Chitkul

2021-07-26T05:43:12Z

31.200.17.206:

{{short description|village in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| 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 = {{coord|31.3518411|N|78.4368253|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kinnaur district|Kinnaur]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| 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 language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 172106
| registration_plate = [[List of RTO districts in India#HP.E2.80.94Himachal Pradesh|HP]]-
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Rampur, Himachal Pradesh|Rampur]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Climate of India|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Climatic regions of India|Alpine climate]] <small>([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]])</small>
| website =
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}

'''Chhitkul''' is a village in [[Kinnaur district]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]]. During winters, the place mostly remains covered with the 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.<ref>
{{cite web
|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
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| 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
}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chitkul, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India Tourist Information|url=https://hpkinnaur.nic.in/tourism-guide/|accessdate=21 February 2021}}</ref>

==Visitor's attractions==
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.

The [[Kagyupa]] temple has a highly valued old image of the Shakyamuni [[Buddhahood|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.,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://raachotrekkers.com/kinner-kailash-parikrama-charang-la-trek/|title= Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama trek - Charang La|website=Raacho Trekkers}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chitkul the last Indian Village|url=http://chitkul.com/|accessdate=20 January 2013}}</ref> 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|Lamkhaga pass]] trek and [[Borasu Pass|Borasu pass]] trek. Nagasthi ITBP post is 4 km and Ranikanda meadows is 10 km trek from Chitkul.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://raachotrekkers.com/lamkhaga-pass-trek-adventure-chitkul-to-dumti/|title=Chitkul to Dumti via Ranikanda meadows|website=Raacho Trekkers}}</ref>

==Transport==
Chitkul is around 569 km from the National capital Delhi and 28 km from Sangla.

==Gallery==
<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]]
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Liar's Dice (film)]]

==References==

<references/>

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Chhitkul}}
{{commons category}}

* [https://tripologer.com/2016/02/19/12-interesting-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-chitkul 12 facts you probably didn’t know about Chitkul]
*[http://thinkingparticle.com/blog/chitkul-himachal-pradesh-last-village-baspa-valley Chitkul Travel Blog]

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Villages in Kinnaur district]]

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Chitkul