Quick Summary: What is the Yulla Kanda Trek? The Yulla Kanda Trek is an offbeat, spiritual Himalayan journey hidden deep inside the Rora Valley of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. The trek starts from Yulla Khas Village and covers approximately 12 km one-way, reaching the world’s highest Krishna temple beside a sacred alpine lake at an altitude of 3,895 metres (12,778 feet). What makes it unique? Unlike almost every other high-altitude temple trek in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — which lead to Shiva shrines like Kedarnath or Shrikhand Mahadev — Yulla Kanda is dedicated to Lord Krishna, making it a rare and singular exception among Himalayan pilgrimage treks. Spiritual significance: The temple sits in the center of a pristine glacial lake, and taking a dip in its freezing waters is believed to cleanse the soul and cure physical ailments. Every year during Janmashtami, hundreds of pilgrims from surrounding Kinnauri villages trek barefoot to celebrate Lord Krishna’s birth at this extraordinary altitude. Difficulty & best time: Graded as easy to moderate and covering nearly 18 km of total trekking distance, the trek is best enjoyed between May and October. How to reach: Travelers usually start from Delhi, travel overnight to Shimla, then drive via Rampur and Tapri to reach Yulla Khas Village — the trek’s base point.