Discovering the Hidden Gem: Highest Krishna Temple

GREETINGS LOVELY HIVERS ,

I hope you all are doing well ,
So, my best friend Abhinav @lilisis29 and I were reminiscing about our past adventures and realized it had been a while since our last trek. Abhinav then introduced me to Yula Kanda, a hidden gem nestled in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. As soon as I saw the mesmerizing pictures, I knew we had to visit this place as soon as possible.

ABOUT YULA KANDA

Yula Kanda is an enchanting spot nestled in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Known for being the highest Krishna temple in the world, Yula Kanda is steeped in mythology and historical significance. According to villagers and legend, the temple was built by the Pandavas during their exile , which in itself is so fascinating. It stands at an impressive altitude of around 3,900 meters (12,795 feet). The area is surrounded by stunning meadows and offers breathtaking views in all directions with no civilization in sight for miles, creating a serene and untouched paradise for trekkers.

JOURNEY BEGINS

Our adventure kicked off from Solan our hometown , where we boarded a bus to Tapri in Kinnaur. The bus ride covered approximately 190 kilometers and took around 8 hours. From Tapri, we booked a cab to Urni and stayed at a pre-booked guest house. That night, we enjoyed the cool mountain air, listening to music while laying outside in our sleeping bags on the balcony, talking about life and making jokes.

The next day, we took a bus from Urni to Yula Khas, the starting point of our Yula Kanda trek.

THE TREK BEGINS

Just as we started the trek, we encountered some women working on constructing the pathway. They warned us about COVID-19 restrictions and mentioned that the village leader, or Pradhan, might not allow us to proceed. We showed them our COVID-19 certificates and assured them we would return if the Pradhan didn’t permit us to continue.

As we trekked uphill, we hoped not to encounter the Pradhan. However, when we did, we were pleasantly surprised. Contrary to our expectations of an elderly man, the Pradhan was a kind and welcoming middle-aged woman. She saw our certificates, wished us a safe journey, and allowed us to continue our trek.

Relieved, we moved on. After a few hours of trekking, we finally reached the top. The view was the most beautiful sight my eyes had ever seen. It was so serene and stunning that we forgot our exhaustion and were awestruck by the beauty surrounding us.

We rested for a bit and pitched our tent as dusk approached. After setting up, we visited the Krishna temple to pray, soaking in its peaceful and spiritual ambiance.

Returning to our tent, we chatted briefly before falling asleep, experiencing one of the most restful nights ever.

MORNING IN YULA KANDA

We awoke to the bright morning sun piercing through our tent. Stepping outside, we found cows surrounding our tent and had to shoo them away to prevent damage to our tent

After freshening up and having breakfast, we decided to explore the valley. All we could see were endless mountains ,no signs of civilization, just us and the majestic landscape.

We stumbled upon numerous breathtaking views and captured countless photos of the stunning scenery.

A SURPRISE AT THE TENT

Upon returning to our tent, we discovered some of our food was missing. Fortunately, the culprits had only taken a few packets of noodles, leaving our money and clothes untouched.

We cooked dinner, enjoyed some soothing music, and slept peacefully

HEADING BACK HOME

The next morning, we reluctantly decided to head back home. Although we didn’t want to leave this peaceful haven, we had no choice. With heavy hearts, we began our descent back to Khas village.

During our descent, we accidentally took the wrong path and stumbled upon a hidden gem, a picturesque spot with water falling down the hill into a serene pond. The sight was so captivating that we couldn’t resist taking some photos and resting for a while to soak in the beauty.

As soon as we reached the village, our phones started buzzing. Our worried parents had assumed we were lost due to the lack of phone signal. Despite having informed them beforehand that there wouldn’t be any signal , we still received a bit of scolding.

We spent the night at a guest house in Tapri and headed home the next day.

Even after returning home, we couldn’t stop thinking about Yula Kanda. The place had left a lasting impression on us with its tranquility and magic.

Keep exploring, Hivers, and never stop seeking new adventures!

All photos in this blog were taken by me using a Nikon D5600 camera and my Realme GT Neo phone camera, edited with the Wink editing app. I hope this blog inspires you to embark on your own trek to Yula Kanda. Until next time, happy hiking!