Kyelang
Kyelang (or Keylong) is the administrative centre of the Lahaul and Spiti district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, 71 km (44 mi) north of Manali via Atal Tunnel and 120 km (75 mi) from the Indo-Tibetan border. It is located along the Manali-Leh Highway, about 7 km (4.3 mi) north-east of intersection of the Chandra Valley, the Bhaga Valley, and the Chenab Valley; on the banks of Bhaga River.
Kyelang | |
|---|---|
city | |
 Kyelang, viewed from Kardang Monastery | |
  Kyelang  Kyelang | |
| Coordinates: 32.58°N 77.03°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Himachal Pradesh |
| District | Lahaul and Spiti |
| Elevation | 3,080 m (10,100 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,150 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | HP |
Sights and festivals
Kyelang faces the famous Kardang Monastery, the largest and most important monastery in Lahaul, of the Drukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which is on a slope across the river from Keylong.
Sights near Kyelang include the Kardang, Shasur, and Tayul monasteries, all within a few kilometres of Kyelang. There is also a small temple dedicated to the local deity Kelang Wazir in the house of Shri Nawang Dorje that may be visited upon arrangement.
The annual Lahaul Festival is held here each July with a big, busy market and a number of cultural activities.[1]
Tourism
Kyelang is the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti district and is home to most of the government offices and facilities in Lahaul. It hosts a regular bazaar.
There are some tourist facilities including a Circuit House, a Public Works Department (PWD) Rest House, a Sainik (Army) Rest House, a Tourist Bungalow, and a number of small hotels.[2]
Access
Kyelang is accessed from Manali by Manali-Leh Highway, a part of NH21. It is located about 71 km (44 mi) north of Manali. It is located at an altitude of 3,080 m (10,100 ft) and remained cut off from October-end to mid-May due to heavy snowfall at Rohtang pass until 2019-20 calendar. However, after opening of Atal Tunnel in October 2020, Keylang will be accessible for almost whole year from the outside world. The peak travel season is during May and June when a lot of tourists visit Rohtang pass. There are enough buses in summer season from Manali.
Manali to Atal tunnel south portal is 25 km via Solang valley road. The length of Atal tunnel up to North portal is 9 km. From North portal one has to cross bridge on Chandra river and then turn left to go to Sissu 7 km (4.3 mi) away, then continue to Tandi 22 km (14 mi) away, and then turn right to reach Keylong.
Atal tunnel
Due to the military significance of Leh-Manali highway and the need to keep it open the entire year, the Indian government began building the $320 million 9 km (5.6 mi) long horseshoe shaped Atal Tunnel project in 2010 to bypass Rohtang pass to create a much safer and faster year-round link to Kyelang.[3] The tunnel is now open for traffic and it has shorten the distance between Manali and Keylang by 45 km (28 mi), and the travel time from Manali to Keylang is about 2 hrs now. While it used to take 4 to 6 hours to ascend, negotiate and descend the Rohtang pass, it will take only about 20 minutes to travel through the Atal tunnel.
Another way to access the area is by coming by air to Kullu and then travelling on the Leh-Manali highway to Kyelang.
Climate
| Climate data for Kyelang (1961–1990, rainfall 1951–2000) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 13.1 (55.6) |
9.0 (48.2) |
16.7 (62.1) |
18.7 (65.7) |
25.9 (78.6) |
27.7 (81.9) |
28.7 (83.7) |
28.2 (82.8) |
27.1 (80.8) |
22.9 (73.2) |
20.2 (68.4) |
13.9 (57.0) |
28.7 (83.7) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) |
6.0 (42.8) |
9.8 (49.6) |
14.8 (58.6) |
22.1 (71.8) |
25.9 (78.6) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.7 (80.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
16.3 (61.3) |
12.1 (53.8) |
17.9 (64.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −16.5 (2.3) |
−17.7 (0.1) |
−13.8 (7.2) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
2.9 (37.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
6.7 (44.1) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
−7.7 (18.1) |
−14.1 (6.6) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.4 (−2.9) |
−19.7 (−3.5) |
−16.1 (3.0) |
−13.6 (7.5) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
1.7 (35.1) |
4.6 (40.3) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
−8.9 (16.0) |
−10.4 (13.3) |
−17.5 (0.5) |
−19.7 (−3.5) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 78.0 (3.07) |
92.8 (3.65) |
141.1 (5.56) |
88.2 (3.47) |
71.1 (2.80) |
25.8 (1.02) |
60.3 (2.37) |
42.1 (1.66) |
55.5 (2.19) |
24.4 (0.96) |
25.8 (1.02) |
35.3 (1.39) |
740.4 (29.15) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 2.5 mm) | 6.3 | 5.9 | 8.7 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 5.6 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 55.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 08:30 IST) | 74 | 76 | 75 | 66 | 62 | 62 | 74 | 77 | 64 | 52 | 54 | 67 | 67 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department[4] | |||||||||||||
References
- Polgreen, Lydia "India Digs Under Top of the World to Match Rival". New York Times. Accessed 31 July 2010.
- "Climate of Himachal Pradesh" (PDF). Climatological Summaries of States Series - No. 15. India Meteorological Department. January 2010. pp. 65–68. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.