The Chicham Bridge, located at 4,150 m in the Spiti Valley, links the settlement to Kibber. Prior to the completion of this bridge in 2017, residents utilised a pulley-driven ropeway to connect Kibber and Chicham villages.
Source: Pinterest
See also: National parks in Himachal Pradesh
Chicham Bridge: Location
The suspension bridge is an hour’s drive from Kaza, the main town of the Spiti Valley. Because of the tough terrain it took 15 years to build the bridge. A popular tourist spot, the bridge is covered with Tibetan prayer flags. During the summer, the road from Kaza to the Chicham Bridge is rather smooth. However, during the winter, the road conditions become extremely tough due to the region’s black ice and precipitation. If you want to arrive at Chicham or Kibber from Manali without stopping at Kaza, you may do it by taking the road towards Kibber from Kiato.
Source: Pinterest
Chicham Bridge: Directions to Chicham Village
There are two ways to go to Chicham village: one from Kaza to Kibber and the other from Manali to Chicham through Kiato. As the bridge was not finished at the time, the Kiato-Chicham path was the only way to get to Chicham. If you stayed in Kibber, you would have to return to Kaza and then go towards Kiato to reach Chicham, making it an unpleasant destination to visit. However, with the bridge, the dynamics have shifted.
Things to do in Chicham village:
- Fossil searching
- Nature hikes
- Key Gompa monastery
- Wildlife sanctuary at Kibber
- Take in the stunning scenery
- Parang La hike
- Snow leopard expedition
Chicham Bridge: Lodging options
Chicham does not have any hotels or hostels. Lodging at a homestay is the only option. Tara Homestay is one of Chicham’s well-known lodging options.
FAQs
Is the Chicham Bridge the tallest bridge?
Yes, it is Asia's tallest bridge and quite an impressive sight.
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