Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh

2021-02-16T11:07:11Z

106.192.201.174:

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kalpa, India
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = Kalpa (8512894537).jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Himachal Pradesh#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Himachal Pradesh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|31.53|N|78.25|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kinnaur district|Kinnaur]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
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| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 2960
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
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| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 172108
| registration_plate =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Kalpa''' is a small village of king Kamal Negi [[Sutlej]] river valley, above [[Reckong Peo]] in the [[Kinnaur district]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Northern India]], in the Indian [[Himalaya]]. Inhabited by [[Kinnaur]]i people and known for its apple orchards. Apples are a major cash-crop for the region. The local [[Kinnauri]] follow a [[syncretism]] of [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]], and many temples in Kalpa are dedicated to both Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses. The average literacy rate of Kalpa is around 83.75%. India's first ever voter [[Shyam Saran Negi]] also belongs to Kalpa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/indias-first-voter-shyam-saran-negi-casts-his-vote-at-kalpa/|title=India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi casts his vote at Kalpa}}</ref>

==Geography==
Kalpa is at {{coord|31.53|N|78.25|E|}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/11/Kalpa.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kalpa]</ref> It has an average elevation of 2,960 metres (9,711 feet). It is located 265 kilometres (165 mi) beyond [[Shimla]] on the NH-5 in [[Kinnaur district]]. It is located at the base of the [[Kinnaur Kailash]] snow-capped ranges. The [[Shivling]] peaks rise up to 20,000 feet (6,000 m). Kalpa is among apple orchards, pine-nut forests and the stately [[Cedrus deodara|deodhar]]s.

==Overview==
[[File:Kalpa 2015.jpg|thumb|left|Kalpa as of June 2015]]
Kalpa is a village with a history of ancient temples. The [[Sutlej River]] below hurtles through deep gorges, the winding mountain road is bordered by [[chilgoza]] forests. The serenity of this sleepy hamlet was not often visited by foreigners until recently, but there are still relatively few visitors. There are now over 5 places to stay in Kalpa and more, below, in [[Reckong Peo]] where travelers must stop to get their [[Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958 (India)|inner line permits]] to continue upwards to the [[Spiti Valley]], which is a small ancient part of what used to be [[Tibet]]. Also visible from this place is the sacred Shivling rock on the [[Kailash]] mountain that changes its color at different points in the day.

In Episode 5 of [[Ice Road Truckers#IRT: Deadliest Roads - Season 1: Himalayas]] Lisa Kelly and Rick Yemm delivered two images (one each) (well [[dunnage|packed]] with [[sandbag]]s and sand and straw) of the goddess [[Kali]] (shown as treading on her husband [[Shiva]]) along a frightful mountain road hacked out of cliffsides to a temple at Kalpa.

==Demography==
[[File:Stupa in Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Buddhist Temple at Kalpa]]
Kalpa has an average literacy rate of 83.75%.

===Religion===

[[Hinduism]] is the main religion in the district followed by [[Tibetan Buddhism]]. These two religions have undergone religious mixing, along with some indigenous shamanistic practices.

==Places of interest==
[[Reckong Peo]] : Located 260 km from Shimla, 7 km from Powari and 8 km from Kalpa. [[Reckong Peo]] is the headquarters of district Kinnaur.

'''Kothi Temple''': Just 3 km from Reckong Peo. Kothi has a temple dedicated to the goddess Chandika Devi. Set against a backdrop of mountains and groves of the deodar the temple has an unusual architectural style and fine sculpture. An exquisite gold image of goddess is enshrined in sanctum.

'''The Chaka Meadows''' is an easy hike of 3-4 kilometres. The trail starts from a point on Kalpa - Roghi road. Chaka meadows ( alt. 3800 m) offers splendid views of the [[Kinnaur Kailash]] mountain range.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://raachotrekkers.com/chaka-meadows-hike/|title=Chaka meadows hike|website=Raacho Trekkers}}</ref>

==Agriculture==
It is very famous for production of high quality of [[apple]]s, and [[pinus gerardiana]] also known as chilghoza. All the area in tehsil Kalpa is apple growing area, which is the main cash crops of those people who live here. Kalpa is surrounded by Deodar, apple, and [[pinus gerardiana]] chilghoza trees.

==Climate==

All the area of Kalpa enjoys a temperate climate due to its high elevation, with long winters from October to May, and short summers from June to September. During winter time heavy woolens are required when temperature goes below freezing point around -15 degree to - 20 degree. In winter all the villages are covered by about 5–7 feet of snow, and the temperature can drop to as low as -20 °C, heavy woolens are required even most of time in summer.

{{Weather box
| location = Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh (1984–2010, extremes 1984–2011)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 16.1
| Feb record high C = 18.1
| Mar record high C = 24.4
| Apr record high C = 25.2
| May record high C = 28.6
| Jun record high C = 30.7
| Jul record high C = 27.8
| Aug record high C = 28.3
| Sep record high C = 28.3
| Oct record high C = 24.6
| Nov record high C = 24.5
| Dec record high C = 19.0
| year record high C = 30.7
| Jan high C = 5.2
| Feb high C = 6.5
| Mar high C = 11.1
| Apr high C = 16.6
| May high C = 20.4
| Jun high C = 22.8
| Jul high C = 22.7
| Aug high C = 22.2
| Sep high C = 21.0
| Oct high C = 18.2
| Nov high C = 14.3
| Dec high C = 8.8
| year high C = 15.8
| Jan low C = -4.0
| Feb low C = -3.0
| Mar low C = 0.3
| Apr low C = 3.9
| May low C = 6.8
| Jun low C = 10.2
| Jul low C = 12.8
| Aug low C = 12.6
| Sep low C = 9.3
| Oct low C = 4.2
| Nov low C = 1.2
| Dec low C = -1.5
| year low C = 4.4
| Jan record low C = -15.4
| Feb record low C = -11.0
| Mar record low C = -8.2
| Apr record low C = -3.5
| May record low C = -0.5
| Jun record low C = 3.5
| Jul record low C = 6.0
| Aug record low C = 5.8
| Sep record low C = 3.0
| Oct record low C = -3.6
| Nov record low C = -5.5
| Dec record low C = -8.6
| year record low C = -15.4
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 139.6
| Feb rain mm = 99.4
| Mar rain mm = 197.7
| Apr rain mm = 75.6
| May rain mm = 67.6
| Jun rain mm = 30.2
| Jul rain mm = 46.8
| Aug rain mm = 45.5
| Sep rain mm = 63.5
| Oct rain mm = 31.8
| Nov rain mm = 27.9
| Dec rain mm = 52.3
| year rain mm = 878.0
| Jan rain days = 5.9
| Feb rain days = 6.8
| Mar rain days = 8.2
| Apr rain days = 5.7
| May rain days = 5.5
| Jun rain days = 2.5
| Jul rain days = 4.8
| Aug rain days = 5.2
| Sep rain days = 4.7
| Oct rain days = 1.8
| Nov rain days = 1.4
| Dec rain days = 3.4
| year rain days = 55.7
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 43
| Feb humidity = 48
| Mar humidity = 42
| Apr humidity = 40
| May humidity = 44
| Jun humidity = 50
| Jul humidity = 65
| Aug humidity = 69
| Sep humidity = 62
| Oct humidity = 44
| Nov humidity = 36
| Dec humidity = 36
|year humidity = 49
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archivedate = 5 February 2020
| url = http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Kalpa Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 381–382
| accessdate = 15 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archivedate = 5 February 2020
| url = http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M69
| accessdate = 15 February 2020}}</ref>
}}

==Food habits==
The staple food is wheat, ogla, phafra and barley which are local produce. Besides these kankani, cheena, maize, chollair and bathu are also taken. The principal pulses consumed are peas, black peas, mash and rajmash. The vegetables usually consumed are cabbage, turnips, peas, beans, pumpkin, potato, okra and tomato besides some locally available wild green vegetables leaves. They relish rice too which is imported from the plains. Taking a salted tea called cha in the morning and evening is very popular among the Kinnauris which is usually taken along with sattu made of parched barley flour. People are non-vegetarian and they relish goat and ram's meat. Taking of alcoholic drinks in their day-to-day life and also on the ceremonial or festive occasions is quite common among them. Alcohol is distilled at the household level. It is made out of fruits like grapes, apple, pear etc. grown locally and of barley.

==Lifestyle==
Generally, Kinner houses have storerooms for keeping grain and [[dried fruits]], and separate wooden grain-storage structures, called kathar. Pakpa, a piece of sheepskin or yakskin, is often placed on the khayarcha mat.
Traditionally Kinners use utensils made of brass and bronze. Modern influences have included the introduction of Chinese crockery, and utensils made of stainless steel and aluminium.
Clothes are mainly of wool. The thepang, a grey woollen cap with green velvet band is worn by the local people . The Tibetan chhuba, a long woollen coat which resembles an achkan, is worn as well, with a sleeveless woollen jacket. While men wear woollen churidhar pajamas, and tailored woollen shirts such as the chamn kurti, the women wrap themselves up in a dohru. The first wrap of the dohru is based on the back, with embroidered borders displayed throughout its length, which stretches to the heels. Darker shades of colours are preferred for the Dohru, although other coloured shawls may be worn, usually draped over the shoulders. A choli, another type of full sleeved blouse worn by women, may serve as a decorative lining as well.
The Kinners are classified mainly into two castes: lower and upper caste. Again both of these categories are divided into sub classes. The caste system is more prevalent in the Lower and Middle Kinnaur regions

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Kalpa and Kailash.jpg|Kalpa and Kinnaur Kailash during monsoon weather
File:Stupa in Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh.jpg|Buddhist Temple at Kalpa
File:Inside of Kalpa Temple,Kinnaur.jpg|Wood work at main Entrance of Hindu Temple at Kalpa
File:Hindu Temple at Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh.jpg|Hindu Temple at Kalpa
File:Kinnaur Kailash.jpg|Kinnaur Kailash from Kalpa
File:Kinner Kailash hotel in Kalpa.jpg|Kinner Kailash Resort Kalpa
File:View from Kalpa.JPG|Kinner Kailash range form Kalpa
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100519130630/http://www.elenas-vieques.com/ikinnaur.html Kalpa - Kinnaur - Indian Himalayas]
* [http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/India/North/Himachal_Pradesh/Kalpa/ Photographs of Kalpa]
{{commons category|Kalpa}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Kinnaur district]]
[[Category:Tourism in Himachal Pradesh]]

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Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh