Important Details
About Hikkim Village
Hikkim is 16 km away from the district headquarters of Spiti, i.e. Kaza. The route to Hikkim village bifurcates a little before the Rangrik Bridge, and the road moves uphill. After that, the elevation gradually increases, and on multiple instances, you get to see the Spiti river floodplains with the mountains across the other bank in the background. This picturesque setting takes your breath away, especially in winters. Among other things is the highly famed Hikkim Post Office, as Hikkim does not have a lot of houses per se. The natural beauty of the place is something that should take you there, not the Post Office. You should connect with nature and connect with the energy of the place.
How to reach Hikkim Village
Kibber can be reached from both the Manali to Kaza route as well as the Shimla to Kaza route, depending upon the time of the year and the weather conditions. In wintertime, Shimla to Kaza route is functional for the most part however, the Manali route closes somewhere around October. Bikes and cars come from both sides as and when they are open. The route through Kinnaur is considered a lot easier and smoother than the Manali side for good reasons.
Kaza to Hikkim Bus
The bus from Kaza leaves for Hikkim at 5 PM every day. The bus covers the Kaza-Langza-Hikkim-Komic circuit, and it takes 90 minutes to do so. The fare is 50 rupees for the trip. The very next day, the same bus returns from Komic to Kaza in the morning, following the Komic-Hikkim-Langza-Kaza circuit, which starts at Komic at 7:30 AM. During winters, there is a discontinuity of this bus service, and people can either take shared taxis or book entire taxis to themselves. Hitchhiking is also possible, more so during the summer months, when the influx of tourists is higher. Spiti Bus Service
Places to see in Hikkim Village
Like I said, in the very beginning the natural beauty and tranquility of Hikkim is the best thing you can go for. Since it is situated at a greater altitude than Kaza, it brings a unique kind of silence, which you don’t get at Kaza. However, there is the Hikkim Monastery, which you can always go to. Apart from that, there is the famed Post office which is by far the prime reason for people go to Hikkim in the first place.
Highest Post Office in World
There is a bank where people can deposit and withdraw their money. The Post office and the postmaster have a rather unique story. The postmaster has manned the post office since its existence as he was the only person in the village qualified to do so. This reminds me of Mr.Bodha Lama, who runs Bodha Homestay. Hate to break it to you guys, but Hikkim Post Office is not the highest Post Office in the World, though the board claims it to be. As long as it helps the natives of the village and provides content for people to post on Instagram, I think it’s fine. So among other things, you can always post postcards to your loved ones and even yourself. The post office is manned by a staff of three people, including the postmaster and two postmen. The post office controls posts and letters of 7 other villages in the vicinity. Also, the post office doubles up as a bank to the nearby villages. Since the Hikkim post office was closed on the day of the visit the owner of the homestay, which is right next to the theka(liquor shop) in Kaza, gladly took the written content that was to be posted from Hikkim. He would ask the next set of people visiting Hikkim to carry the written content and post it on their behalf. Mr. Bodha told me this tale during a conversation. Post an earthquake, the government brought roads and resources to Spiti and tried to educate people so that each family could apply for a government job. In earlier times, people of Spiti were rather paranoid about this as they had their own Buddhist belief system. The irony now is that children from Spiti are studying in Kota, Rajasthan to get into IITs.
Fossils in Hikkim
Hikkim is a part of the high fossil belt of Spit along with Kibber as Spiti was under the erstwhile Tethys Sea, and a lot of organic matter lies underneath, so fossils are abundant. Given you know what you are looking for otherwise every other fossil looks like a stone. Better to have someone who has some knowledge about fossil hunting. Maybe you can ask around and even buy a fossil.
Hikkim Monastery
The monastery in Hikkim is relatively lesser-known, but if you plan to visit this monastery, you won’t be disappointed as fewer people visit it. You will be all alone with your thoughts and ideas. Perhaps talk to the monks about their lifestyles and Buddhism in general. The monks over here are very friendly, since a lot less people visit the monastery.
FAQ's
At what height is hikkim situated ?
Hikkim is situated at 4400 metres or 14,400 feet.
Is accommodation available in Hikkim ?
Yes accommodation is available in Hikkim.However it is limited. Hikkim Homestay List
What is the distance between Hikkim and Kaza ?
The distance between Hikkim to Kaza is 15.4 Kilometres and it takes around 50 minutes to cover this distance in a vehicle.
What is the Hikkim post office address ?
The postal address of the Hikkim post office is Hikkim, Himachal Pradesh 172114. This is what you will have to use if you were to send a postcard to Hikkim.
How to reach from langza to hikkim ?
The hrtc bus runs between Langza and Hikkim in the morning.
What is the hikkim to komik distance ?
The distance between Hikkim and Komik is 4 Kilometres and it takes 15 minutes to reach Komik.
Are hotels available in hikkim ?
Hotels are not available in Hikkim only homestays are available.There is also one cafe that provides staying options.
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Table of Contents
Guide to all villages of Spiti
Hikes. Fun. Friends