The picturesque and heavenly Sangla valley — alternatively known as Baspa valley — of Kinnaur attracts backpackers and travelers from across the globe.
It is named after Sangla village — the largest village of the Sangla valley (also known as Tukpa valley) and one of the largest in Kinnaur.
Located in the middle of the valley, 18 km from the nearest highway NH5, it has become a must-see place for backpackers and travelers.
Sangla valley offers plenty of charming places like Kamru village and fort, Basteri, Rakcham, Chitkul , Chansu village, Rankanda and Dumti meadows.
Sangla valley
The valley is acclaimed for spectacular scenery and indigenous architecture of Sangla Bering Nag Temple, Kamru village fort, Sangla Buddhist monastery. Strolling along the beautiful Baspa riverside and riverbanks is my favourite thing to do in Sangla valley.
The standout of the valley is India’s last village from Tibet side – Chitkul. Sangla valley is also the gateway to many high altitude Himalayan treks like Lamkhaga Pass, Rupin Pass and Borasu Pass Trek that either starts or end at Chitkul.
Best time to visit Sangla valley in 2022?
The weather remains cold to bitterly cold from November to March. May to September are pleasant days, so it is better to visit Sangla during these months (i.e., the last week of April to October). If you want to experience the snow, then December to early March is the best time.
The weather of Sangla valley
Sangla valley is located in the temperate zone. The average yearly temperature of Sangla hovers around 17 °C. It peaks in the months of May and June when it reaches 30 °C, but the weather remains pleasant.
In July, August and September the average rainfall reach its apex point. It crosses the 300 mm mark in the month of July.
After July, it starts decreasing and the average rainfall plummets to less than 100 mm in September month. In October, it barely rains.
With dwindling rains, temperature graph also takes a nose dive, and it crosses below 5 °C mark in December month.
How to reach Sangla valley?
Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is easily accessible from Sangla. From the Shimla ISBT (Tutikandi bus stop), many HRTC buses run on Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla route.
Related: Kinnaur Bus Timetable (New Timings)
Mostly the buses leave from Chandigarh in the night, then reach Shimla in the morning. An HRTC bus will leave for Sangla or Rakchham in the morning around 7:00 AM from the Shimla Bus stand. The long 12-hour bus ride is an adventurous one!
There is a Bus with number HP 25 A 3043 which runs every alternate day from Shimla around 7:00 – 7:15 AM from Shimla Bus stand to Sangla.
One can call Shimla Bus Depo Control Room for details on Bus timings, they will help you. For us, Shimla to Sangla HRTC Bus road journey cost just about Rs. 420.
Tip: Women travellers get 50% concession if they travel in HRTC buses.
The helpline number of Shimla Bus Depo Control Room is 01772656326 and Reckong Peo station in-charge number is 01786222444.
If you are visiting Sangla with friends or family, try to take or book Innova, XUV, Tata Sumo or Tempo Traveler from Shimla. This will help you to stop & spend enough time en-route Sangla.
The journey from Shimla to Sangla is Epic & Deadly dangerous one with Breathtaking views of Sutlej River, High Mountains, Mountain Villages, Lovely Bridges, Some Beautiful Towns of Kinnaur Valley.
Distance from different cities:
If you are traveling from the different States of India, it is better to reach Delhi or Chandigarh by Flight, Train or other transport options then plan accordingly in advance. This will help to reach Sangla without any transport issues.
From Delhi: Around 590 Kms. via NH44 and NH5 (Delhi to Sangla)
From Chandigarh: Around 354 Kms. via NH5 (Chandigarh to Sangla)
From Shimla: 240 Kms. via NH5 (Shimla to Sangla)
How to reach Sangla from Shimla: From Shimla, Take following route to Sangla: Shimla –> Kufri –> Fagu –> Rampur –> Tapri –> Karcham –> Sangla
Altitude: Altitude of Sangla Valley, Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh comes to around 3000 Mtr.
Bucketlist best places to see around Sangla In 2022
Kamru village
From Sangla town, the village of Kamru is a 2-kilometer easy hike away. The Kamru fort & temple is lesser visited place by the tourists. Most skip this place and drive straight to Rakcham and Chitkul.
While in Sangla, don’t forget to check out these ancient Buddhist architectures. You must visit this place if you’re in Sangla, because it’s incredible!
Kamru Temple: Kamru Temple is situated just below Kamru Fort. This temple is called Shree Badri Vishal Ji Temple of Kamru Village which is also a 15th century shrine of Lord Badrinath, which hosts a festival every three years.
Kamru fort
One of the oldest forts in Himachal Pradesh is Kamru fort. It is perched high above in the Sangla Valley of Kinnaur district. Fortress Kamru dominates the valley’s history and is a must-see. From Sangla town, it’s a 2-kilometer walk to the towering fort at 2600 metres high above sea level.
This fort’s unique features include an exotic image of Lord Buddha on the main gate and an image of Kamkhya Devi. Kamkhya Devi’s image is said to have been brought from Assam to the fort’s third level.
Kamru fort seems like being placed over a packing of dressed stone that acts as a pedestal for an exalted piece of art. The tower possesses an elegant wooden balcony.
There are a number of interesting myths attached to this fort. This fort is ruled by 100 plus dynasties of Himachal. Except Kamkhya Devi Idol which is situated near tower-like Fort, other parts of the fort are restricted for public viewing (including local people of Kamru village)
Images & text: @wanderwithvaibhav / Instagram
Only families of Himachal Bushahr dynasty get to go inside the fort. Virbhadra Singh, former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, belongs to the royal family of Bushahr.
He recently visited this fort to attend a festival (as informed to us by lady guard of Kamru Fort Chandru Negi). We visited this place during early morning of 19th May 2017.
The Sangla Valley is a deeply carved cleft between burly mountain slopes, where evergreen forests rise to alpine meadows crowned by snowy summits.
Village cores here feature temples built in traditional Kinnauri style of timber and stone with heavy slate roofs. The road up the valley leaves the NH5 at Karcham hydroelectric dam. Much of the first 15 km to Kupa is cut hair-raisingly high into an almost vertical cliff face. Sangla, the only town, hides its fascinating old section completely out of view from the road. Thereafter, the valley has essentially just three villages, including Batseri across the river, which has won prizes for cleanliness, and Rakchham, which sits in an intriguing chaos of large boulders. After the Mastrang police checkpoint (show your passport), the already beautiful valley gets ever more spectacular with sharp-sculpted snow peaks towering ahead above Chitkul. All main settlements have temples worth perusing.
— Lonely Planet India Guide
Only foreign nationals have to show their passports at Mastrang check post.
Sangla village Buddhist monastery
There is a Buddhist Monastery situated in the heart of Sangla Town. As per the monks of the monastery, this monastery is recently built, and it is a very good place to meditate & relax. Don’t miss exploring this monastery of Sangla!
View of Kinner Kailash from Sangla town
The back-side view of Kinner Kailash is clearly visible from Kamru Village & surroundings of Sangla where the front-side can be seen from Kalpa or Reckong Peo.
This is how I captured the back-side of Kinner Kailash from the Sangla Buddhist Monastery. A classic view indeed!
Lesser visited places in Sangla valley
Sangla (or Baspa) valley is the most verdant of Kinnaur offering plenty of spectacular sceneries. Sangla valley shares a border with Tibet on the east, Garhwal and Uttarkashi of Uttarakhand on the south. Mountain ranges of lesser Himalayas separates it from Pabbar valley of Shimla.
Some hidden gems of Sangla valley are:
- Baspa riverside
- Rani Kanda meadows
- Sangla Kanda lake and meadows
- Kamru Kanda
- Chansu village
- Batseri village
- Tukpa valley entry gate
- Trout fish farm
- Dumti meadows
- Karu Devta temple of Dumti
- ITBP Check posts at Nagasti and Dumit
- Nagdum stream
- Mighty Baspa glacier
- Snowfields and snow-slopes of upper Baspa valley
- Azad Kashmir (place with a strange name but idyllic meadows)
- Trekking trails like Lamkhaga, Borasu, Khimloga and Chitkul-Charang (Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama) pass.
India’s last village – Chitkul
Chitkul is India ‘s last village from Tibet side which can be reached via Road. The distance from Sangla to Chitkul is 22 Kilometer and people throng into this place to experience the beauty of mother nature which is famous for the Snow-capped Mountains, Baspa River & Many more. Potatoes grown at Chitkul are one of the best in the world and are very costly.
Treks from Sangla valley
Sangla Valley of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh is Gateway to many High Altitude Himalayan Treks like Lamkhaga Pass, Rupin Pass, Borasu Pass & Many more. These treks can either start or end from Himachal Pradesh or Uttrakhand.
Final words
Sangla Valley is a must-visit place for adventure seekers, Tourists & travelers across the world. I will rate this valley 8 out of 10. Please don’t miss exploring this place if you plan an adventure trip around Kinnaur & Spiti. Must visit the region of Himachal Pradesh indeed!
Gautham splits his time between working for a software firm in Bangalore and exploring the Himalayas. Quoting from the about me page of his website, BG BALIGA TRAVEL DIARY, ‘Adventure is my passion. It is an integral part of my life. Exploring mother nature always gives me happiness and self-satisfaction’. Gautham has trekked Parang-La pass in August 2018, Auden’s Col in June 2018, Lamkhaga Pass, Chadar Trek in 2017, Dzongri & Goecha La Trek in 2016, Animal Pass & Sora Umga-La Trek in 2016, Pin and Bhabha Pass in 2013. His other passion is running.
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