Chitkul: The Last Village of India
Time lapse of the Chitkul Valley
About the Village
Chitkul glows like the diadem of Himachal Pradesh with its splendor of nature, and it is the last inhabited village on the Indo-Tibetan border. At 11320 feet, this elevated parish is sited on the banks of Baspa river and is well connected with several big cities such as Chandigarh, Shimla & Manali. With a sparse population of 800, the locals love their land and toil throughout for the best yield of potatoes and peas for which Chitkul is famous. The road towards Chitkul beside the blue Baspa river, surrounded by the majestic mountains with its waterfalls & small iron bridges, is a bikers’ paradise. Chitkul is en route to Yamrang Lah and Chung Sakhago Lah in the river Baspa’s upper course. Also Chitkul is an unparalleled family holiday destination.
While your stay at Chitkul with us, let your adventurous soul be rejuvenated with a taste of the vast and mesmerizing sights of Himachal, packaged with mouth-watering Himachal & Jain cuisine served graciously by the hosts. Of course, we also arrange unique trekking experiences during your stay with us at Samaa Resort, Chitkul.
Chitkul… located on the immaculate banks of river Baspa, with its unspoiled primeval ambiances, can make you realize that you don’t need magic to disappear… all you need is a magical destination.
Chitkul – The Origin
The word Chhitkul is believed to have come from chhit meaning soil and kul meaning kul. This makes sense as one sees the sparkling icy brook that cuts through the middle of the village, which is settled on an old mud-flood of glacial erosion and the stream. Still another plausible interpretation lies in reading the word as a combination of Chheh, i.e. six and kula, i.e. lineages, perhaps meaning the six families that founded the village.
Language of the Region
The dialect spoken in Chhitkul is a strange mixture of Kinnauri, Hindi, English and even Sanskrit. The legend says, when God went around distributing languages to people, all His stock finished by the time He reached Chhitkul, affording only a concoction of all imaginable tongues. But the linguist’s explanation can be found in the village’s having been founded by the early Gardhwal settlers, and the influences of the Kinnauri dialects, traders, explorers and herbs gatherers and thousands of tourists visiting from all over the world.
Places to visit at Chitkul
Chitkul is a treat for the nature lovers. This place is known for its tranquility, peace & beauty. Away from the busy modern life, you can feel the regal magnificence of nature. Here you will get matchless sunrise, lovely sunny days, and pictorial meadows in the day time & a sky full of diamonds with the unceasing song of the river in the nights.
While in the valley, one must eye on visiting tourism villages and their architecture, temples, the unique female dresses, ornaments and the charming beauty of the locales. Witnessing the flower festival of Phulaich, celebrated in the villages, has always been a good idea. Trout fishing in the Baspa river has also been a major attraction for the tourists.
Chhitkul holds two big treks – Gangotri Trek and Kinner Kailash Parikrama Trek, which either starts or ends here.
The nearby points you must cover are listed below.
The Best Time to Visit
You can visit Chitkul anytime between middle of March & early November. Though peak seasons for the tourists are between May & June, on the Durga Puja time (15th September-10th November) & on long weekends.
There is a decline in tourist arrival in the months of March, April, July & September (Which can be attractive to the tourists preferring less crowd).
Due to heavy snowfall, the roads are closed after November.
[The average temperature at Chitkul ranges near 11˚C with continuous wind flow. It starts getting colder from October. So be sure to have suitable warm cloths packed]
The major festivals of Chitkul are – The Sajo Festival (January), The Dakhrain festival (July), The Jagro festival (September), The Fulaich festival of flowers (October) & The Khepa festival.
Travel Information
Chandigarh and Jubberhatti (Shimla) airports are the nearest airports from Chitkul.
Chhitkul is accessible by road from Chandigarh – Shimla – Rampur – Karcham – Sangla – Rakcham – Chhitkul.
HRTC bus timings can be confirmed from HRTC website or connect with our Reception at +91 9892098962 | +91 9819186633
To come to Chhitkul there are no direct bus service. One needs to take a bus till Sangla or Reckong Peo.
Please get in touch with reception for any queries and travel plans