As you inch closer to Kafnu, you get a bird’s eye view of the 1,000 megawatts, run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station, Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant. The force of the river and the beauty of the dam is sure to leave you awestruck by the marvels of high-altitude engineering. The dam is located between the villages of Karcham and Wangtoo, and hence the name. The journey to Kafnu becomes even more interesting after you cross the bridge at Wangtoo, as the magnificent views of Kinnaur ranges now open up to make your acquaintance. Based on what time you reach, driving past the sun setting behind these rocky mountains and the change in color of the landscape is nothing short of a visual marvel - a real-time theory lesson in aerial perspective!
This article fleshes out all you need to know about making your way to this small village nestled deep into one of the ranges in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.
The easiest way to head to Kafnu is through Shimla. Shimla is the closest and the most convenient route to the village. Since it is a year-round vacation spot frequented by a massive number of people, it is well-connected to major cities in India by all means of transportation.
Getting to Shimla
By Road:
The road journey to Shimla is a visual delight! If you are coming by road, plan to head to Shimla and make that your first stop before heading on. This will give you an opportunity to explore this mountain city and also give you a chance to rest before heading out to Kafnu. The distance between Shimla and Kafnu is close to 220 kilometers. Although the roads are good, it always takes longer on the winding mountain routes to cover distances. Expect the journey to be anywhere between 10-12 hours.
By air:
Jubbarhatti Airport (Shimla Airport) is about 20 km from the city. It is the closest domestic airport. There are regular flights for Shimla from cities such as New Delhi and Chandigarh. However, they are not very frequent. Please check the status of flights during the time you have to travel to gauge the current scenario.
That said, the flights to Shimla can be quite expensive. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, you can consider flying to Delhi instead (Indira Gandhi International Airport). From the airport, prepaid cabs or buses are plentiful, to reach Shimla. NH 1 and NH 22 lead to Shimla from New Delhi. Travellers can board luxury buses from ISBT Kashmiri Gate as well. The distance between Delhi and Shimla is 365kms and should take between 8 to 10 hours.
By train:
Although it is in the works, Himachal Pradesh is not directly connected by railways. Kalka railway station, which is at a distance of 96kms, is the closest railhead connecting Shimla to its neighboring states. There are frequent trains available from New Delhi and Chandigarh for the Kalka railway station. From Kalka station, one can hire private cabs to reach Shimla.
