Yulla Kanda + Kinnaur Circuit (Sangla · Chitkul · Kalpa)

The complete Kinnaur experience. After darshan at Yulla Kanda, continue to Sangla Valley, Chitkul (India’s last village on the Tibet border road) and Kalpa, where the sun rises over Kinner Kailash.

Yatra highlights

• ✦ Yulla Kanda darshan + the full trek
• ✦ Chitkul, the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibet border
• ✦ Kinner Kailash sunrise from Kalpa
• ✦ Kamru Fort & Sangla Valley
• ✦ Bhimakali Temple, Sarahan

Day-wise itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1

   Chandigarh → Shimla

   115 km · 4 hrs

   Pickup and an easy drive up to Shimla, with the evening at the Ridge.

   Overnight: Hotel, Shimla

2. 2

   Day 2

   Shimla → Narkanda → Rampur → Sarahan

   ≈170 km · 6–7 hrs drive

   Drive through apple country past Kufri and Narkanda, then descend to the Sutlej at Rampur Bushahr. Reach Sarahan, gateway to Kinnaur, in time for the evening aarti at the ancient Bhimakali Temple with its tiered wooden pagoda roofs.

   Overnight: Hotel, Sarahan

3. 3

   Day 3

   Sarahan → Jeori → Tapri → Yulla Khas

   ≈70 km · 3 hrs drive · 2,985 m

   Enter Kinnaur along the dramatic Sutlej gorge on NH-5. At Tapri turn up the Rora Valley road to Yulla Khas village, the base of the trek. Afternoon acclimatisation walk among slate-roofed Kinnauri houses and apple orchards, followed by a trek briefing and gear check.

   Overnight: Kinnauri homestay, Yulla Khas

4. 4

   Day 4

   Trek: Yulla Khas → Yulla Kanda Camp

   ≈10 km · 6–7 hrs trek · ~3,700 m

   Begin early with “Jai Shri Krishna”. The trail climbs through deodar, oak and rhododendron forest, then opens into wide alpine meadows with views of the Kinnaur Kailash range. Packed lunch on the way. Reach camp, about 2 km below the temple, for hot tea, evening bhajan and dinner under the stars.

   Overnight: Alpine camp (twin/triple tents)

5. 5

   Day 5

   Darshan at the World’s Highest Krishna Temple · Descend

   ≈2 km up + 12 km down · 7–8 hrs

   A pre-dawn climb brings you to the sacred lake at 3,895 m, with Shri Krishna’s temple on its island. Take darshan, do the lake parikrama and join the local custom of floating a Kinnauri cap upside-down on the water: if it floats across, the year ahead is believed to be blessed. Descend to Yulla Khas by afternoon.

   Overnight: Kinnauri homestay, Yulla Khas

6. 6

   Day 6

   Yulla Khas → Sangla → Chitkul

   ≈90 km · 4 hrs

   Drive up the Baspa valley to Sangla and on to Chitkul at 3,450 m. Walk by the Baspa river and visit the Mathi Devi temple.

   Overnight: Riverside camp / hotel, Chitkul–Sangla

7. 7

   Day 7

   Chitkul → Kamru Fort → Kalpa

   ≈65 km · 3 hrs

   Visit the wooden Kamru Fort above Sangla, then drive to Kalpa for the sunset on the Kinner Kailash range, where Lord Shiva is believed to reside.

   Overnight: Hotel, Kalpa

8. 8

   Day 8

   Kalpa → Rampur → Shimla

   ≈230 km · 8 hrs

   Catch the sunrise on Kinner Kailash, then drive back down to Shimla.

   Overnight: Hotel, Shimla

9. 9

   Day 9

   Shimla → Chandigarh drop

   115 km · 4 hrs

   Drive down to the Tricity, with the memories of Kinnaur and Kanha’s blessings.