Kinnaur a panorama of mountains and memories

Our journey to Kinnaur began from Shimla, my hometown — familiar and comforting. But this trip felt different. It was the first time in years that our family had managed to plan a get-together, thanks to my brother’s short posting in Spillow.

It was also my then two-year-old daughter’s first long road trip. I was nervous — 11 hours on mountain roads isn’t easy for adults, let alone toddlers. But she surprised us all. She adjusted quickly, watched the scenery with quiet curiosity and somehow made the journey feel lighter.

Compared to Shimla’s polished hills and busy streets, Kinnaur felt untouched — raw, vast and still. The 11-hour drive to Spillow was tiring, but the changing vistas kept us going. The next morning, we visited Nako Lake. Crisp air, calm water, and my daughter’s laughter echoing in the stillness made for a memory that will stay.

We had planned to visit Chitkul, but a family emergency forced us to skip it — a small regret, but also a reason to return. It was disappointing, but also a reminder that life doesn’t always follow the map.

Silky Bajaj, Chandigarh