Sangla Valley or Sangla is one of the most charming locales of Himachal Pradesh. Located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal, at the foothills of the Greater Himalayas, Sangla is the closest accessible valley region near the India-Tibet border.
Table of Contents
- Things to do in Sangla Valley
- How to Plan a trip to Sangla Valley
- About Sangla Valley
- Places to stay in Sangla Valley
Things to do in Sangla Valley
A trip to Sangla is incomplete without exploring the natural landscape of the region. Include these interesting and exciting activities on your Sangla tour –
- Sangla Valley has three popular trek routes that you can explore and experience the Himalayan terrain, Rupin Valley Trek, Sangla Kande Trek, and Charang Chitkul Trek. The mountain passes cut through fruit orchards, forests of cedar, deodar, and fir trees. You can also do a guided tour and get a closer view of the Kinner Kailash peak.
- You can do a guided trek of the largest natural glacier in the region, which is an unforgettable experience in itself.
- You can camp on the banks of the Baspa River, where trekkers and mountaineers often pitch a tent under the open sky. There are adventure groups who offer and arrange accommodation and activities around the campsites.
- The rocky terrain of the Himalayan foothills is great for both pro and hobby climbers. Try your hands at rappelling, rock climbing, and river crossing
- If you are seeking respite from the stress and chaos of urban life, you can stay at a yoga retreat. There are established resorts that offer stay and yoga workshops amidst the natural surroundings.
- If you have the interest and patience for angling, then Baspa River is the best place to try your hands at this thrilling activity. The glacial waters are known to be the breeding grounds of Himalayan Trouts. Enjoy your catch, or just watch them swarming in shoals through the winding streams.
- To experience local culture, you can visit the Fulaich Fair, a local flower festival that is held every year, between August and September. At the festival, Kinnauri women dress up in traditional attires and perform folk dances.
- A tour of the orchards in Sangla Valley is a must. Walk through groves of apple, walnut, plum, peach, pear, and apricot trees and sample some fresh yield.
Places to visit in Sangla Valley
The quiet and peaceful settlement is replete with natural wonders, there are plenty of sightseeing options in Sangla. Check out these popular and scenic tourist places in Sangla on your trip –
1. Bering Nag Temple
- How to Reach – The temple is right in the centre of the town. If you are living closer to the temple, you can walk through the villages to reach the temple, otherwise, you have to book a cab to reach.
- Timings– Sunrise to Sunset
- Entry Fee– Free
- Time Required– Less than 1 hour
2. Kamru Fort
- How to Reach – The ancient fort is located at 2.7KM from Sangla town, and you can either trek to the fort or take a local bus or cab to reach it.
- Timings– 9.30AM to 5PM
- Entry Fee– Free
- Time Required– 1-2 hours
3. Tibetan Wood Carving Center
- How to Reach – The store is located in the centre of the Sangla Valley town and can be easily accessed by trekking, or a cab ride.
- Timings– NA
- Entry Fee– NA
- Time Required– Less than 1 hour
4. Baspa Riverside
- How to Reach – The river banks are only at a distance of 3KM from the main town. You can take a cab or rent a car for the day to travel, spend the day and return.
- Timings– AM to PM
- Time Required– hours
Places to visit near Sangla Valley
Apart from the scenic sites within the town, you can also visit these places near Sangla for a complete tour –
1. Brelengi Gompa
- How to Reach – The Tibetan monastery is located at 33KM from Sangla town. The only way to reach is to book a cab or rent a car to travel and return.
- Timings– Morning to Evening
- Entry Fee– Free
- Time Required– 1-2 hours
2. Chitkul Village
- How to Reach – The village is located at 18KM from Sangla. The only way to reach is to book a cab for the day or take the local bus to travel and return.
- Timings– Anytime
- Entry Fee– None
- Time Required– 1 day
3. Rakchham Village
- How to Reach – The tiny hamlet is located at 15KM from Sangla town. You can book a cab or rent a car for the day to travel, spend some time in Rakchham and return.
- Timings– Anytime
- Entry Fee– None
- Time Required– 1 day
Places to eat in Sangla Valley
The food in Sangla is quite standard of the region and is dominated by local, Pahadi cuisine. But you will also find a few options in North Indian, Tibetan, Indo-Chinese, and continental food. Check out these best-rated restaurants in Sangla valley –
- Racho Café
- Sonu Tibetan Café
- Rolpali Dhaba
- Mahima Hotel & Restaurant
- Osiya Shoshla Café
- HP PWD Rest House
How to Plan a Trip to Sangla Valley
How to reach Sangla
By Train
There is no railway station in Sangla Valley. The nearest railhead is in Shimla, about 194KM away. Shimla-Kalka Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the state. From there you can take a local cab or book a car to reach Sangla. There are frequent trains to Shimla from Gumman, Kumarhatti, Sonwara, Barog, Solan, Shogi, Kandaghat, Kathleeghat, Taradevi and Summer Hill etc.
By Road
Sangla Valley is well-connected to Delhi, the rest of the state, and neighbouring cities and towns in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh via NH5. There are regular state-run and private buses from New Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Shimla, Rishikesh, Patiala, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, etc. The best way to travel to Sangla from Delhi or any of these places is to rent an outstation cab and do a scenic road trip.
By Flight
There is no flight service in Sangla Valley. The nearest airport is in Shimla at Jubbarhatti, 22 km from the main town. There are regular flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Shillong, Guwahati, and other major cities of India to Shimla. From Shimla, you can book an airport taxi to drive to Sangla.
Best time to visit Sangla Valley
The weather of Sangla Valley is typical alpine weather. The summers are warm, pleasant, with lots of freshness in the surroundings. While winters are chilly and extremely cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping below zero. There’s also occasional snowfall in the valley region, mountain passes and some outdoor sites are closed to the public. The rainy season also is quite challenging to explore the outdoors, with rainfall sometimes causing landslides. So, the best time to visit Sangla Valley is during the spring or summer months, between February and May. But if you want to experience snow, then December and January are also good times to visit.
About
The name Sang-la comes from the Tibetan word which translates to ‘pass of light’ (in Tibetan, ‘La’ refers to a mountain pass). The valley starts at Karcham, ends in Chitkul, and is surrounded by smaller villages flanked by dense forests of pines, cedar, and apple orchards, with sparkling waterbodies cutting through them. With endless natural wonders, Sangla Valley sightseeing is as exotic as it can get.
[Also Read: Kinnaur: Land of Fairy Tales | A Complete Travel Guide]
What is Sangla Valley famous for?
With the snow-clad Himalayas on one side and lush meadows on the other, this Himalayan hamlet is indeed heaven on earth. The rich and fertile land, fed by the Baspa River, makes Sangla Valley abundant with natural bounties, and a treasure trove for nature lovers, dotted with apple orchards, wild cherry trees, forests, hills, meadows. The gurgling glacial streams and lakes are breeding grounds for Himalayan trout and also popular zones for trout fishing. The town is also home to a few ancient temples and forts, and a warm local community, known for its vibrant ethnic culture. It is this holistic combination of nature, history and heritage, that makes Sangla Valley a complete destination for all kinds of travellers.
[Also Read: A Guide to Travelling in Lahaul and Spiti]
Places to stay in Sangla Valley
Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, the resorts in Sangla are also a highlighting feature. From old mansions and colonial bungalows to homestays, hostels, and budget hotels in Sangla, there are plenty of accommodation options in this Himalayan hamlet.
- The Monk’s Abbey
- El Paraiso The Paradise Home Stay
- The Lakeview Resort
- Echor The Alpine Crest
- HPTDC The Kinner Kailash
- Prakash Regency
- Banjara Camps & Retreat
- Hotel Batseri
Experience the beauty of Sangla Valley by booking a car rental to take you to all these places with a local driver. Install Savaari cab booking app for offers and discounts on outstation rentals.
Last Updated on January 31, 2024 by
