📍 Location: Charang, ~20 km from Reckong Peo, Kinnaur District
📅 Season: June–September for access; avoid winter due to heavy snowfall
A hamlet of barley fields and bone-colored cliffs, where the goddess Rangrik Tungma rides through legend and prayer
🕉️ Rangrik Tungma Temple – The Sacred Sentinel
Dating back to the 11th century, the Rangrik Tungma Temple is considered the holiest shrine in Kinnaur, and a vital stop in the Kinner Kailash Parikrama. Built from mud, stone, and wood, the temple houses:
- A metal idol of Goddess Rangrik Tungma astride a horse
- Clay idols of protective deities said to have scared off Tibetan raiders with thunderous sounds
- Bronze statues of Maitreya and Buddha
- Ancient Thangka paintings, murals, and Buddhist texts
- A collection of ivory and bone-handled daggers, viewable only by men due to local custom
🏛️ The temple’s architecture is raw, elemental, and deeply spiritual—a fusion of pre-Buddhist and Tibetan influences.
🏞️ Village Life & Spiritual Atmosphere
Charang is a non-touristy, high-altitude village (~3,400 m) with:
- No mobile network—only two BSNL landlines, one at the ITBP post
- Barley fields, stone homes, and prayer flags fluttering in icy winds
- Two Buddhist nuns who care for the temple and offer butter tea to pilgrims
- A helipad by the Tidong stream, built by ITBP for emergencies
🧘 The village feels like a living meditation, where every whisper is sacred and every silence is shared.
🚶 Trekking & Kinner Kailash Parikrama
Charang is a key point in the Kinner Kailash circuit, with trails leading to:
- Charang La Pass (~5,300 m): A challenging ascent into Spiti
- Thangi–Lambar–Charang route: Through harsh terrain and surreal landscapes
- Chitkul exit: Completing the parikrama with views of the Baspa Valley
🥾 The trek is not for beginners, but for those seeking spiritual endurance and Himalayan immersion.
🧭 Plan Your Visit
| 🗺️ Travel Tips | 🏡 Stay Options |
|---|---|
| Reach via Moorang bridge on NH-5, then ~20 km uphill | Homestays in Charang or guesthouses in Reckong Peo |
| Nearest railhead: Shimla (~275 km) | Combine with Nako Lake, Sapni Fort, or Tangling Village |
| Best time: June–September | Carry warm clothes, medicines, and respect local customs |
✨ Why It Belongs in Your Guide
Charang Village reflects:
- Kinnaur’s spiritual and architectural antiquity
- A living shrine to feminine divinity and cultural resilience
- A remote sanctuary where myth, meditation, and mountain meet
It’s not just a village—it’s a sacred pause in the Himalayan pilgrimage, carved in clay and carried by wind.
