The Pangi valley of Chamba district is a serene, quiet area inhabited by a tribal folk of only 17,600 people in Himachal Pradesh at 7000 ft to 11000 ft above sea level. Despite it being of natural beauty, it is underdeveloped and hidden away with uneven roads and scanty resources covering a whopping 1600 km sq. The valley is surrounded by white peaked mountain tops and rugged roads making it fabulous for those who enjoy a good trek and adventure. The Saach Pass, which is a mountain pass of 14500 ft, helps the valley with tourism and easy transportation as it offers proper roadways for those who want to travel there. It is open during the months of June and October as it snows heavily throughout the other months.
With recent development in roadways, the local people have been able to till the land and cultivate cash crops such as peas and apples. The inhabitants of the valley include the Pangwala and Bhoti tribe, some of them being Hindus and Buddhists. The local people seem to have a culture of theatre and literature as well; they are in attempts to improve their theatre scene, they have a monthly magazine by the name of Tubari published in their common tongue - Pangwali. They also have a few books published in their common tongue such as Baue Pyar or Father's Love Stories, and some books on Pangwali grammar. Even though the valley is quiet, there are many attractions and places to visit in its vicinity. The shrine of Det Nag in Killar is a popular tourist destination. Others include Killar, a hamlet located in a narrow gorge of the Chenab river, which is the headquarters of the Pangi subdivision; Dharwas which is the largest village in the valley; Shour, a bridge that swings over an icy cold river; Mindhal Basan Devi temple, a beautiful temple dedicated to the deity Mindhal Devi, among many others. The several attractions present in the valley seem to be close to the hearts of its inhabitants which make the experience cozy, personal, and homely. Source
How to Reach Pangi Valley
Pangi Valley is only connected via roads. One can reach there via helicopter too, which is sometimes available, during Spring or Winter. The valley is closed for tourists for most of the year due to heavy snowfall and dangers of avalanches; even on months it is open, the roads are not shy of danger. The shortest route is from Chumba and Churah over the Saach Pass. The approximate distance from Killar is 170 km, and from Keylong to Killar is about 130 km. It is a rather long and tiring journey.
One may also reach the Pangi Valley via railways, air or road. The nearest railway station is at Pathankot. The nearest airport is at Gaggal in the Kangra District. There are three ways to reach the valley via road. The first being the route from Manali to Killar, second, being the route from Jammu to Kistwar to Killar, and the third being from Chamba to Killar via the Saach Pass.
Festivals of Pangi Valley
The uniqueness and remoteness of the Pangi valley make for cultures that is purely their own. This also means that festivals celebrated there are unheard of in other parts of India. Several forms of folk dance are popular here such as mask dance and lion dance.
The most popular and distinct festival among locals is the Jukaru festival which the whole population participates in. It goes on for the entire month of February celebrating the last of the winter season and also as a thanksgiving to their gods with dance, music and undoubtedly enriching and unique culture. Another famous festival is the Phool Yatra or Phulaich which takes place in October and November, for four days, celebrating the goddess Kupha, Dehant Nag; it is celebrated likewise with music, dance and other such festivities. This festival signifies the start of the closing season in the valley.
Accommodation Facilities at Pangi Valley
If one wants to camp for the night, then it is recommended to do so at a hut of the Public Works Department or PWD. Since it's a little quiet valley, there are no hotels or guest houses erected. The accommodation is limited to rest houses built by the Forest Department, Public Works Department, Irrigation Department and the Public Health Department.
Killar: Killar is the administrative headquarters of sorts of the Pangi valley where trickles of urbanisation can be seen. It is located in a little hamlet located deep in a narrow gauge of the Chenab river in the district of Chamba. It is adorned with little shops here and there and government offices to suggest the oncoming of it becoming a small town, and more such shops opening up with every season.
Killar also acts as an appropriate base for those who are trekking to Kishtwar through the Zanskar Valley and going into tourist favourites such as Keylong and Manali. The beauty and serenity of the small Hamlet indeed make for an unforgettable visit when one is visiting the valley. It is located 137 km northeast of the Chamba district. It is about 45 km from Rohli, situated at the centre of the Sansar-Killar-Thirot Road. One can reach Killar via air, railway or road. The nearest station is in Pathankot, and from there one can go to Chamba. The closest airports are the Amritsar airport, the Jammu airport and Pathankot airport. Both of them are connecting flights from Delhi. The shortest route is the Pathankot airport. There is a route from Chamba through the Saach Pass which is only motorable between July and September due to heavy snowfall.
The main attraction of Killar is the famous and historical Det Nag Temple; the place is also renowned for its culturally rich art forms such as dance and music as well it's undoubted natural beauty. Purthi is an excellent example of the natural beauty Killar houses; it is a famous guest house on the banks of the river Chenab and has beautiful flowers surrounding it. There are many temples devoted to Lord Shiva found here too. The Det Nag temple is a very popular tourist destination here due to it giving people peace at the quiet valley, with its surrounding natural beauty that accentuates the spirituality of the temple. There are a few temples dedicated to Lord Shiva also present throughout the valley. Purthi, a historic guest house is located by the bank of the river Chenab and is adorned with an assortment of flowers and plants that further aggravate its natural beauty, again. The Mindhal Devi temple is located about 12 km away from Killar in the Mindhal village which is also a beautiful place to visit and offer respects. It is famous for its wood carvings, and it is an excellent place for pilgrims, who come to pray for good crops and fortune, to rest.
Dharwas: Dharwas is the largest village found in the Pangi valley. It is located very close to Killar and falls on a trekking trail. It is known for its beautiful natural water spring that provides water rich in minerals. It is said that the King of Chamba would drink water from this spring. It is located 9 km from Killar. The village is situated at an elevation of 8000 ft above sea level. There are many ways to reach Dharwas, be it by road rail or air. The closest railway station is at Pathankot. The nearest airport is at Gaggal. There is a 173 km road linkage from Chamba to Killar via the Saach Pass. There are bus and taxi services available at Killar for the road journey. It is a 9 km long trek from Killar to reach the village of Dharwas.
Dharwas is considered to be a trekking base or starting point. The trail leads to the Sural Valley of Pangi to Sanskar. Dharwas is famous for its nature water spring, Tilmili, which has water enriched in several minerals.
Cherry Bungalow: Situated on the right bank of the Chenab river and the Chandrabhaga, a rest house located in the Saach village is the Cherry Bungalow. It makes for a brilliant checkpoint while travelling in the valley. If the scene couldn't be breathtaking enough, Saichu nallah which is one of the major tributaries of the Chandrabhaga meets the river here. There is a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva built here. It is located 14 km from Killar, at about 4 km distance from Bambal. Sach village is about 500 m away from the bungalow. The Cherry Bungalow is the point from where you leave to go to the Saichu Twan wildlife sanctuary area. Also, it acts as the initial point from where the trek to the Saichu village starts. It is a climb over a steep slope that takes about 20-25 minutes approximately.
Parmar Valley: The Parmar valley is located at an altitude of about 3000 ft above sea level in the Pangi valley. It comprises of a cluster of three villages namely Kumar, Parmar and Parmar Bhatori. The village Parmar Bhatori has a Buddhist Gompa, and above the village is a beautiful and lush expanse of picturesque green pastures.
Despite the valley being secluded and still relatively underdeveloped, it is a beautiful place for a short trip of a few days. There many many beautiful sights such as the Cherry Bungalow that look like they were straight out of a postcard. These visually appealing places along with the peace and quiet the place comes with, it makes for a lovely short getaway where one can truly rejuvenate and refresh themselves in the stillness. Thus, a trip to the Pangi Valley is not only a trip to any other place in Himachal Pradesh, which is already a hub for tourists, but it is also a quiet place in this side of the planet where one can bask in the peace of the location, which makes it a must-visit destination on your itinerary.
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Places of Interest
Killar: Killar is the administrative headquarters of sorts of the Pangi valley where trickles of urbanisation can be seen. It is located in a little hamlet located deep in a narrow gauge of the Chenab river in the district of Chamba. It is adorned with little shops here and there and government offices to suggest the oncoming of it becoming a small town, and more such shops opening up with every season.
Killar also acts as an appropriate base for those who are trekking to Kishtwar through the Zanskar Valley and going into tourist favourites such as Keylong and Manali. The beauty and serenity of the small Hamlet indeed make for an unforgettable visit when one is visiting the valley. It is located 137 km northeast of the Chamba district. It is about 45 km from Rohli, situated at the centre of the Sansar-Killar-Thirot Road. One can reach Killar via air, railway or road. The nearest station is in Pathankot, and from there one can go to Chamba. The closest airports are the Amritsar airport, the Jammu airport and Pathankot airport. Both of them are connecting flights from Delhi. The shortest route is the Pathankot airport. There is a route from Chamba through the Saach Pass which is only motorable between July and September due to heavy snowfall.
The main attraction of Killar is the famous and historical Det Nag Temple; the place is also renowned for its culturally rich art forms such as dance and music as well it's undoubted natural beauty. Purthi is an excellent example of the natural beauty Killar houses; it is a famous guest house on the banks of the river Chenab and has beautiful flowers surrounding it. There are many temples devoted to Lord Shiva found here too. The Det Nag temple is a very popular tourist destination here due to it giving people peace at the quiet valley, with its surrounding natural beauty that accentuates the spirituality of the temple. There are a few temples dedicated to Lord Shiva also present throughout the valley. Purthi, a historic guest house is located by the bank of the river Chenab and is adorned with an assortment of flowers and plants that further aggravate its natural beauty, again. The Mindhal Devi temple is located about 12 km away from Killar in the Mindhal village which is also a beautiful place to visit and offer respects. It is famous for its wood carvings, and it is an excellent place for pilgrims, who come to pray for good crops and fortune, to rest.
Dharwas: Dharwas is the largest village found in the Pangi valley. It is located very close to Killar and falls on a trekking trail. It is known for its beautiful natural water spring that provides water rich in minerals. It is said that the King of Chamba would drink water from this spring. It is located 9 km from Killar. The village is situated at an elevation of 8000 ft above sea level. There are many ways to reach Dharwas, be it by road rail or air. The closest railway station is at Pathankot. The nearest airport is at Gaggal. There is a 173 km road linkage from Chamba to Killar via the Saach Pass. There are bus and taxi services available at Killar for the road journey. It is a 9 km long trek from Killar to reach the village of Dharwas.
Dharwas is considered to be a trekking base or starting point. The trail leads to the Sural Valley of Pangi to Sanskar. Dharwas is famous for its nature water spring, Tilmili, which has water enriched in several minerals.
Cherry Bungalow: Situated on the right bank of the Chenab river and the Chandrabhaga, a rest house located in the Saach village is the Cherry Bungalow. It makes for a brilliant checkpoint while travelling in the valley. If the scene couldn't be breathtaking enough, Saichu nallah which is one of the major tributaries of the Chandrabhaga meets the river here. There is a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva built here. It is located 14 km from Killar, at about 4 km distance from Bambal. Sach village is about 500 m away from the bungalow. The Cherry Bungalow is the point from where you leave to go to the Saichu Twan wildlife sanctuary area. Also, it acts as the initial point from where the trek to the Saichu village starts. It is a climb over a steep slope that takes about 20-25 minutes approximately.
Parmar Valley: The Parmar valley is located at an altitude of about 3000 ft above sea level in the Pangi valley. It comprises of a cluster of three villages namely Kumar, Parmar and Parmar Bhatori. The village Parmar Bhatori has a Buddhist Gompa, and above the village is a beautiful and lush expanse of picturesque green pastures.
Despite the valley being secluded and still relatively underdeveloped, it is a beautiful place for a short trip of a few days. There many many beautiful sights such as the Cherry Bungalow that look like they were straight out of a postcard. These visually appealing places along with the peace and quiet the place comes with, it makes for a lovely short getaway where one can truly rejuvenate and refresh themselves in the stillness. Thus, a trip to the Pangi Valley is not only a trip to any other place in Himachal Pradesh, which is already a hub for tourists, but it is also a quiet place in this side of the planet where one can bask in the peace of the location, which makes it a must-visit destination on your itinerary.
Accommodation Facilities at Pangi Valley
If one wants to camp for the night, then it is recommended to do so at a hut of the Public Works Department or PWD. Since it's a little quiet valley, there are no hotels or guest houses erected. The accommodation is limited to rest houses built by the Forest Department, Public Works Department, Irrigation Department and the Public Health Department.
Pangi Valley is only connected via roads. One can reach there via helicopter too, which is sometimes available, during Spring or Winter. The valley is closed for tourists for most of the year due to heavy snowfall and dangers of avalanches; even on months it is open, the roads are not shy of danger. The shortest route is from Chumba and Churah over the Saach Pass. The approximate distance from Killar is 170 km, and from Keylong to Killar is about 130 km. It is a rather long and tiring journey.
One may also reach the Pangi Valley via railways, air or road. The nearest railway station is at Pathankot. The nearest airport is at Gaggal in the Kangra District. There are three ways to reach the valley via road. The first being the route from Manali to Killar, second, being the route from Jammu to Kistwar to Killar, and the third being from Chamba to Killar via the Saach Pass.
Festivals of Pangi Valley
The uniqueness and remoteness of the Pangi valley make for cultures that is purely their own. This also means that festivals celebrated there are unheard of in other parts of India. Several forms of folk dance are popular here such as mask dance and lion dance.
The most popular and distinct festival among locals is the Jukaru festival which the whole population participates in. It goes on for the entire month of February celebrating the last of the winter season and also as a thanksgiving to their gods with dance, music and undoubtedly enriching and unique culture. Another famous festival is the Phool Yatra or Phulaich which takes place in October and November, for four days, celebrating the goddess Kupha, Dehant Nag; it is celebrated likewise with music, dance and other such festivities. This festival signifies the start of the closing season in the valley.
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