Trip to Himachal Peaks - a summer sojourn

Trip to Himachal Peaks - a summer sojourn

We started on sat April 27-2013 took flight from Bangalore to Chandigarh. Morning flight at 11 which had connection at Delhi reached Chandigarh by 5pm that day. After a long journey we were delighted to experience pleasant weather at Chandigarh. Chandigarh has a small airport can be compared with Pune airport. Since we were four families total 13 (8 adults + 5 kids) of us we had booked two Innovas for our Himalayan journey ahead, which was going to be for next six days.

As we came out of airport our respective drivers were waiting for us. That day we were to go straight to Shimla spend night there and head forward for next destination- Sarahan. We refreshed ourselves with lovely tea coffee and biscuits at airport canteen, as we did not to want to waste time and wanted to start for Shimla instead. Road was wide and had less traffic, within half an hour we were on NH-22 heading to Shimla. One small point which one of driver missed is, his interstate permit had expired and that took us 20 min extra at Haryana entrance.

Once on NH-22 we were enjoying wonderful scenery already and could only imagine what is in store ahead. For dinner our driver recommended famous Dhaba on road 'Gyani da Dhaba', all of us were hungry and food was delicious too. Hot rotis and rice daal was just what we needed. We reached Shimla by 11:30pm. When we entered narrow city streets we were glad to reach late else it would have been traffic chaos which would have delayed our journey. Our hotel bookings were done by one Mr. Lotey and he was kind enough to call the hotel staff that night to inform our late arrival. We got ourselves checked in to Rahat Regency which is located very close to the famous mall road. Next day after getting ready and breakfast we decided to take a small walk down the road. Near by was chief minister Virbhadra singh's bungalow, beautiful

winding roads and no noise was a good contrast to our everyday life in city.
We would have loved to take a longer walk but we wanted to start for our main kinnaur valley journey same day hence returned back unwillingly.


We packed our bags and sat ourselves in to two Innovas. That day our destination was Sarahan high altitude town in the valley, which was about 120km from Shimla. Although only 120km it would still took about 7 hours with our numerous photo and refreshment breaks.

On the way was Kufri which was our first attraction point that day. On our way we saw many irresistible photo points where we stopped, few yaks were there where you can sit and take photos these and such things took more time to reach Kufri. At Kufri you can take horse ride(which was awfully expensive for the ride and the area where horses were standing was smelling badly) some of us took it. They take you to high point and from there you can see kailash ranges. Some of us who did not take it instead decided to kill our time at available zoo which was equally boring. All in all if you do not have much time in hand you can very well skip Kufri. By the time we left Kufri and started for Sarahan it was almost 1pm.
We stopped at Narkanda for lunch on the way, at a small road side place but food was good. One good thing in Himachal Pradesh which we noticed is food everywhere is less spicy and home like, it is blessing if you are travelling with kids and so do not have to look for options for them.

We took one more stop for tea and snacks at Rampur and from there headed straight to Sarahan. Still by the time we reached our hotel it was 7:30pm. And we were tired by the whole day journey. But as soon as we saw mountain view from hotel rooms we were back to our energies.
We booked at Hptdc hotel Srikhand,

I would highly recommend this one for Staff's quickness, rooms and amazing views. Sarahan is small sleepy town on hills with less population. Fresh weather devoid of pollution and noise felt refreshing. Next day we got up early to see sun rays lighting the snowy mountain peaks.....but to our disappointment it was cloudy throughout that morning but views were still amazing. We took a hike up the hill in village on rough road and ended at someone's house. House with small kitchen garden, jau field in front, some apple trees surrounding the house. We came back and had out breakfast at nearby Dhaba called as 'Thakur Dhaba' one speciality other than parathas that you get here is 'thukpa' the soupy noodles mix and it is very tasty. Later we saw Bhimakali temple which is about 800 years old and completely made in wood. Again this was very different experience than our usual,temple visits.

Here they ask you to remove lather things like belt even wallet and keep it in locker. also one needs to cover their head with cap or scarf and they don't charge any money for these facilities. You are not allowed to take any offerings like flowers, ghee, nariyal even money. Complex was speak and spam. Entire temple was highly carved in wood and the building was mix of stone and wood construction with pagoda style roof giving it more china-Tibetan touch. Inside we climbed three stories to go to main deity. At each level were tiny windows from which one can see Himalayan ranges surrounding this temple site.......it was magical experience.

The trip was not without it's own challenges. Our next stop Sangla Valley- camp owner called up to inform us about land slide, road going up the town ' was blocked. We could have cancelled our bookings and could have opted for next point instead, but we decided to take it as it comes. The hotel staff at Sangla offered to come and pick up our luggage and guide us up hill on foot. Only problem with this arrangement was that we had to leave our cars down and take their cars instead, which meant we had to carefully take our luggage, only what needed.

We came down from hill top where Sarahan is and joined back to Indo-Tibetan road to Sangla. Road is under construction at many places where hydro electric plant work is on. The road was narrow, winding right in kinnaur valley with river Satluj flowing down and two huge mountain ranges parallel to each other surrounding it. From mountains many tributaries can be seen slowly joining main river. We had lunch at another small road side Dhaba famous for rice and rajma and it was amazing with varieties of daals. Next we reached Tapari. After Tapari road became very slow and with many dangerous turns. Later our driver informed us that this road is famous among the most dangerous roads list in this part of the world.

After Karchham we took bridge and then shifted to road on the other side of the valley which will take us to Sangla. Few kilometers from Karchham we had to leave our cars at the land slide spot. Mr. Negi from aple orchard did send a jeep to pick us up and his men to help get our luggage up.

It was steep climb about 200m high, we started our first trek and all of us could do it without any problem. After coming up when we saw down at valley and Baspa river view we were in awe of ourselves as how we did it. Then we got our luggage loaded and headed for Bataseri to our tent site. The drive till Batseri was 25 km of winding roads and was most dangerous route of the whole trip. We saw numerous breath taking views of the kailash ranges. To accommodate everyone few of us opted to stand back in open jeep, that was amazing experience.

We stayed at Batseri -cleanest town award winner each year, at Apple Orchard a camp sight. Our tent was situated in valley surrounded by snow clad mountains and close to river Baspa. Tent was big with double bed and toilet with geyser, plug points. Etc. Temperature at this location was really dropping and we were bit doubtful of how the tent life will be at night, when it will get much more colder. Our resort staff had given us enough blankets and it was very comfortable.

Next day we got up early and did nice high altitude walk in the mountains. Walk was very reviving, looking at beautiful view. Serene life without horns, no traffic no hurry to go anywhere was blissful.
That day we decided to go to Chhitkul - last town in India before Tibet border. Our hotel staff was going to come with us along with packed lunch boxes. We started aound 10, 25 km. to Chhitkul took as longer because of photo points and road conditions. We were among the snow mountains now, below were rocks of all shapes and sizes and between them Deodar trees. In between were small streams...whole effect was very captive. When we reach end of road then came our trek point.

We were told India border is 25 km. from here and there is no road going forward. Our border duty guards walk everyday from this point till border....hats off to Indian Army. We parked the jeeps and started with steep climb about 300m then the road was kind of flat where we walked another 4km. We saw army Chhitkul post last one before the border. Valley was very cold but still kids were enjoying playing in snow and cold river water. We had our lunch there itelf by the river, was most amazing lunch I have ever had.

By the time we started back it was windy plus snow flakes started. 4 km. trek while getting back was very difficult as we were facing wind directly....by the time we reached our Jeeps our hands and noses were numb. Everybody was tired and quite in cozy jeep ride back to tent site. All in all we had wonderful day, coupled with beautiful views, delicious lunch and the trek. By 7p.m. we all had dinner and day was called off very early.
Next day there was lot of buzz in camp site as May 1st Batsery was hosting 10K MARATHON, from our camp site. Many of other guests staying in tent had travelled from Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai even just to attend this high altitude marathon. On May 3rd Sangla was hosting full marathon.
We wish we had know this earlier we would have arranged our trip accordingly. It would have been good exposure for kids. Anyways there is always next time, we said his ourselves and packed our bags for ur next stop which is Kalpa. Today we again had to climb down till our cars, climbing down was bit difficult than going up. Finally we all with our bags came down. Our wonderful hotel staff along with owner Mr. Negi came to see us off. With heavy hearts we bided adiu to them and started for onward journey to Kalpa. Kalpa was further high up on the other side of valley where one can see grand view of Kinnaur Kailash ranges.

Road was again bad with at many places streams coming from mountains making it more muddy and slippery. We crossed Karchham dam (H.E.project of 1000mw) and came on the other side of road. We reached town -Reckong Pio (dist. place for kinnaur) very well set in hills and surrounded by snowy mountains. Had our lunch there and did dry fruits shopping. This place is famous for nut called as 'Chalgoza' according to locals it is produced at two places in the world, here and then in Afaganistan.
From here our hotel where we stayed for 2 night was about 10km.

Winding roads made most of us nausiatic, and we reached to a hill top hotel- Kinnaur villa (mr. Anil:) with grand kailash views right in front of our rooms. For an hour we were busy just admiring it's beauty then started taking pictures etc. Kalpa was relaxing point in our entire trip. Here again hotel staff was very courteous, and cook was excellent. Temp was very cold and we just enjoyed lovely hot food, relaxing views.

next day we took a walk till nearby village- Roghi had talk with, locals saw town temple etc. This town again has much Tibetan influence. Temples are hindu-tibetan with clean premises, stone and wood architecture.
Next day we drove back to Shimla. It was longest part of our road journey, although 220k.m. but it took us 10 hrs. We started at 9 and reached Shimla by 7 in the eve. Whether it was the distance or feeeling of our trip getting over made the journey seemed longer we don't know. On our way we did visit Cherry farm near Narkanda, eat lots and also bought few boxes.

Came back at same hotel where we had stayed earlier, Rahat Regency. After experiencing Pahadi locals hospitality and niceties this staff was very rude and lazy in attitude. We just had to stay one night here and were to head for Chandigarh from where was had our flight back to Bangalore.
Shimla again other than views and mountains really worth visiting for its shopping area called as 'Mall road'. If you are with kids they have prams available on road, that was very convenient. It is shoppers paradise, you really need one whole day to check into numerous shops and eateries available. We did some usual shopping around and immediately started for Chandigarh.

At Chandigarh we got chance to take a walk in Sector-17 and had dinner at Sindhi Sweets. Next day morning we took flight back to Bangalore and that was end of the trip.