Trekking to Yula Kanda: Discovering the Hidden Paradise in Himachal Pradesh
Hello Lovely people
I hope you all are doing well
Today’s blog is about my travel to Kinnaur Himachal Pradesh , India . So, my best friend and I were reminiscing about our past adventures and realized it had been a while since our last trek. She told me about Yula Kanda, a hidden gem in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. One look at the breathtaking photos, and I knew we had to visit.
ABOUT YULA KANDA
Yula Kanda is a magical place situated in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is renowned for having the highest Krishna temple in the world, with deep roots in mythology and history. The locals say that the Pandavas built the temple during their exile, which is incredibly intriguing. Located at an altitude of around 3,900 meters (12,795 feet), the area is surrounded by beautiful meadows and offers stunning views in every direction, making it a tranquil paradise for trekkers.
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Our adventure began in Solan, where my friend lives, from there we caught a bus to Tapri in Kinnaur. The 190-kilometer bus ride took about 8 hours. From Tapri, we hired a cab to Urni and stayed at a guest house we had booked in advance. That evening, we enjoyed the cool mountain air, listened to music, and talked about life while lying in our sleeping bags on the balcony.
The next morning, we took a bus from Urni to Yula Khas, the starting point of our trek to Yula Kanda.
THE TREK BEGINS
At the start of our trek, we met some women working on the pathway. They informed us about COVID-19 restrictions and warned that the village leader, or Pradhan, might not allow us to proceed. We showed them our COVID-19 certificates and promised to return if the Pradhan didn’t permit us to continue.
As we climbed uphill, we hoped to avoid meeting the Pradhan. However, when we did encounter the Pradhan, we were pleasantly surprised. Instead of the elderly man we expected, the Pradhan was a kind, middle-aged woman. She checked our certificates, wished us a safe journey, and allowed us to proceed.
Relieved, we continued our trek. After a few hours, we finally reached the top. The view was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The serenity and beauty around us made us forget our exhaustion.
We rested for a bit and pitched our tent as dusk approached. After setting up, we visited the Krishna temple to pray and soaked in the peaceful and spiritual ambiance.
MORNING IN YULA KANDA
We woke up to the bright morning sun piercing through our tent. Stepping outside, we found cows surrounding our tent and had to shoo them away to prevent any damage.
After freshening up and having breakfast, we decided to explore the valley. All we could see were endless mountains, no signs of civilization, just us and the majestic landscape.
We stumbled upon numerous breathtaking views and captured countless photos of the stunning scenery.
A SURPRISE AT THE TENT
Upon returning to our tent, we discovered some of our food was missing. Fortunately, the culprits had only taken a few packets of noodles, leaving our money and clothes untouched.
We cooked dinner, enjoyed some soothing music, and slept peacefully.
HEADING BACK HOME
The next morning, we reluctantly decided to head back home. Although we didn’t want to leave this peaceful haven, we had no choice. With heavy hearts, we began our descent back to Yula Khas village.
During our descent, we accidentally took a wrong path and stumbled upon a hidden gem: a picturesque spot with water cascading down the hill into a serene pond. The sight was so captivating that we couldn’t resist taking some photos and resting for a while to soak in the beauty.
We spent the night at a guest house in Tapri and headed home the next day.
Even after returning home, we couldn’t stop thinking about Yula Kanda. The place had left a lasting impression on us with its tranquility and magic.
Keep exploring, Steemians, and never stop seeking new adventures!
All photos in this blog were taken by me using a Nikon D5600 camera and my Realme GT Neo phone camera, edited with the Wink editing app. I hope this blog inspires you to embark on your own trek to Yula Kanda. Until next time, happy hiking!