Chitkul

Chitkul is at about 3,450 m. It is the last inhabited village on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route in the Baspa (Sangla) valley. It is said to be the last point on this road that Indian visitors can reach without a permit. An IIT Delhi study of the air reported some of the cleanest air in India here. The village is compact and easy to walk. It has slate-roofed wooden houses, the Mathi temple, a small Buddhist shrine, the Baspa river and snow peaks. Most visitors stay in Sangla, about 28 km below. They make Chitkul a long day trip or a one-night stop. In winter, snow often blocks the upper road and villagers move down the valley. So the best months are April to October. Fuel is available near Sangla and Tapri. ATM and mobile service are patchy, so carry cash. Acclimatise gently above 3,000 m.