The Gates of Kinnaur - A Unique Culture Carved into Wooden Doorways

The Gates of Kinnaur – A Unique Culture Carved into Wooden Doorways

Spiti Valley Tour / By [email protected]|Dutt_S@h@b

Kinnaur has been in eye opener for us in every way. The land itself and the challenges it presents… The people and their zeal to survive just about anything… The power of the Gods that gives this land a distinct sense of divinity… And of course the culture…

We Junoonis always have this idea of exploration – going to places where people don’t usually go. And so, when life gave us the chance to visit Chitkul – The Last Village of India, we ended up  putting it on the backburner for a bit. Somehow Sangla gave us much more than what anybody told us, more than what we could have imagined! And so, what was initially planned as a touch-and-go thing as part of a longer drive to Chitkul became a full-three-day cultural extravaganza!

But more on Sangla later… This blog is about this amazingly interesting trend we began noticing here as we walked the pathways and pugdandis of the place – The fascination of Kinnauris with Gateways. Every home, every temple, every government building, even the smallest farm has rustic and charming gate, beautifully decorated and embellished with the most intricate wood carving work we had ever seen! Here is my photo blog dedicated to the Gates of Kinnaur - these enigmatic doorways to heaven-

About Kathotiya

The unassuming gate to a Farmer's Home in Sangla, Kinnaur

Rustic entryways to Apple Orchards in Palika Kamru

Massive and Daunting - Iron Lock to keep the world out!

Colorful Village Entryway - Rarang, Kinnaur

Colorful Village Entryway - Sangla, Kinnaur

Amazingly carved - Gate at a Monastery in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

Mix of Hindu-Tibetan art and culture - entry way at Beri Naag Temple, Sangla

This road trip to Kinnaur has been inspiring, to say the least. It’s fascinating to see how well the cultures, traditions and artistic styles of Tibet and India have mixed together. They say there was a time when locals could freely cross borders and roam the mountains on both sides via Shipki La. Some even say people from Kinnaur had lands in Tibet and vice versa. Of course, such feats aren’t allowed anymore by the government. But then, when you see a Hindu Devta Temple guarded by wooden dragons on the gate, you realize that no international border can keep these cultures and people apart.

More in our Kinnaur road trip in future blogs… Stay tuned guys!

Nature Attractions & Adventures around Kathotiya

Kathotiya Jungle Camp

A scenic abode set next to a seasonal river with gorgeous farmland and a dense tree cover all around – camping in Bhopal simply cannot get any better than this! You will love roughing it out in the wild here at this beautiful campsite.

Kathotiya Views

The defining feature of any Vindhyachal trekking zone – undulating highlands that offer scintillating views of the valley all around. Imagine sipping tea up here, as the setting sun throws up a cascade of shades on the horizon with the dense green foliage moving with the wind like waves in the sea – This is life at its very best!

Kathotiya Rock Paintings

Check out rock art left behind by our ancestors who inhabited the caves in Kathotiya centuries ago. These rock paintings have been dated to around 5000 to 11000 years old and are at par with what you will be able to witness at Bheembetka.

Kathotiya waterfalls and rivers

Every monsoon, the river systems of Kathotiya come alive with activity. Cascading waterfalls down from the hills around, forming 2-3 gorgeous 20-30ft waterfalls and pools and flows into deep ravines cut into the land by the river. This phenomenon makes Kathotiya perfect for monsoon adventures like River crossing in Bhopal.

Kathotiya tribal villages

The secluded existence and off-the-land lifestyle of local Bheels and Bhilalas in Kathotiya is an enigma to us city-dwellers. Beautiful little hamlets, cooking utensils fashioned out of dried gourd and pumpkin shells, rudimentary tools and weapons made from rocks, metal and wood – there is so much that you can check out here.

Kathotiya Hiking area

A short hike takes you to the gorgeous view point and rappelling surface, locally known as ‘Cheel Daant’ and a longer, more strenuous trek takes you through the jungle to caves and rock shelters called ‘Imli wala Chajja’. If you’re game, these and many more hidden trekking trails in Kathotiya are waiting for you to explore them. What more can you ask for!