Chitkul
town · 41 min from Sangla
1 night · 2 daysFirst visitClassicrelaxed
Two days in Sangla — Kamru Fort and Chitkul
A two-day Sangla plan: Kamru Fort and Batseri on day one, then Chitkul, the Baspa valley's last village, on day two. Free, copyable plan on HimLocal.
A second day added to the one-day loop, reaching Chitkul, the furthest point most visitors reach in the Baspa valley — the settlements and the old trade route towards Tibet both end here. Day one covers Kamru Fort and Batseri; day two runs further up the valley, through Rakcham, to Chitkul itself.
It doesn't linger at Rakcham or the wildlife sanctuary along the same stretch — both are a brief stop on the way rather than a destination in their own right on this route.
Photos: Sapna Sony (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Rahulraees (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Anyone with two full days in Sangla who wants both the valley's landmark fort and its furthest, most storied village.
Day by day
Day 1
Kamru Fort and Batseri
The valley's closest landmarks, both a short drive from Sangla.
- 09:00Kamru FortA seven-storey tower, the ancient capital of the Bushahr principality, at the foot of Kinner Kailash.
- ↓ 19 min by road · 9 km11:20BatseriA quieter village on the way towards Chitkul, worth a slow walk along the Baspa river.
Day 2
Chitkul, the last village
Further up the valley, past Rakcham, to where the road and the settlements both end.
- 09:30RakchhamA village on the way to Chitkul, on the same road, worth a brief stop.
- ↓ 14 min by road · 9 km11:30ChitkulThe furthest settlement on this stretch of the Baspa, and the furthest point reachable here without a permit. A study once measured the air in this stretch of valley among the cleanest recorded anywhere in India.
Getting there
Sangla is reached from Shimla via Kinnaur on NH5, about 211 km and just over six hours. See the hub guide for the full arrival table.
Where to stay
Sangla works as a base for both days — Chitkul is a round trip, not an overnight move, though Chitkul itself has a handful of homestays if you'd rather break the day there.
Know before you go
- Start day two early — the round trip to Chitkul and back takes most of the day, and the light on the peaks around Chitkul is best in the morning.
- Chitkul has basic homestays if the drive back feels like too much after a full day — check availability locally rather than assuming a room.
- Carry cash for both days; card payments are unreliable this far up the valley.
Places on this route
Other ways to do it
All Sangla itineraries →
Questions people ask
Is Chitkul worth the drive from Sangla?
Yes — it's the furthest settlement most visitors reach in this direction, with a genuinely different, quieter feel from Sangla itself and the road ending not far beyond it. A study once measured the air in this stretch of valley among the cleanest recorded anywhere in India.
How far is Chitkul from Sangla?
About 41 minutes by road, roughly 23 km, past Rakcham on the same valley road. It's the furthest point most visitors reach on a standard Sangla trip, and the last point reachable without any permit at all on this route.
Can I stay overnight in Chitkul instead of Sangla?
Yes — Chitkul has basic homestays, and some visitors prefer to end the day there rather than drive back down to Sangla. Check availability locally on arrival rather than assuming a room is guaranteed, especially in the busier peak season months.