09/06/2020
I could not afford to waste much time by locking myself inside a small concrete cubical as the beautiful village and smiles awaited me.
Chitkul, is a village in Kinnar, district of Himachal Pradeash, 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
Chitkul, on the banks of Baspa River, is the first 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.
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.
Chitkul, is around 569 km from the National capital Delhi ,and 356km from Chandigarh
Elevation 3,450 meters
Population in 2019
• Total 1200
Languages
Hindi and kinnari
The reasonably inhabited place, is home to about 1,000 people, who live in small houses, of almost identical shapes, with great harmony.
Chitkul grows quality organic potatoes and peas that fetch almost double the market price.
Beautiful Mathi temple situated in the middle of the village ,is about 500 years old.
There is a helipad, within walking distance of the village
Signboard, with the text ‘Hindustan Ka Akhri Dhaba’ ,you have stumbled upon multiple times, while Googling ,for Kinnar is in Chitkul.
That’s all I managed ,to discover, while interacting with local people, and walking on narrow ,trails skirting, around the village. I am sure there are still lots of unknown, facts and secrets waiting ,to be unearthed. If you know any, please feel free to share it in the comment section below.
