How to reach Kalpa from Manali – 2023 Updated

Do you know, the Prominent place in India with the purest air to breathe is Kinnaur?  So while traveling to Manali you can also plan your trip to Kalpa. In this blog, we will share complete knowledge of how to reach Kalpa from Manali through different modes.  

Where is Kalpa located?

Kalpa is situated in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh. It was the district headquarter of Kinnaur and is situated on top of a hill that lies on the left bank of the Satluj river. It is a major tourist spot with a clear view of the Kinner Kailash range. 

Kalpa is 6 Km ahead of Reckong Peo which is a major town and current headquarter of Kinnaur district

Name of the Place	Kalpa ( कल्पा )
State	Himachal Pradesh
District	Kinnaur
Elevation	2800  m, 9200 ft
Accessibility	By road
Best time to visit	April – June, September – October
Travel Distance by road from Manali	307 Km ( Minimum)
Travel Time by road	10:00 Hrs (Minimum)

How to reach Kalpa from Manali

Kalpa is connected by road and accessible throughout the year except during heavy snowfall or during heavy rainfall. The distance between Kalpa from Manali is around 307 Km. There are different modes by which one can reach Kalpa.

How to reach Kalpa from Manali by Road

There are 3 options to reach Kalpa by road.

OPTION – 1 Manali to Kalpa Via Jalori Pass (Shortest one – closed in Winters) 

 You can refer to the below table to plan your journey to Kalpa via Jalori Pass.

Sr. No.	Location	Distance (Km)	Elevation (ft)	Elevation (m)	Time  (Hr)
1	Manali	0	6400	1950	00:00
2	Kullu	40	5200	1575	01:00
3	Aut	70	3900	1200	01:45
4	Jalori Pass	115	8700	2650	03:45
5	Anni	145	4100	1250	05:00
6	Rampur	200	3300	1000	06:45
7	Bhaba Nagar	250	5100	1550	08:30
8	Tapri	270	5600	1700	09:00
9	Karcham	280	5900	1800	09:15
11	Reckong Peo	295	7900	2400	09:45
12	Kalpa	301	9200	2800	10:00

How to reach Kalpa from Manali on a Bus – Option-1

There is no direct bus from Manali to Kalpa, you need to take the bus to Kullu and the To Rampur and then to Kalpa and then  Kalpa. You need to change 3 buses.

Bus 1 Manali to Kullu-  Multiple regular busses

Bus 2 Kullu to Rampur – Following buses can be booked online.

SR. No.	SERVICE NO.	KULLU	RAMPUR	DURATION	DEPOT	TYPE	ORIGIN	DESTINATION	ONLINE BOOKING
1	731	5:30 AM	3:00 PM	9:30 Hrs	KULLU	ORDINARY	KULLU	SARAHAN	YES
2	862	7:45 AM	5:15 PM	9:30 Hrs	RAMPUR	ORDINARY	KULLU	RAMPUR	YES

Bus 3 Rampur to Kalpa via Reckong Peo:

SR. No.	SERVICE NO.	RAMPUR	RECONGPEO	DURATION	DEPOT	TYPE	ORIGIN	DESTINATION	ONLINE BOOKING
1	866	1:15 AM	5:30 AM	4:15 Hrs	KEYLONG	ORDINARY	UDAIPUR	RECONGPEO	NO
2	1511	2:45 AM	7:00 AM	4:15 Hrs	REC PEO	HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC	CHANDIGARH	RECONGPEO	NO
3	1512	4:45 AM	9:00 AM	4:15 Hrs	RAMPUR	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	KALPA	NO
4	930	5:00 AM	11:00 AM	6:00 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	DHARAMSHALA	PANGI	NO
5	633	8:30 AM	1:30 PM	5:00 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	DHARAMSHALA	THANGI	NO
6	333	9:30 AM	4:00 PM	6:30 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	POOH VILLAGE	NO
7	556	10:45 AM	3:00 PM	4:15 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	RECONGPEO	NO
8	255	12:15 PM	4:40 PM	4:25 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	SOLAN	RECONGPEO	NO
9	781	1:45 PM	7:00 PM	5:15 Hrs	SUNDERNAGAR	ORDINARY	MANDI	RECONGPEO	NO
10	1513	2:45 PM	7:00 PM	4:15 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	RECONGPEO	NO
11	CHD-RPO	3:00 PM	7:00 PM	4:00 Hrs	REC PEO	HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC	CHANDIGARH	RECONGPEO	NO
12	273	11:00 PM	3:30 AM	4:30 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	RECONGPEO	NO
13	CHD-SML-RPO	3:00 AM	7:00 AM	4:00 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	RECONGPEO	NO

From Reckong Peo to Kalpa:

There are multiple options for Kalpa  from Reckong Peo. You can take a connecting bus or a taxi further. Kalpa is hardly 6 Km from Reckong Peo

OPTION – 2 Manali to Kalpa Via Mandi – Karsog

You can refer to the below table to plan your journey to Kalpa via Mandi Karsog.

Sr. No.	Location	Distance (Km)	Elevation (ft)	Elevation (m)	Time  (Hr)
1	Manali	0	6400	1950	00:00
2	Kullu	40	5200	1575	01:00
3	Aut	70	3900	1200	01:45
4	Mandi	115	2600	800	03:00
5	Sunder Nagar	140	3000	900	03:30
6	Karsog	230	4600	1400	06:30
7	Rampur	300	3300	1000	09:00
8	Bhaba Nagar	350	5100	1550	10:45
9	Tapri	370	5600	1700	11:15
10	Karcham	380	5900	1800	11:30
11	Reckong Peo	395	7900	2400	12:00
12	Kalpa	401	9200	2800	12:15

How to reach Kalpa from Manali on a Bus – Option-2

You need not change any bus till Reckong Peo

From Manali to Kalpa Via Reckong Peo:

SR. No.	SERVICE NO.	MANALI	RECONGPEO	DURATION	DEPOT	TYPE	ORIGIN	DESTINATION	ONLINE BOOKING
1	866	11:27 AM	5:30 AM	18:03 Hrs	KEYLONG	ORDINARY	UDAIPUR	RECONGPEO	YES

From Reckong Peo to Kalpa:

There are multiple options for Kalpa  from Reckong Peo. You can take a connecting bus or a taxi further. Kalpa is hardly 6 Km from Reckong Peo

• Pros
  • Open throughout the year
• Cons
  • Travel time is high.

OPTION – 3 Manali to Kalpa Via Kaza opens for 4 months only

If you are an adventure lover, this route will be the best thing to explore. You can refer to the below table to plan your journey. This route is open from mid-June to September end.

Sr. No.	Location	Distance (Km)	Elevation (ft)	Elevation (m)	Time  (Hr)
1	Manali	0	6400	1950	00:00
2	Atal Tunnel	35	10200	3100	01:00
3	Kunzum Pass	110	14800	4500	07:00
4	Kaza	185	12100	3700	10:00
5	Tabo	235	10800	3300	11:30
6	Nako	300	12000	3650	13:30
7	Reckong Peo	400	7900	2400	16:00
8	Kalpa	406	9200	2800	16:15

You need to change minimum 2 buses while traveling via this route.

Bus – 1 Manali to Kaza

SR. No.	SERVICE NO.	MANALI	KAZA	DURATION	DEPOT	TYPE	ORIGIN	DESTINATION	ONLINE BOOKING
1	KLU-KZA	5:30 AM	4:30 PM	11:00 Hrs	KEYLONG	ORDINARY	KULLU	KAZA	NO

Bus – 2 Kaza – Reckong peo then to Kalpa 

SR. No.	SERVICE NO.	KAZA	RECONGPEO	DURATION	DEPOT	TYPE	ORIGIN	DESTINATION	ONLINE BOOKING
1	KZA-RPO-01	5:00 AM	1:30 PM	8:30 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	KAZA	RECONGPEO	NO
2	KZA-RPO-02	7:30 AM	4:00 PM	8:30 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	KAZA	RECONGPEO	NO

From Reckong Peo to Kalpa:

There are multiple options for Kalpa  from Reckong Peo. You can take a connecting bus or a taxi further. Kalpa is hardly 6 Km from Reckong Peo

• Pros
  • Best for Adventure 
• Cons
  • Travel time is very high.

 For online booking of buses on the HRTC website kindly Click here

Note: If you are planning to take an offline HRTC bus, kindly confirm the timings from the HRTC Depot office before finalization. Click here to know the phone numbers. 

 How to reach Kalpa from Manali on your own Vehicle 

If you can reach Manali in your own Vehicle then reaching Kalpa is not too much difficult a task but it depends on the choice of the route you are taking 

For Option -1 and Option 2

1. The travel time is more than 8 hrs so please make sure you start early in the day so that you reach Kalpa in the evening..
2. Road near Kalpa is not so okay, so having a high-ground clearance vehicle would be a good option.
3. You don’t require a 4X4 vehicle there as the normal vehicle can reach there.
4. The road from Rampur to Kalpa is considered among the most dangerous road so driving should be done carefully.
5. In winter there would be snow at Jalori pass so better take the route via Karsog.
6. There are limited petrol pumps the way after Rampur.

For Option – 3

1. The route after a few kilometers from the Atal tunnel is totally bad in shape and opens for only 4 months a year. So please make sure you are well prepared for that terrain.
2. The travel time is more than 8 hrs Kaza so please make sure you start early in the day as during the rest of the day the water level in the crossing is high.
3. There is no network/support on this route. Make sure you are having cold prevention set up in case you get stuck somewhere. 
4. Road near Kalpa is not so okay, so having a high-ground clearance vehicle would be a good option.
5. If you are having a 4X4 vehicle then this is a good option.
6. The road from Kaza to Kalpa is majorly okay but has some treacherous sections.
7. Cancel or postpone your travel if there is bad weather.
8. In Manali – Kaza route petrol pump is only at Kaza after Manali.
9. In Kaza – Kalpa route petrol pump near  Kalpa after Kaza.

How to reach Kalpa from Manali on a bike

Lots of bikers every year travel to Spiti via this route. Kalpa is also on their destination list.

Kindly consider the below points before planning a trip to Kalpa on a bike.

1. Every bike can reach Kalpa but prefer a bike with > 150 cc engine.
2. Road from Manali to Kaza is in very bad shape. Kindly plan well before traveling. 
3. Make your bike fully serviced. 
4. Ride carefully as the road is considered dangerous road
5. Carry rain covers along with as there might be rain at higher reaches.
6. There are many landslide-prone areas that are treacherous during the rainy season.
7. Petrol pumps on this route are at Manali, Kaza, and near Kalpa.

How to reach Kalpa from Manali on a Taxi

Taxis can easily be hired for Kalpa and there are many options available on online platforms. Following key things to be considered while taxing taxis to Kalpa.

1. Drivers should be experienced in traveling in these areas.
2. You can add the Spiti circuit during route -3. 
3. Ground clearance of the Vehicle to be good.
4. Negotiate well before finalization.

How to reach Kalpa from Manali by Train

Kalpa and Manali are not connected by train.

How to reach Kalpa from Manali by air

Since Kalpa is located inner in the Himalayas, there is no airport nearby. The Last airport is at Buntar Near Kullu and the other at Shimla.

Summary – “How to reach Kalpa from Manali”

Let’s summarize what we have understood in this blog  “How to reach Kalpa from Delhi ”

• Kalpa is a wonderful travel destination located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
• You can reach Kalpa by three options from Manali.
• Kalpa can be reached throughout the year during option 2 but for Option-1 & 2 plan during summers 
• Kalpa can be reached by self-driven car, bike, taxi, and by Bus.
• Cheapest way to reach Kalpa is by the HRTC bus and many options are available.

We hope you have got a good understanding of “How to reach Kalpa from Manali ”. If you want to give suggestions on this blog ” please comment.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions: