Today, we have to say goodbye to the Baspa river and again it's time to embrace the beauty of Sutlej since our next destination is Kalpa of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. Though the journey is not so long yet roads on hills especially the Himachal Pradesh are completely beyond any prediction. During coming to Chitkul from Sarahan, we took a right turn towards Sangla valley, today also we would have to cross the same road upto Karcham and then we would have to take a right turn to Powari. Reckong Peo (or locals lovingly call Peo) is the market place of Kalpa. And Kalpa resides just above Reckong Peo. Since we have already spent one night at an altitude of 11300ft, our body is quite acclimatized now to take the challenges of Kinnaur-Kailash Himalayan Range of Kalpa which is situated at an altitude of 9700ft with all her beauty of flora and fauna.
Setting Sun on Kinnaur-Kailash Range
After setting out from Chitkul on 9.30AM, we reached Kalpa at around 12.30PM. Our destination is the Kinnaur-Kailash Hotel of HPTDC since we have already booked our accommodation. During our journey, we have been experiencing so much fun and adventure on road. The steep and winding road to Kalpa gets sometimes choked due to jam but one such jam became boon for us. We got chance of having the Prasad of Kalimata on road near Powari where we had to stop due to jam on roads. And the incident got an everlasting impression on us since the temple authority were very generous to provide us all the food packets that we demanded and needless to mention, we were very hungry too. Mataji on that really saved us. See the video https://youtu.be/bBNaQpYC2Ns
Enroute temple to Kalpa
Crossing Powari temple after Powari, we took the Khwang Road taking a diversion on left that crosses Regional Hospital of Reckong Peo and Police Station of Peo, we reached our destination Kinnaur-Kailash of HPTDC at around 12.30PM. It's the last and highest spot of Kalpa and needless to remind that, the hotel is located at the best place from where the Kinnaur-Kailash Range is stone throw away.
Kinnaur-Kailash Range from HPTDC
The Kinnaur-Kailash range is closely and clearly visible from here that one can feel a presence of Himalaya in one's heart. Only thing one can do is to keep silence and enjoy the peerless beauty of Himalaya. Seriously, what a place! Apples are everywhere you can see surrounding you since it's the first week of October. Even, the HPTDC premises hosts a lot of apple trees that are overburden with ripen apples of various colours. The dining of the hotel is beautifully decorated with wooden work and completely neat and clean thereby giving the experience of dining over there a splendid touch especially when the Kinnaur-Kailash range is 180 degree visible through glass windows. It used to be my favourite moments sitting by a window and watching the setting sun igniting the peaks of the range tardily in that serene ambience.
Hotel Kinnaur-Kailash of HPTDC
Shivling is the main attraction of this range and it is custom that the trekkers and devotees of Kailash Porikroma starts their journey by worshipping this Shivling which clearly visible through open eyes from this place.
Shivling of Kailash range
The rooms of HPTDC are excessively big and quite spacious. The toilet is quipped with all modern amenities keep in mind the diverse population who flock at Kalpa every year in lakhs.
Experience say:
1. Start early so that you can reach early at Kalpa and enjoy the beauty of Kinnaur-Kailash;
2. Generally after 2PM a strong wind starts to blow on Kalpa and it becomes quite impossible to stay outside rooms;
3. After lunch, do not loiter here and there instead do not leave the dining hall and stay there to watch the peaks becoming red slowly with setting sun;
4. Coffee, tea, and other beverages are available in the dining hall;
5. Do not be busy in capturing the sun set moments instead enjoy the sunset on Kinnaur-Kailash range since it has an ever lasting impression;
6. After sun sets, keep watching the peaks becoming white wrapped in ice and the lights of the Hotel create a dream like state;
7. Do not pluck apples from trees since it is regarded a serious offence;
8. Foods are of very good qualiy in the hotel;
9. Try to book only HPTDC hotel when you are visiting Kalpa since only the property of HPTDC is at best location with best services;
10. Carry books or other reading materials since reading a book while sipping coffee and watching the various moods of Kinnaur-Kailash outside window amidst gushing winds is going to be everlasting in you;
11. All kinds of mobile networks are available in Kalpa;
12. While visiting Kalpa, do visit the two beautiful hamlets-Kothi village and Roghi Village for their extremely beautiful wooden work with tribal touch.
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