POINT-OF-VIEW!

Is Kashmir the only "Paradise on Earth"? Maybe yes. But certainly there are other places which may not be paradise but simply they are beautiful.  I can name one place which has comparable scenic beauty as Kashmir.  The name of the place is Chitkul; the last village of India after which the Tibet border starts. It's located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. 

A beautiful village which when you view would look seem that an artist has drawn on canvas. In November-December the roads get blocked due to snowfall but the weather here is cold throughout the year. The nearest railway station and airport is Shimla from where it's a 7 hour drive. One can also visit the place from Delhi or Chandigarh either directly by car or via Shimla. Nobody comes to visit Chitkul only. There's a series of spots Narkhanda, Kalpa, Sangla, Sarahan and one among these is the last village of India. Here let me brief you about that place only. About the other places; let's keep them for the next ones.                            

                                           THE VILLAGE OF CHITKUL

If you want to see snowfall then November-January is the best time. But roads get blocked most of the time. We visited here in October and the snowfall hasn't started then. So from the end of February to middle of October is the best time to visit.

                                           CHITKUL DURING SNOWFALL

Ample number of hotels are present here. But, the main attraction here is the stay at riverside camps in tents. So, it's my suggestion that whenever you visit please make sure that your travel agents have made arrangements for your riverside camp. The village is located on the banks of Baspa river and so the tents are also on the banks of the river and you can view it from the window of your tent. For photobic people the river creates an ideal background. Take selfies, photos, make reels do whatever you want. The tent in which we stayed arranged a bonfire in the evening but it was our bad luck as in the evening it started raining. A group is necessary in this travel as there is no place to roam around after the Sun sets and internet connectivity goes without saying is pathetic. This goes the first day.

THE RIVERSIDE CAMPS

The next day visit the Indo-Tibet border. There's an Indian check post upto which visitors are allowed and after that for 50 kilometers it's the area of Indian army where except  Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) nobody is allowed. You can talk with the army staffs, take pictures with them but make sure not to click pictures of the camp as it's a punishable offence. NDA aspirants can visit here to gain inspiration. 

                           THE INDIAN ARMY CHECKPOST

Now, about the food. They will serve you whatever you want but please here do control your tongue as everything is very costly because the items are not easily available. This problem was faced by us. We ordered whatever we wanted not knowing the cost and when we went to pay the bill we saw that our food amounted to Rs. 8000. At first we got a 440V shock but then realised that we should have asked for the price before ordering. 

Except cost Chitkul has another drawback. The road that leads to the place is two way and is very narrow with unending cliff on one side. Also after seeing the condition of the road I felt pity for the drivers who drive regularly in this kind of roads. Even if you are not a dancer you will become one when your car will move on these roads.

But, once you reach here you will forget the hectic journey and struggle you did to reach here. No, I am not exaggerating it. Still if you have confusions do visit the place and then you will realise I have said much less. 

THANK YOU! 💓

HRISHIT BHATTACHARYA