Nomad Saikat
Have you ever visited a land of magic where everything seems magical? From the lush greenery to the valleys to snow capped peaks or vineyards you can experience it all here. This is Kinnaur, the border district of Himachal Pradesh and located about 250 km away from Shimla. The location is popular for the landscape, the culture and most importantly the Kinnaur Kailash. It is a mountain located in the Kinnaur district and is one of the major sites of pilgrimage as well for both the Hindus as well as the Buddhists. It is the winter abode of Lord Shiva and therefore holds a lot of importance for the Shiva devotees. What makes the site more exciting is the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra which is a difficult trek to reach the top of the location.
It is located at a pristine height and both for devotees as well as the adventurers the Kinnaur Kailash trek is a significant activity. There is a specific time when the site is accessible and that is the time for the trek to this location. From unpredictable weather to harsh temperature this location is truly a work of magic. Devotees and adventure enthusiasts from all over the world come and take part in this yatra to finally witness the famous Shivalinga. It is one of the most interesting activities that you can take part in no matter how difficult it seems. Then this annual yatra is a major spiritual journey and Kinnaur tourism revolves around it.
Kinnaur Kailash
If you want to know more about the Kinnaur Kailash then keep on reading this article. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning to be a part of Kinnaur Kailash Yatra 2024.
Timings: This is an annual yatra that takes place during the last week of July to August. Every year the date differs and there is an official announcement of dates after which the devotees start their journey to reach the location. The Kinnaur Kailash Yatra 2024 is all set to open soon so in case you wish to be a part of it then you must start registration soon.
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport is the Shimla airport and it is about 256 km away. It would take around 7 hours and 30 minutes to reach the location from the airport in Shimla. And from there you can reach the base camp to start the trek.
By train
The nearest major railhead to reach the base camp of the trek is the Kalka Railway Station. You can take a train from Delhi to reach Kalka station in about 5 hours.
By road
You can travel from different locations by road to reach the base camp for the trek. There are buses available from major locations to reach Shimla that you can opt for. You can take a bus to reach Rampur from Shimla and then again you can change buses to reach Reckong Peo. From there you can again take buses or else you can hire a cab or a car as well to reach Thangi. You can take direct buses or take a car to travel there from Delhi as well. Delhi to Thangi distance is about 608 km.
Overview of Kinnaur Kailash
The Kinnaur Kailash peak is located in the Kalpa region of Kinnaur district in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is a peak with an elevation of 6050 meters and is one of the major sites of pilgrimage as well. The major attraction of this location is the Kinnaur Yatra that goes through a trail around the Kinnaur Kailash Shivling with a height of 4800 meters. The Shivalingam of Kinnaur Kailash height in feet is 79 feet and is the major attraction of this region. The yatra offers a splendid view of the multiple peaks located here like Raldang and Jorkaden with a height of 5499 meters and 6473 meters respectively.
The culture of this region is highly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and you would be able to notice a beautiful blend of Hinduism and Buddhism here. There is the Indo Tibetan border on one side and the Zanskar and the Great Himalayan range on the other side. The rich flora and fauna of the region, the language spoken and the serenity of the landscape are other major attractions here.
The Kinnaur Kailash temperature is ideal during the summers. And from June to August during the time of yatra the weather here remains bearable. The winters here get too chilly with weather dropping down below -20 degrees at times making the site completely inaccessible.
History of Kinnaur Kailash Yatra
There is a debate about whether the origin of the word Kinner comes from the name of the place Kinnaur. You will find the mention of Kinners of Kinnaurs in almost all the religious and sacred texts like the Rig Veda, Amarakosha, Shiv Purana, Matsya Purana, Rajtarangini etc. In those texts and epics Kinners are a distinct tribe who are demigods. They are basically partly human and partly god. Famous poet Kalidasa had written about them in his celebrated masterpiece Meghdoot which is a masterpiece in Sanskrit literature. Later with time the word Kinner changed to Kinnaur. And therefore people believed that to visit that area would be equal to visiting the Devaloka. And even today the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra is such a famous religious activity for the people.
Kinnaur Kailash Yatra
The office of Deputy Commissioner in Reckong Peo fixes the schedule for the yatra every year. Usually the yatra is scheduled for the 3rd week of July or during the first of the month of August with minor changes depending on the situation. However the yatra is also doable during other months like in May and June as well. Before starting the journey you will however have to get in touch with any local tour operators who are registered at the tourism department and the DC Office of Kinnaur. Currently it is also mandatory to submit the list of all the trekkers who are planning a trek on this route at the nearest police station. All of these are done to ensure that the trekkers are all safe. Each day around 350 people are allowed to hike on this beautiful trail.
There is a rule that the authorities had set up before one can start with their journey. Out of the 350 people, only 200 slots are available for online registration. And the remaining slots of 150 are available for offline booking. Along with that for the safety of the trekkers it is mandatory for them to submit a valid medical certificate from a recognized medical practitioner stating that they are fit enough to go on this journey. They should also ensure that the certificate should be issued 15 days before the journey starts. The approximate Kinnaur Kailash trek distance is around 60 km for both sides and the base camp is Thangi. The highest point of this trek is 17,194 feet and the trekking level is difficult.
Read More : GANJI PAHARI DISTANCE, TREK, WEATHER
Kinnaur Kailash Yatra Route
There are a total of three trails to reach the highest point of the Kailash Shivling trail. The first one goes from Tangling to Maling Khata Meadows and then to Gufa, Parvati Kund and finally the Kinnaur Kailash. However this is by far the most popular trail. The other one goes through Ribba Village to Bato Kanda Meadows, Parvati Kund and then Kinnaur Kailash. Furthermore there is a third trail from Purbani Village to Purbani Kanda, Parvati Kund, Kinnaur Kailash. All these trails pass through small villages, vineyards, apple orchards and therefore offer a majestic experience. Ribba is most popular for its grape cultivation and production of grape wine.
The trail from Tangling starts from Tangling Village and that is basically the last point of civilization. After that the trail is a sheer climb of 8 to 9 hours at a stretch through the forests of Juniper and Fir trees. And then the trail reaches the Government Shelter in Sarai. A lot of people discontinue their trek at this point and halt for the night for camping there. However if you wish to camp then it would be better to again start really early in the morning. As the route after that is a boulder ridden terrain so try to start early. And this section is one of the most difficult parts of this trek.
What’s more?
You can furthermore also reach the Gufa that is another big shelter that serves as a base camp. And if you can reach there on the same day itself it will surely be a milestone. Additionally you will also get more breathing space as the climb will be less straining on the body.
And then there is the Ribba trail which is comparatively a shorter trail and less demanding than the other trail. This trail ascends from the Ribba village and then meets the Tangling Gufa trail near the Parvati Kund. Then there is the Purbani trail which is a route that mostly shepherds use.
Kinnaur Kailash Circuit Detailed Itinerary
1. Day 1 Shimla to Charang
2. Day 2 Acclimatization at Charang
3. Day 3 Charang to Lalanti
4. Day 4 Lalanti to Base Camp of Charang La
5. Day 5 Base Camp of Charang La to Charang La to Chitkul
6. Day 6 Chitkul to Shimla
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Kinnaur Kailash and the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra so now you can definitely opt for participating in this trek. It will be exciting as well as enriching and fulfilling all at the same time. So in case you wish to be a part of it then it will be one of the most memorable experiences for sure. The Kinnaur Kailash Yatra 2024 is all set to begin in a few days, so be prepared for it. As much as the location is popular as a religious site, for adventure lovers and trekkers also this can be one of the most interesting treks. So are you planning to be a part of this yatra this year? And let me know if this article on the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra is helpful for you in planning a trek to this location.
