Blogs from Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Kalpa Kinnaud District, Himachal Pradesh, India June 2018 “Om gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha” The Great Tibetan Mantra “Since death alone is certain and the time of death uncertain, what should I do?” Reflective meditation … Stephen Batchelor in 'Buddhism Without Beliefs. A contemporary guide to awakening' Definition of the word 'Kalpa': “An immense period of time (over 4,000 million years) considered to be the length of a single cycle of the cosmos (or 'day of Brahma') from creation to dissolution” Kalpa is a small town sitting high above the Sutlej river valley, requiring a 20 km ride up from the main road that heads north towards Spiti Valley. The local Kinnauri people practice a mix of Hinduism and Buddhism. From the nar... read more

Distt. Kinnaur is border distt. of Himachal Pradesh as its boundry is common with China in Shippikila.A historic Satluj river drains the distt and flows very deep in narrow gorged valley.This distt.is famous for dry fruits and apple.I have wide experience to wander in this distt from first village to last village,because I have spent 3 and half years in this distt as Civil Engineer posted in one big hydro electric project on river Satluj.Shongtong-Karchham H.E.P.(450MW) being executed by H.P Govt.I served the distt. From 2012 to 2015. This distt is also religiously famous for Lord Shiva's winter abode in Kinnaur Kailash which is significantly visible from famous tourist place Kalpa.The Shivling near the Kailash changes color three times a day.In every year in the month of August,distt admb organises distt.state level kinnaur kailash Shivling darshan ... read more

Mixed thoughts and emotions swirling around as i was sitting in the Delhi-bound flight to undertake my second Himalayan trekking expedition to Rupin Pass with Indiahikes. My first one being Sandakphu trekking expedition with YHAI in Dec 2013. I landed in Delhi on June 6th, 8.30 PM and was welcomed by 43 degree Celsius mercury level. My respect for Chennai increased after facing the near-furnace level heat of Delhi. I met with my good friend Kuttu in the airport, who has done Rupin pass in Oct 2013. Then I reached NDLS to catch the overnight train to Dehradun. I met another trekker from Kolkata who was undertaking a trek in Uttarkashi. Then I got to catch up with some of my trek mates before boarding the train. As much as I wanted to catch some good ... read more

Takze Kalpa.. :-) Po tulani sa v nadmorskej vyske cez 3km obklopeni len skalami a prachom sme si zohnali odvoz do Reckong Peo. Zobral nas nejaky miestny typek Jeepom za vcelku symbolicku cenu, ale za jeho sposob jazdy sme zaplatili par novymi sedivymi vlasmi. Kazdopadne to nakoniec zvladol az do ciela v Peo, co je take neutulne mestecko obklopene horami a odtial sme zobrali bus do Kalpy. Ta uz bola ovela prijemnejsim miestom aj ked pocasie nam moc neprialo a snad okrem druheho dna, kedy bolo uplne plechovo, nas strasili nejake mraky a sem tam aj sprchlo. Za posledne dni co sme v Nako nachodili kilometre do dialky aj do vysky sme uz mali chodenia natolko pokrk, ze sme skor oddychovali a tulali sa po blizkom okoli ako to len pocasie dovolilo. Prvy den sme hned ... read more

Narzyan told me with simplicity, "I didn't have any money, but I had to do what I could." If yiou are wondering...what he has done in 6 years is the following baptize hundreds, plant dozens of house churches throughout Kinnaur, found the only Christian school in all of the district, found a children's home, and sent 3 leaders off to Christian training colleges. Yes, all this was accomplished without any outside support, only by little profits provided by his family's humble apple orchard. Narzyan grew up in a Buddhist family and in a remote buddhist village. At age 16 he happened to read a small article about Jesus. His interest was peaked and he sent off for a Bible. He told me that he only anticipated learning some philosphy about life - good theories. Instead, after ... read more