Snow-covered Kalpa village of Kinnaur

Kalpa & Charang Snow Hikes | Winter in Kinnaur

After a long delay, I’m finally posting pics of our winter trip to Kinnaur — i.e. Kalpa (Chini village), Charang Village & the Charang Rangrik Monastery of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. Charang village is the last village on the Indo-China Border. The last ITBP post is located in this village.

Wintertime in Kinnaur 

For the city folks, Charang village offers a complete escape from the busy city life. There is no network coverage — bosses can’t call you. For comfort-seeking travelers, I would recommend Charang only during summers. In winters, with the temperature plunging to about -15 ºC & heavy snowfall blocking all the roadways for weeks — the place is either for the brave hearts or for ignorants like us. 

Hikes around Chini village of Kalpa valley

We reached Reckong Peo early in the morning and headed for a beautiful Chini village in Kalpa. We strolled there for an hour or two and visited the Kalpa Buddhist monastery and the newly renovated Narayanas temple. We spent the rest of the day at a friend’s place in Reckong Peo and took a rest after 12 hrs enduring journey in the Chandigarh-Reckong Peo HRTC bus.

Related: Kinnaur Bus Timetable (New Timings)

A view of Snow-covered Pangi village from Kalpa
Unnamed peak on Kinner – Kailash mountain range
Newly renovated Kalpa Narayanas temple
View of the Kalpa valley Kinnaur
Roof of the Kalpa temple & Kinner Kailash peak (6050 m) in background
Chini village of Kalpa, Kinnaur
Chini Temple of Kalpa, Kinnaur
Unnamed peak on Kinner Kailash mountain range
Snowy mountain tops above Barang village of Kinnaur
Jorkanden peak and adjoining peaks on Kinner Kailash Mountain range
Hiking to Kalpa football ground, Kinnaur
Snowball fight at Kalpa football ground of Kinnaur
Magnificent Chini village of Kalpa, Kinnaur
Chini village Kalpa, Raldang peak (5425 m) visible in background
Snow-covered fields of locals from the Chini village of Kalpa
Snow hikes near Kalpa football ground of Kinnaur
Raldang Peak (5425 m) of Kinner – Kailash Mountain Range, Kinnaur
Road to Kalpa valley of Kinnaur
Strolling around Kalpa
Snowballing and killing time in Kalpa valley of Kinnaur

Reckong Peo to Akpa Check post bus ride & Long walks along the NH-05 Highway

Now coming to our next day’s experience which I consider no less than an achievement. Trekking on steep icy slopes for 20 km for 8 hrs continuously. With no one to your rescue walking endlessly with those baby steps in the snow…having no idea if we will be alive in the next 1 hr or not.

We missed the early morning Reckong Peo – Thangi bus and had to take another bus which dropped us near Akpa check post around noon. We started walking along the highway, reached Moorang village around 1 PM, and took a taxi to Lambar village (the last motorable stop) in winters.  

World’s most treacherous road, National Higway 05, en route Moorang, Kinnaur
Walking the Himalayas , near Moorang bridge, Kinnaur
Moorang fort of Tidong valley , Kinnaur
A village with a buddhist monastery & many chorten – Moorang
Slippery road near Moorang on National Highway 05
Moorang bridge. The gateway to Tidong valley of Kinnaur

Moorang to Thangi village taxi ride & the long hike to Charang village

We started the trek from Lambar village at around 3 PM and reached Charang at about 11 pm. In the 20 km long stretch, there were only three of us walking continuously. Because in that extremely cold weather a comma means full stop!

If you stop you will freeze within minutes. At about 5 pm there was complete darkness…and even a slight sound nearby will flash images of a snow leopard or wild bears in your mind.

Trekking in the night without a torch..the only thing to our rescue was the moonlight and the marks on the steps of the ITBP jawans in the snow…which kept us hopeful that we were heading in the right direction. Each one of us was having plenty of dry fruits but none of us was able to — due to the prevailing freezing cold — stop & take those out of the bag.

We were three friends, Pawan Ranta, Amandeep Dhiman & myself. There is one ITBP post on the way to Charang which served as a base camp for the last post at Charang village on the Indo-Tibet border.

Thereafter traveling for about 14 km we got some warm water to drink. That warm water was like ‘amrit‘ and we thought that “ab hum bach jayyenge“. We stayed there for 15 to 20 minutes & then about 8 pm we started our trek to Charang with new hope & determination…but then again after traveling for about 1 km, we were regretting that why we didn’t stop there & request those ITBP jawans to allow us to stay there till morning.

Now again, we were at the mercy of the mountains. We were not able to even speak….we were just moving & moving. During the complete trek, I was reciting God’s name and was hurling abuses & curses at Pawan who gave the idea of that trek. After traveling for another 6 km, there in the dark near the entrance of the Charang Village, were Sonu bhai, our savior standing there in the dark waiting for us. Sonu bhai took our backpacks and gave us new hope. Again we said ” Ab to lagata hai bach gaye“.

Sonu bhai offered us shelter in their house, offered food & saved our lives.  Raante credit goes to you as well. We sat near a fireplace and ate food thanking God for keeping us alive. I started chanting my daily mantras thanking God.

Snowy trails to Charang village of Kinnaur
In Charang village, Kinnaur
View of last ITBP check post and Rangrik Tungma monastery, Kinnaur
Halting place, en route Rangrik Tungma monastery, Charang Kinnaur
Waiting for the sunshine, Kinnaur in winters.
The snowy trial to Rangrik Tungma monastery of Charang.
Snowy vista of Charang village.
Rangrik Tungma Monastery hike
Curious Dogs of Charang
Prayer flags in Rangrik Tungma monastery.
Fresh snow adorning the roof of Chorten — A buddist stupa in Charang.
Peaks of the Greater Himalayan range towering over Charang village.
The ubiquitous mane flags.
Finding a cellular network. Needless to say, it proved fruitless.

The next dawn gave us a new hope & we visited the Rangrik Monastery and offered prayers and visited the last ITBP post on the Indo China border.

A pleasant walk on the snowy trail. Though it feels good to walk on fresh snow in sunny daytime, reflected sun rays may cause snow blindness if eyes are exposed for a long duration. Do carry your UV-block sunglasses. Picture was taken while returning from the Charang village of Kinnaur.
Singing stream, Tidong.
Walking along Tidong stream while returning from Charang.

Oh! I have written such a long story…I know many of you won’t read it but I know that many more will read. The story is to keep my memories on record.

Blog by: Saurabh Tiwari

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Comments

6 responses to “Kalpa & Charang Snow Hikes | Winter in Kinnaur”

  1. Mayukh

    well can this trip be done during january??? and what will be the estimated cost??

    1. Hello, Mayukh I have mailed you the details.

  2. Yes Sandip. Charang is well connected through Moorang – Thangi – Lambar road. The road diverges from a point on National Highway 05 near Moorang village.

  3. Is there road connectivity to Charang village? I want to go to the snout areas of Gara, Lamber and Racho glaiers.

  4. WOOWOOW! Speechless.

    Ranta bhai humko bhi leke chalo.

    Shubham

    1. Jarur Bhai ji.. kabhi bhi aao.

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