Trekking to Kinnaur Kailash: Discover the untouched beauty of Himalayas

For all explorers, Trekking to Kinnaur Kailash is more than a journey and the place is also famous for a soulful pilgrimage, located at the heart of the mountain ranges of Himalayas. Kinnaur Kailas is known for its spiritual aura, breathtaking view and landscapes. Unlike other trekking spots, the Kinnaur and Kailash are less commercialized and mostly unexplored. The trek mainly leads to a sacred Shivling located at the peak of Kinnaur Kailash, which has been attracted by adventurers, trekkers, and saints also. In this blog, you will experience a mixture of adventure, detailed guidance and intense knowledge about the untouched beauty of the Himalayas.

Image source : http://bit.ly/4mvptPP

A short overview about Kinnaur Kailash

The place Kinnaur Kailash is located in the district of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. The altitude of this peak is about 6050 meters and is mainly famous for its spiritual mysticism. Devotees such as Hindus and Buddhists prefer to visit this sacred place.  At the heart of this mountain range, a 79 foot Shivling is located vertically, which represents the presence of Lord Shiva and embraces traditions for centuries.

There are countless trekkers and devotees visiting Kinnaur Kailash to experience adventure and fulfill spiritual needs. On the way to Kinnaur Kailash you can observe alpine meadows, snow clad summits, different landscapes, gushing rivers and remote villages. However, as per tourists the Kinnaur Kailash trek is one of the most challenging tasks and the route passes through the Tangling Village near Kalpa.

Image source : https://bit.ly/4mzMod3

Why should we explore that place?

We need to explore that place as it provides a mixture of adventure, spiritual experiences, stunning views of Himalayas and an opportunity to witness unique customs. Although the trek is challenging for beginners, due to changing weather conditions, rugged terrain and high altitude. These are some reasons that most of the places of Kinnaur Kailash remain unexplored. Adventure lovers prefer to visit this place to witness the breathtaking views of Himalayas, immense beauty, rocky paths and unique wildlife of Himalayas. The Kinnaur Kailash trek also provides an opportunity to trekkers to explore local heritage, craftsmanship, woodwork and unique architecture of Kinnaur.

Best time to Trekking Kinnaur Kailash

According to the travellers, the best time to visit Kinnaur Kailash is between Julys to September. During the month of June, the temperature becomes comfortable and the snow starts to melt, therefore it reveals lush green valleys and trails. Whereas August and September are the month where skies are clear and mountain peaks can be seen from far.

Image source : https://bit.ly/4mZBahw

Cost of the Trek

The costing of the Kinnaur Kailash trek depends on two factors such as the service agencies chosen by trekkers and the weather. It can vary between 25000 INR to 35,000 per person approximately including lodging, guiding, food and permits. There might be some additional expenses due to experiencing personal activities.

How to reach that place

We can reach Kinnaur Kailash through road, rail and air. The air route is the fastest way to reach Kinnaur Kailash. In that case, the nearest airport is Jubbarhatti Airport at Shimla. Due to the limitation of flights, most of the travellers prefer to access Chandigarh Airport, which is 330 Km away. Trek to Kinnaur Kailash mainly starts from the Reckong Peo region; therefore, the airports are connected through roads to this place.

Tourists who travel by train mainly access Shimla Railway Station to reach the Reckong Peo. After reaching the station, you can hire a car to reach that place and it will take 8 to 10 hours. Apart from that, people who travel by road can book a seat in Volvo coaches from Delhi to reach Reckong Peo.

Overview of  Kinnaur Kailash trekking route

The journey of Kinnaur Kailash starts from Reckong Peo which is at an altitude of 2300m. It is the base camp of the Kinnaur Kailash Trek and is situated in Himachal Pradesh. The starting point of the trek is Telangi village in Kinnaur District near the Reckong Peo. The route of this trek gradually leads to the deodar and pine forest and green meadows.

The first halt of this trekking is at the point of Ganesh Park, at the height of 3800m. This is an empty meadow, mostly surrounded by mountains. People prefer to build their tent at this place for resting purposes. Camping at this place is very popular as it provides a clear view of snow clad mountain ranges of Himalaya. From this place, the road becomes more challenging and the next stop is Parvati Kund. The place Parvati Kund is known as a sacred lake mostly used by devotees during their pilgrimage.

Image source : https://bit.ly/3ViLMwd

After that, trekkers wait to reach the most popular part of this route which passes through the Kinnaur Kailash Shivling, which is located above 6000m. This final section of road is extremely challenging, steepy, sharp ascents and rocky paths. After reaching the summit you can observe the 79 foot large vertically situated rock which is known as lord Shiva. From this place you can enjoy the 360 views of the ranges of Himalayas. The route of the trek is about 70 to 80 Kms in total and might take 7 to 9 days in all.

Places nearby Kinnaur Kailash

While trekking, you can visit nearby places to explore the surroundings further. First place near Kinnaur Kailash is Kalpa; therefore tourists can enjoy wooden houses, apple orchids and snow-clad mountains. Another nearby place is Sangla Valley, which is known for its scenic beauty such as cedar forests, green meadows, and Baspa Rivers. All of these places are best for trekking and camping. You can also explore the last village of this region known as Chitkul, specifically located near the Indo Tibetan Border. The Reckong Peo is famous for Tibetan culture, cuisine, traditional shops, and accommodations.

Image source : https://bit.ly/45W7Emd

Things to be experienced on Kinnaur Kailash Trek

Trekkers can enjoy scenic beauty, flora, fauna, wildlife and culture of that place. Trekkers can observe slow clad mountains, rocky trails, peaks, and green meadows. You can go through oak, deodar, pine, and alpine vegetation. At the time of summer, different flowers such as primulas, wildflowers, poppies and rhododendrons can be found. Trekkers can enjoy clue sheep, snow leopards, snow pigeons, and vultures.

Image source : https://bit.ly/4n0rrrd

Things to carry

The journey of Kinnaur Kailash is highly adventurous, so you should carry essentials such as footwear, clothing, trekking gear, food, and health and safety materials. At those places, the temperature might change drastically, so thermal wear, waterproof jackets, multilayered clothes, t-shirts, and quick dry clothes are very useful. Trekking shoes are required to be carried with multiple socks. If you are going only for trekking purposes, you must purchase a 60 to 70 liters backpack which has a rain cover. For camping purposes you should take a light tent and sleeping bag as well.

The roads of Kinnaur Kailash trek are dangerous with rocks, steps, and terrains; therefore there might be chances of leg cut, wounds and injuries. People prefer to carry first Aid kits with some essentials such as medicines, purification tablets, and band aids. Some extra foods such as chocolates, energy bars, dry fruits and water bottle should be carried. Apart from those personal identity cards, other comments and permits need to be taken with you before starting the journey.

Some general tips for trekkers

Trekking through the roads of Kinnaur Kailash is extremely challenging and it requires preparation of at least 3 months before starting the journey.  The physical preparation is the most important aspect because trekking includes a long hours of walking in Himalayan rocky region. Before going to trek you can go to the gym, do strength training, regular jogging , breathing exercises and cycling on a daily basis. As per the viewpoint of previous trekkers, high altitude trekking can cause “Acute Mountain sickness”, so you should understand your body properly. For going to such trekking, you need to carry only essentials so that your backpack weighs lighter.

Image source : https://bit.ly/41rcLsZ

Overview on local accommodation and food

You can easily get a hotel, homestay or guest house in the Reckong Peo region. At this place, you can experience clean rooms, with basic facilities and hot water. These hotels are located in the high altitude Himalayan region, so facilities are limited in this region.

The higher you trek, options become lesser. There are some dhabas and roadside hotels run by locals, so those are some options for stay. Trekkers can enjoy simple food during the journey. Vegetables are available there and they are serve different types of vegetable cuisines to the guest. At Sangla and Kalpa region, trekkers can enjoy traditional Himalayan, Tibetan and Himachali foods such as thukpa, teas, and momos. During lunch people prefer to eat rice, dal, chapatti, meat, curd etc.

Conclusion

The Kinnaur Kailash trek is more than a journey that brings to the spiritual journey for oneself. This trek seems to be unique and challenging for people due to rugged paths, terrains, and slopes. For the people who want to experience the unexplored beauty of nature, the Kinnaur Kailash trek can provide a life changing journey to them.

Ayan Basak

See Full Bio