Sangla Valley in Himachal Pradesh – Kinnaur can best be likened to that delicacy unique to the region – the chilgoza. Like the tasty kernel of the chill pine, it takes some effort getting ti it, but the rewards are quite delicious. Close to the border of Tibet, entry was restricted even for Indian Nationals till 1993-and foreigner still have to register themselves.

 

Road Through High Ridges

With barely 77 villages and no urban centres, Kinnaur is a s parsely populated area and has barely 10 person per sq.km. The old Hindustan-Tibet Road passed through Kinnaur along the high ridges. Then lower down the valley, came the national highway in the 1960s and this is Kinnaur’s lifeline.An engineering feat, it has long stretches chiseled out of sheer rock face-quite like a tunnel with one wall missing.

 

 

 

BEAUTIFUL VALLEYS

With turbulent torrents, two large rivers race through Kinnaur-the Sutlej and the Spiti. Several streams feed these rivers and their valleys are breathtakingly beautiful. The slopes are covered with forests while the basins hold orchards, fields and picturesque hamlets. Kinnaur holds two of the world’s mountain ranges-the Zanskar and the Greater Himalaya. Snow traverses the peaks which vary between 5,180 m ans 6,770 m.There are only gaps for passes.As one advances through the district and cuts past the Greater Himalaya, the arid landscape-hallmark of the trans-Himalaya-also arrives. The Monsoon remain south of thin impassable barrier. Winter are along and summer short.
Kinnaur is home to some of India’s oldest tradition and legends. The Pandava brothers are said to have spent several years of their exile in these tracts-an episode from the epic Mahabharata. There are several gateways or tanks attribute to them. Ancient texts have gone to the extent of placing the people of Kinnaur -the Kinner-as halfway between men and gods. The religion is an interestingmis of Hinduism and Budhism and every village has its own diety.All of Kinnaur’s travel destinations lie along the valleys. After Sarahan,the first of Kinnaur’s attraction is Nichar that lies on a side road 16 km off the highway from Sholding Khad. Here is a forest, a variety of wildlife and interesting architecture. The Nichar temple has remarkable carvings.

Details of tourist places to visit in Sangla Valley : –

Tibetan Wood Carving Center

The Tibetan Wood Carving Centre is one of the most popular sightseeing destinations of Sangla. It is situated near the Saffron Farm in the outskirts of Sangla. Its main attraction are the items made out of wood carvings in Tibetan style. These items are present here for both display and sale purposes. The wood carving center is reached by passing through the Batseri village, very popular in sangla. On your walk , do visit the badrinarayan Ji and Vishnu Narayan Ji temple at the village. The wooden idols of gods and goddesses and a great gift to take back home. It is among top in the list of places to visit in Sangla valley hill station.

 

 

SCOPE FOR TROUT FISHING, BASPA RIVER

It is the valley of the Baspa river also called Sangla valley after the main village-that is the perhaps the most beautiful. From the turn off at Karcham, to the lofty Chung Sakhago pass it is about 95 km long. Till Chitkul, roughly halfway up the valley, it is fairly populous and heavily cultivated. The advances is along a narrow road and the valley is also tight. It suddenly opens up at Kalpa and hereafter, the water of the Baspa also seem unhurried. And in season this is an excellent area for trout fishing.
Sangla village has a couple of hostels and rest houses. Deeper in the valley near Batseri and at Chitkul, there is excellent tented accommodation through summer and autumn.
A kilometer or so above Sangla village stands the tower-like fort of Kamru-a ailent sentonel that has stood guard over all this beauty through time. Till they moved to Sarahan and later Rampur, this was the original seat of the rulers of Bushair. The main gate of Kamru village has an image of the Buddha whose blessing are sought before entering the village.Locals believs this image prevents the smulling in of ghosts or demons.With elaborate woodwork, the tower holds an image at KamaKhaya Devi. The best time to visit to Kinnaur-as well as Spiti and Lahaul-is from April to October. Light woolen and a jacket are suggested.

 

 

Bering Nag Temple

Beautiful temple located about 15 minutes walk from the main market. This temple is dedicated to God Jagas. Its most popular feature is the Fulaich Fair, held here every year between the months of August and September. Exemplary Kinnauri craftsmanship on display in the form of woodwork that adorns the temple. Amazingly detailed freizes and pillars with exquisite carvings etched in wood. Angels, nagas, deities, creepers, flowers, sun and the moon everything is amazing in its detailing.

One has to trelk down from main Sangla market to reach the Bering NAG temple. It 15-20 mins walk downhill. Temple is just like any other Kinnauri temple with Budhist temple also in the same courtyard. It is among top in the list of places to visit in Sangla valley hill station.

 

Rupin Pass

Trek starts from Dhaula in Uttarakhand and ends at Sangla in Himachal Pradesh. Visitors can expect unmatched beauty everyday in the form of valleys, falls, cliffs, mountains, etc. Few of the highlights were climb on frozen waterfall and ice slide after pass. The temperature at top camp reaches -10C. This trail is very beautiful and gets better each day as we near the pass. The camps at the base of the lower waterfall and at the upper waterfall are both stunning locations. It is among top in the list of places to visit in Sangla valley hill station.

 

 

 

Chitkul

Chitkul is the last inhabited village situated near Indo-Tibet border at a distance of 20 km from Sangla. This village lies on the right bank of River Baspa. Chitkul is at an altitude of 3450 m (11320 ft). One can see milky way galaxy on a clear night, very pleasant place to be along with Baspa River. It is among top in the list of places to visit in Sangla valley hill station.

 

 

 

Glacier Watch

Tourists can walk a couple of kms around the camps to a Glacier. Glaciers eventually melt away by May end or early June. It is among top in the list of places to visit in Sangla valley hill station.

 

 

 

 

Kamru Fort

situated at an altitude of 2600 m above the sea level at 229 km from Shimla and 2 km from the Sangla Valley. It is a 1200 yrs old 4 storeyed temple beautified with wooden carvings. 200-300 stairs to reach the entrance of the temple, open from dawn to dusk.  It is among top in the list of places to visit in Sangla valley hill station.

 

 

 

 

 

Buddhist Monastery

This monastery lies near the Reckong Peo in Brelengi due to which it is also known as Brelengi Gompa. This monastery displays modern Buddhist edifice. It is among top in the list of places to visit in Sangla valley hill station.

 

 

 

 

 

Rakcham

One of the least explored places in India Sangla valley is actually a heaven for trekkers and nature enthusiasts. Its only 20 mins away from the main Sangla market chowk however offers a great view of the river and Sangla valley. You can stock up with daily needs from the Sangla market and spend a day or two. It is among top in the list of places to visit in Sangla valley hill station.

 

 

 

 

 

More Tourist Places to Visit in Himachal Pradesh