अनन्तरत्नप्रभवस्य यस्य
हिमं न सौभाग्यविलोपि जातम् ।
एको हि दोषो गुणसन्निपाते
निमज्जतीन्दोः किरणेष्विवाङ्कः । । (संस्कृत श्लोक)
Meaning in English: Infinite gems are produced from the Himalayas, but there is only one fault within it that it is always covered with snow. Its importance never diminishes due to its defect, similarly the marks present on the moon cannot reduce its qualities.
Today we are going to visit 'Kalpa', Kalpa is a very remote village located at an altitude of 2960 meters above sea level. This village is like a shining star in the Satluj valley in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Kinnaur is the symbol of confluence of Hindu, Buddhist and Kailash. Here Hindu and Buddhist temples can be seen together. Kalpa Kinnar is occupied just in front of Kailash mountain range. The height of the snow-capped Kinnar Kailash mountain is 6000 meters, next to which the Jorkanden mountain is also located, which is 6473 meters. Any tourist has to cover a distance of 558 km to reach Delhi here. So this was the basic information here, now let's start our journey.
After a 16-hour non-stop journey by bus, I disembark at Kinnaur Valley, the bus drops me off at Reckong Peo, from where Kalpa is only 3 km away. I cover this distance of three kilometers on foot. There are tall deodar trees on the sides of the road from where the cool breeze is touching my cheeks. Of course, I have come here alone to visit Kalpa, but now I feel that if only someone was with me, I would have been able to feel the feeling that I am living.
After about an hour's walk, I reach Kalpa village where a home stay is found along the road. Immediately I take a bath in hot water and go for a walk. This village is famous for apple orchards and Kinnar Kailash. After leaving the hotel, I first go to the Narayan-Nagini temple, this temple is said to be 5000 years old. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the serpent god. After visiting the temple, I visit the nearby Sambuddha Choyling Monastery. The weather is cold at such a height, there are clouds floating in the air. I am eagerly waiting when the weather will clear and when I will get to see Kinnar Kailash.
All the houses in Kalpa village are made of stone, mud and wood. The roofs of the houses are slated and some have tin roofs. After lunch I come to the room where the whole village is visible from the window of the room. I click some photos and fall asleep. The next morning I wake up and go to see the apple orchards. There are two types of apples here...first, golden apple which is red and second royal which is green. The apples are not ripe yet, that's why they are visible on the trees, the day they will be ripe and ready, they will come to the market.
The next afternoon, when the clouds parted, the Kinnar Kailash mountain range was visible, which I was waiting for since yesterday. I visit Kinnar Kailash and send my prayers to the mountain with folded hands. There is a Shivling on the front mountain which is known as Kinnar Kailash. I have been there twice. Shivling is situated at an altitude of 4750 meters and it takes two days to reach there.
Next morning I take a bus from here to reach Shimla. Shimla is also called the queen of hills. Here I roam on the famous Mall Road and enjoy the views here. The national flag of India is fluttering in the middle of the ridge of Shimla. Here are some buildings made by the British where tourists go for a walk today. After staying in Shimla for one night, I take a bus and come back to my home the next day. So this was the 6 day journey which I completed alone.
Disclaimer: All photos are clicked by me (himalayanwomb), all photos are clicked from mobile, photos are edited in lightroom. This blog has been written in Hindi and translated into English, for which the help of Google translation has been taken. And yes I proudly say this post is AI free.