Keylong Tourism (2024) - India > Top Places, Travel Guide

Keylong Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 2-3 days

Best Time: May to August Read More

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Also Refered As:

Kyelang

"Land of Monasteries"

Keylong Tourism

Keylong is located on the banks of River Bhaga, in the Lahaul and Spiti district. It is also the administrative center of the district, and houses most of the Government offices in Lahaul Valley. Keylong was rightly described by Rudyard Kipling as “surely the Gods live here, this is no place for men'', owing to the stunning beauty of the snow-capped mountains, the meandering valleys and the ancient Buddhist monasteries.

Keylong is about 71 km from Manali, along the Manali-Leh Highway (NH 21) through the Atal Tunnel. It lies about 7 km from the intersection of Chandra, Bhaga, and Chenab river valleys. Keylong is the most populated place in Lahaul, and has been an important center of Tibetan Buddhism from ancient times. It houses many Buddhist Gompas including the famous Kardang Monastery and also a few Hindu temples.

The valley is a pitstop for travelers to Ladakh, Pangi Valley and Lahaul. Popular activities in Keylong include camping, hiking, Mountain biking, Mountain Pass trekking and river rafting. Keylong is open throughout the year after the opening of Atal Tunnel in 2020. Keylong has the best market in Lahaul and Spiti district, where you can buy shawls, jackets, and other essentials. There are many food stalls serving Tibetan and North Indian cuisine.

1. Baralacha La

The Baralacha La, also known as the Baralacha Pass, is a high mountain pass that is located at the height of 16,040 feet above the sea level and is situated in the Zanskar range. This 8 km long pass c (Read More)onnects the Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir and is located along the Leh-Manali highway. Just a few km away from this pass, one can also find the Bhaga River, which is a tributary of the Chenab River that originates from the Surya Taal Lake.

The 12th-century Kardang Gompa of Tibetan Drukpa lineage, is the most important Buddhist Monastery in the Lahaul Valley. It is built in a ridge at an altitude of 3500m on the Rangcha Peak, at a distan (Read More)ce 20 km from Keylong. The monastery is situated amidst the views of mountains such as the Lady of Keylong peak and is visited by thousands of Buddhist monks, devotees and travelers every year. The monastery has a library of Buddhist scriptures and a collection of musical instruments and old weapons.

Shashur Monastery is a 16th-century monastery located on top of a hill 3 km away from Keylong, at an elevation of 600 m. The blue pine trees surrounding the monastery give it the name. The monastery i (Read More)s famous for its architecture, built in the shape of a Mandala, with the walls being embellished with paintings of 84 Siddhas of Buddhism, a 5 meter long Thangka (silk painting), and the statue of Namgyal. There is an annual festival celebrated in the Monastery during the months of June and July, where the devil dance, performed by colorfully dressed and masked monks, is a famous attraction.

The Keylong Market offers a plethora of choices including woollen shawls, mufflers, stoles, baby shawls, ponchos, and caps among other items either made from Angora or Pashmina yarn. Don't forget to b (Read More)argain for the best prices. Located at many places in Keylong, these co-operative run society shops offers almost everything you may need like clothes and utensils etc. However, the items that are unique to the town and are popular among tourists are ceramic items, stone gems and local jewellery.

Darcha is a pair of 2 small villages - Darcha Sumdo and Darach Dangma, located around 24 km from Keylong, in the Lahaul sub-division. Darcha is the northernmost settlement of Himachal in the Manali-Le (Read More)h highway. The village is accessible through a new all-weather bridge across Bagar and Jankar Nala. Darcha is the endpoint of a popular trekking route starting in Zanskar, and is often a camping ground for many travelers. The buses traveling from Manali from Leh, also stop here for overnight stay. There are few shops and food stalls along the road.

6. Lahaul and Spiti Tribal Museum

The Lahaul and Spiti Tribal museum is located in Keylong town, near the market. The museum has a huge collection of historically important items from Lahaul and Spiti and also different parts of Himac (Read More)hal Pradesh. This includes utensils, old photographs of Lahaul & Spiti, old dance masks, Pula (traditional straw shoes). The museum also houses Tangka paintings and Buddhist manuscripts.

Timings: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed once a week)
Entry fee: Free

Must Know Before You Travel to Keylong

If you’re traveling further towards Ladakh, Keylong is the place to fill up on fuel and take out cash from ATMs.
Even though network connectivity is available for BSNL, Airtel, and Jio, the internet connection is unreliable and very slow. It is advisable to book hotels and taxis beforehand.
Atal Tunnel might close down during the event of an avalanche. Be sure to check the open status of the tunnel prior to traveling to Keylong.

Top Hotels In Keylong

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How to Reach Keylong

By Road: Keylong is accessible from Manali through the Manali-Leh Highway, and is around 71 km North of Manali. Cross the bridge on Chandra river after the North exit of the Atal Tunnel and turn left to reach Sissu (7 km from the Tunnel) . After Sissu, continue to Tandi (22 km), and then take the right turn to reach Keylong. HRTC and Private buses run between Keylong and Manali. There are also buses between Keylong to Delhi, Shimla, and Dharamshala. Taxis are also another option from Manali apart from driving.

Bus Timings (from Manali): 5:15 AM (First Bus) - 5:30 PM (last bus)
Bus fare (From Manali): INR 200 - INR 800
Taxi Fare: INR 3000

By Air: Bhuntar Airport (Kullu Manali Airport) is the nearest to Keylong, at a distance of 175 km. There are buses and taxis available from the Airport to Keylong.
Taxi Fare: INR 4500 (Approx.)

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Keylong Travel Essentials