KC11: 13D/12N - Monastries kinner camps
This trip can be tackled only after Rohtang Pass re-opens (after mid-June).
DAY 1: CHANDIGARH TO SHIMLA
Come at Chandigarh & take a pleasant drive to Shimla, of around 5 hours. The evening is free to visit The Mall Road at Shimla. Spend night at Shimla.
DAY 2: Shimla to Sarahan
After breakfast, we take a pleasant drive from Shimla to Sarahan via Fagu, Kufri, Rampur, Theog, and Narkanda. Take lunch on the way in Rampur. Come at Sarahan & check-in to your hotel. Sarahan instructs a sight of the Srikhand Mahadev Peak & is popular for its 800 year old Bhimkali Temple, one of the finest examples of hill architecture. Relish the scenic view of the Shrikhand peaks in the evening, and go to the Bhimkali Temple which is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths. Take part in the evening aarti. Relish dinner & night stay at hotel.
DAY 3: Sarahan to Sangla
Early morning, go to the sacred temple of Goddess Bhimakali. This temple is a fantastic mixture of Hindu and Buddhist architecture. It is very sacred to both the communities. After that, take a pleasant drive to Sangla, which is the most wonderful valley of Himachal Pradesh. Sangla Valley is enclosed by green fields and sky-high mountain peaks. Spend night at Kinner Camps, Sangla.
DAY 4: Sangla - Chitkul - Sangla
Today, you go through the area around Sangla, including the old Kamru fort & temple devoted to the Goddess Kamakhya Devi, the sculpture of whom was brought from Assam. After lunch, leave for a short trip to Chitkul which is the last village on the old Indo – Tibetan trade route. A short 1.5km walk from Chitkul is Nagasti, that is the final civilian point on the Tibetan border. Chitkul is popular all over the globe for its potatoes. Stroll through amazing streams & green orchards. Come back to Sangla for flavoursome dinner & night stay.
DAY 5: Sangla to Kalpa
Post breakfast, check-out from the hotel & take a pleasant drive to Kalpa, through Recong Peo which is the district headquarters of Kinnaur. Kalpa was once a favourite spook of Lord Dalhousie. Come at Kalpa & check-in to your Hotel. Kalpa was called Chini back in the days when it was the zonal capital. Kalpa has altered very little in the previous 500 years. It is being said that as & when Lord Dalhousie desired to take a break from his frantic schedule in Shimla, he would arrive here on horseback. Each & every corner of Kalpa faces the Kinner Kailash Peak & Jorkanden, that is contemplated as one of the legendary homes of Lord Shiva; by its side is a 79 foot rock formation that mirrors a Shivlinga that alters colour as the day passes, & is seen to the unveiled eye on a clear day. After lunch, relax in the hotel & in the evening go to a Buddhist gompa. Relish mouth-watering dinner & spend night at Kalpa.
DAY 6: Local Sightseeing at Kalpa
Early morning, relish the sunrise over Kinner Kailash Peaks. Post breakfast, go to Kalpa, that is popular for its chilgoza & apples plantations. The chilgoza tree belongs to the pine family. The fruit is about an inch extended with a soft cover. Explore the Narayan Nagini temple complex, that has the sanctums of Buddhist, Hindu, & local Deities. After lunch, commence a short trip to Roghi Village to go through the ‘pahari’ Life. Commune with the locals. Come back to Kalpa for a pleasant night stay.
DAY 7: Kalpa to Nako
Post breakfast, check-out from Kalpa & take a pleasant drive to Nako. On the way, we take a cessation at Khab village. Khab sangam is the meeting of the Sutlej river and Spiti river.
Welcome to Spiti Valley – with few indications of vegetation. Yet, this land makes visitors speechless with its dazzling raw beauty of the landscape. Come at Nako & check-in to your hotel.
Explore Nako Lake – Kinnaur’s most scenic hamlets. Nako is slated to be declared a heritage village made around a tiny lake. It has a chief Buddhist gompa that is 1000 yrs old, & a little temple. A footprint like impression on a rock is assigned to the saint Guru Padmasambhava.
DAY 8: Nako to Kaza
After an initial, we leave for Tabo – also called the ‘Ajanta of the Himalayas’. Explore the Tabo monastery. Built in 996 AD – not only in Spiti but in the entire of the Tibetan Buddhist world, it is known as Chogs – Khor [‘Doctrinal Enclave’ or ‘Doctrinal Circle’]. It is a complex that holds 23 Chortens, 9 Temples,, a Monk’s Chamber & an extension that houses the Nun’s Chamber. On the absolute cliff-face above the enclave are a sequence of caves, used as residece by the monks, & incorporates an assembly hall. The monastery contains huge number of wall painting & stucco, scriptures & pieces of art. There is also a contemporary gompa & painting school established by the Dalai Lama. After taking mouth-watering lunch, check-out from Tabo.
A short ride away is the Giu mummy lama temple. After that, continue to explore Dhankar Gompa, the conventional capital of Spiti, which sits attractive on a hilltop. The hill-top fort that overlooks the Spiti Valley also utilized to serve as a jail in previous days. Presently, more than 160 Lamas live here. A sculpture of Dhyan Buddha, where four entire figures of Buddha sit back to back, is the prime attraction of this senior than 7th century monastery.
Proceed your pleasant drive to Kaza which is the Capital of Spiti Valley. Come at Kaza & check-in to your hotel. Enjoy mouth watering dinner & spend night at Kaza.
DAY 9: Explore Kaza
After an initial breakfast by 7 a.m., depart for an short trip to the Ki Monastery. Ki Monastery, which is the largest Gelupa Sect Monastery in Spiti, is located at the foot of sheer ridges and on the left bank of the river Spiti. Its hilltop location points to a post 13th century formation. The three-storied structure comprises substancially of storage rooms at the bottom level, while the middle floor houses the assembly hall i.e. Dukhang, & the topmost floor has other temple & the Head Lama’s quarters on single side of an open terrace. The extraordinary wealth of Ki Gompa lies in its group of ‘Thangkas’ reclaimed with difficulty from the shattering raids of the Sikhs & the Dogars in the 19th century. Hundreds of Lamas get their godly training in this monastery. The monastery is also popular for its old books & murals. From here, a memorable drive takes you into the grazing country of Kibber. From Kibber, the grazing lands are outspread over hundreds of square kms. Come back to Kaza for delicious dinner & rejuvenating night stay.
DAY 10: Kaza to Keylong
After an initial breakfast by 6:30 a.m., vacate from the hotel & take a pleasant drive to Keylong by the means of Kunzumla Pass which, at 4590 metres., is the tallest pass on the Spiti Lahaul Road. Most of the offices of the Government are situated at Keylong. This is also the epicenter of all commercial affair, with a well organized bazaar. The landscape is sterile all around while the valley floor is green with fields of potato, barley, & hops, tasselled with trees of poplar & willow. After all the altitude is low, apricots, walnuts, apples, etc. are grown in this region. On the way, terminate at the small hamlet of Chattru for revival. Come at Keylong & check-in to your hotel. Enjoy flavoursome dinner & spend night at Keylong.
DAY 11: Keylong - Triloknath - Udaipur - Keylong
After taking breakfast, go to Gondla [3110 metres / 18 kms] located on the right bank of River Chandra which is popular for its old fort. After an initial delicious lunch, depart for Triloknath [2660 metres / 57 kms] which is popular for its Triloknath Temple, spiritual to both Hindu & Buddhists. On your return go to Udaipur [2523 metres/53 km], home to the Mrikula Devi Temple, that is popular for its wood carvings. Udaipur is situated in Upper Lahaul in the Pattan Valley. Previously, this village was called Margul, and was named again at the time of Raja Udai Singh of Chamba [1690 – 1728 AD]. Come back to Keylong, where you have spare time for shopping. Keylong is popular for natural olive & almond oil, shawls, local tweeds, caps, rugs, footwear, woolen jackets, metal craft, silver jewelry, pullovers, bamboo products & fresh fruits. Mouth watering dinner and spend night at Keylong.
DAY 12: Depart for Manali
After an initial breakfast, explore Shasur [3 km], Kardang [5 km], and Guru Ghantal [8 km]. After taking heavenly lunch check-out from the hotel & leave for Manali. Come at Manali & check-in to your hotel. You are all set to relax for the rest of the evening. Relish delightful dinner & night stay at Manali.
DAY 13: Manali to Chandigarh
After very quick breakfast, checkout from the hotel & leave for Chandigarh (9-10 hours). Lunch on the way. Come at Chandigarh to snatch late evening flight. Differently, spend night at Chandigarh and snatch the next day flight back home.
