It was 24 january after my exams, i was free for about a week so i decided to travel to a new place, after thinking about many places i decided i will go to Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British rule. I was on my way to reach Shimla that then my mind changed and i decided i will head further north towards Kinnaur valley. Kinnaur is also known as the valley of Gods and The abode of Lord Shiva.
- Roads of kinnaur
There were various reasons behind mine visiting kinnaur specially during the off season, because there will be less toursits, so that means i will be able to interact more with the local natives, one reason was that it was 26 january, India's 68th Republic day and that also in snow, i wanted to experience how they celebrate it in Kinnaur and the other reason is you don't need any particular reason to visit a new place, specially beautiful places like Kinnaur.
- Women soldiers of Himachal police getting ready for Republic day paraede amid heavy snowfall.
Most of the hotels and roads were closed due to heavy snow so i had to keep myself limited to the Reckong peo (district headquarters) and Kalpa areas. Firstly i was little worried what if i got stuck etc then i called one of my friend Sonu Negi (kinnauris use Negi surname ) from a Trekking group in Whats app. he told me that he is going to come once the snow stops till then i enjoyed the Republic Day parade and the beautiful cultural prograamme presented by the locals as well as the students. Aftera while Sonu bhai came and told me that he has booked a forest guest house for me to stay. We haven't ever met earlier even then it felt as if we were close friends, he was very jolly as well as down to earth guy. He told me that his family is back in village, only his mother and nun sister and her two nun friends are there with him.
- cultural troupe from Pangi village performing on Republic day
I was fortunate enough to be invited for dinner at his home, his mother and Nun sisters were quite frank and we talked about many things about Kinnaur, its culture, nature, travelling and scared places etc. etc. They told me that they were also waiting for the road to open so that they can go to their village and start their 3 months long meditation retreat, they even invited me to come to their village during the summers when their retreat will be completed and there will be many festivals going on.
- Cultural truope of Pangi village performing Kinnauri Naati(dance)
On 27 january, it was still snowing , we headed towards Kalpa, the previous district headquarter of Kinnaur which was later shifted to Reckongpeo due to lack of space. There was already around 1-2 feet snow, once the snow stopped we visited the local monastery at Kalpa and visited the beautiful Chandika mata temple near the monastery. i was keen to have a view of Kinnar-kailash range but my bad luck it was covered with dark clouds, so i kept it in my to do lists for next visit.
- Kalpa a small and beautiful hill station in kinnaur.
While on the way back to reckong peo, the vehicle in which we were travelling i.e Bolero camper's 4×4 lever got broke and we have to drive the vehicle on neutral mode down slope and where there was no slope we had to out and push the vehicle from behind in snow, it was a one in a life time experience. After fixing the vehicle we strolled in snow up n down in kinnaur and back to our guest house in the forests, there i along with Sonu Bhai's friends ahd a great time playing in snow throwing snow balls on each other, time flied by so fast. For dinner I was again invited at sonu bhai's place, thanks to them i had such a homely atmosphere even far away from home
- Famous Chandika Mata temple at Kalpa
The highlight from the tour has been the republic day celebration in snow, it was nice watching the soldiers, students and locals, braving the chill, snow and performing so enthusiastically. Second highlight was finding a new friend like brother Sonu and experiencing the homely atmosphere with his family. The third highlight has been the journey in heavy snow from Peo to Kalpa with sonu bhai and his friends which was priceless.
- The partially covered Kinner-Kailash range in the background
About not being able to see the kinner-kailash has been one of the shortcomings for which I am surely gonna come back. I spent the last night in kinnaur peacefully having gathered lot of memories, next morning i decided to head back before the weather worsens. It has been a small and beautiful trip, and the things to never forget were the natural beauty of kinnaur, its ancient architecture and the beauty and hospitality of the people.
THANK YOU KINNAUR
