Chitkul is a village in Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh. It is last populated village near INDO-CHINA border. The roads of India ends here at chitkul village. Area of Chitkul is generally covered with snow in winter season. It is 3,450 m (11,320 ft) from sea level and have a very less population in this village. Due to snow in winter season the inhabitants of village move to lower parts of Himachal Pradesh. During summer season, the transformation of Chitkul in a colorful valley with orchards of apple, apricots and wooden houses is truly fantastic.

Chitkul is on the edge of Baspa River and it is the first village in Baspa Valley. Air in village is thinner, cooler and refreshing. Accoding to a study, Chitkul has cleanest air in India. Chitkul is a small village sustaining few households and wooden houses. The village abounds in typical Himachali architectural cottages of slate or wooden roofs.

Crops in Chitkul

Chitkul produces large amount of rice, potato and peas. The local peoples put together variety of regional dishes using crops and vegetables from their farms. Potatoes grown at Chitkul are one of the best in the world, that is why these are very costly.

Attractions for Visitors

There are many things which attracts visitors towards the village like culture, scenery and livings of peoples in village.

Kagyupa Temple: Kagyupa Temple at Chitkul offers a beautiful, ancient idol of Shakyamuni Buddha. The design of four kings in four different directions on the doors are more attracting and admirable. Kagyupa is one of six main schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Baspa River: Baspa is a tributary to Sutlej river. The Baspa River rises near the Indo-Tibetan border and is fed by perennial glaciers. It forms the Baspa Valley or the Sangla Valley – one of the most scenic in Himalayas. The slopes near the river have pine and oak forests. There are several villages which lie in the vicinity, they include, Chitkul, Rakcham, etc.

Mathi Temple at Chitkul: Mathi is the Goddess of local people of Kinnaur. There are three temples in the same complex among which the oldest one is believed to be constructed by a resident of Garhwal around five hundred years ago. The temple houses an ark which is made of walnut wood and is covered with clothes and a tuft of yak tail.

According to the legend, Mathi, the wife of Lord Badrinath once started her journey from Brindavan and via Mathura and Badrinath she reached Tibet. Later she came to Garhwal and via Sirmour she reached Sarhan in Bushahr. Her ultimate destination was Barua Khad. While going beyond Barua Khad, she found the land was divided into seven parts. Narenas, her nephew was the deity of Shuang Village. So she appointed him as the guard of the village. Afterwards she moved towards Chasu Village. Narenas were the deity of Chasu Village as well. So she appointed them in Chasu as well. Later she visited Kamru Fort where Badri Nath was protecting the throne of Bushahr. In this process the goddess protected all seven regions of this valley and at last she reached Chhitkul and settled down in Mathi Temple. After her arrival on Chhitkul, the village started prospering.

Weather at Chitkul

Weather at Chitkul is very thinner, cooler and refreshing. Temperature is very low in Winter because of thick snow fall. Chitkul is very cold and windy and the road normally closes down around November after the first snowfall.

Best time to Visit Chitkul

Best time to visit to Chitkul is during months from May to October, during winters roads get blocked due to snow.

How to reach Chitkul

Chitkul is around 28 km from Sangla. This is the last Indian village on border with China. The road doesn’t take you till the actual border, it closes around 90 km before it and then rest of the area is under the control of ITBP. There are HRTC buses from Sangla to Chitkul on regular interval. Those buses will back to Sangla after 30 Minutes stay at Chitkul. Visitors love to click photos in front of hoardings like “Hindustan ka Akhiri Dhaba“. Visitors who visit Chitkul, they have surely like these pictures in their photo Gallery. You can book tour to chitkul from MHT cabs car rental service.

To dos while visiting Chitkul

While visiting to chitkul please keeps the following things in mind:
1) Dont forget to take woolen clothes because climate is very cold there.
2) You must carry enough cash and diesel or petrol in your cars because there is no petrol pumps and ATMs
3) Less Mobile Connectivity.
4) There is no clinic or hospitals, in case of emergency you must go back to Sangla.