Chandigarh Shimla Kinnaur Valley Tour 9N/10D

Day 01 : Chandigarh : Meet on arrival at Ambala Railway station or Chandigarh air port and transfer to the hotel. Later visit sightseeing like rock garden, Sukhana lake. Dinner at hotel. O/n Chandigarh

Day 02 : Chandigarh to Narkanda : After breakfast proceed for Narkanda (190 kms – 7/8 hrs drive). Check into the hotel. Dinner. O/n Narkhanda.

Narkanda : Situated at an attitude of 2708 meters on the Hindustan Tibet road (NH - 22), Narkanda offers a spectacular view of snow ranges. This is an ideal retreat for the tourists who seek seclusion in mountains. It commands an unique view of the eternal snow line, the inviting apple orchards and dense forests. Narkanda is famous for Skiing & Winter sports. Narkanda is a gateway to apple country of Himachal Pradesh.

Day 3 : Narkanda : After breakfast local sightseeing of Narkanda Like Hatu Peak, Kacheri, Kotgarh and Thanedar. O/n Narkhanda.

HATU PEAK (3300m) : 8 km from Narkanda, the road is surrounded by pine and spruce trees. On top of the hill, ancient Hatu Mata temple is located. The peak offers spectacular view of the entire Himalayan ranges, snow clad mountains and in depths are the dense forests, green fields and apple orchards. Hiking is recommended to reach the peak.

KACHERI (1810m) : This place is located 0.5 km from Oddi, and 7 km from Narkanda on NH - 22 and famous for ancient Mahamaya Temple.

KOTGARH AND THANEDHAR (1830m) : 17 km link road bifurcating from Narkanda takes you to the Himachal's Horticultural heartland, Kotgarh and Thanedhar, renown for apple orchards. The famous Stokes Farm is located at Thanedhar. Stokes came to India on a trip and while on a summer visit to Shimla, fell in love with its environments, which included the charming hill folk and settled down in Kotgarh. He started the apple farm which soon became renown with its Red Delicious apples.

Day 4 : Narkhanda to Rakkchan (Sangla Valley) : After breakfast proceed for Sangla (130 kms – 6/7 hrs drive). Arrive Sangla & Check in to the hotel. Dinner. O/n Sangla.

Sangla : The name Sangla itself is engulfed in romantic lore. Sang is said to mean 'light' and la of course means 'pass' in the Tibetan language. In other words it is the 'pass of light'. The local story is that if while crossing the rather imposing surrounding mountains, you suddenly come across this valley ablaze with sunshine and bursting with the scenes of natural beauty, you would naturally go into ecstasies. Sangla village is surrounded with gigantic Kinner-Kailash peak (6,050m) towering over it.

Day 5 : Sangla –Chitkul -Sangla : After breakfast explore the vicinity around including an ancient Kamru Fort & Temple dedicated to the Goddess Kamakhya Devi which was brought from Assam. Later excursion to Chitkul (1 hr drive)– a last Village on Old Indo – Tibetan Trade Route. Walk through green orchards & stream. Return back to Sangla by evening. Dinner. O/n Sangla.

OR

A day visit to Chitkul : After breakfast proceed for Chitkul. The drive is one of the most fascinating, Pine trees slowly giving way to ‘Bhojpatra’/Birch trees and then the tree line disappears and one reaches the meadowland.

Nagasthi is the last border outpost and short walk from Chitkul. Civilians are not allowed beyond this point. The walk is a level one and slightly going down the path through a pastureland and fields overlooking the freely flowing Baspa. A 1.5 hrs walk takes you to the outpost where the Jawans’ smiling faces greet you. Back to Sangla.

Day 6 : Sangla to Kalpa: (4 HOURS/49 KM.) 2670 Mtrs : After breakfast, drive to Kalpa (49 Kms – 4/5 hrs) – District Headquarter of Kinnaur & once a favorite haunt of Lord Dalhousie. Arrive Kalpa & Check-in to your Hotel. Each & every corner of Kalpa facing Jorkanden & Kinner Kailash Peaks, considered as one of the mythical homes of Lord Shiva & by its side is a 79 foot rock formation that resembles a Shivlinga that changes the colour as the day passes & is visible to the naked eye on a clear day. Later visit to Buddhist Gompa – Hu Bu Lan Kar. Dinner. O/n Kalpa.

Day 7 : Kalpa : Early morning enjoy the Sunrise over Kinner Kailash Peaks. Kalpa is famous for its Apples & Chilgoza Plantations [a kind of Dry Fruits], which are found only in Iran & Turkey besides here. Visit to local School & Narayan Nagini Temple Complex, which has Shrines of Hindu, Buddhist & local Deities. Later excursion trip to Roghi Village to explore the ‘Pahari’ Life. Interact with the locals. Return back to Kalpa. Dinner. O/n Kalpa.

Local Sightseeing in Kalpa- Parikarma - Bhudhist monestry, Barlinge, Kund , Kohti Temple . It 2.5 km aprox by walk

Day 8 : Kalpa– Nako lake – Kalpa (115 km one way) 4 hrs, Altitude- 3600 mts aprx: Nako Lake is a high altitude lake in the Pooh sub-division of district Kinnaur. It forms part of the boundary of Nako village and seems that the village is half buried in the lake's border. It is about 3,662 metres (12,014 ft) above sea level. The lake is surrounded by willow and poplar trees. Near the lake there are four Buddhist temples. Near this place there is a foot like impression ascribed to the saint Padmasambhava. Several miles away there is a village called Tashigang around which there are several caves where it is believed that Guru Padmasambhava meditated and gave discourse to followers. There is a waterfall nearby which has snow water falling like a river of milk. Legend says that it is a heavenly realm of fairies. In one of the caves you are still able to see the live footprints of these fairies or other demigods.

Day 9 : Kalpa - Fagu : After breakfast proceed for Fagu (190 kms – 7/8 hrs drive). Check into the hotel. Dinner. O/n Fagu.

Day 10 : Fagu - Chandigarh drop: 140 kms : After breakfast drive to Chandigarh (140 kms) station /Airport Drop. The tour ends here with the sweet memories