Kalpa

Kalpa, once called Chini, sits on a shelf of orchards and deodar forest directly across the Sutlej from the Kinnaur Kailash massif, whose 79 m Shivling rock is lit at sunrise and sunset. The village keeps its traditional slate-roofed houses, a Narayan-Nagini temple and a small Buddhist monastery side by side, reflecting Kinnaur's mixed Hindu–Buddhist culture. It is an easy base above the district headquarters at Reckong Peo, with a short drive to Roghi village and its cliff-edge 'suicide point' viewpoint.

1. Drive from Shimla along NH-5 via Rampur and Karcham to Reckong Peo (~250 km), then up to Kalpa.
2. HRTC buses run Shimla–Reckong Peo daily; local transport covers the last 8 km climb.
3. The nearest airport is Shimla; most travellers come overland from Shimla or Sangla.

April to June and September to October for clear peak views and orchard colour. Heavy snow and sub-zero cold set in from December.

• No permit is needed for Kalpa itself, but travel further towards Spiti (beyond Pooh/Sumdo) needs an Inner Line Permit.
• The best light on Kinnaur Kailash is at sunrise; step out early.
• Nights are cold well into spring at this altitude — bring warm layers.

Individual pages for these are added as they are reviewed.