Sunday, November 13, 2011

Kalpa: In the Presences of Greatness

Set below the powerful peaks of the Kinnaur Kailash Mountains, the small town of Kalpa was one of the most pleasant and peaceful spots of the journey. 

Kalpa is famous for its apples, we arrived in the height of harvest. 
(click to enlarge)

Local buses were our primary mode of transport down the western Himalayas. 

Riding rooftop on the bus was a treat. 

This valley receives relatively little foreigner traffic, people were curious and excited to see us.   

Near the hostile China boarder the military is a common.   

The presence of the peaks is inescapable anywhere in town.  

The curved slate roofs of the region are too cool.

The walls of alternating stone and wood are claimed to be earthquake proof.  


The temple had some colorful carvings that our hotel manager was excited to share.

ALL the locals wear these Kinnauri hats.

Turn of the seasons.

Adam and Nico perched above the Sutlej River Gorge. 

Resident elders of the steep slopes. 

Like the trees we spent much time in stillness and silence just taking it in. 

Kinnaur Kailash Mountains at sunset. 

Far up the mountainside from the road's end all the materials for these structures are carried up or sourced locally--cut stone walls mortared with mud and roofed by pine timbers milled on-site.    

There's a lake up there somewhere....so we're told. 

We finished the final portion of the ascent in a flurry of snow, but clearing treeline to reaching this plateau the clouds broke. After hours on the steep climb soaking in the sun and this view was a moment of perfection.   

A bit further we found the "lake" the locals sent us in search of, which wasn't quite as grand as the landscape, but mission success.   

Nico bouldering on the tops. 

Adam enjoying some sips of Himalayan spring water, it's that pristine   

Enjoying the view before the decent.

Moon Rise


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