8 Reasons Why You Need To Visit Chitkul On Your Next Trip to Himachal

Wrapped in the snow-peaked fathomless hills on a height of 11,000 feet, Chitkul is the last inhabited village on the Indo-China border, situated in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Once you pass the test of taming its wafer-thin, bumpy & unintentionally adventurous roads, which by the way follow the OTOV rule (One Time, One Vehicle), Chitkul can easily pass off as a faraway land that was once home to Snow White & her Seven Dwarves.

Best time to visit : May - June

The place is a delight all around the year and is around 569 km from Delhi and 28 km from Sangla, I advise you to plan it asap, maybe the next long weekend? And I have my reasons to suggest that to you.

1. To know that 'Pehle aap' etiquette still exists in India

You are moving closer to the Indo-China border, but the morals & principles of 'Hindustan' are moving with you. The road from Sangla valley to Chitkul village allows only one vehicle to pass at a time. Trust me you don't want to miss this sight.

2. Feel proud to see the men guarding our border

After crossing the tough river patch on the way to Chitkul, there are several check posts where Indian soldiers are seen guarding the border while sitting in the middle of a near jungle. What you feel is not just the chill in the air, it's a goose-bumpy feeling of pride.

3. Prayer Flags

On the top of the big cafe or just waving atop a wooden hut, you see the Tibetan prayer flags everywhere and there's no sight more soothing than this.

4. Fewer people - Very Attractive Houses

Once you start walking towards the village as the vehicles are not allowed beyond a point, probably expecting that the villagers will be excited to see you and crowd you on your arrival, let me burst your bubble - this is a Pahadi village and none of that is going to happen. With a population ranging between 600-800, they will greet you with warmth as long as you respect their space and admire their gorgeous wooden huts where you shall see women braiding each others' hair and men ambling around with their cattle while kids run around sharing one raincoat to protect them from the sudden drizzles :D

5. Chai & Snacks in this backdrop

When you go there freezing as the temperature has suddenly taken a dip and the breeze feels chiller, the warmth of the Chai guy is like a heart-melting knock of heaven on your frozen door ;)

6. This.

Look at these two little adorable lambs ambling around with their guardians in this hilly paradise :)

7. A Mini-Trek down the hill

From the hilltop, you can see the Baspa river paving their way among the rocks down the hill beside the camps where travellers probably wake up to the soft murmurs of this flowing clean water. The trek is wonderful especially when you reach and taste the pure river water, but make sure to keep having water on the way back up as the chill in the breeze might make you breathless.

8. Hindustan Ka Aakhri Dhaba

Last but not the least, you can't miss on the only Dhaba of this village which calls itself Hindustan ka Aakhri Dhaba and is obviously one of the most popular photo spots here :D

Marking your calendar already?