Kalpa, Kinnaur · Late winter
Raulane,
Kalpa’s winter ritual
Once a year, two men of Kalpa disappear under masks and heavy wool to become Raula and Raulane, the celestial couple of Kinnauri belief. We plan trips around it.
Raulane at a glance
- What
- A masked ritual dance by two villagers dressed as Raula and Raulane, a celestial couple.
- Where
- Kalpa, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, about 2,960 m up and some 230 km by road from Shimla.
- When
- Late winter, usually February or March. The village fixes the exact dates each year.
- Getting there
- By road from Shimla via Rampur and Reckong Peo, a long day's drive. Our packages take care of the road and the rooms.
What happens
A festival you watch from inside the courtyard
Raulane isn’t staged for visitors. It is Kalpa’s own ceremony, held at the end of the coldest months, and you are there as a guest of the village.
Kinnauri temple architecture: carved deodar and slate.
- 01
Two villagers become a couple
Two men of Kalpa are chosen to play Raula and Raulane. Dressed in heavy Kinnauri woollens and jewellery, faces completely covered, they stop being themselves for the day.
- 02
A slow dance to the temple
To the beat of the village drums, the pair moves in a slow, measured dance towards the Nagin Narayan temple, with the whole village crowding the courtyard around them.
- 03
Thanks to the Saunis
Locals describe it as a thank-you to the Saunis, the celestial fairies believed to watch over the valley through the hardest months of winter.
Raulane departures
Go with people who know the valley
Before you go
Late winter in Kinnaur, honestly
Dress for real cold
Days can be bright, but late-winter nights in Kalpa drop well below freezing. Thermals, a down jacket, gloves and a warm hat are not optional.
Winter roads need slack
Fresh snow can slow the road beyond Rampur. The plan keeps spare time so the festival day is never the one that gets squeezed.
It's a ritual, not a show
Your guide will show you where to stand and when photographs are welcome. Follow the villagers' lead and give the dancers room.
Give the altitude a night
Kalpa sits at about 2,960 m. Arrive the day before, keep the first evening easy and drink plenty of water.
Kalpa is on the road to Spiti. If you have more days, the winter Spiti expedition carries on from here to Tabo and Kaza.
Winter Spiti ExpeditionIn late winter, usually February or March. The people of Kalpa fix the exact dates each year, so we confirm them with the village before we take bookings for a departure.
Raulane Festival
Be in Kalpa when the drums start
Tell us you’re interested and we’ll confirm this season’s dates, stays and price with you by phone.
Raulane · Kalpa
Late winter