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The name
Sangla itself is engulfed in romantic lore. Sang is said
to mean 'light' and la of course means 'pass' in the
Tibetan language. In other words it is the 'pass of
light'. The local story is that if while crossing the
rather imposing surrounding mountains, you suddenly come
across this valley ablaze with sunshine and bursting with
the scenes of natural beauty, you would naturally go into
ecstasies. Hence Sangla. And then you are in Sangla - the
town where a handful of houses nestle together presided
over by the local deity housed in a typical-of-Himachal
Pradesh wooden temple.
Sangla valley village is on a slope with houses rising one
above the other with gigantic Kinner-Kailash peak (6,050m)
towering over it. Sangla valley is also famous for Kamru
Fort. This fort was the place where rajas of Kinnaur were
crowned. Now this fort is dedicated to Kamakshi Temple.
The Goddess idol was brought from Guwahati (Assam).
District Kinnaur, of which Sangla Valley is one of the
main attractions, consists of the Rajputs or Khosias and
the Berus. The Khosias include Hindus and Buddhists. The
former are dominant in Sangla while later dominate the
tracts adjoining Tibet and Spiti.
The people are frank, honest, hospitable and peace loving.
The life of the people is simple and hard. However, they
have a rich cultural legacy and a wealth of legends and
myths. They follow Buddhism and Hinduism. It is believed
that the Pandavas came and resided in the land while in
the exile. In the ancient mythology the people of region
are known as Kinners, the halfway between men and gods.
The results of old contacts with Tibet are still visible
in the fairs and festivals and other customs of the people
in the remote areas. The extended family system is still
prevalent in the region. Polyandry prevails in the
villages. The people of the region practice fraternal
polyandry and the patriarchal system of inheritance. All
the brothers of the bridegroom are considered
automatically the husbands of the bride. Polyandry helps
to perpetuate the name of their family and safeguard the
family property from fragmentation. The polyandrous tribes
of the Himalayas can be compared with the Pandavas of the
ancient Indian epic of Mahabharata, who are believed to
have had a polygamous system. However, such marriages are
on the decline.
The women of the area are famous for their beauty and
there are many references to it in books of olden times.
According to the old scriptures, the Kinner Kanyas (girls)
were famous for their beauty and were used as Vish Kanyas
(poison girls) by the kings and royal families to overcome
their enemies through their seductive "talents".
A temple known as Bering Nag dedicated to Jagas God and a
Buddhist monastery is worth a visit. Famous Fair Fulaich
is celebrated every year in the month of August-September
over here.
A Trout farm has been established at Sangla by Fisheries
Department and the river has plenty of trouts. The
tourists can obtain license for fishing from the Fisheries
Officer.
The village houses are unique examples of wooden
architecture. About a kilometer short of Sangla, there is
a Saffron Farm. Tibetan wood carving Centre also exists
here. The quaint little houses, temples, gompas, and the
people of Sangla Valley conjure up a perfect image of
Shangri-La. Thousands years old monasteries still exists
in the adjoining area. Both the Buddhists and Hindus live
in perfect harmony symbolizing the traditional brotherhood
and friendship.
But what fills up the senses in Sangla Valley are the
exploratory treks or nature walks into the adjoining
forests and villages. It, of course, goes without saying
that Sangla Valley is home to some rare herbs and spices
including the exotic black cumin seed, flora (chilgoza
orchards besides apples) and fauna and the best cider this
side of Suez. Batseri and Rakcham, the two nearby
villages, so untouched yet by the outer world, are
showcases for uncomplicated lives and lifestyles.
The valley is also connected with Garhwal by several
passes situated along the southern ridge of the valley.
The Shinka, Kimlay and Borsu Passes lead to the famous Har
Ki Doon Valley. The trail over Lamkhaga pass descends to
Harsil (2,620m) near Gangotri on the banks of the
Bhagirathi River. Another trail branches off at the base
of Lamkhaga Pass, climbs up to a 5,151m high pass, and
joins the main trail on the western side of the pass,
which meets the Harsil road-head near Gangotri.
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