Chitkul
Encyclopedia
Chitkul is the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibet border; the Indian road ends here.
During winters the place remains covered with the snow mostly & these people move to the lower areas of Himachal.
Potatoes grown at Chittkul are one of the best in the world and are very costly.
Chittkul, on the banks of Baspa River
, is the first village of the Baspa Valley
and the last village on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route. It is also the last point in India one can travel to without a permit. Of particular interest at Chitkul are its houses with either slate or wooden plank roofs, a Buddhist temple and a small tower. However, there has been an increased use of tin-roofs, especially the high school and the army/ITBP barracks.
The Kagyupa temple has a highly valued old image of the Shakyamuni Buddha
, a Wheel of Life mandala
and four Directional Kings on either side of the door. Chitkul is practically the last point of the famous Kinner Kailash Parikrama
as one can hitch a hike from here onwards.
After one crosses over the 5,242 m high Charang Pass, it is a long and steep run down through slithery scree slopes to Chitkul
(3,450m). The powerful goddess of Chitkul is the only non-Buddhist deity to which respect must be paid by the Parikrama
pilgrims. It is believed that the local Deity is related to the Deity of Gangotri and till recently the locals would carry the Deity to Gangotri on foot over high mountain passes. Chitkul is situated around 40 km from Karcham, the place where road bifurcates from Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH 22). The Sangla Valley is a delight for nature lovers; especially the stretch after Raksham and right up to Chitkul. The valley is extremely beautiful, on the left bank of the Baspa River
are snow-clad mountains and on the right bank the whole terrain is full of apple orchids and wooden houses.
Chhitkul is around 750 km from the National capital Delhi and 24 km from Sangla. This is the last Indian village on border with China. The road doesnt take you till the actual border, it closes around 90 km before it and then rest of the area is under the control of Indian Paramilitary force ITBP. There are wooden houses turned into hotels that can be found in Chhitkul, these hotels are a bit expensive and most of the tourist prefer to stay at Sangla and make a day trip to this place. Sangla is close to Chhitkul and hotels and camps provide very good arrangement for living and are comparatively cheaper. While in Chhitkul make sure you carry adequate cash and petrol or diesel for your car with you as there is no ATM facility or fuel stations in this hilly area. There is also neither a clinic nor any hospital in this area and one has to travel back to Sangla for emergencies. Chitkul is very cold and windy and the road normally closes down around November after the first snowfall.
During winters the place remains covered with the snow mostly & these people move to the lower areas of Himachal.
Potatoes grown at Chittkul are one of the best in the world and are very costly.
Chittkul, on the banks of Baspa River
Baspa River
Baspa River rises near the Indo-Tibetan border and forms the Baspa Valley - one of the most beautiful in Himalayas. The Chung Sakhago Pass lies at the head of the valley. It is fed by the perennial glaciers and shares the catchment area with the Ganges.The gurgling Baspa River in Sangla valley...
, is the first village of the Baspa Valley
Baspa Valley
Baspa Valley is a river valley named after the Baspa River. It lies in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh, India. Sangla is a major town in the Baspa Valley, and the valley is popularly known as the Sangla valley....
and the last village on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route. It is also the last point in India one can travel to without a permit. Of particular interest at Chitkul are its houses with either slate or wooden plank roofs, a Buddhist temple and a small tower. However, there has been an increased use of tin-roofs, especially the high school and the army/ITBP barracks.
The Kagyupa temple has a highly valued old image of the Shakyamuni Buddha
Buddhahood
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
, a Wheel of Life mandala
Mandala
Maṇḍala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form. The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point...
and four Directional Kings on either side of the door. Chitkul is practically the last point of the famous Kinner Kailash Parikrama
Parikrama
For meaning of word see Parikrama .Parikrama is a Rock and Roll band from Delhi, India. They have several live performances and original numbers to their name. The band was officially formed on June 17, 1991 in Delhi...
as one can hitch a hike from here onwards.
After one crosses over the 5,242 m high Charang Pass, it is a long and steep run down through slithery scree slopes to Chitkul
Chitkul
Chitkul is the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibet border; the Indian road ends here.During winters the place remains covered with the snow mostly & these people move to the lower areas of Himachal....
(3,450m). The powerful goddess of Chitkul is the only non-Buddhist deity to which respect must be paid by the Parikrama
Parikrama
For meaning of word see Parikrama .Parikrama is a Rock and Roll band from Delhi, India. They have several live performances and original numbers to their name. The band was officially formed on June 17, 1991 in Delhi...
pilgrims. It is believed that the local Deity is related to the Deity of Gangotri and till recently the locals would carry the Deity to Gangotri on foot over high mountain passes. Chitkul is situated around 40 km from Karcham, the place where road bifurcates from Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH 22). The Sangla Valley is a delight for nature lovers; especially the stretch after Raksham and right up to Chitkul. The valley is extremely beautiful, on the left bank of the Baspa River
Baspa River
Baspa River rises near the Indo-Tibetan border and forms the Baspa Valley - one of the most beautiful in Himalayas. The Chung Sakhago Pass lies at the head of the valley. It is fed by the perennial glaciers and shares the catchment area with the Ganges.The gurgling Baspa River in Sangla valley...
are snow-clad mountains and on the right bank the whole terrain is full of apple orchids and wooden houses.
Chhitkul is around 750 km from the National capital Delhi and 24 km from Sangla. This is the last Indian village on border with China. The road doesnt take you till the actual border, it closes around 90 km before it and then rest of the area is under the control of Indian Paramilitary force ITBP. There are wooden houses turned into hotels that can be found in Chhitkul, these hotels are a bit expensive and most of the tourist prefer to stay at Sangla and make a day trip to this place. Sangla is close to Chhitkul and hotels and camps provide very good arrangement for living and are comparatively cheaper. While in Chhitkul make sure you carry adequate cash and petrol or diesel for your car with you as there is no ATM facility or fuel stations in this hilly area. There is also neither a clinic nor any hospital in this area and one has to travel back to Sangla for emergencies. Chitkul is very cold and windy and the road normally closes down around November after the first snowfall.