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About
Sangla, India |
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Sangla is a town in the Baspa Valley, also referred to as the
Sangla valley, in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh,
India, close to the Tibetan border. Tucked away in the
south-eastern corner of Himachal Pradesh lies the Sangla
Valley, part of the region of Kinnaur. The Valley is also
known as the Baspa Valley, it has been called the `most
beautiful valley in the Himalayas’.
Extending for 95 km, the Sangla Valley is watered by the Baspa
river, which meets the Satluj at Karcham and by some smaller
springs and streams. The first 18 km of the valley are quite
narrow, with cedar, chilgoza pine and bhojpatra trees covering
the slopes on either side. At Kupa, however, the valley opens
up and extends into an unforgettably lovely vale, dotted with
a pretty-as-a-picture villages, right up to Chitkul, beyond
which habitation is almost nil.
The Sangla Valley extends across what was once a glacier
moraine but is today a beautiful swathe of green, dwarfed by
the surrounding mountains. The clear waters of the Baspa run
between orchards of apricot and apple, through villages where
the houses have elegantly carved wooden doors and steeply
sloped slate roofs; an area so amazing and lovely that the
natives actually say that this is where the gods live. |
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Geography of Sangla |
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Sangla Valley or the Baspa Valley starts at Sangla and ends at
Chitkul. The valley is enclosed by forested slopes and offers
views of the high mountains. Its location in the greater
Himalayan range which gives it a milder climate than the plains.
Until 1989 outsiders could not enter the valley without a
special permit from the Government of India, due to its
strategic position on the Indo-Tibet/China border. The Baspa
River flows in the Sangla Valley which is rich in pine nut
orchards, Royal red apples, cherry trees, and glacial streams
with trout.The main villages in the valley villages include
Rakcham, Chitkul, and Batseri. The nearby Baspa hydel-project
has been completed in 2009.
Sangla Valley is a part of Kinnaur and inhibited by Kinnauris.
The main livelihood is agriculture while apples are a major cash
crop here. The most significant achievement of this region which
is worth praiseworthy is that this area boasts of growing the
world's best quality potatoes. The weather along with the soil
are both favorable to its exclusive and superior quality and
variety. A part of the population also depends on tourism. The
valley remains closed for six months during winter (from
December till May) when the snowfall is heavy. The old
Indo-Tibet road connects Sangla to The National Highway 22 at
Karcham. |
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Location of Sangla |
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Sangla is a small town which is located between Karcham and
Chitkul from about 20 kms from Karcham. The town itself is a
concrete town with small shops, some hotels and restaurants.The
local people have a distinct culture and their own language the
Kinnauri language. Best time to visit the Sangla Valley is
between April to early November. |
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Sangla Valley Starting Point |
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This valley starts 57 km short of Kalpa which has been
named after a beautiful & crowded village Sangla. Sangla
is situated on the right bank of Baspa river 17 kms from
Karcham. Journey from Karcham onwards is pleasurable and
adventurous throughout the valley. The natural scenery all
around and the undying snow view are striking and
attractive. It is also known as Baspa Valley since Baspa
river flows through this area. This is the most charming
valley in the whole District of Kinnaur. A temple
dedicated to Nages god is worth to visit & other places
are Rackchham, Kilba, Kamru Fort, and Sapni which can also
be visited. There are post offices, banks, rest houses for
the convenience of the visitors. |
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Main Attractions of Sangla |
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The
attraction of Sangla lies in the valley of Baspa River down
below, not in the town itself. Sangla Valley is very beautiful,
stretching many kms from east to west, and rimmed by snow-capped
peaks out of your imagination and into the real world. The
forested slopes below the snow are a mix between autumn-shaded
leafy trees and big green pines.
Named after a scenic village, Sangla Valley is about 57 km short
of Kalpa and is blessed with the best of natural attractions.
Tourists can drive down to the valley and sight some of the most
striking sights en-route. Claimed to be the most charming valley
in Kinnaur district, there are a few temples and monuments of
tourist interest.
This magnificent valley also has many camps where tourists can
stay amidst the natural environs. Some of the most popular
adventure options tourists can enjoy here includes trekking,
river crossing, overnight camping. |
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Accomodation Facilities |
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There
are several hotels around the town to stay at Sangla Valley.
But, if you really wish to enjoy the beauty and charm of Sangla
Valley, its better to stay into the wild, as there are several
tenting accommodations in the heart of the valley. But, these
tented accommodation generally cost much more than the hotel. |
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Reasons to visit Sangla |
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Sangla is best visited for a nature centric experience, walks,
trekking, trout fishing etc.
• Sangla is a riverside valley overlooking striking Himalayan
views.
• Sangla area is full of apple orchards and April-Sept is best
time to visit the area and explore.
• Chitkul village is few kms away from Sangla is where the views
get even bigger and better and is the last point before Tibetan
border.
• Sangla is recommended for Glacier trekking in March and April
• Overnight trekking options around the area are good and the
hills around are much more unexplored and pristine as compared
to other known and explored trekking routes.
• Sangla is also where you can pickup famous Kinnauri shawls,
woolen socks, tweeds and silver jewelry studded with Tibetan
pearls
• Guests to Sangla can stay riverside and explore the area on
foot.
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Best Season / Best time to visit Sangla, Kinnaur |
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The
place experiences cool climate for most parts of the year and it
is advisable to travel with winter clothing throughout the year.
The summers are pleasant and cool and temperatures can drop
during the night. Winters are much colder with the mercury
dropping steeply during the peak winter season. Rainfall is
widespread in the lower regions of Kinnaur.
The summer season is short in this place and the temperatures
are much lower here than in the mainland due to the elevation.
The summer season starts in June and ends in the month of
September. The temperature can be expected to drop down to
around 10°C even during the summer months. The average day
temperature is around 20°C. Light winter clothing is required
during the nights.
The winter season in Kinnaur is very long; it starts in the
month of October and ends in the month of May. Temperatures can
fall below the freezing point during the winter season. The
highest temperature that one can expect during the winter is
around 13°C.
The rainfall is generally restricted to the lower parts of the
region and the elevated areas receive only a certain amount of
rainfall and the place is characterized by dry conditions for
many months of the year. |
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Precautions and Essentials |
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Even though the Sangla Valley lies fairly close to India’s
national border, no permits are required to visit the area.
Don’t venture beyond the valley without a permit, though, as
treks to Spiti and northern Kinnaur require an Inner Line
Permit.
As far as packing is concerned, you’ll need to carry all the
necessary equipment- tent, sleeping bag, cooking stove, fuel
and the like. It’s also prudent to take along supplies of
food, just in case you set up camp at a place away from the
larger villages of the valley. It’s also recommended so that
you don’t put an unnecessary strain on the rural economy of
the valley, a subsistence economy which depends almost
completely on the local annual crop.
Adequate woolens must be packed, too: the Sangla valley is
far enough north to be fairly cold even during the summers.
Between June and September, make sure you’ve got a good
raincoat, waterproof boots and extra clothing to cope with
the frequent monsoon showers.
Good camp sites exist in the Sangla Valley, most of them are
close to the junction of the Baspa and Satluj rivers.
Further on, in the larger villages of the valley- such as
Sangla, Kupa and Chitkul- local guesthouses and small hotels
are available. Usually comfortable, they’re a good option if
you get sick of sleeping under the stars. In smaller
villages, you might be lucky enough to find hospitable
villagers who will let you have a room for the night, but be
prepared to pitch a tent by the river or up on a slope. |
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How to Reach Sangla |
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By
Rail:
Daily morning and evening Shatabdi from Delhi- Chandigarh.
Daily overnight train (Kalka) from Delhi- Kalka- Delhi (Train
starts from Kolkata)
By Road:
Delhi- Sangla: 600 kms: 16-17 hrs (best to break journey en
route at Thanedar or Shimla)
Chandigarh- Sangla: 360 kms/ 11-12 hrs
Shimla- Sangla: 240 kms/ 8-9 hrs
By
Air:
Daily flight from Delhi- Shimla- Delhi
Daily flight from Delhi/ Mumbai- Chandigarh- Delhi/ Mumbai
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