Shimla - Narkanda - Kalpa - Chitkul and possibly Puh- Sumdo - Kaza in December - Team-BHP

abhi182 · 15th December 2008, 23:25

Time for my annual Himalayan piligrimage and focusing on Kinnaur - Spiti region this time
The rough itinerary is to reach shimla on 26th

Part I: leave from Shimla on 27th December and make it to Kalpa by the evening (Innova)
a) Is it possible to make it to Kalpa in a single day
b) Would I find any accomodation in Kalpa this time of the year

Part II - use kalpa as a base to explore Kinnaur Valley - Head to Sangla - Chitkul
a) Should I earmark 2 days for Sangla/Chitkul or 1 day is adequate?

Part III - Head for Kaza via Sumdo
a) How'd be the road to Kaza from Kalpa
b) Possible to do it in a day?

Part IV - Explore areas around kaza

Now what are your suggestions? Does this sound like reasonable itinerary
I'll be taking adequate precautions, and I wouldn't mind turning back if the road conditions look precarious
If I turn back, I always have the choice to head to narkanda and later manali to pursue a more sensible albeit less exciting itinerary

PS: Need to be back in Delhi by the 6th of Jan

mobike008 · 16th December 2008, 14:05

Incidentally, i too will reach Simla on Dec26th !!

Rest of the areas that you described makes no head or tail to me at this moment

simply_sunny001 · 16th December 2008, 14:17

Kalpa was -1.5 last night and there is a possibility of snowfall in next 3-4 days due to western disturbances.

so i hope it will be very cool at least the nights below freezing point near 25th

abhi182 · 17th December 2008, 01:42

^^ I don't mind the cold.. was loitering around in Leh last december
What I am concerned abt right now however is whether the roads would be in driveable condition or not :(

wanderernomad · 19th December 2008, 12:56

Yes Shimla Kalpa in one day is possible and easily doable. again Kalpa Kaza is doable in one day provided you find no obstructions especially at malling. Roads will be just about ok in some patches and ok to good rest of the way. early snows might distrupt your plans but I would be more worried about the cold. It would be colder than Leh in some places.

abhi182 · 5th January 2009, 18:58

Back from the trip
Day 1 - Shimla
Day 2 Kalpa - (The HPTDC hotel in Kalpa is brilliant BTW)
Day 3 Sangla - Chitkul
Stayed for the night in a guesthouse in Raksham (Between Sangla and Chitkul). Unfortunately, one of my travel partners was a guy from Chennai who had never experienced winters in his entire 27 years of existence

and he started feeling unwell in Raksham... We had to cut short our Kaza plans due to this and we proceeded towards Manali via Jalori pass.. Spent the rest of our vacation in Manali :( which wasn't bad but not a shade on Spiti

Will post the pics in the travelogues section soon

15th December 2008, 23:25	#1 (permalink)
abhi182 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 163 View My Garage	Shimla - Narkanda - Kalpa - Chitkul and possibly Puh- Sumdo - Kaza in December Time for my annual Himalayan piligrimage and focusing on Kinnaur - Spiti region this time The rough itinerary is to reach shimla on 26th Part I: leave from Shimla on 27th December and make it to Kalpa by the evening (Innova) a) Is it possible to make it to Kalpa in a single day b) Would I find any accomodation in Kalpa this time of the year Part II - use kalpa as a base to explore Kinnaur Valley - Head to Sangla - Chitkul a) Should I earmark 2 days for Sangla/Chitkul or 1 day is adequate? Part III - Head for Kaza via Sumdo a) How'd be the road to Kaza from Kalpa b) Possible to do it in a day? Part IV - Explore areas around kaza Now what are your suggestions? Does this sound like reasonable itinerary I'll be taking adequate precautions, and I wouldn't mind turning back if the road conditions look precarious If I turn back, I always have the choice to head to narkanda and later manali to pursue a more sensible albeit less exciting itinerary PS: Need to be back in Delhi by the 6th of Jan

16th December 2008, 14:05	#2 (permalink)
mobike008 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 3,229 View My Garage	Incidentally, i too will reach Simla on Dec26th !! Rest of the areas that you described makes no head or tail to me at this moment __________________ I have terrible reflexes- I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys !!!!!!!

16th December 2008, 14:17	#3 (permalink)
simply_sunny001 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London & Rohtak Posts: 1,147 View My Garage	Kalpa was -1.5 last night and there is a possibility of snowfall in next 3-4 days due to western disturbances. so i hope it will be very cool at least the nights below freezing point near 25th __________________ 2006 Tata Safari 3.0 L 2005 Enfield Bullet Electra 350 2004 Maruti Zen

19th December 2008, 12:56	#5 (permalink)
wanderernomad BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 716 View My Garage	Yes Shimla Kalpa in one day is possible and easily doable. again Kalpa Kaza is doable in one day provided you find no obstructions especially at malling. Roads will be just about ok in some patches and ok to good rest of the way. early snows might distrupt your plans but I would be more worried about the cold. It would be colder than Leh in some places. __________________ The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.

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17th December 2008, 01:42	#4 (permalink)
abhi182 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 163 View My Garage	^^ I don't mind the cold.. was loitering around in Leh last december What I am concerned abt right now however is whether the roads would be in driveable condition or not :(

5th January 2009, 18:58	#6 (permalink)
abhi182 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 163 View My Garage	Back from the trip Day 1 - Shimla Day 2 Kalpa - (The HPTDC hotel in Kalpa is brilliant BTW) Day 3 Sangla - Chitkul Stayed for the night in a guesthouse in Raksham (Between Sangla and Chitkul). Unfortunately, one of my travel partners was a guy from Chennai who had never experienced winters in his entire 27 years of existence and he started feeling unwell in Raksham... We had to cut short our Kaza plans due to this and we proceeded towards Manali via Jalori pass.. Spent the rest of our vacation in Manali :( which wasn't bad but not a shade on Spiti Will post the pics in the travelogues section soon