Memories of Chitkul

While backpacking through Spiti and Kinnaur, I happened to visit a small village a little off the tourist route, called Chitkul. It is the inhabited village on the India China border.

What was intended as a two-day stopover turned into a week spent walking the mountains and sketching.

I stayed in a travelers hostel, called 'The Wanderers Nest' where for a large part I was the only guest. Over time, it felt more like a home than a hotel!

While I sunbathed on the veranda, morning visitors would stop by.

Chitkul offers simple pleasures.

BirdsongWhile walking towards the ITBP check post, there's a small brook which is frequented by this little red bird, that the locals call 'The Lama's Pet' because it likes nesting in the wooden roofs of monasteries.

Walks and trails: Towards the town bus stop and the

Baspa river bank. Or, towards the Army Check Post, which is the last point where anyone can reach without a permit.

A prominent red bridge that leads to snow covered river banks with dense deodar forests and absolute isolation.

An unused wooden bridge, somewhere down the river.

The constant company of the Baspa river.

Mountain streams.

The 500 year old, Mathi Devi temple. If you reach early in the morning or at dusk, you'll get to hear theprayers accompanied by rhythmic drumming.

Starry night skies.

Mesmerising sunrises, followed by parathas at 'India's Last Dhaba' near the bus stop.

“Live close to nature and you'll never feel lonely. Don't drive those sparrows out of your veranda; they won't hack into your computer.” ― Ruskin Bond

Seema Misra is an artist and writer.

To unwind, she watches world cinema or travels across it! She talks to her plants and sometimes people as well. But more often than not … you will find her curled up in her favorite corner reading a book while sipping strong coffee.

She is as passionate about travel as she is about her art. She figured that the best way to combine her two passions would be through a self-illustrated travelogue of her cozy and enchanting sojourns across the country.

She takes up freelance illustration projects through Lonely Canopy (https://lonelycanopyblog.wordpress.com/) and Instagram (@lonelycanopy)