg.C. It’s the beginning of the season & you can see the white KALPA during this month. April, May & June would be slightly warmer with temperatures ranging from anything between 0 deg.C to 18 deg.C. This period marks the beginning of the season and influx of tourist surges after the school vacation starts. It’s a pleasant season to visit.

JULY to AUGUST

Moderate to intense rainfull would continue during July & August and the already fragile terrain buckles under the impact causing landslides & road blocks. It may not be a good idea to visit KALPA during monsoon. If you must travel, check for weather conditions before proceeding.

SEPTEMBER to OCTOBER

This period is considered to be one of the most ideal season to visit KALPA with greenery all around. Post monsoon, it appears as it the valley has been washed & cleansed. The entire valley turns green with crystal sharp visibility of the mountain ranges. In October, the colors start changing from green to yellow & rustic colors. This is one of the best season with very limited tourists. An ideal season for photography enthusiasts.

NOVEMBER to FEBRUARY

Temperatures start receding in November marking the closure of the season. It would be very dull & cloudy. With the onset of December, it starts snowing & the entire region plunges in snow. Many tourists visit the snow covered KALPA to celebrate Christmas & New Years eve. Jan & Feb would be the best season to experience snowfall, if you are lucky. Roads would remain accessible throughout. But it you are planning to combine BASPA valley too, it may be cut off from Sangla during this period due to heavy snowfall.

BEST TIME TO VISIT KALPA

KALPA remains connected through the year and is relatively easily accessible compared to the BASPA valley. 

  • Families with restrictions of school vacations, can visit KALPA during March and June. You can see the snowcapped peaks and the weather would be quite comfortable during this period. For Bikers, solo & group travelers who would like to have hassle free travel, March to June would be the best period.
  • For those, who love the fascinating green, golden & vivid colors of the valley should travel during September or October. Another advantage is that KALPA would be less crowded.
  • November & December would not be very comfortable & pretty uncertain with the chilly weather setting in. Overall climate would be a bit gloomy.
  • For someone who would like to see the white KALPA & experience snowfall can take a chance & visit during late December to February. But winters can be a bit unpredictive. You will have to carry proper woolen cloths for adequate insulation. You also need to keep a buffer of a couple of days in case of any situation of road blocks & landslide

HOW TO REACH KALPA

BY AIR

  • The nearest airport for KALPA would be SHIMLA (245 kms), but practically CHANDIGARH airport would be a better option due to its direct connectivity with major cities of India.
  • From the Manali side, BHUNTAR airport (254 kms via Jalori Pass) would be the nearest airport. However, this is subject to Jalori Pass being open for travel. From December to March / April, Jalori pass may be closed due to heavy snow. Again like Shimla, Bhuntar is a small airport with very limited direct connecting flights. In all practicalities, Chandigarh airport would be the best option.

BY RAIL

  • The nearest railhead would be Shimla (233 kms) on the Kalka-Shimla route. The narrow gauge route takes you through 105 tunnels & mesmerizing vistas throughout. You should experience this journey, unless you are short of time of course. Practically again, Chandigarh / Kalka stations would be faster options.

BY ROAD

KALPA is well connected to all the major cities by Road. It has mainly 3 access routes as per below.

ROUTE 1

  • SHIMLA-61 kms-NARKANDA-66 kms-RAMPUR-23 kms–JEORI-54 kms-KARCHAM-22 kms- RECONG PEO-7 kms- KALPA (233 kms)

This is the shortest & a direct route connecting Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla. Enroute, you can take halt at Shimla / Narkanda / take a diversion at SARAHAN (17 kms from JEORI) to visit the Bhimkali Mandir. While returning from KALPA, you can cross over the bridge at KARCHAM dam to enter the Sangla / Baspa Valley & reach Chitkul (42 kms from Karcham)

ROUTE 2

  • MANALI-42 kms-KULLU-158 kms-(via JALORI pass)-RAMPUR-23 kms–JEORI-54 kms-KARCHAM-22 kms- RECONG PEO-7 kms-KALPA (306 kms)

If you are approaching from the Manali side, this is the shortest route connecting Route 1 midway between Narkanda & Rampur. However, this route may not be accessible during the winter season (upto March), due to snow at Jalori Pass. Alternately, opt for the longer route connecting Shimla (250 kms from Manali) & then following Route 1.

ROUTE 3

  • MANALI-95 kms-BATAL (via ATAL Tunnel)-12 kms-KUNJAM LA-18 kms-LOSAR-57 kms-KAZA-48 kms-TABO-89 kms-KHAB BRIDGE-77 kms-RECONG PEO – 7 kms – KALPA (403 kms).

In case you are approaching KALPA from the Manali side via the SPITI valley, you can connect Kinnaur via this route & exit from Route 1. This covers the entire circle route. Mostly, people doing KINNAUR & SPITI together start from Chandigarh / Shimla via Route 1 & exit at Manali via Route 3.

The view as you start your ascent to Kalpa

WHAT TO SEE IN KALPA

KINNER KAILASH

The biggest attraction & a divine sight to experience is  Kinner Kailash, a mythical abode of Lord Shiva & Parvati. It is exactly opposite Kalpa and can be seen from any place in Kalpa. There’s a 79 ft tall Shiv Linga on the top which changes its colors every hour in response to the different light conditions during the day. The Shivlinga is a trident shaped rock pillar laid out on a slab. The sunrise from the mountains & the sunset reflections over the Kinner Kailash range are truly memorable. There is also a trekking route to the Shivlinga on the Kinner Kailash. It is considered to be a difficult trek.

Kinner Kailash Range
The towering Suicide Point at Kalpa

ROGHI VILLAGE

A peaceful & serene village near Kalpa. A brief trek / drive from Kalpa through the green pine trees would bring you to ROGHI village. Take a walk amidst the tranquility & witness the vertical drop of the Suicide Point enroute ROGHI. The sheer drop from the cliff named as Suicide Point can be seen alongside the next bend. I am not sure how did it get its name, but the sight will definitely raise goosebumps and send shivers in your spine.  Although the road is mostly asphalted, there are some loose gravel sections due to the inclement weather. The road becomes almost a one way at a certain point. It should be tried by experienced drivers only.

NARAYAN NAGINI TEMPLE

Perched on the top of a hill in the Chini Village, the Narayan-Nagini Temple is a perfect example of Kinnauri craftmanship. It is constructed in the traditional Tibetan Pagoda style of architecture

CHAKKA MEADOWS

A 3 kms trail from a point on the Kalpa-Boghi Road takes to a highest point (15,000 feet) in KALPA. Being at a height, well above Kalpa, the glimpses of the Mt.Kinner Kailash, Mt.Raldang from the Chaka Meadows are far more magnificent than what you see from Kalpa. You need good stamina & strong legs to make it, since the trail is quite steep. It may take 2-3 hrs, but the vistas are bound to be etched in your minds forever.

KOTHI VILLAGE

Overshadowed by the towering Kinner Kailash peaks, this hamlet is located between Kalpa & Recong Peo. A temple dedicated to Chandika Devi is the main attraction. There is a golden image of the goddess seated in an ark.

SAPNI FORT

Renowned for its marvelous architecture, wooden carvings and facing the magnificent valley, SAPNI FORT is another popular spot located in Sapni village in the vicinity of Kalpa. The 7 storey tower style ancient fort was constructed in 1869 by Raja Padam Singh.

HOTELS IN KALPA

Most of the private hotels in KALPA are run by Bengali families. This is very prominently noticeable. During my first visit to Kalpa, I arrived late & was on a hotel search spree. Some 8-10 hotels seen were all being run by Bengali families.

KINNER KAILASH HOTEL (HPTDC)

The hotel is strategically located for visiting Kinnaur or traveling ahead to Spiti. This is a newly built hotel with all modern facilities. The design of the hotel has been inspired by the traditional architecture of the area. Needless to add, it has one of the finest views in the world.

  • Address                        :-  The Kinner Kailash, Kalpa (H.P.) – 172108.
  • Tel                               :-  (01786) – 226159,
  • Email                           :- kalpa@hptdc.in
  • Facilities                      :- Rooms are modern, well furnished with attached baths and running hot & cold water, Restaurant serving Indian, Continental Chinese & Himachali cuisine, Satellite TV, Sprawling Lawn & parking within its premises.

ECHOR – THE ALPINE CREST

  • Address                        :- Kalpa – Pangi Road Roghi Road, Opp. to White Nest Hotel, Kalpa, H.P.
  • Tel No.                         :- +91-95012 21122.
  • Email                            :- info@echor.in
  • Facilities                    :- Good hotels rooms with attached bath in moderate budget, Hot water, parking, Restaurant, travel desk, room service etc.
  • Reviews                        :- Good reviews of travelers on various websites.

HOTEL APPLE PIE

  • Address                  :- Roghi Road, Near Primary Health Center, Kinnaur, Kalpa, HP 172108
  • Tel. No.                       :- +91-98579 85700
  • E-mail                          :- hotelapplepiekinnaur@gmail.com
  • Facilities                      :- Budget Hotels with attached bathrooms, Hot water, Free parking, Wi-Fi, Restaurant, Doctor on call, travel desk etc.
  • Reviews                       :- The hotel is a budget property & reviewed good & comfortable by people on various websites.

PHONE SERVICES

You will find Vodafone, Airtel, Idea etc functioning in some places, but can’t be really sure about whether the service would be available at all the locations. I always carry a MTNL / BSNL postpaid sim card (Jeevansathi Plan, with no rental & pay as you call. Some nominal charges of Rs.100/- apply every 6 months, if your phone is not in use). MTNL / BSNL would mostly cover every region & its surrounding places. You may be without a signal on the routes between two destinations.

ATM

The nearest ATM would be at RECONG PEO. Carry sufficient cash & do not rely on Debit / Credit Cards for payments in the valley.

PETROL PUMPS

There is a Petrol Pump at RECONG PEO which is operational. It is advisable to tank up at Chandigarh / Shimla & top up at NARKANDA / RAMPUR. There is a petrol pump at POWARI, but it is not functional.

TO SUMMARIZE

In this article, I have tried to provide as much information possible on the travel routes, weather conditions, best time to visit, places to see in KALPA, stay options & services. If you find my article useful, please share it with your family, friends & contact aspiring to visit the KINNAUR valley.