Kinnaur kailash Trek

                                                           Introduction

Kinnaur Kailash Trek (Parikrama Of Kinner Kailasha)

Kinner Kailash (6050 m) peak is located in the Kalpa region of Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Kinner Kailash parikrama route of Kinnaur follows the circumambulatory trail around Kinnaur Kailash Shivling (~4800m) peak.

Kinner Kailash circuit tour offers magnificent views of towering peaks of Kinnaur Kailash range and surrounding peaks like Raldang (5499m) and Jorkanden (6473 m).

The region is hemmed in by Indo-Tibetan border and peaks of Zanskar and Greater Himalayan range on its north-eastern side. Dhauladhar range seperate it from Uttarakhand on the southern side .

The cultural and traditional practices of Kinnaur are heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and the trek is a great opportunity to witness the beautiful confluence of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Journey to the Kailasha of Kinnaur -

The schedule of Kinner Kailash Yatra of Kinnaur is fixed by the office of deputy commissioner office Reckong Peo.

Kinnaur Kailash Yatra is usually scheduled for the 3rd week of July month or the first week of August month, but Parikrama of Kinnaur Kailash is doable in the month of May and June also. Before departing, Local tour operators—registered at tourism department, DC office Kinnaur — are mandated to planning to hike the Kailash route at nearest police station.

Kinnaur Kailash Yatra Timelapse -

The route to the Kailash summit is steeply inclined, and it gets almost perpendicular just after Tangling village. It takes around 8-9 hours from Tangling village to reach the next pit stop i.e Maling Khata meadows.

The Yatra or pilgrimage to the Kinnaur’s holy Shivling is unlike the Shrikhand Mahadev or Manimahesh Kailash where the route ascends gently in zigzag fashion.

The official Kinner Kailash Shivling Yatra is scheduled to begin on August 15 and will continue until August 30, 2023. A daily quota of 350 people will be allowed to hike this scenic trail. The authorities have implemented a two-fold registration system.
Out of the total daily quota of 350, 200 slots will be available for online registration, while the remaining 150 slots can be booked through offline mode. For the safety and well-being of all participants, the Kinnaur district administration have introduced a new mandatory requirement. Each Yatri must obtain a valid medical certificate from a recognized medical practitioner. It is important to note that the medical certificate should not be issued more than 15 days before the commencement of the journey.

 

Routes to Kinner Kailasha Shivling -

There are three routes to reach the apex point of Kinnaur Kailash Shivling trail.

• Tangling- Maling Khata Meadows – Gufa – Parvati Kund – Kinner Kailash (the most frequently trodden trail).
• Ribba village – Bato Kanda meadows – Parvati Kund – Kinner Kailash.
• Purbani village – Purbani Kanda – Parvati Kund – Kinner Kailash Shivling.

All three trails passes through villages, apple orchards, vineyards (Ribba is renowned for grape cultivation and Angoori — the grape wine).

The Tangling-Maling Khata-Gufa trail is a quintessential ascent.
After the Tangling village — the last point of civilization — there is an 8-9 hours of sheer climb through dense forests of Fir and Juniper trees till Government Sarai (Shelter).

Most people discontinue their hike at or nearby Sarai, camp on the meadows, and stop for the night halt. If you hold up there through the night, start early in the morning as you need to cover the remaining boulder-ridden terrain—which is the most difficult part of the Kinner Kailash Yatra trail—and descend back to the base. 

 History Behind The Kinners Of Kinnaur -

The history and origin of the word Kinner — with respect to the people of Kinnaur — is still debatable. Kinners of Kinnaur finds mentions in all religious and mythology texts — except Rig Veda — like Rajtaringini, Amarkosha, Matsya Purana, Ramayan, Mahabharata, Shiv Purana, and Vishnu Purana.

In this anthology of epics, Kinners are revered as a distinct tribe who are demi-gods—partway between men and gods.

Sun rising over snowy mountain tops of Kinner Kailash - : Vithal Kshirsagar

The celebrated poet and sage Kalidasa has written extensively about the Kinner people of Kinnaur. In Meghdoot — a masterpiece in Sanskrit literature — Kalidasa has described Kinners as pretty people with mellifluous voices who sung and danced at Lord Kuber’s royal court.

Kinner or Kimpurush are children of the God. To visit this country means to visit Devaloka. Over the year, the word Kinner itself got corrupted to Kinnaur. There were many routes to reach here. The most followed route since the prehistoric times began from Kalsi, on the banks of the Yamuna. At Kalsi, there is still a stone inscription of the king Ashoka. Today people don’t take this route to reach Kinnaur, but the people of Kinnaur have not forgotten Kalsi; Even now in winters they reach there with their thousands of sheep and goats.