Chitkul
Village in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India
title: "Chitkul" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["tourist-attractions-in-himachal-pradesh", "villages-in-kinnaur-district"] description: "Village in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India" topic_path: "general/tourist-attractions-in-himachal-pradesh" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitkul" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Village in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Chitkul |
| settlement_type | village |
| image_skyline | Temple at Chitkul.JPG |
| image_caption | Mathi temple at Chitkul, the locals say it could be 500 years old. |
| pushpin_map | India Himachal Pradesh#India |
| pushpin_label_position | left |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Himachal Pradesh, India |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | India |
| subdivision_type1 | State |
| subdivision_name1 | Himachal Pradesh |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Kinnaur |
| established_title | |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| elevation_m | 3450 |
| population_total | 882 |
| population_as_of | 2010 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | Languages |
| demographics1_title1 | Official |
| demographics1_info1 | Hindi |
| timezone1 | IST |
| utc_offset1 | +5:30 |
| postal_code_type | PIN |
| postal_code | 172106 |
| registration_plate | HP- |
| blank1_name_sec1 | Nearest city |
| blank1_info_sec1 | Rampur |
| blank1_name_sec2 | Climate |
| blank1_info_sec2 | Alpine climate (Köppen) |
| :: |
| name = Chitkul | native_name = | native_name_lang = | other_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = village | image_skyline = Temple at Chitkul.JPG | image_alt = | image_caption = Mathi temple at Chitkul, the locals say it could be 500 years old. | pushpin_map = India Himachal Pradesh#India | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Himachal Pradesh, India | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Himachal Pradesh | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Kinnaur | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = | governing_body = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 3450 | population_total = 882 | population_as_of = 2010 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_footnotes = | demographics_type1 = Languages | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = Hindi | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = PIN | postal_code = 172106 | registration_plate = HP- | blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city | blank1_info_sec1 = Rampur | blank1_name_sec2 = Climate | blank1_info_sec2 = Alpine climate (Köppen) | website = | footnotes = | official_name =
Chitkul is a village in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. During winters, the place mostly remains covered with snow and the inhabitants move to lower regions of Himachal.
According to a recent study by Centre of Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi, Chitkul has the cleanest air in India. |publisher = www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com |title = Among metros, Delhi worst hit by PM2.5: Study |accessdate = 17 April 2016 |url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Among-metros-Delhi-worst-hit-by-PM2-5-Study/articleshow/51869821.cms | publisher = indiatvnews.com | title = Kinnaur District In Himachal Pradesh Has The Cleanest Air In India, According To IIT! | accessdate = 17 November 2017 | url = https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/travel-this-breathtakingly-beautiful-district-has-the-cleanest-air-in-india-412508
Geography
Chitkul, a village located on right bank of Baspa River, is the last village of the Baspa Valley and the last village on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route. It is also the last point in India one can travel to without a permit.
Tourism
Of particular interest at Chitkul are its houses with either slate or wooden plank roofs, a Buddhist temple and a small tower. However, there has been an increased use of tin-roofs, especially the high school and the army/ITBP barracks. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Chitkul_Village,_Kinnaur,_Himachal_Pradesh.jpg" caption="Chitkul Village, Kinnaur"] ::
The Kagyupa temple has a highly valued old image of the Shakyamuni Buddha, a Wheel of Life mandala and four Directional Kings on either side of the door. Chitkul is practically the last point of the famous Kinner Kailash Parikrama as one can hitch a hike from here onwards.
After one crosses over the 5,242 m high Charang Pass., it is a long and steep run down through slithery scree slopes to Chitkul(3,450m). The powerful goddess of Chitkul is the only non-Buddhist deity to which respect must be paid by the Parikrama pilgrims. It is believed that the local Deity is related to the Deity of Gangotri and till recently the locals would carry the Deity to Gangotri on foot over high mountain passes. Chitkul is situated around 40 km from Karcham, the place where road bifurcates from Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH 22). The Sangla Valley is a delight for nature lovers; especially the stretch after Raksham and right up to Chitkul. The valley is extremely beautiful, on the left bank of the Baspa River are snow-clad mountains and on the right bank the whole terrain is full of apple orchards and wooden houses.
Chitkul is start point for Lamkhaga pass trek and Borasu pass trek. Nagasthi ITBP post is 4 km and Ranikanda meadows is 10 km trek from Chitkul.
Transport
Chitkul is around 569 km from the National capital Delhi, 345 km from Chandigarh and 28 km from Sangla.
Karcham-Harshil Road, from Karcham NH-5 to Harshil, with a road tunnel under the Lamkhaga Pass, is under construction which will cut down present 450 km long distance, which take nearly 16 hours, to just nearly 150 km or 2 to 3 hours. In 2024, BRO began constructing 40-km long Kharcham-Sangla-Chitkul section of Karcham-Harshil Road.
Gallery
File:Baspa_River_flowing_next_to_Chitkul.jpg|Baspa River flowing next to Chitkul File:Wooden_hut_in_Chitkul.jpg|Wooden hut in Chitkul File:Chitkul Spitivalley.jpg|Chitkul during Dusk File:Chitkul.JPG|Chitkul File:Inhabitant of Chitkul.JPG|Inhabitant of Chitkul in traditional clothes of the region File:Kinnaur 219.jpg|Domesticated goat File:Chitkul Village.JPG|Snowing in Chitkul File:Baspa at chitkul.JPG|River Baspa at Chitkul File:Chitkul border of India.jpg|Chitkul border of India. File:Hindustan ka Aakhri Dhaba-Chitkul, Sangla Valley, Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh.JPG|The last Dhaba
References
References
- "Chitkul, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India Tourist Information".
- "Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama trek - Charang La".
- "Chitkul the last Indian Village".
- "Chitkul to Dumti via Ranikanda meadows".
- Wravel, Just. "Plan Road Trip Chandigarh to Chitkul Distance {{!}} Book Outstation Taxi Cab Chandigarh to Chitkul - JustWravel".
- [https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/vivacity/one-step-closer.html One step closer], Daily Pioneer, 8 October 2020.
- [https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/bro-plans-tunnels-to-ensure-all-weather-connectivity-in-eastern-ladakh-125080200925_1.html. BRO plans tunnels to ensure all-weather connectivity in eastern Ladakh], Business Standard, 2 August 2025.
- Dutta, Amrita Nayak. (2020-09-15). "Modi govt's infra push along China border — 2 new roads, alternate route to Daulat Beg Oldie".
- [https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/himachal-bro-to-build-karcham-chitkul-road-along-china-border-101721039491538.html Himachal: BRO to build Karcham-Chitkul road along China border], Hindustan Ties, 15 July 2024.
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