Sangla, India
Town in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sangla is a town in the Baspa Valley, in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh, India, close to the border with Tibet. It is the administrative headquarter of the eponymous Sangla tehsil,[2] and the primary town in the Baspa Valley which is also referred to as the Sangla Valley.
Sangla | |
|---|---|
View of Sangla from Kamru | |
  Sangla Location in Himachal Pradesh | |
| Coordinates: 31°25′35″N 78°15′54″E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Himachal Pradesh |
| District | Kinnaur |
| Government | |
| • Body | Gram Panchayat Sangla |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.09 km2 (1.19 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,650 m (8,690 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 2,224[1] |
| • Density | 720/km2 (1,860/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| • Native | |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Postal code | 172106 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Mandi |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Kinnaur |
Legend
According to a local legend related to the origin of the Baspa Valley, the region was earlier submerged below a lake and under the influence of Narayan. The Nag Devta, preceding deity of Sangla, came to the area from the south, across the Chanshal range, and contested with the Narayan for the right to remain in the region. The Narayan and the Nag took form of a cat and a rat, respectively, with the rat burrowing a hole draining the lake thus winning the right to remain in Sangla.[3]
Physiography
Geography
Sangla is located at an altitude of 2,650 metres (8,690 ft) above mean sea level on the right bank of the Baspa River. It is situated on the lower end of an alluvial fan of moderate slope in a bowl-shaped section of the Baspa Valley.[4]
Climate
Sangla receives around 270.1 millimetres (10.63 in) of rainfall, and about 270 millimetres (11 in) of snowfall.[5] In the winters, the temperature can drop as low as -15°C.[6]
Economy
Agriculture and tourism are the primary economic activities of the region. Apples constitute an important cash crop and are widely cultivated. A trout farm was established at Sangla in 1961–1962 by the state fisheries department on the banks of the Baspa river.[7][8] A goat breeding farm was also opened in 1960 to breed chigu goats for their pashm wool, but following the closure of the Indo-Tibetan border after the 1962 India-China war, it was closed down.[9]
Demographics
According to the 2011 census, the population of Sangla was 2,224, with 1,125 males and 1,119 females giving it a sex ratio of 995. Around 219 were under the age of 6 years old, corresponding to about 10% of the population. About 62% of the population was scheduled tribes (ST), and around 24% was scheduled caste (SC). About 71% of the population was literate.[1]
The local people have a distinct culture and their own dialect, the Kinnauri language.[10]
Education
Around 71% of the population of Sangla (1,594 people) was literate according to the 2011 census.[1] Sangla had one pre-primary school, three primary schools, one middle school, one secondary school and one senior secondary school in 2011. There were no institutions of higher education in the village.[11]
Tourism
Trekking routes
- Rupin Valley Trek[12]
- Sangla Kande Trek
- Charang Chitkul Trek
Places of interest
Being located at center of the Baspa River valley, Sangla is the locus of exploration and trekking trails.[citation needed] Other touristy habitations nearby, upstream of the Baspa River valley, are Rakchham and Chitkul.
Temples
- Badrinath Temple, Kamru
- Bering Nag Temple, Sangla
- Batseri
- Mata Devi Temple Chhitkul
- Piri Nages Temple, Sapni[14]
Festivals
- Saazo - January
- Faagul/ Holi - March
- Dakhrain - July[15]
- Ukhyang - September
Transport
Gallery
Local women celebrating Holi in Sangla
A traditional skit during a festival in Sangla
View of Sangla from the east after snowfall
See also
- Baspa Valley
- Sangla Valley
- Chitkuli Kinnauri language
- Liar's Dice (film), story set around Chitkul
