KEYLONG, District: Lahaul & Spiti, H.P.

Route No.1 : Delhi- Chandigarh - Manali- Rotang Pass- Keylong. Journey time from Chandigarh: 11+7=18 Hours.

Route No. 2: Delhi - Chandigarh - Kalka - Shimla - Manali -Rotang Pass - Keylong. Journey time from Chandigarh: 4+10+7=21 Hrs.

Route 3: Delhi- Chandigarh-Kalka-Shimla-Rampur-Kalpa-Kaza-Kumjum Pass-Keylong. Journey time from Chandigarh: 4+9+8+10 = 31 Hrs.

Route 4: Delhi-Ambala-Pathankot-Mandi-Manali-Rotang Pass-Keylong. Journey time from Pathankot: 8+6+7 = 21 Hours.

Location : Keylong is situated in the northern part of Himachal Pradesh and on the Chandigarh-Manali-Leh National Highway 21. One can reach this hill town of from the foot hill (near Chandigarh) in 18 hours drive through the western part of the Himalayas. Manali is 122 KM south. The altitude of the town is 3350 M and the 2nd highest hill town in India if not in the world. The place is surrounded by gray mountain range. Ladakh district of Jammu & Kashmir State of India is on the northern side of Lahaul & Spiti district. The international border with Tibet is on Spiti side. The River Bhaga flows down below from north to south direction, meets with the River Chandra and flows westward as the river Chenub.

General description : Keylong is the Head Quarter of Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. The district has tow distinct part: Lahaul and Spiti. Lahaul part is the Western and North-Western part of the district and inhabitated by Hindus and Buddhists in almost equal proportion. Spiti i.e. eastern part of the district is populated by Buddhists mainly. Lahaul area has some Hindu Temples of spectacular architecture besides Monasteries. The Spiti area has more Monasteries including the Tabo Monastery which is more than 1010 years old. The social life of the local inhabitants and inheritance rights are different from those in other States in India. The eldest son is eligible for family fife and marriage. The other sons leads life in monastery. According to the District Gazetteer of Chamba (1963), "Polyadry has not been practiced in this district except in the Lahaul portion of Pangi Sub-tehsil where population consist of tribe, polyandrous in tradition like those tribes that inhibit such places as Kullu, Lahaul and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh." As reported in the Dist Gazetteer (1975), among the Thakurs (Farmland owners) of Lahaul, the customs of primogeniture still prevails and the eldest son gets the whole property of his father in succession. In Spiti, the eldest son, after his marriage becomes the Khang-Chenpa or owner of the big family house and parents move to the smaller house known as Khang-Chung. The grand father has then to move to smaller house called Yang-Chung.

Barley, Bajra and some vegetables are cultivated in the area. The staple diet of the people is mostly powdered barley, Bajra ra and Charu-milk with butter. Sufficient food stuffs are needed to store in all the household for the winter seasons when supplies are cut absolutely.

The Bengali freedom fighter Late Rash Behari Bose was arrested at Keylong on 23rd Dec 1912, under the charge of hurling a bomb at Lord Hardinge in Calcutta (now Kolkata). There is a statue of Rash Behari Bose situated at the center of the town reminds the visitors of those days. Now, the modern culture has slowly entered into the life of the inhabitants of Keylong. The shops, video parlours, banks, hotels, etc., are situated below the bus stand.

The hill town has a beautiful surrounding with tranquility amidst willow woods and different types of pines. The weather remains cool throughout the year. The area remains isolated in winter months due to very heavy snow fall. The average temperature in different months are given below: