Chitkul is a village located in the Baspa Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It is a frontier village and the last settlement before the Indo-Tibetan border. It is also the last northward point in India that one can travel to without a permit. Chitkul is known for growing some of the finest quality peas and potatoes in India.

It is religiously important as it is considered the last point in the Kinner Kailash Parikrama .

The town of Sangla is the nearest tourist destination. People travelling to Chitkul usually stay at Sangla and plan a day trip to Chitkul as accommodation in the village is neither in plenty nor cheap, compared to Sangla. It is suggested that those travelling to Chitkul, carry adequate money and fuel, as neither ATMs nor petrol pumps are found along the 28 km route from Sangla to Chitkul.

Chitkul height is about 11,319 Ft in altitude, which is staggering enough to make it a hard-to-reach paradise. As they say, all things worth having in life never come easy, so I say, add Chitkul to that list. If traveling to offbeat places is what gets your rhythm going, Chitkul is the bass! The lack of a mobile signal in this hamlet, makes you disconnected from the world and complements your connection with the surroundings.

With Kinner Kailash visible in the backdrop, Chitkul brags of unmatchable views, from its soft spot on the Baspa River. On the left bank of the Baspa lie snow-clad mountains that you can look at till pigs start flying and on the right bank lies an expanse of orchards.

The slopes of this magical land are flaunted by the majestic Deodars and the dignified Chilgoza, Chitkul also boasts of abundant orchards, catering to the world some of the finest’ Golden Delicious’ apples. Also, this settlement is famous for its high-quality potatoes, given the accommodative weather and the fertile soil. I kid you not, the quality of these potatoes is unmatchable, and justify the high price!

The villagers are either Hindus or Buddhists, speak a Tibeto-Burman dialect known as Kinnauri and wear distinct green pahadi caps. In ancient mythology, the people of Kinnaur were known as Kinnaras, the halfway between gods and humans. This further lends to the belief that Kinnaur is the land between heaven and earth!

Chitkul is situated in Kinnaur Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Kinnaur, the land between paradise and earth, is surrounded by Tibet on the east, Garhwal on the south, Spiti Valley on the north and Kullu on the west. Interestingly, Uttarakhand border is just 20 km from Chitkul. If you choose to, you can walk into Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary after crossing Borasu Pass (17,880 ft).

The distance of Delhi to Chitkul is 569 km, and the nearest settlement of Sangla Valley is at approximately 28 km. Rakcham village is the midway point between Sangla and Chitkul and the drive from Rakcham to Chitkul is breathtaking, adventurous and just pure gold beautiful!

The Indo-Tibet border is approximately 90 KMs from the Chitkul village. However, no civilian movement is allowed beyond Chitkul, which is why it is famously known as the last village before the Indo-Tibet Border. The area beyond the village is in control of the Indo-Tibet Border Police.

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.

Soaked in nature’s beauty, Sarahan is flanked on the banks of the meandering Sutlej River. The way to Sarahan through Fagu, Theog, Narkanda, Rampur, and Jeori is extremely scenic-traversing through mountains flanked by steep cliffs on one side and deep ravines on the other, dense emerald pine forests, terraced farms, apple orchards. Once in Sarahan, one beholds a range of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks and one of them is the Shrikhand Peak. The rather peculiar thing about this peak is that it is only one whose tip remains uncovered with snow. In the evening, sunrays adorn the peaks and the sight is simply stupendous.

In the heart of Sarahan is the temple of Goddess Bhima Kaali, the architecture of which is very akin to a monastery. Lots of almonds, plums, and peach orchards laden with luscious fruits transport one to Eden.

Tour to Sarahan About 54 km from Sarahan lies in the Sangla valley. The road to Sangla is narrow, rough, and hazardous, taking one through Wangtu and Karchham. The Sutlej River that meanders below now emerges in all its frenzied ferocity. The sheer force with which it gushes down makes it awesome. The road to Sangla is crudely carved out of rocks and runs parallel to the river that is deep down in the forge. At some places, there is barely enough space for the bus to wriggle through the rough road and the rock above.

The entire Sangla valley is surrounded by mammoth snowcapped mountains. Pine trees standing tall and elegant bedeck these mountains and the Baspa River flows through the valley. Tiny rivulets trickling down from the melted snow merge with the Baspa-an overabundance of nature’s bounty.

Located at an elevation of around 6900 feet, Sarahan is a tiny hamlet in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is immensely popular amongst locals for its Bhimakali Temple, which is one of the ancient buildings in the village and is considered one of the significant pilgrimage destinations in India. Sarahan is located at a distance of around 180 km from Shimla and is believed to be one of the oldest living places Himachal Pradesh with its name mentioned several times as Sonitpur in the Puranas. Also known as the gateway of Kinnaur, Sarahan is situated near river Sutlej and has been the summer capital during the Bushahr kingdom.

In olden times a pond existed in the meadows and the kings princess often used to have her bath there. Part of the pond still exists near the youth hostel. The Britishers probably couldn’t get the name correctly in their revenue records , and over the years it changed from “Patan Da Talab” to PatniTop.

112 kms from Jammu, this famous hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024 metres across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes. Enveloped by thickly wooded forests, PatniTop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the of the Chenab basin. In winter, the resort is generally covered with a thick mantle of snow thus providing opportunities for various snow games including Amateur skiing.

Further ahead, at a distance of about 19 Kms from PatniTop, is Sanasar (2079 m), a satellite resort of PatniTop, with a cup-shaped meadow surrounded by gigantic conifers. A place for a quiet holiday, the meadow has now been developed as a golf course.

It is the best-developed tourist spot of Jammu and is second to none in its natural charm, climate, pine forests and lush green cover. The complete tourist circuit covers Jammu-Katra-Vaishno Devi ji, Kud-Sanasar, PatniTop-Gourikund, Sudhmahadev, Mantali, extending upto Latti-Dhuna.

Skiing courses are conducted at PatniTop in the months of January and February. During winter months there are introductory courses for tourists/beginners at gentle gradient slopes of PatniTop. At Madhatop (5/6 Kms from PatniTop on Sanasar Road) excellent possibilities for all kind of skiing exist. A ski-lift in the area is also proposed. As for facilities 40 sets of equipment is available at PatniTop and Sanasar. Also available are wooden sledges locally. For beginners Instructors are also available.

Paragliding has been introduced at Sanasar and Jammu. Equipment is available on Hire from tourist office in Jammu city. May-June and September October are best suited for paragliding. Other aero sports like Parasailing and Hot Air ballooning are also becoming operational shortly.

A range of trekking options is available here. Summer is the season when all trekking routes are open while some are open in winter too. There are excellent camping sites also En-route. The Sundrani- Jungal Gali-Nagarkot-Sanasar route in Jangal Gali area lets you choose any of three exciting treks. There are Trekking equipment hire shops of tourism Department at Jammu and Kud. They stock imported and local gear. These are available for fixed prices.