Built by the Pandavas
Local belief says the Pandavas created the lake and the temple during their vanvaas. The shrine is cared for by the Bhagwen temple committee of Yulla village.
Swagatam
Welcome to the abode of Kanha, high in the Himalayas
In the remote Rora Valley of Kinnaur, beyond forests of deodar and fields of wild flowers, lies a still, round lake. On a tiny island in it stands the Yulla Kanda Shri Krishna Temple, at about 3,895 m, the highest temple of Lord Krishna anywhere in the world.
Locals believe the Pandavas built the temple and the lake during their exile, and that the deity here is swayambhu (self-manifested). Every year on Janmashtami, thousands of Kinnauri devotees climb the 12 km trail singing bhajans to celebrate their Kanha’s birth beside the sacred waters.
“Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, bow to Me — you shall surely come to Me.”Read the complete Yulla Kanda temple guide
Leela of Yulla Kanda
Legend, ritual & the great mela
The Kinnauri cap ritual
Devotees place their green-bordered Kinnauri topi upside-down on the lake. If it floats across without sinking, the year ahead is believed to be blessed.
Janmashtami at 12,778 ft
On Krishna Janmashtami the meadows turn into a festival, with drums, folk naati dances, kirtan and prasad. It is one of the most beautiful melas in the Himalayas.
Yatra Packages
Most-booked Yulla Kanda yatras
Every itinerary is fully guided, from pickup to darshan to drop. Prices are per person.
Most booked Pickup: ShimlaYulla Kanda Yatra from Shimla
5 Days / 4 Nights
The shortest and most popular way to reach the world’s highest Krishna temple. We pick you up in Shimla and cover Sarahan’s Bhimakali Temple, the Yulla Khas homestay and the full trek with darshan.
Starting from
View details ₹9,499 / person
Most booked Pickup: ChandigarhYulla Kanda Yatra from Chandigarh
6 Days / 5 Nights
A relaxed six-day yatra from the Tricity (Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula) with a night in Shimla, Bhimakali darshan, and the Yulla Kanda trek at a comfortable pace.
Starting from
View details ₹12,499 / person
Most booked Pickup: Delhi NCRYulla Kanda Yatra from Delhi NCR
7 Days / 6 Nights
Our flagship group yatra from Delhi, Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad. Travel overnight to the hills, take darshan at Yulla Kanda, and return refreshed in body and spirit.
Starting from
View details ₹14,999 / person
Most booked Pickup: Shimla / ChandigarhJanmashtami Mahotsav Yatra at Yulla Kanda
6 Days / 5 Nights
Be at the lake on Krishna Janmashtami, when thousands of Kinnauri devotees climb to Yulla Kanda for the mela, with bhajans, a Kinnauri folk naati and the cap ritual. This fixed-date departure fills up fast every year.
Starting from
View details ₹13,999 / person
Pickup across India
Choose your city, and we’ll take you to Kanha
Each city has its own day-by-day itinerary and price. Click a city to see the full plan.
The sacred route
From Shimla to the lake in the sky
- 1
Shimla
2,276 m · start
- 2
Narkanda
Apple country
- 3
Sarahan
Bhimakali Temple
- 4
Tapri
NH-5, Kinnaur
- 5
Yulla Khas
2,985 m · base village
- 6
Yulla Kanda
3,895 m · Shri Krishna
Darshan Gallery
Glimpses of Yulla Kanda
Why yatris trust us
A pilgrimage, lovingly organised
Safe & guided
Certified trek leaders, local Yulla guides, oxygen & first aid on every departure.
Stays sorted
Clean hotels, warm Kinnauri homestays and well-pitched alpine camps.
Families welcome
Comfortable pace for seniors and children, with ponies and porters on request.
Bhakti first
Bhajan sandhya, aarti and darshan timing planned around devotion, not just sightseeing.
FAQ
Yulla Kanda: your questions answered
Where is Yulla Kanda temple located?
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Yulla Kanda is in the Rora Valley of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh (Nichar tehsil). The temple stands on an island in a sacred lake at about 3,895 m (12,778 ft). The base village is Yulla Khas, reached via Tapri on NH-5, roughly 240 km from Shimla.
Is Yulla Kanda really the world’s highest Krishna temple?
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Yes. At around 3,895 metres above sea level, the Yulla Kanda Shri Krishna temple is widely regarded as the highest temple of Lord Krishna in the world.
How long is the Yulla Kanda trek and how difficult is it?
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The trek is about 11–12 km one way from Yulla Khas (≈2,985 m), with roughly 900 m of climbing. It is rated easy-to-moderate. Most pilgrims take 6–8 hours to go up, camp overnight and return the next day. Children above 10 and fit seniors regularly complete it with our guides.
What is the best time to visit Yulla Kanda?
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Mid-May to mid-October. June and September–October bring clear skies; July–August is monsoon but green; Janmashtami (August/September) is the biggest festival, when thousands of devotees climb to the lake.
What is the Kinnauri cap ritual at Yulla Kanda?
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Devotees place a traditional Kinnauri cap upside-down on the sacred lake. If it floats across without sinking, it is believed the coming year will be blessed and wishes will be fulfilled.
What is the legend of the Yulla Kanda temple?
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Local belief holds that the Pandavas built the temple and the lake during their exile, and that the deity is swayambhu (self-manifested). The temple is managed by the local Bhagwen (Bhagwain) temple committee of Yulla.
Do you offer pickup from my city?
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Yes. We run road pickups from Shimla, Chandigarh, Delhi NCR, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Manali. Travellers from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mathura–Vrindavan get a pickup at Chandigarh airport or railway station. Call +91 82193 96592 for any other city.
How do I book a Yulla Kanda package?
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Call or WhatsApp +91 82193 96592, or fill in the booking form on this website. We confirm your dates, pickup point and group size, then share the payment details for a small advance to block your seats.
॥ हरे कृष्ण ॥
Book your Yulla Kanda Yatra
Share your dates and pickup city. We’ll confirm availability, the final price for your group, and everything you need to carry.