Kinnaur in December

The December story

December pushes Kinnaur back toward winter closure. The circuit becomes challenging: Chitkul may be inaccessible, Sangla valley roads may need chains, and the Suicide Point section is icy. Kalpa from Reckong Peo remains the most accessible deep-Kinnaur experience. The Kinner Kailash in December carries fresh snow that makes the massif look both beautiful and threatening. The villages that remain accessible are in winter preparation: wood stacking, food drying, livestock sheltering. For the determined visitor who reaches inner Kinnaur in December, the reward is the district at its most authentic — no tourists, no performance, just a Himalayan tribal community doing what it does in winter. Budget: Rs 500-1200. Medical: Reckong Peo district hospital. The drive from Shimla takes 12+ hours in December conditions. Carry everything: winter gear, food, medicine, and a flexible schedule. December Kinnaur is not tourism — it's expedition-lite through one of India's most remote inhabited regions.