Mathi Temple
A group of three wooden temples to the local goddess Mathi; the main one is said to be about 500 years old. It is the centre of village life.
- Distance
- In the village, about 2 minutes on foot from the road
- Entry
- Free
- Time needed
- 1 hour
Destinations / Himachal Pradesh
Chitkul
The last village on the road up the Baspa valley in Kinnaur, at about 3,450 m.
Lesser-knownVillageRiverTrekMeadow
Chitkul is where the motor road up the Baspa valley ends, with wooden houses, an old temple to the goddess Mathi, potato fields and the river below. It suits travellers who want quiet walks and mountain views and can manage a long road journey, basic rooms and almost no phone signal.
Trip planner
Plan from your city
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| April to June | The main season. Days are roughly 12 to 20 C and nights 5 to 10 C. Snow can still fall in April. |
| July to August | Monsoon. The valley is green but the highway through Kinnaur is prone to landslides, so delays are common. |
| September to October | Clear skies and autumn colour. Days are about 8 to 14 C and nights drop to freezing or below. |
| November to March | Very cold with heavy snow. The road is often closed, most often from mid-December to February, and many stays shut. |
Sights and activities
Baspa riverside
A short walk down through the fields brings you to the clear Baspa river, with open views up the valley.
- Distance
- 30 to 45 minutes on foot from the village
- Entry
- Free
- Timings
- Open all day
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
Hindustan ka Aakhri Dhaba
A simple roadside eatery known as the last dhaba in India. People come for rajma-chawal and a photo with the signboard.
- Distance
- In the village
- Entry
- Free
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
Walk towards the ITBP checkpost (Nagasti)
A flat walk along the valley floor to the border police post. Civilians are not allowed beyond it.
- Distance
- About 3 to 4 km from the village
- Entry
- Free
- Timings
- Daylight hours
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
Rani Kanda meadows
A day hike to high meadows above the valley. It is rated easy to medium, but the altitude makes it tiring.
- Distance
- About 10 km round trip from the village
- Entry
- Free
- Timings
- Daylight hours
- Time needed
- 5 to 6 hours
Rakchham village
A small village on the Sangla to Chitkul road, known for big boulders, buckwheat fields and riverside meadows.
- Distance
- About 9 to 13 km from Chitkul
- Entry
- Free
- Timings
- Open all day
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
Kamru Fort
A five-storey wood and stone tower above Sangla, once the seat of the rulers of Kinnaur, with an idol of Kamakhya Devi. Visitors can see the shrine area; the inner fort is restricted.
- Distance
- About 27 km from Chitkul; a 2 km uphill walk from Sangla
- Entry
- Free
- Time needed
- 2 hours
Bering Nag Temple, Sangla
A temple in the middle of Sangla village, noted for its fine wood carving.
- Distance
- About 25 km from Chitkul
- Entry
- Free
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
Getting there
- By bus
- The road runs from Shimla through Narkanda and Rampur to Karcham, then up the Baspa valley through Sangla and Rakchham to Chitkul, where it ends. HRTC buses run from Chandigarh and Shimla to Reckong Peo, and two or three buses a day go from Reckong Peo to Chitkul (about 9.30 am and 12 noon, about 3 hours). Tour operators also run organised trips with transport included from Delhi; see Guided trips and packages below.
- By train
- There is no railway in Kinnaur. Shimla is the nearest railhead, about 245 km away; Chandigarh (about 345 km) has far better train connections.
- By air
- Shimla (Jubbarhatti) airport is about 247 km away. Chandigarh airport, about 350 km away, is the more practical choice.
- Where to base yourself
- Stay in Chitkul village itself for the quiet, or in Sangla (about 25 km down the valley) for more hotels, an ATM and better phone signal.
Getting around
- The village is small and everything in it is reached on foot; it takes about 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other.
- HRTC buses link Chitkul with Rakchham and Sangla; the Sangla to Chitkul fare is about 110 rupees and buses leave Chitkul at about 6.30 am, 1.30 pm and 4 pm.
- A hired taxi with driver costs about 3,500 to 5,000 rupees a day in Kinnaur.
On the way
Worth a stop on the drive from Shimla, the last stretch whether you arrive by train, bus or air. Stopping needs a taxi or your own vehicle; buses do not wait. Distances are by road.
Narkanda
Apple-growing ridge at about 2,700 m with wide Himalayan views. Hatu Peak and the Hatu Mata temple are 7 to 8 km up a side road. Skiing in winter.
- Distance
- About 60 km from Shimla, 180 km before Chitkul
Rampur Bushahr
Old capital of Bushahr state on the Sutlej, with Padam Palace (seen from outside) and the Lavi trade fair in November.
- Distance
- About 120 km from Shimla, 120 km before Chitkul
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
- Kalpa: Road, about 2 hours, about 70 km by road. See the Kinnaur and Spiti loop trip
- Shimla: Road, about 9 to 10 hours, about 240 km by road. See the Kinnaur and Spiti loop trip
Build your own trip
Add this place and any others to a trip of your own. It is kept on this device.
Guided trips and packages
Private operators run organised trips to Chitkul from Delhi, usually as part of a Kinnaur circuit with Sangla and Kalpa. They are either fixed-date group departures by Volvo bus or tempo traveller (4 to 5 days) or private-car tours via Shimla (about 7 days), with the operators naming spring and summer as the season. Prices found ranged from about Rs 10,500 to Rs 14,500 per person. No government-run tour (HPTDC or IRCTC) to Chitkul was found in this check.
| Operator | Trip | From | Length | Price from | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enlive Trips Private operator | Group departure by Volvo bus or tempo traveller, with stay in Chitkul and Kalpa | Delhi | 4 days / 3 nights | ₹10,499 per person Delhi to Delhi, triple sharing, plus 5% GST, as listed on 2026-10-04. Double sharing listed at Rs 11,499 plus GST. | Volvo bus or traveller transport, 2 nights in Chitkul and 1 night in Kalpa, 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners, local sightseeing, day hike, trip coordinator (as stated on the page) |
| Universal Adventures Private operator | Group package by Volvo bus or AC traveller, with camp stay in Chitkul | Delhi (Kashmiri Gate) | 5 days / 4 nights | ₹10,999 per person Delhi to Delhi, triple sharing, shown as a discounted price, as listed on 2026-10-04. Double sharing costs Rs 500 more per person per night. | Volvo bus or AC traveller transport, 2 nights at a Chitkul campsite and 1 night in a Kalpa hotel, 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners and 1 lunch, driver who also acts as guide, sightseeing and a day hike (as stated on the page) |
| Swan Tours Private operator | Private-car package tour of Shimla, Sangla and Kalpa, with Chitkul as a day excursion from Sangla | Delhi | 7 days / 6 nights | ₹14,500 per person Delhi to Delhi, standard hotels, based on at least 6 adults sharing 2 rooms, as listed on 2026-10-04. The page says rates are higher for smaller groups. | Transfers from Delhi airport or railway station and travel between towns by Toyota Innova, 2 nights each in Shimla, Sangla and Kalpa, breakfast and dinner, sightseeing by vehicle (as stated on the page) |
Checked online on 2026-10-04. A listing here is not a recommendation; we have no tie-up with these operators. Before you pay, check that the operator and its website are genuine, and confirm dates, price and what is included.
Where to stay
| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Homestays, hostel dorms and simple guesthouses | ₹500 to ₹1,200 |
| Mid-range | Small hotels and better guesthouses | ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 |
| Luxury | Riverside camps and resorts, mostly lower down the valley near Batseri and Sangla | ₹3,000 to ₹6,000 |
Food
Food is simple and comes from small dhabas and homestay kitchens: dal, rice, curries, noodles and tea. A dhaba meal costs about 100 to 250 rupees.
Try these
- Rajma-chawal (kidney bean curry with rice)
- Momos (steamed dumplings)
- Thukpa (noodle soup)
- Parathas (stuffed flatbread)
- Local potato dishes (Chitkul is known for its potatoes)
Vegetarian food is the norm and easy to find.
Daily costs
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹800 | ₹400 | ₹110 per person |
| Mid-range | ₹2,200 | ₹650 | ₹3,500 per vehicle |
| Luxury | ₹4,500 | ₹1,000 | ₹5,000 per vehicle |
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
Indian nationals need no permit to visit Chitkul; carry a photo ID. Civilians cannot go beyond the ITBP checkpost a few kilometres past the village. Foreign nationals may need an Inner Line Permit for parts of Kinnaur, and some treks need one too; it is issued at Reckong Peo. Sources disagree on whether foreigners need a permit for Chitkul itself, so check at Reckong Peo.
Safety
- By day
- The village is quiet and walks are straightforward. The altitude is about 3,450 m, so take it slowly on the first day; a night in Sangla or Kalpa first helps you adjust.
- At night
- Nights are very cold, falling to freezing or below in autumn. There is little lighting, so carry a torch and stay in after dark.
- Solo women
- Travel guides describe a small, calm village with family-run homestays; The main difficulty is the lack of phone signal.
- Roads
- The Kinnaur highway is narrow with landslide zones, especially in July and August. The last 24 km beyond Sangla is rough and narrow; a car with high ground clearance is advised. The road often closes from mid-December to February.
- Emergency numbers
- 112 (all emergencies)
Practical
- Mobile network
- Only BSNL works in Chitkul, and only now and then, mostly for calls. Jio and Airtel work in Sangla but rarely in Chitkul.
- ATMs and cash
- No ATM in Chitkul. The nearest are in Sangla and Reckong Peo, so carry enough cash; cards are not accepted.
- Fuel
- No petrol pump in Chitkul. Fill up at Reckong Peo, Tapri or Rampur before entering the valley.
- Medical
- No clinic in the village. Basic care is at Sangla, about 25 km away; the nearest proper hospital is at Reckong Peo.
Coverage maps: Jio · Airtel · Vi · BSNL. Report a problem
Accessibility
- Seniors
- The long mountain drive, the altitude and the cold make this hard going. It is possible with a private vehicle, a night in Sangla on the way and warm clothing.
- Children
- Manageable for older children if you break the journey; the altitude and cold nights need care with small children.
- Wheelchair users
- Not suitable. Village lanes are uneven and stepped, and stays are basic with no adapted rooms.
Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
Culture and responsible travel
- The Mathi temple is an active shrine and the centre of the village; follow local instructions on where visitors may go and ask before taking photographs.
- At Kamru Fort the inner building is closed to outsiders; visitors see only the shrine area.
- This is a sensitive border area. Do not try to go past the ITBP checkpost, and do not fly drones.
- Carry your rubbish back down the valley; the village has very limited waste handling.
- Fields of potatoes and buckwheat are people's livelihood, so keep to paths.
What to pack
- Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
- Printed copies of your permit, with a few passport-size photos
- Thermals, a down or fleece jacket, gloves and a warm cap, even in summer
- Sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen and lip balm: the sun is harsh at altitude
- Ask your doctor before you go about altitude sickness and what to carry for it
- Walking shoes with a good grip, a small daypack and a refillable water bottle
- Enough cash for the whole stay, a power bank and offline maps
- Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts
Multi-stop trips that include Chitkul
- Kinnaur and Spiti loop, 8 nights
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