Green fields all around and a small township is Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul where sits the Deputy Commissioner and district officers of other Departments. One English traveller is supposed to have said that Keylong is 'A ROUGH CUT EMERALD IN A BRONZE AND SILVER SETTING'.
Keylong or Kyelong or Kyelang is the administrative centre of the Lahaul in Lahaul-Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh of India, some 120 kilometres from the Indo-Tibetan border. Keylong is at an altitude of 3,080 m (10,104 feet). It is cut off from the outside world from November to April-May, due to heavy snowfall at Rohtang Pass. It faces the famous Kardang Monastery, the largest and most important monastery in Lahaul, of the Drukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which is on a slope across the river from Keylong. Keylong has facilities in Lahaul, and also hosts a regular bazaar. The annual Lahaul Festival is held here each July with a big, busy market and a number of cultural activities.
The region is strange, exciting, primitive mountainous and delightful. Rudyard Kipling said of the region "Surely the God live here this no place for men". The route to Lahaul takes a traveler over Rohtang Pass (3980 ml), Koksar (1st village of Lahaul) Sissu, Gondla and crossing the river Chandra Bhaga at Tandi.
Location : Keylong is located along the Manali–Leh road, about 7 km north east of intersection of the Chandra Valley, the Bhaga Valley, and the Chenab Valley on the banks of Bhaga River. Sights near Keylong include the Kardang, Shasur, and Tayul monasteries, as well as the Hindu Guru Ghantal temple. There is also a small temple dedicated to the local deity Kelang Wazir in the house of Mr. Nawang Dorje which may be visited upon arrangement.
There are some tourist facilities including a Circuit House, a P.W.D. (Public Works Department) Rest House, a Sainik Rest House, a Tourist Bungalow, and a number of small hotels.
Wanders Away from Keylong / Places of Interest in Keylong
HOW TO REACH
Guru Ghantal (8 km)
Kardang (5 km)
Shasur (3km)
Tayul (6km)
Gemur (18km)
