Kinnaur is one of the more scenic but less known districts of Himachal Pradesh. Located on the Indo-Tibetan border, it is surrounded by Tibet to the east, Garhwal Himalaya to the south, Spiti Valley to the north and Kulu Valley to the west. The Satluj river, which rises on the southern slopes of Kailash Parbat near Manasarovar in Tibet, flows through the Kinnaur Valley.

Most of the land in the border areas consists of rugged barren mountains, it receives little rainfall and the desolate countryside can be compared to that of the Ladakh region. Areas closer to Shimla are lush and green. Due to the proximity of Kinnaur to Tibet, the lifestyle and religion of its inhabitants have been influenced by Buddhism mostly in the northern and central regions, though the majority of the people practice Hinduism.

The people are honest and god fearing. Kinnaur is an enchanting land of legends and mythology. The most ancient inhabitants of this land were Kinner and Kirats . These tribes are also referred to as Gandharavas in Vedic literature. About 2000 BC a branch of Aryans called Khashas penetrated the Himalaya from Central Asia through Kashgar and Kashmir and dominated the whole area. Later, in the 13th and 14th centuries the Bhotias came from Tibet to this region.