Kinnaur: three ranges, the Sutlej, Spiti and Baspa valleys, and the Shipki La Pass into Tibet
Background
The district administration describes Kinnaur as lying in the northeast corner of Himachal Pradesh, with Tibet to the east, about 235 kms from Shimla.
The district has the three high mountains ranges Zanskar, Greater Himalayas and Dhauladhar, enclosing the valleys of Sutlej, Spiti, Baspa and their tributaries.
The old Hindustan-Tibet road passes through the Kinnaur valley along the bank of river Sutlej and finally enters Tibet at Shipki La Pass.
The administration records that a Shivlinga lies at the peak of the Kinner Kailash mountain, and that in ancient mythology the people of Kinnaur are known as Kinners, halfway between men and gods.
The administration records that the apples, chilgoza and other dry fruits grown here are world famous, and that the beautiful district was opened for the outsiders in 1989.
The Nako lake and three wild life sanctuaries lie within the district.
In plain words
Chilgoza Chilgoza pine nut — An edible pine nut from the dry inner Himalayan slopes, a cash crop of Kinnaur.
Shipki La Shipki La Pass — The pass at which the old Hindustan-Tibet road leaves Kinnaur for Tibet.