The crown jewel of the Baspa Valley. Ancient Kamru Fort, apple orchards in eternal bloom, the river singing below — and the Fulaich festival turning the village golden in autumn.
Sangla is the undisputed queen of the Baspa Valley. Settled on the broad, flat basin of the Baspa River at an altitude of 2,680 metres, it is the largest and most accessible village in the valley, and for many travellers, it serves as both the introduction to and the emotional anchor of their Kinnaur experience.
The valley that unfolds around Sangla — wide, green, and watched over by deodar-clothed ridges — is so dramatically beautiful that it has inspired writers, photographers, and painters for generations. The Baspa River, clear and swift as a mountain argument, cuts through the valley floor while terraced apple orchards climb the hillsides in perfectly ordered rows. Behind it all, the distant snowline of the Great Himalayas frames every view in white.
Sangla is not a village of a single attraction — it is a landscape in which to settle and absorb. The Kamru Fort watching from its rocky promontory, the ancient Bering Nag temple tucked into the village lanes, the apple orchards rustling in the afternoon breeze, the sound of the Baspa at night — these are experiences that compound slowly into something much larger than a list of sights.
Sangla's recorded history is intertwined with the Bushahr kingdom, one of the oldest and most powerful hill states of Himachal Pradesh. The village is believed to have been founded over a thousand years ago, with the Kamru Fort — built by the Bushahr kings — serving as both a defensive structure and a royal seat during summer migrations from the plains.
The Bering Nag temple at Kamru is dedicated to the local deity Bering Nag, a serpent god who is believed to protect the Baspa Valley. Local oral traditions hold that the valley was once a vast lake, drained by the efforts of a divine being who cut through the mountain to create the Baspa River's gorge. The Bushahr kings maintained a summer palace at Kamru, and the fort complex today retains many of its original Kath-Kuni architectural elements — a style in which stone and timber are layered in alternating courses to provide earthquake resistance and thermal insulation.
Book accommodation for September–October at least 2 months in advance. The apple season and Fulaich festival combine to make this Kinnaur's most popular travel window — rooms fill entirely.
Sangla is accessible from May to October. September and October are the finest months — crystal-clear skies, apple orchards in full colour, the Fulaich festival, and the entire valley in autumn gold. June–July is lush and green but can see monsoon rains and occasional road closures. August is warm with orchards beginning to colour. November brings snow and the road typically closes.
From Shimla (235 km): Take NH-5 through Narkanda, Rampur, and Wangtu. The road to Sangla branches off at Karchham, 10 km before Reckong Peo. Total drive time: 7–8 hours by private vehicle, 9–10 hours by HRTC bus.
From Delhi (580 km): Overnight bus from ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Shimla (10 hours), then Shimla to Sangla by private vehicle or local bus (7–8 hours). Alternatively, drive Delhi–Shimla via NH-44 and NH-5 — 11–12 hours total.
Local Transport: HRTC buses run from Reckong Peo to Sangla twice daily. Private taxis from Reckong Peo cost approximately ₹1,200–1,500 one-way.
Sangla offers accommodation across all budgets. Budget: Several guesthouses in the village offer clean rooms (₹600–1,200/night). Mid-range: HPTDC Tourist Inn (advance booking essential) and private guest homes with en-suite bathrooms and mountain views (₹1,500–2,500/night). Luxury: Banjara Camps operates a luxury tented camp above Sangla with exceptional valley views (₹6,000–10,000/night). Confirm your room faces the mountains before booking.
7:00 AM — Sunrise walk to Kamru Fort. Photography and Bering Nag temple visit. 10:00 AM — Walk through village lanes and old residential quarter. Shop for Kinnauri shawls. 1:00 PM — Lunch at a local dhaba (try siddu, rajma, and seasonal vegetables). 3:00 PM — Baspa River walk through apple orchards. 5:30 PM — Evening light on the valley from the fields above. Dinner at guesthouse.
Day 1: Arrive Sangla. Afternoon walk along Baspa River. Sunset from village. Overnight Sangla. Day 2: Early morning sunrise at Kamru Fort. Drive to Rakchham (17 km) for 30-min exploration of village and ancient temple. Continue to Chitkul for lunch and afternoon exploration at India's last village. Return to Sangla for dinner and second overnight — a double sunrise awaits.
The village between Sangla and Chitkul that most travellers drive past — ancient temple, traditional architecture, and extraordinary valley views.
Explore Rakchham →India's last inhabited village before Tibet. The road ends here — and the wilderness begins. The ultimate destination in the Baspa Valley.
Explore Chitkul →