Kalpa – How to Plan your Trip and Explore

by Vargis.Khan

kalpa

The name Kalpa in Kinnaur Valley would probably be known only to people who have done a bit of traveling in the Himalayas. People who have been to Himachal more than a few times or have been on the Spiti circuit at least once. It is a beautiful little town that is blessed with unparalleled scenic beauty and a majestic view. It is often termed, and quite rightly so, as the crown jewel of Kinnaur.

Kalpa and the nearby town of Reckong Peo are mostly used as the center point of the journey from Shimla to Kaza. It is not completely an unknown destination because tourism is a major part of the livelihood of the people here. You will definitely find tourists in Kalpa irrespective of when you arrive and the place is also very well connected.

It however is still not known to many people and never gets crowded. So if you were planning a trip in near future and wanted to travel to a lesser-known place that offers peace and tranquility as well as stunning vistas all around, then Kalpa could prove to be an ideal destination.

In this Kalpa Travel Guide, I will provide information on how you can plan your trip; covering details like how to reach, what to see, where to stay, and things to do.

About Kalpa

Kalpa is a charming little village in Kinnaur Valley of Himachal Pradesh. This area is also known as Sutlej River Valley. It is located at a distance of about 220 kilometers from Shimla and 7 kilometers uphill from Reckong Peo, the headquarters of Kinnaur.

At an altitude of 2,960 meters (9,710 ft), it is best known for its natural beauty, picturesque location, and apple orchards. The apples grown here are in fact considered to be the best in the entire world. The prime attraction of Kalpa however is the outstanding view that it offers of the imposing Kinner Kailas Peaks (more details to follow later in the article).

The village is inhabited by Kinnaur Valley. Hinduism is the main religion in the district followed by Tibetan Buddhism. There are a few ancient temples located in Kalpa and its nearby places.

There are two ways that you can get to Kalpa. You can either reach here from Shimla or take the longer route via Manali. Due to this, it acts as a stopover for people completing the Spiti Valley Circuit. Which of these will be the best route; what to see in Kalpa; and how you can plan your journey is what I will be providing details on in this post.

kalpa

Why you should visit Kalpa

You should visit Kalpa for its natural beauty, views, tranquility, different culture but most of all, to be away from the crowd. The best thing I like about this tiny hamlet its location. From the Shimla Kaza highway, you climb up approximately 16 kilometers on a steep and narrow road, getting a sharp incline in altitude. When you finally make it to Kalpa, you are greeted with an outstanding view of the majestic Kinner Kailash peaks, also known as Kinnaur Kailash peaks.

It is rare that you would have witnessed a sight like this unless you have been to a lot of hill stations. It is a view that makes the entire journey to Kalpa totally worth it and will remain with you for months to come. The pictures you will get here will be some of your best landscape shots ever.

But that is not all. Kalpa also has a few other aces up its sleeve. Out here, you experience peace like never before. If you have never seen an apple orchard before then Kalpa is where you will surely find it. If you arrived here in winter, you will find the town covered under a carpet of white powder. There are a few other tourist locations that I have provided details on further in the article.

While planning a trip to Kalpa, you can either just visit Kalpa if you were short on time. Or you can also incorporate it with a trip covering the entire Kinnaur valley. If you had a few more days in hand, you can also move towards Kaza and visit Spiti Valley while ending the trip in Manali.

How to reach Kalpa

Kalpa is very well connected by a good motorable road and a regular bus service. You can actually get here for all 12 months of the year either by public transport or your own vehicle. The only time the road may be closed is if there were any landslides caused by the rain in the monsoon season or if the snow blocked the road in winters.

Let me first explain how you can reach Kalpa if you were traveling in your own car or motorcycle. For the sake of explaining the route, I will assume Delhi as the starting point.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Sangla Valley?

How to reach Kalpa from Delhi by Road

Starting from Delhi, the journey will be as mentioned below.

Delhi – Panipat – Ambala – Zirakpur – Kalka – Kandaghat – Shimla – Narkanda – Rampur – Tapri – Reckong Peo – Kalpa

The total distance traveled will be about 575 kilometers and it is ideally a 2 days journey with a night halt at either Shimla or Narkanda.

The nearest major town is Shimla, located about 220 kilometers that can be covered in 7-8 hours depending upon your speed and breaks. From Shimla, you will climb uphill all the way till Narkanda and then you will drive down to the banks of Sutlej River.

You will then continue towards Reckong Peo while crossing Rampur, Jeori, and Powari on the way. A few kilometers after Powari, a road climbing up on your left is the one that you will need to take. You will first reach Reckong Peo and then finally to Kalpa.

apple orchards

How to reach Kalpa from Delhi by Bus

Kalpa is very well connected by public transport and getting here by Bus is not difficult at all. From Delhi and Chandigarh, there are HRTC Buses available for Reckong Peo. In Delhi, you can board this Bus from ISBT and the fare per person is around Rs. 900.

Reckong Peo is about 10 kilometers from Kalpa and once you get there, you can board another local Bus to get to Kalpa which will cost you about Rs. 15 and is available every one hour. The travel time from Delhi to Reckong Peo via Shimla is about 18-19 hours (sometimes even more). From Peo to Kalpa, it is a journey of 20-25 minutes at most.

The HRTC Bus is an ordinary one and can be a bit uncomfortable for a long journey. If you do not want to travel by it, then another option would be to board the HRTC AC Bus for Rampur. It leaves ISBT Delhi at 7:30 PM and reaches Rampur Bushahr the next day at 9 AM. The total fare is about Rs. 1000 per person.

From Rampur, you can then board another Bus for Reckong Peo which will about Rs. 200 per person. These buses are available every hour or so.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Chitkul?

How to reach Kalpa from Shimla

The most comfortable way to travel by Bus, however, would be to find one from Delhi to Shimla and then Shimla to Peo. There are numerous Volvos/Scania buses available between Delhi/Chandigarh and Shimla. Fare is about Rs. 1000 per person for Delhi to Shimla by a Volvo and Rs. 800 for an AC Bus.

I know I explained the journey above from Delhi but there are buses available to Shimla from every major city nearby. It is a major tourist destination and you will have no problem finding a bus for Shimla, either state-run or private.

Once you are in Shimla, you can then board an ordinary Bus for either Rampur or Reckong Peo from the Tutikandi bus stand. Shimla to Rampur ordinary bus ticket is about Rs. 300 per person. There are several buses plying between Shimla to Rampur and finding one will not be a problem in the morning. From Rampur, you will then take a bus for Reckong Peo for Rs. 200 and then another Bus from Peo to Kalpa.

The bus fare from Shimla to Reckong Peo is Rs. 500 per person. You can even book your ticket online for this. There is one bus from Shimla to Reckong Peo that leaves at 9 AM and another one at 9.30 AM.

You can book HRTC buses online at the HRTC Online portal.

kalpa

By Air

The nearest airport to Kalpa is the Shimla airport located in Jubbarhatti. After Shimla, the next nearest airport is the Bhuntar airport between Chandigarh and Manali. These are however small airports and flights to both these places are limited. The nearest major airport is at Chandigarh which is connected with several flights from all over the country.

By Train

The nearest train station also is at Shimla but like the airfield, this train station also is a small one; connected to Kalka by the famous Kalka – Shimla toy train. The nearest major railway station is at Chandigarh; trains to which are available from all major cities in the country.

By Taxi

You can also catch a shared cab that ply on this route in ample amounts. These are easily available between Shimla, Rampur, Reckong Peo, and Kalpa. If the budget was not a problem, you can also hire a private taxi in Shimla that will cost about Rs. 4000 – 5000 for a drop to Kalpa.

chandika devi mandir

What to see in Kalpa

Kalpa is just a tiny little village. You can walk from it’s one end to another in less than 30 minutes and as such, there is no long list of places to visit or things to do in Kalpa.

The natural beauty and calm of the place is the biggest reward of planning a visit here. If your idea of a trip is to do plenty of sightseeing, shopping, eating out, and adventure activities then Kalpa will definitely disappoint you. For a trip like that, you should visit Shimla and Manali. But come to Kalpa if you want to spend some time away from the crowd and relax for a few days.

With that being said, there are a few places in Kalpa that are worthy of note. The view of Kinner Kailash peaks remains to be the primary attraction. The town is also famous for its Apple orchards. Apple farming is a major part of the livelihood of people here. Taking a walk through the town and its apple orchards is a very pleasant experience.

Also Read: Top Offbeat Destinations in Himachal

Another tourist spot is the suicide point which is about 4 kilometers out of Kalpa towards Roghi village. If you wish to, you can continue another 5 kilometers on the same road to reach Roghi village, popular for its apple orchards and ethnic village life, which includes temples, monasteries, Kinnauri style buildings.

Kothi village which is located about 5 kilometers from Kalpa is also visited by many tourists. An ancient shrine here is dedicated to Goddess Chandika, a manifestation of Goddess Kali. The architectural style of the temple and the gold image of the deity makes this village worth a visit.

List of Tourist Places in Kalpa

I have covered this topic in great detail in another article, Tourist Attractions in Kalpa and its Vicinity. But for a brief overview, below is a list of places to visit in Kalpa.

  • Kinner Kailash Peaks – The view of this majestic mountain is available from pretty much everywhere in Kalpa, irrespective of where you were standing.
  • Suicide Point – A vantage point about 4 kilometers from Kalpa.
  • Roghi Village – A small village about 10 kilometers from Kalpa.
  • Chaka Meadows – A meadow located at the top of a mountain. You will have to hike uphill about 3 kilometers to get here.
  • Narayan Nagini temple – An ancient temple located in Kalpa itself.
  • Kothi Village and Temple – Another village that is known for its beautiful ancient temple.
  • Apple Orchards – The entire town is surrounded by beautiful apple orchards.
  • Hu-Bu-Lan-Kar Gompa – An ancient monastery located in Kalpa.

Things to do in Kalpa

Other than visiting all of the places listed above, below are some of the other things that you can do in Kalpa.

  • Photography
  • Enjoy the Night Skies
  • Take a Walk through the Village
  • View the Sunrise
  • Relax

For more details on these places and activities, please read Tourist Attractions in Kalpa and its Vicinity. Adding all the details here again would have just rendered this article endless hence I put it on another page.

kalpa suicide point

Weather in Kalpa

No matter which time off the year you visit here, Kalpa will always be cold. During summer, it will be a pleasant kind of cold when the temperature during the day will be between 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. At nights, however, the temperature will drop down to close to 5 to 10 degrees. Summers in Kalpa are pleasant but very short, lasting from late April to early July. However, even in May and June, there will always be a chill in the air and you will have to keep wearing a light sweater or jacket all the time.

Monsoon arrives towards late June and remains until early September. During this time, it can rain here anytime. Rainfall can be from moderate to so intense that it can even cause landslides. Sometimes it rains so much that the roads can get blocked for days. Monsoon season is usually not considered a safe time to be in Kinnaur.

September is an agreeable month when the weather turns pleasant again. Monsoon departs but leaves an air of freshness in the valley. October marks the beginning of the autumn season. The temperature will again start to dip and Kinnaur will get ready for the arrival of the winter season.

From December and then again until March next year, the area gets covered under a sheet of snow. It starts to snow towards the end of December and the temperature will drop below 0 degrees Celsius. Chances of a snowfall remain from January to March.

In April, it may not snow but will still remain very cold. May onward, the weather will start to get warm and remains pleasant until July.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Prashar Lake?

Clothes to Pack

What kind of clothes to bring for Kalpa will really depend on the time of the year you are arriving here. A warm, thick and windproof jacket however is a must irrespective of the month of your arrival.

If you were planning a winter trip, then ensure that you are carrying all heavy woolens, waterproof gloves, and shoes that can keep the snow and the wet out. Also make sure that your jacket has a hood to protect your head, neck, and face.

During summer, however, carry your regular cotton clothes with some light woolens and a heavy jacket and that will be sufficient.

While visiting in the months of July and August, ensure that you are bringing clothes that can dry fast, like polyester. Proper rain gear inclusive of a good quality waterproof jacket along with a good umbrella will be a must for visiting Kalpa in monsoon.

Best time to Visit Kalpa

When to visit Kalpa will really depend on what kind of trip you were looking forward to. On an overall basis, April to June is considered to be the best time to visit Kalpa because this is when the weather will suit the majority of the tourists. The entire valley remains open in these months and you can also cover other places like Sangla Valley and Sarahan.

If you wanted to see snow, January and February will be an ideal time for the trip. Chances of snowfall are more in January than in February though. You must keep in mind though that the temperature in winter will fall several degrees below 0 and you should be prepared for that. Even the roads can get blocked and may leave you stranded for a while in Kalpa.

For a budget trip, you should plan in either Monsoon or November. Tourists in Kalpa at this time are less and this will increase your chance of getting a good on accommodation.

If lush green mountains are what interests you, then the months of monsoon or September is a good enough time to go to Kalpa. This is also the best time for a photography visit.

Late October, November, and early December is an overall bad time to visit. The scenery at this time is very dull and featureless. The weather will be very cold and there won’t even be any snow around.

If you were thinking about a bike trip, Monsoon will be a really bad time to plan.

For more information on this topic, please take a look at When is the Best time to visit Kalpa.

kalpa sunrise

Where to Stay in Kalpa

There are a lot of hotels in this entire area including both Reckong Peo and Kalpa so you will have no trouble finding a place to stay. Whether or not to book your stay in advance will entirely depend upon you. I am more of a person who would rather arrive at the destination, find a hotel per liking, and negotiate an on the spot deal. If however booking your stay in advance gives you the peace of mind than you can do that as well.

To find a good hotel, however, continue driving up all the way up and cross the town of Kalpa as well. The views get better as you go further up. Do not check into any of the hotels between Reckong Peo and Kalpa. Once you arrive at Kalpa, cross it through the narrow roads and head towards HPTDC Hotel Kinner Kailash. If this hotel fits your budget, then it is a stunning place to stay. If not, then there are several other hotels around it where you can check for a vacancy.

From a budget point of view, between April to June, you will have to pay anywhere between Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2500 for a decent enough hotel. The luxury ones will cost you even more. The same prices will apply in January and February as well but in offseason, the fare can be a little less, around Rs. 1000 per day.

Where and What to Eat

All the hotels here in Kalpa serve all north-Indian dishes so you can easily order at the same hotel that you were staying at. If not, then there are a few restaurants at the main Kalpa chowk. You can walk till here from your hotel and enjoy some Himachali / Kinnauri dishes at these eateries.

You will also be in fact surprised by the number of Bengali people living here. There are a lot of them here running hotels and restaurants. So if you wanted to enjoy some fish curry rice, you can walk up to a Bengali restaurant and try some.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Chanshal Pass?

kalpa sunrise

Kalpa Sightseeing Itinerary

Now to the most important part, how to plan a trip to Kalpa. For the sake of this article, I will assume that you are starting from Delhi. A journey to Kalpa will then take two days and your itinerary will pan out like below.

  • Day 1 – You will reach either Shimla or Narkanda. I personally prefer staying at Narkanda better than the crowded Shimla city.
  • Day 2 – You will travel for 6 to 7 hours and arrive at Kalpa.
  • Day 3 – You can stay in Kalpa and visit the local sightseeing places. You will easily be able to cover all of them in a day.
  • Day 4 – You can stay another day in Kalpa or move to Sarahan or Chitkul. If you spent the day in Kalpa, you can trek to Chaka Meadows.
  • Day 5 – Drive from Kalpa and break the journey at Chail. This is another beautiful scenic little village that you can read about at How to Plan a Trip to Chail.
  • Day 6 – Drive back to Delhi from Chail. The journey will be about 7-9 hours.

If you were short on time, you can remove either Day 3 or 4. Or you can remove Day 5 and drive straight back to Kalpa which will easily take you anywhere between 18 to 24 hours.

Kalpa Kinnaur Itinerary

A better way of the journey will be to cover the entire Kinnaur valley. You will then travel from Narkanda to Kalpa and stay here for a day or two. From Kalpa, you can then travel to Chitkul and spend some time in Sangla valley. The next day, from Chitkul, you will arrive and stay at Sarahan and then continue back to Delhi via Shimla.

An even better way of the journey will be to complete the entire Spiti circuit. You will then arrive at Narkanda on Day 1, at Kalpa on Day 2, at Kaza on Day 3, Manali on Day 4, and return to Delhi on Day 5. This is just the bare minimum time. Depending on the number of days you have, you can add destinations to this plan like Chitkul and Sarahan.

Shopping in Kalpa

Kinnaur is famous for its Handloom and Handicraft items like shawls, caps, mufflers, and items of wood carving that you can consider buying. Apples of Kinnaur are considered to be among the best in the world so that can definitely be something to buy. Some other eatables that you can look for are almonds and apricots.

This is more of a general guideline though. To be honest, though, there really isn’t much of a shopping choice in Kalpa. You can try some handicraft souvenirs in Reckong Peo but that is pretty much it. If you want to try shopping then a better place for that is Shimla which is on the way.

nagini temple

Other Details

Below are some other details that can be of help in planning a trip to Kalpa.

ATM / Banks

The nearby town of Reckong Peo is actually the headquarters of Kinnaur valley and a major town. Because of this, there are banking facilities in this area and you will have no problem finding a bank as well as an ATM.

Petrol Pump / Mechanic

There are two petrol pumps in Reckong Peo and one at Powari. As you move towards Shimla from here, you will continue coming across gas stations at regular intervals. If you however went towards Manali, then the next petrol pump after Peo is at Kaza and then at Manali.

Mechanics too are available in Reckong Peo.

Medical Facilities

There are a couple of dispensaries in Kalpa but if you need a Doctor or a hospital, you will have to drive down to Reckong Peo. The hospital in Peo is a well-equipped one. In case of a serious medical emergency, the patient would then have to be shifted to either Shimla or Chandigarh.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Sarahan?

Mobile Network in Kalpa

No matter which network you are on, your cell phone will remain connected while visiting Kalpa. Voice clarity will be good and you will have good reception throughout the region. In terms of data, you will have 3G or 4G data connectivity.

Road Conditions

The road from Shimla to Kalpa is smooth all the way. It always remains in good condition except for a few bad patches in between. There is some road widening work going on between Chandigarh and Shimla so you may face some slow traffic here. But once you cross Shimla, it is good tarmac all the way.

If you were however coming from the Manali side, then the roads will mostly be bad with the stretch between Manali and Kaza a total nightmare. There will be water crossings, nalllahs, broken roads, boulders, loose stones, high altitude passes, slush, narrow sections, and everything that you can imagine on a terrible road.

Local Commute

Kalpa is a small town and you can actually cover all of it on foot in less than an hour. Visiting nearby places like Roghi, Kothi, and suicide point however can be a bit of a hassle if you were not visiting by your own vehicle. In that case, you will either have to hire a local taxi or a motorbike from Reckong Peo.

chandika devi temple

FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions about Kalpa.

Where is Kalpa in Himachal?

Kalpa is located in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh.

How to reach Kalpa from Chandigarh

The best way to reach Kalpa from Chandigarh is the board the overnight bus for Reckong Peo and then go to Kalpa from there.

How can I go to Kalpa from Shimla?

There are daily buses between Shimla and Reckong Peo that you can board to travel to Kalpa.

Can I visit Kalpa in December?

Yes, Kalpa remains open in December and can be visited.

Is Kalpa Worth Visiting?

Yes, Kalpa is one of the most scenic places in all of Himachal and is definitely worth visiting.

Conclusion

I hope the information above on visiting Kalpa was of help. If you have any further questions; or need any other details; please feel free to ask in the comments section below, or at our Community Forum, and I will be glad to answer.

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52 comments

Naresh Bohra December 16, 2022 - 12:15 pm

I have read that road is very narrow and dangerous. If we go by car from Shimla then please tell about the road

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Vargis.Khan December 17, 2022 - 1:21 pm

As long as you have experience in driving on the mountain roads, it is nothing to worry about

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Raj Kumar June 22, 2022 - 5:56 am

Hello Vargis, Om Shanti.
Which hill station is nearest from Delhi?

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Abhijit Das March 13, 2022 - 6:40 am

Hello Vargis,
Since I am planning to visit Himachal for 7 days in Feb/Mar’23, I have started reading about the places a bit early. I have been going through your articles for last few days and finding them extremely helpful. Almost all the questions are answered in the write up itself. Still, I am a bit confused what are the placed I should visit to make the most of my trip. I am from Kolkata and planned to start with Shimla via Kalka. Kindly suggest me an itinerary. As you mentioned from Kalpa, Manali can be visited with a stop over at Kaza. But Manali to Kaza road is in poor condition. So will that be a good idea ?

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Chandresh Jain January 7, 2022 - 8:29 am

It’s a wonderful and covering almost all necessary information.. Well described Bro Please suggest names of Hotels at Nearby Kalpa, which are best in your view apart from HPTDC Hotel Kinner Kailash. Thanks again

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Abhijit Das March 12, 2022 - 4:30 pm

Hello Vargis,
Since I am planning to visit Himachal for 7 days in Feb/Mar’23, I have started reading about the places a bit early. I have been going through your articles for last few days and finding them extremely helpful. Almost all the questions are answered in the write up itself. Still, I am a bit confused what are the placed I should visit to make the most of my trip. I am from Kolkata and planned to start with Shimla via Kalka. Kindly suggest me an itinerary.

Reply
Pranav Kodial December 9, 2021 - 12:57 pm

What a fantastic, detailed informative blog! Saving this for my trip next year (hopefully, if there’s no COVID). Thanks for the time and effort.

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Vargis.Khan December 10, 2021 - 8:57 am

Thanks Pranav Bhai

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Tanmoy Banerjee June 25, 2021 - 4:59 am

Pl give a suggestion whether Sept-oct is good time to visit Kalpa or not

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Vargis.Khan June 25, 2021 - 7:43 am

September is a good time to go

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Poonam June 16, 2021 - 7:41 am

Hi how treacherous or easy is it to travel with a 1.5 yr ild baby?we plan to stay1 bt narkanda, 3-4 nights rakcham, 2 nts in kalpa and 1 nt on return in shimla/ chail

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Neela July 19, 2021 - 6:13 am

Hi Vargis,
We are currently on our Kinnaur Spiti trip.. just a shout out to say that we really found your blog so so helpful. We refer to you as ‘our friend Vargis’. Currently in Kalpa and will head to Spiti tomorrow.
Neela

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Vargis.Khan July 19, 2021 - 6:33 am

Hi Neela – Thank you so much for your kind words and to take the time out to drop a note. I really appreciate it

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Gaurav April 14, 2021 - 2:41 am

Wao, What a description. Its so amazing. All the information shared in so greater detail tht while reading I was feeling I was leterally travelling n reaching n roaming in Kalpa. Thanks Bhai Jaan

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Vargis.Khan April 14, 2021 - 8:05 am

Thank you for your kind words Gaurav Bhai. I am glad that you found the information useful.

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Arvind March 8, 2021 - 9:03 pm

Beautifully crafted each and every details

I have been to kalpa in 2018 and also thinking again to visit last week March or 1 week 2021

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Prem Lata Nigam March 1, 2020 - 6:26 pm

Hi vargiskhan
Excellent in detail blog and thank you so much for information i asked you last time,i did solo spiti trip
Delhi to Chandigarh to Narkanda to nako to Chicham to manali and back to delhi
Now in April i am planning a trip to kalpa chitkul and sangla valley or sarhan
Please suggest the best way to do it.
Will be highly obliged.
I will be reaching shimla on 20th april by early morning flight
Please also suggest how to proceed from airport.
Thanks in anticipation
Regards

Reply
Jerome Richard January 31, 2021 - 6:38 pm

Hey will there be local buses available to kalpa even in march??

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Arnab November 2, 2021 - 2:32 pm

Thank you Varghis. Your article and the details are excellent about Kalpa. We are visiting HP in end December with kids. I have few queries:
1. Is end December recommend to visit Kalpa and Chitkul with kids?
2. How is the road condition between Shimla & Kalpa? Hope road won’t be closed due to snow?
3. Can you recommend a good hotel? Should we stay in Kalpa or Sangla? How is Grand Shambha La at Kalpa?
4. Want to stay for 3 nights. Can you recommend must visit places in and around Kalpa? We want to see snow
Many thanks in advance.

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Priya Ravi December 14, 2019 - 7:07 am

Hey Vargis, we are planning to visit Kalpa in Feb end (hopefully it would be a good time to visit?), and we would be coming from Delhi / Chandigarh airport.

We have set aside 7 days for the visit. Saturday to Saturday. Can you please recommend, in your expert wisdom, how many days we should spend in kalpa and if there is any other place(s) we can stay/ cover along the way to kalpa that’s offbeat ?

Usually what i see mentioned is we halt at shimla and then proceed to kalps. But i wanted to get your opinion on this!

Thanks!

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Vargis.Khan December 15, 2019 - 9:52 am

Hi Priya – One day is enough in Kalpa really. I will recommend spending some time in Sarahan and Sangla as well.

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Aditi December 8, 2019 - 7:15 am

What a wonderful article. It answers every possible question. One of the very few sites which remains true to the term ‘travel guide’.

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Vargis.Khan September 18, 2020 - 11:50 pm

Thank you Aditi

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Sonu Negi June 26, 2019 - 11:02 am

Hi Vargis. You can add trek to Chaka meadows in things to do section. Thanks
https://raachotrekkers.com/chaka-meadows-hike/

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 27, 2019 - 12:00 am

Thanks Sonu

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Sangeeta ketkar June 6, 2019 - 6:10 am

Vargis..
Nice article. Good detailing. Still i would like to know..
1. How much time it takes from shimla to kalpa excluding any halt in between? Also the tine to travel from kalpa to Chandigarh railway station. Probably vehicle would be innova.
2. Secondly would like to know which is better season to see snow covered mountains as well as flowers blooming along with clear road.. In short best period.. October or april?
3. Best property to stay at kalpa with good aminities and good tasty food.?

-sangeeta ketkar

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Vargis.Khan June 6, 2019 - 5:20 pm

1. Shimla to Kalpa – 6-7 hours … Chandigarh to Kalpa , 11-12 hours
2. April would be better
3. The HPTDC prperty is a good place to stay.

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Sangeeta ketkar June 7, 2019 - 3:08 am

Thanx a lot..

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 7, 2019 - 3:23 am

You are welcome !!!

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Prem Lata Nigam July 26, 2019 - 7:08 pm

Hi
I am planning a solo trip to kalpa and from there to kibber
I have been to kalpa almost thirty years ago and just fell in love with it
I want to break my jouney in between delhi to narkanda
Which is the best place to do the same
A very informative interesting blog on kalpa

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Vargis.Khan July 26, 2019 - 8:59 pm

Thank you. Chail would be a good place to break your journey. Delhi to Chail, then Chail to Narkanda and then to Kalpa.

Jayant June 3, 2019 - 11:57 am

Hello vargis….your article is indeed good.
I m planning to visit a peaceful and tranquil place like chitkul and kalpa and have 4 to 5 days for my complete journey..which I’ll start from Delhi. So please suggest me to must visit and stay to places..also I would like to know about bike service facility..where I could get.

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Durgesh May 30, 2019 - 7:04 am

Hello Vargis, how will be the road conditions in end of December to visit Kalpa.

can we reach there by bullets in december?

We have already done Shimla- spiti- manali in oct end 17. Your blogs helped us a lot at that time as well.
Kindly assist if we can visit kalpa in december end.
Thanks

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Vargis.Khan May 30, 2019 - 9:41 am

Just check the weather to ensure it is hasn’t snowed anywhere in between causing any roadblocks Durgesh. The road is smooth all the way otherwise.

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Nitish May 18, 2019 - 10:31 am

Can you suggest the following :
1)Would mountains be covered in snow or in greenery incase I try to visit it during non peak season like November ?

2)If we plan to go in Jan/Feb, is there a possibility of road being cut off by snow ?

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Vargis.Khan May 18, 2019 - 4:42 pm

1. November is a very dull and dry time to go Nitish, probably the worst month.
2. Plan in Feb, it will be all open. It may be blocked temporarily for a a couple of days in January.

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Nitish May 21, 2019 - 6:05 am

Thank you Vargis ! We would look for Feb then based on your suggestion

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Nitish May 18, 2019 - 10:26 am

This is a brilliant article ! Thanks for being so detailed… All my questions were answered one by one. You have a good thought process.I think MMT should take a leaf out of your article segmentation 🙂
It has given me enough confidence now to travel to Kalpa.

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Vargis.Khan May 18, 2019 - 4:42 pm

Thank you so much for taking the time to drop a note and your kind words Nitish

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Aritra Mondal April 16, 2019 - 2:39 am

Thanks for the information.
Is it advisable to take my parents of 82yrs age.

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Vargis.Khan April 16, 2019 - 6:34 am

That really is a question for a Doctor who can advise according to your parents health.

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Deepak March 16, 2019 - 9:49 am

Hi. Can u pls suggest if it is a good idea to visit kalpa and sangla in next weekend i.e. around 23rd march. Will it be too cold for the kids (5 yrs and 10 yrs). What about availability of hotels and taxi there? Pls help.

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Vargis.Khan March 16, 2019 - 6:03 pm

Yes it is too cold there right now, specially at nights so please ensure that you pack and prepare well.

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Kuriakose M.K. March 13, 2019 - 11:31 am

Vargiskhan, your write ups about spiti valley are fascinating. Hope to do the spiti circuit this Sept for 10 days.

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Vargis.Khan March 13, 2019 - 12:32 pm

Thank you for your kind words !!!

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jitender January 19, 2019 - 2:46 am

hello , i want to visit kalpa in January end ! m planning to go there by bus from Chandigarh ! are road conditions gonna be ok ???

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Vargis.Khan January 19, 2019 - 3:33 am

It depends on the snow. There may not even be a Bus available if it snowed too much anywhere. If the road was clear then you should be able to get a Bus.

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manisha August 11, 2018 - 6:50 pm

Hi Vargis,
Any suggestion on (preferably budget) hotel having the mountain view at Kalpa? Did not get much from google.

Thanks.

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Vargis.Khan August 11, 2018 - 9:24 pm

Hi Manisha – Budget hotels could be a bit of a problem at Kalpa. The ones with good view towards top of Kalpa won’t cost any less than Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2000. If you want to go for lesser than you would have to look near Reckong Peo. In all my visits to Kalpa, lowest I paid was Rs. 1200 and that was 6 years ago. This year I couldn’t find a hotel agreeing for lending any less than Rs. 2000 and that is what I finally paid.

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Manisha August 12, 2018 - 4:30 am

Understood. In fact, I am seeing similar price listing in google.
So basically i will have to go towards top for the hotels with better view.

Thanks.

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Amit Banerjee August 7, 2018 - 9:34 am

What a wonderful detailed writeup. So helpfull for us who are even dreaming about a visit to these places.
Thanks a lot

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Vargis.Khan August 7, 2018 - 9:41 am

Thanks a lot Amit Bhai

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