Rakchham Chitkul Sanctuary – to do in SANGLA

Sangla Valley, often described as the most beautiful of the Himachal valleys, Rakchham and Chitkul are the two old villages in this picturesque part of Himalayas and after them is named the heavenly Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary.

For visiting Sangla and the Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary, you need to take a detour from the National Highway in Kinnaur, at a place called Karchham. The route over the left bank of river Sutlej takes one along the river Baspa to the valley of Sangla. Sangla, Batseri, Rakchham, Chitkul are some of the villages in the valley. The sanctuary itself is located on upper reaches of the side-mountains. It is connected to Uttarakhand and adjacent region of Dodra Kwar via high passes, some of which are the most adventurous and beautiful treks in Himalayas.

Rakchham Chitkul sanctuary is spread over a vast 304 sq km area and is rich in many a species of mammals and over 150 species of birds. Prominent among the mammals found are Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Black bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Thar, Himalayan Weasel and Blue Sheep. Among the birds, Western Tragopan, Monal, Koklass Pheasant, Cheer Pheasant, Khaleej Pheasant, Chukar Partridge, Black Francolin are prominent.