 |
| View from my hotel room balcony |
Suddenly there was a chill in the breeze. I wrapped up the shawl around my neck tightly, lit a cigarette and gazed at the stunningly beautiful sight...the turbulent
Baspa river cutting across the valley...cattle passing over the bridge ... towering snow capped mountains and a melting glacier, looking so near from the balcony of my room at Hotel Rupin River View. What an amazing place this
Rakcham is, I thought. Beyond a dream reality or any kind of a vision of a heaven!
“
Daddy!” My daughter called and the
shout brought me back on the earth. The lunch was announced. We climbed to the 2nd floor to the dining hall form where the view was even more awesome! On eve level were rising mountains and below was river Baspa angrily hitting the big rock boulders...oh my goodness! What a sight!
 |
| Hotel Rupin River View, Rakcham |
We had checked into
Hotel Rupin River View, Rakcham, a place providing just basic amenities, good freshly prepared food but with incredible location! This was the only hotel, rest being camps with tents across the other side of river Baspa and the village.
After lunch, I sat again in the balcony of my room, looked around and was lost again in the virgin natural beauty.
I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy”. Yes, I was in heaven!
 |
| Lost in their own world |
Late in the afternoon, my wife, my daughter and me took a walk through the village to the river, crossed the bridge and beyond the camps in the meadow. After getting a bit tired, my wife and daughter sat on the boulders and were lost in their thoughts unaware of even me who had clicked them on my mobile camera.
Next day we visited
Chitkul, the last village before China and another nature’s wonder...what a place! You can see lush green valley and converging mighty mountains!
Our itinerary for Kinnaur region in Himachal had been Delhi-Shimla-Fagu(2N)-Sarahan(2N)-Kalpa(3N)-Sangla Valley(3N in Rakchem)-back to Narkanda-Shimla to Delhi in mid May to June 1st week.
The drive either from Sarahan to Sangla valley or from Kalpa to Sangla valley in the beginning is unimpressive with hydro electrical project at Karchem (not to be confused with Rakchem where we stayed) messing up with construction, dust and bad road but as you enter Sangla valley, you enter into the gates of heaven. The words cannot explain its beauty!
 |
| Incredible road! |
The road then becomes serpentine, uphill, narrow, carved into mighty mountains. Awesome!
There are many villages on the way with luxury camps, including in Sangla village where you can stay. However, we opted for Rakchem.
While traveling from Sangla to Chitkul you will come across this breathtaking valley on the banks of River Baspa comfortably hidden away from the modern world . Nestled between mighty snow covered peaks and a lush green landscape,Rakcham or Rakchham is heaven on earth
Rakcham is at an altitude of 2900 meters approx 10,000 ft above sea level. It is a relatively unknown place, located midway between Sangla and Chitkul – the last Indian village before the Tibet Border. The beauty of this small village with a population of 800 is heavenly.
Perhaps, this is the only village in India where smoking either at public places (even on the road) and at home is prohibited and is a punishable offence with a fine of Rs 1000
At first glance Rakcham will seem to be a place out from the past – no newspapers, no post office, no internet, no police station, no wine shop, no market – just a couple of shop selling very basic necessities. The place however is blessed with crops, abundant water, and natural beauty.
Winter sets around mid-November and snowfall is about 2-5 feet across the valley.
There are two temples in the village, Kali and Shiva as also a Buddhist shrine. Throughout Kinnaur you will find a typical blend of Hindu and Buddhist ideology and as such the temples also depict dragons and many fusion characters.
Altitude : varies from 3200 meters to 5486 meters.
Annual Snowfall : mean annual rainfall is 1130 mm.
Annual Rainfall : mean annual rainfall is 463.9 mm.
Temperature : temperature varies from -10 to 15°C.
In my opinion
mid-march is the best time to visit Rakcham, to enjoy scenic beauty of the place with hotel accommodation pre-booked.
Hiring a car or bigger vehicle with a good mountain driver, is important.Hotel Rupin River ViewThere are other luxury camps and resorts in Sangla Valley for a great stay.
Check HereSee video on "Heaven On Earth-Rakcham"