The Humla Karnali, one of the main sources of the Karnali river that flows south through Nepal to the Ganga, runs fast and grey past Hilsa. The valley here is dry and treeless, with slopes of scree and terraces of barley in summer. Small lodges offer milk tea and biscuits, and children from the village sometimes watch the helicopters land.
It is a good moment to sit quietly, drink water and let your body adjust to about 3,640 m after the jump from Simikot. Avoid hurrying around or climbing the slopes. Photographs of the river, village and mountains are fine, but keep cameras away from the border post and police.
When the group is complete, your leader calls everyone for immigration. On the return journey, the riverside is often where pilgrims share a last tea before the helicopter back to Simikot and the start of the journey home.
Good for
- Pilgrims
- Photographers
- Groups
Questions travellers ask
What is there to do in Hilsa?
Very little beyond waiting for the group and crossing the border. Pilgrims sit by the Humla Karnali, take tea at a lodge and rest to adjust to the altitude. Hilsa is a transit point; the real sightseeing begins in Purang and at Manasarovar.
Is Hilsa in Nepal or Tibet?
Hilsa is in Nepal, in Namkha rural municipality of Humla district. The Tibetan side across the bridge is called Sher, in Purang county. Pilgrims exit Nepal at Hilsa and enter China at Sher before driving to Purang.
Can I stay overnight in Hilsa?
Only if weather or border timing forces it. Hilsa has a few basic stone lodges with simple rooms and dal bhat. We carry sleeping bags and choose the best available lodge. Most groups cross into Tibet and sleep in Purang the same day.
