Hikkim, The Land of Serenity, Also Houses The World's Highest Post Office!

Hikkim, a small village in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, is known for housing the world's highest post office. Besides this universal fact, the serene location of the place makes it a perfect holiday destination for those in search of tranquillity. Due to its high elevation, the village remains snow-capped for a considerable time around the year. Hence, you would want to visit Hikkim when the weather is pleasant. 

Hikkim Facts and Figures

• At an elevation of 4,400 m, Hikkim is connected by a 46-km road stretch to Kaza, its nearest town.
• It is one of the highest Indian places that retains its population throughout the year.
• Most of the people living in the village follow Buddhism.
• The village houses the world's highest post office since 1983.
• Hikkim has also entered the Limca Book of World Records as the World's highest polling station, but later Tashigang took over it.  

Regional Highlights

• Housed in a landscape mixture of mountains and forests, Lahaul and Spiti district is known for its ethereal beauty. 
• The nearby Korzok Monastery is an important religious site for Buddhist villagers.
• Locals build houses with stone and wood, thus, providing them with the much-needed protection from the harsh cold winds.
• The lower parts of the valley are utilised for cultivating different crops by the local people. 

What's the Hikkim Transportation Scene Like?

• Hikkim is far away from the city, and reaching the village can be a little tricky as it is not well-connected.
• You will need to reach Kaza village and then travel to Hikkim.
• Familiar travellers generally drive from Shimla and stopover at Reckong Peo. To further continue to Kaza, which finally leads to Hikkim. 
• The adventurous can take the 2-hour uphill trek to reach Hikkim from Kaza.
• A drive from Kaza to Hikkim takes you through the beautiful Getung valley. However, you need to be careful about the sharp hairpin bends on the path to reach Hikkim. 
• People can also take a bus from Kaza to Hikkim, which also leads to the Komik village. 

What to Do While At Hikkim

1. Visit the Famous Hikkim Post Office

• The post office will be your key attraction as it is considered the world's highest post office situated above 14,000 ft.
• Connected to Kaza, the postman here would have to deliver mails on foot.
• Mails are sent to Reckong Peo by bus, then to Shimla which then reaches Delhi.
• The post office also gives a savings account option to the villagers.
• Handled Rinchen Chhering, you can strike up a conversation about the post office with him as well!
• The postal index of the village is 172114. You can easily send a postcard from the village to commemorate the visit. 

2. Explore Fossils

Hikkim is also known for fossils. Fossilised crustaceans from the Jurassic era can be found in the village. We recommend you to refrain from transporting these valuable fossils to your personal spaces and let them be in their hometown instead. You can talk to local guides or locals about finding the right place to catch a glimpse of these fossils. 

3. Kaza

As you will need to reach Kaza before travelling to Hikkim, the stopover acts as a great opportunity to explore the town that serves as the Spiti Valley Headquarters. With an elevation of 3650 m, Kaza is the largest township in Spiti. Here, you can visit the ancient Sakya Tangyud Monastery, Key Gompa and Kibber village. 

Where to Stay?

At Hikkim, you will need to stay in a homestay. Villagers welcome guests into their homes. With cosy and warm accommodations, these kind humans also provide freshly cooked homemade meals to visitors. You won't get even the need most of the basic modern amenities and technology you are used to when in Hikkim because it retains the pristine nature of a non-digi life. 

Best Time to Visit Hikkim

The best time to visit Hikkim is during the summer months when the temperature remains pleasant. The village becomes inaccessible during winter months as the temperature can fall below -20 degrees celsius accompanied by heavy snowfall. During the monsoon months, Manali and Shimla receive an ample amount of rain which leads to landslide-blockades.

Have you ever been to Hikkim before? Would you like to visit the world's highest post office as soon as possible? Do you know any other such interesting villages? Let us know in the comments below!