Special Places to Visit in Kinnaur — Hidden Gems & Must-See Spots

lesser-known spots of Kinnaur: The Heart of the Apple Belt

Kinnaur district stretches along the Indo-Tibetan border from Rampur to the Spiti frontier, encompassing some of India's most dramatic landscapes. Beyond the popular stops of Sangla and Chitkul lie lesser-known gems that reward the patient traveler.

Batseri — The Village of Basketweavers

This tiny village near Sangla is famous for its traditional basket-weaving using ringal bamboo. The women of Batseri create intricate baskets, mats, and containers using techniques passed down for generations. Visit in the morning when the weavers work in their courtyards and you can watch — and even try — this beautiful craft. The Bering Nag temple here houses a silver deity mask that's brought out during festivals.

Kamru Fort — The Palace in the Sky

Perched dramatically above Sangla Valley at 2,600m, Kamru Fort is a five-story wooden tower that served as the palace of the Bushahr dynasty — one of the oldest ruling families in India. The fort houses a Buddhist temple and a Hindu shrine in adjoining rooms, perfectly embodying Kinnaur's religious harmony. The 360-degree view from the top floor encompasses the entire Sangla Valley, with the Baspa River glinting silver far below.

The Hindustan-Tibet Road Through Spillow

The stretch of the old Hindustan-Tibet Highway between Karcham and Spillow is one of India's most dramatically engineered roads. Carved into sheer rock faces with drops of 500m to the Sutlej River, this road took decades to build. Stop at Spillow for the tiny riverside settlement where the road passes through a natural rock arch. The engineering here — all done by hand in the 19th century — is humbling.

Thangi — The Last Village Before Shipki La

Most travelers stop at Chitkul, but those with permits can continue to Thangi and the Shipki La pass (4,590m) — the actual Indo-Tibetan border crossing. Thangi village is inhabited only in summer, and its stone houses with flat mud roofs reflect the extreme Buddhist architecture of the Trans-Himalayan zone. The dry, barren landscape is almost Martian, a stark contrast to the green orchards just 50 km away in Sangla.

Ribba Hot Springs

At the confluence of two mountain streams near the village of Ribba, natural hot springs emerge from the rocks. Local people have built simple stone pools around them, and bathing here — in naturally heated water surrounded by snow-capped peaks — is a quintessential Kinnaur experience. Best visited in early morning when steam rises from the pools into the cold mountain air.

*Road trip tip: The classic Kinnaur circuit from Shimla takes 7-9 days. Go clockwise: Shimla → Narkanda → Rampur → Sarahan → Sangla → Chitkul → Kalpa → Nako → Tabo. This gives you altitude acclimatization and the best of both green and desert Kinnaur.*