Chicham village is one of the remotest village in Spiti. This is a small village nestled in the state of Himachal Pradesh. As a part of Lahaul and Spiti, Chicham sits at an altitude of 13,615 ft. This is one village that remains unexplored till date. However, many tourists are discovering the magic of Chicham, thanks to its mesmerizing landscapes.
Chicham is easily accessible by road, is highly scenic and has some rather smaller, cozier homestay options. However, this village is more of a day trip than an overnight stay choice for most explorers. A day trip around Kaza, and you are sure to cover these smaller villages.
For the ones who wish to take an overnight stay at Chicham, some locals have opened their homes for homestays in the village.
How to plan a trip to Chicham
If you have a couple of days in hand to explore the ins and outs of Spiti, then you can take an overnight stay via Chicham and head ahead on NH3 or NH505. The village resides under the Chichim khas panchayat. It is located about 60 kilometers from Keylong district and over 150 kilometers from the Queen of hills - Shimla.
Chichim is located next to Kibber village across a deep gorge called Samba Lamba Nallah. The gorge made it almost impossible to reach Chicham from Kibber by road.
How to reach Chicham
By road
The village is 22 km from Kaza. However the road to Chicham goes via Kiato. The recent most development has changed the demographics of the Chicham village. After the addition of the Chicham bridge that is built over the gorge, that took almost 14 years to build, tourism has now started to flourish in the village.
This 114 mt long bridge was built at a budget of 490 Lacs. It is totally worth a trip when in Spiti.
How to reach Chicham Bridge
The first route starts from Kaza via Kibber. This is the most famous route as it expects the highest footfall throughout the year. This route leads to Shimla via Nako and Narkanda.
The second route bifurcates from the highway near Kiato. This is the Kaza-Manali highway where the road leads to Manali after Kiato, via kunzum pass, Batal and Rohtang.
Where to stay in Chicham
There are no hotels and hostels in Chicham. The only option is to stay in a homestay. For a nominal charge, the locals host you as a paying guest at their homes. It is best to remember that these locals are extremely simple people with basic necessities and warm, welcoming hearts. The only luxury one can expect here is to eat good home-cooked food and sleep a decent nights sleep.
Tara homestay is one of the most well-known stay option in Chicham. Apart from that, you can simply talk to the locals and make your way to exploring some more stay options. Kibber village is less than 15 minutes away, so for the ones who can't find any suitable options in Chciham, can head to Kibber.
What to see in Chicham village
Tara homestay is one of the most well-known stay option in Chicham. Apart from that, you can csimply talk to the locals and make your way to exploring some more stay options. Kibber village is less than 15 minutes away, so for the ones who can't find any suitable options in Chciham, can head to Chicham bridge is one other attraction.
Key Gompa is a monastery that falls on the way to Chicham, a little ahead of Kaza. This fort-like monastery is a religious training center for the Lamas. Kibber wildlife sanctuary is another attraction for the explorers.
The entire zone, as said by the ancestors, was believed to be submerged under water. Even today, there are a multitude of marine fossils that are found here.
What to do in Chicham village
- Fossil hunting
- Nature walks
- Key Gompa monastery
- Wildlife sanctuary at Kibber
- Enjoy the breathtaking views
- Snow leopard expedition
- Parang La trek
Last but not the least, always remember when visiting such remote locations, it is always good to greet the locals with care and kindness. They usually remain cut-off from the daily hustle of the world, have their own set of traditions and what works best in such locations is an open mind and a will to help and volunteer.
Have you been to Chicham before? Planning a trip to Spiti anytime soon? Check out this 7-day itinerary to Spiti valley to help you plan your next trip. You can also check out this Spiti travel guide to know everything about Lahaul and Spiti.
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