Chitkul Himachal Pradesh, Road Trip In Sangla Valley

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Chitkul is popularly known as the last inhabited village on the old Indo-Tibetan road within Indian boundaries. Rakcham is a village that falls on the way from Sangla and is better known as the model village of the region. Visiting the place is almost like a pilgrimage for those who dare to take this historic road. Reaching it is like reaching the pinnacle of a journey and why not. It is such a scenic little village that has managed to carve such a unique identity for itself.

Table of Contents

Himachal hut at Chitkul Sangla Valley
Himachal hut in Sangla Valley

Drive to Chitkul

Landscape view of the road to Chitkul
Landscape view of the road to Chitkul

We started our drive towards Chitkul after a leisurely breakfast at Banjara Camps in Sangla where we were staying. We intended to go beyond the village as some adventurous people do manage to go, so we made no other plans for the rest of the day. As soon as we got out of Sangla the landscape started changing. We were driving with the Baspa River flowing to our right. Every now and then we started meeting streams that were enthusiastically running towards the Baspa as if full of joy for the anticipated union. There were big and small bridges that we crossed.

Each of these bridges was enchanting enough to stop and admire. To stand on top of the bridge and watch the river flow below you is like being a part of the river and yet not being. The sound of water against the rocks is like pure music.

Bridge on Road to Chitkul
Bridge on Road

What we found amazing was that each bridge had all the vital details mentioned on a board on either side of it. You know exactly what the water body is called if it is a Nallah, a River, or a Rivulet along with the technical details of the bridge.

View of Himalayan streams from a Bridge, Sangla Valley, Himachal
View of Himalayan streams from a Bridge

The colorful Buddhist flag not only added a flavor of devotion to the environment but also added a bit of vibrancy with its cheerful colors.

Once we crossed Rakcham, we started seeing lots of big and small rocks all around. It almost looked like we have reached the city of Stones, all we could see were stones and stones. Here and there hanging glaciers glistened in the sunshine.

Chitkul

Stone & Wood hut of Sangla Valley, Himachal
Stone & Wood hut of Sangla Valley

As I said, we wanted to go ahead of the village, but the village had no intention of letting us go ahead. On the turn just outside the village, our car got stuck in what looked like a small drain. Thanks to the local hotel and restaurant owners we could get the car moving. But abandoned our plans to go ahead as everyone said the road ahead is not so good and technically you can’t go beyond a checkpoint. We parked the car and started exploring the little village.

Kinnauri woman in her Green Kinnauri Cap
Kinnauri woman in her Green Kinnauri Cap

We came across the small wood and stone hut that is almost as famous as the village itself. We saw houses with open storage that have doors but not necessarily walls.

Bengal in Himachal

Hotel or Home?
Hotel or Home?

As we walked past the row of hotels that were garishly painted in bright colors we could read boards in Bengali. We did not have to wait too long to hear Bengali. When we chatted with our guide, we were told that Bengalis travel a lot on this route and hence there is a market for Bengali hotels and restaurants in the village. Now I know Bengalis and Gujaratis are two communities that travel a lot. But I did not expect them to create a mini Bengal in the remote Himalayan village. Call it the drive of a free market or call it the nature of India where every community has a stake in the other.

Walk along River Baspa in Chitkul

River Baspa at Chitkul, Sangla Valley, Himachal
River Baspa

We took a long walk along the river that seems to descend from the snow-capped Himalayan peaks. People of the village could be seen wearing their ubiquitous green Kinnauri caps. Be it the woman tending the field or the man taking the donkeys for a walk.

Chitkul Village landscape view
Chitkul Village Landscape view

I walked through the sandy path to reach the edge of Baspa – that was flowing like a girl in her adolescent years – not yet aware of the ways of the world and full of hope and optimism. The edges of the Baspa River had some smooth stones in various colors. I remember I counted the colors and there were more than 7 colors not counting the various shades and patterns they had on them.

Himalayan streams that merge with Baspa
Himalayan streams that merge with Baspa

I sat by the river listening to its roar, its joy, its flow, and watching it maneuver itself around the big rocks. It was such a peaceful experience even with noisy tourists all around me. I still get a little peaceful moment when I close my eyes and think of those few moments of sitting by the River Baspa.

Flowers

Colorful flowers of Sangla Valley, Chitkul
Colorful flowers of Sangla Valley

I was there in July and we could see quite a few colorful flowers in the village.

Rakcham – the model village

Top view of bridge from Rakcham village, Sangla Valley, Himachal
Top view of the bridge from Rakcham village

On our way back we stopped at Rakcham or Rakchham to admire the neat and clean modern village. Rakcham is at a height, a good 100 meters or so above Baspa and you get a good top-down view of the River. Bridges from here looked like small sticks across the river that looked like a much smaller version of itself.

City of Stones on way to Chitkul, Sangla Valley, Himachal Pradesh
City of Stones on the way

Near Rakcham, we found the pine trees that give the Pine Nuts – a product that you only find in Sangla Valley or Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh.

Watch the video of the roaring Baspa River

Watch the video clip of the roaring Baspa River.

I was back in Sangla in my tent next to Baspa, with lovely memories from the trip.

Travel Tips

Landscape of the Sangla Valley, Himachal Pradesh
The landscape of the Sangla Valley
  • It is roughly 25 km from Sangla – the main hub of Baspa Valley in Himachal Pradesh.
  • There are only budget hotels available for stay. So plan your trip accordingly.
  • Food available is also basic so if you are finicky about your food, carry it with you.
  • There is a Himachal Transport Bus that connects it to Rekong Peo and passes via Sangla. Check the latest timings if you intend to take the bus. I would recommend taking a cab so that you can stop by whenever nature beckons you.
  • It is at a height of 3450 meters so the air does get thin. Do not overexert yourself.
  • It is colder than Sangla, keep an extra layer of woolen.

Recommend you to read the following Places to visit in Himachal Pradesh.

Things to do in Narkanda, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh

Dhankar – Monastery, Fort & a village in Spiti Valley

Eternity stops to see Kinner Kailash at Kalpa

Bhimakali – Unique Temple of Himachal

Rampur Bushahr & its Padam Palace

34 COMMENTS

  1. Lovely pictures and write up. I am just back from Himachal and craving for more. Maybe this should be my next destination.

  2. Thanks for Featuring this place with us (which I have never Heard of Before!).Loved the way you have portraited this place with your writings along with the Pics.Felt like I was there on the journey with you.I’m surely Going to add Chitkul in My Wishlist 🙂

  3. Hi Anuradha 🙂
    First, i would like to thank you for maintaining this wonderful blog, beautifully crafted, each details of place and location.
    I was unaware of this place (Valley of Sangla) i traveled Unna, Chamba, Bhimakali in Sarahan but Sangla i never visited. After reading your story i think i should visit this place. And Rakcham the neat and clean modern village, it is not surprising that a remote village is clean but im amaze how they preserve their village from tourists littering. Anyway i am quite disappointed over less pictures. overall you are amazing. And im going to Subscribe your blog.

  4. A picture is worth a thousand words,and I fell in love with Chitkul!Thanks a lot for showcasing these Pictures.And I feel like Chitkul is a Place which brings back to us all the Peace and Tranquility in the world 🙂

  5. Hi,

    I am planning to visit Chitkul in 1st week of July.
    Just wanted to know if its the ideal time as I have read about sporadic landslides happening.

    Thanks,
    Kulsum

  6. As usual Anuradha ji going through your write up give us a feeling of actually present amidst the scenic beauty of Himachal. Although never been there but now making plan visit this place. Thanks once again for your vivid description of the place

  7. very beautiful place. I liked the photos that you shared And you have a great discovery about the place. keep writing such blogs.

  8. Wonderful post and a great guide to the tourists. I will surely help many. And a great way of writing a post. You are such a great inspiration.

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