Kalpa is situated at an altitude of 2759 m from the sea level, on the old Hindustan Tibet Road at a distance of 260 km from Shimla. Earlier it was the District Headquarter of Kinnaur. It is 14 kms. and half an hour’s drive from District Headquarter Reckong Peo. It has all the characteristics of a heritage village.

Kalpa came into prominence in the wake of British Governor General Lord Dalhousie’s visit in th 19th century. The Narayan-Nagani temple is an exemplary of local craftmanship. There are couple of Buddhist monasteries at Kalpa including the Hu-Bu-Ian-Car Gompa, said to be founded it by Rinchensang-Po (950-1055AD).

Kalpa is dramatically located close to the foot of 6050 meter high Kinner Kailash. This is the legendary winter home of Shiva. This is a spectacular sight early in the morning as the rising sun touches the snowy peaks with crimson and gold light.

There are numerous places all over Himachal that are blessed with mesmerizing natural beauty. Some of these places are quite famous like Shimla and Manali; but then there are a few others that are not so well known , but no less in beauty still.

In fact considering the kind of crowd that Shimla and Manali receive, visiting some of these unknown and offbeat destinations can prove to be a much better trip. One such place that I recently went on a trip to and would like to talk about in this article is Kalpa; a small town located in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

The name Kalpa would probably be known only to people who have traveled around a lot in the hills; or who have been on the Spiti circuit at least once. Kalpa and the nearby town of Reckong Peo is 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 around here. You will definitely find tourists here during summer and the place is also very well connected. It however is still not known to many people and it never gets crowded around here.

So if you were planning a trip in near future; wanted to travel to a less crowded place that offers peace and tranquility as well as stunning vistas all around; then Kalpa could prove to be an ideal destination.

Located at an altitude of about 7000 ft above the sea level, Chakrata in Dehradun District of Uttarakhand State of India is a hill station and a famed tourist destination ideal for mount climbing, trekking and skiing. The town was known earlier as Jaunsar bawar, a small hamlet of Jaunsari tribe.

Yamuna valley is located down the hilly town. Chakrata was developed by the British rulers and was a summer retreat for the high executives of English East India Company. Presently Chakrata encloses military cantonment and the access is restricted here for civilian travelers.

Kharamba peak is the highest mount in Chakrata with an altitude of about 10,000 ft. Nature lovers, Trekkers, bird watchers and wild life enthusiasts can spend days together here in the lap of Chakrata exploiting the nature’s hidden treasures and beauties. The forest around Chakrata is habitat to an amazing flora and fauna including panther, spotted deer and wild fowls.

Popular Things To Do In Chakrata

Wondering what to do in this petite hamlet up in the hills of Uttarakhand? Well, we have brought you a range of activities you can try here during your trip:

Kanasar – Camping And River Rafting In Chakrata
Tiger Falls – Trek All The Way To It
Deoban – Bird Watching
Budher Caves – Venture In!
Chilmiri Neck – Admire The Scenic Sunsets
Yamuna Adventure Park – Water Activities
Deoban Forest – Rock Climbing
Kimona Falls – Waterfall Rappelling
Chakrata Forest Check Post – Horse Riding
Makhti Pokhari Village – Walk Or Bicycle
Lakhamandal Temple – Marvel At The Architecture
Mundali – Go Skiing
Ram Tal Horticultural Garden – Have A Picnic
Enjoy Local Cuisine
Witness Fairs And Festivals
Hanol – Seek Blessings At Mahasu Devta Temple

With mountain climbing as one of the popular activities in Chakrata, it is also becoming a popular destination for camping. With some of the beautiful waterfalls, especially Tiger Falls, Chakrata is a backpacker’s paradise and an ideal location for people seeking offbeat tranquil destinations. The highest peak in the hilltown is Kharamba Peak, located at an altitude of 10,000 ft surrounded by dense forests and nature’s bounties. The forests of Chakrata is home to diverse wildlife like wild fowls, panther and spotted deer.

Once a small hamlet of Jaunsari tribe called Jaunsar Bawar, Chakrata looks down upon the Yamuna valley. The place was developed by the executives of the East India Company and it also encloses a military cantonment making the access restricted for civilian travellers.

When it comes down to rugged mountainous views, free-spirited nature and an overall enchanting and wild trip, the Himalayan village of Khara Pathar takes the cake. The small village may not seem often be chosen in favour of its famous neighbour, Shimla and due to the extremely off track road that leads to Kharapathar, but the place’s charm is never dimmed. Kharapathar is located at the height of 8770 feet above sea level, making it the highest point on the Shimla route. The staggering height of the village makes the view here a thing of the legends, especially at night when all the scattered houses on the hill are lit up like specks. The cloud-piercing height also gives rise to clear cloudless nights which give individuals an absolutely stunning view of the millions of stars, which is a sight as rare as a shooting star in big cities or towns.

Giri-Ganga is located in Pabbar valley southeast corner of Himachal Pradesh. Kharapathar falls on the way from where trail starts to this mesmerising place. Kharapathar is located at an altitude of 2700 meters and at a distance of 70 kms from Shimla. Trail starts with a wide dirt track at a distance of 6 kms till Giri- Ganga and for those who are not inclined to walk they can hire taxi from kharapathar. Trail is mostly shaded with tall Himalayan cedar (Deodar) and pine trees. This place is the source of river Giri – Ganga which originates just below the Kuppar meadow. The story behind the place is interesting, according to local people long ago a saint was travelling back to home from Haridwar carrying a pot of Ganga- Jal (Holy water) while passing from the place he mistakenly toppled the pot. Hence the place is known as (GIRI -GANGA). Ancient temple of goddess Durga, Kali and Lord Shiva. Every year local people gather there to worship Lord Shiva during (Shivratri) and during (Navratri). Trek to Kuppar starts from Giri – Ganga temple. It takes 1:30 hrs from Giri – Ganga to reach Kuppar Bugyal. Trek grade is beginners. From top one can enjoy breathtaking views of Himalayan ranges and Pabbar valley.

Aside from its surroundings, Khara Pathar is best known as a base for several trekking and hiking routes amongst which the most famous one is the Giri Ganga River Trek. This trek is the reason Khara Pathar receives as much as tourism as it does today. The village and the area surrounding it are also often referred to as the ‘apple belt of Himachal Pradesh’ due to sprawling apple plantations dotting the hills with the reds and greens. Camping and fishing are activities that are also often taken up by individuals visiting the area.