My Dreamy Spiti

Let's start with a question this time; Do dreams come in sizes like Small, Medium, Large and so on, if they do, how do you we differentiate them? Like everyone else, I also had a dream and it was to visit the splendid Spiti Valley. Maybe to many of you it may sound like a very doable thing or one can say a Small dream but for me it was more than that. I had been planning to visit Spiti from 5-6 years but something or the other usually got it pushed and it kept getting delayed, however I had visited the place in my head so many times that I had lost the count already. 

Actually, I was supposed to go to Dharamshala again but Omicron had canned the plan and that cancellation led me to pursue my Spiti dream. I didn't even had to give it a second thought, it was like the stars were aligned for me. The timing, the weather and the Covid situation was perfect and I got my slot booked for the trip, it just happened so swiftly. The only thing left was counting the days and I was so exhilarated. 

I came to Delhi and the same evening we left for Shimla. The Queen of Hills welcomed us in the morning with single degree temperatures which were actually quite comforting to what we were supposed to face in the coming days. We boarded our tempo traveller and after a short stoppage we were on the way to Kalpa which is an offbeat village nestled in the majestic Kinnaur Kailash Mountains of the Himalayas at an elevation of 9711 feet, it is nature lover’s paradise. We reached there late in the evening and it was mighty cold that night, as it had snowed heavily in previous days. Next morning I woke up and caught my first glimpse of mighty Kinnaur Kailash mountains, I went out on the balcony to get a proper view but it was so chilly and windy that I couldn't even stand there for long. Kalpa was only a stop-over for us and we were supposed to leave for Nako in the morning, so after breakfast we packed and loaded our bags back to the traveller and left for Nako making a stoppage at the famous Suicide Point.

There were a couple of places which I was very excited to visit and Suicide Point was one of them, this spot is so heavenly that you will forget about the dangerous trench for a while, the enticing landscapes are truly a feast for your eyes. I'd say that it is beautifully dangerous!

After some photography and making sure nobody has literally utilized the name of the place, we boarded our traveller again and were on the way to Nako which was our stop for the night. My body was now getting synced to the zigzags of the mountain roads and I was enjoying the changing landscape of the region. The next stop for the day was Khab which is one of the important halts on a Spiti trip. Khab Sangam comes on the way where Sutlej and Spiti rivers meet on the left and on the right there is the old Silk Route. It was actually a very relaxing spot, sitting beside the river, breathing the fresh air, absolutely soothing.

After lunch, we were on the road again to the Nako village which was going to be our stay for the night. Nako is at an elevation of approximately 12,000 feet and we reached there well in the evening. After dropping our bags in our rooms, we went to the Nako monastery which was a short walk from our hotel. The ancient monastery was founded in 11th century and is located uphill from the village surrounded by the mountains from all the sides, the view was breathtaking with snow peaks all around. We returned from monastery and found ourselves chilling at the Nako lake which was totally frozen, we had some mountain dogs to keep us company there. The lake is surrounded by willow and poplar tree and is considered sacred by the locals. Next morning, we woke up early and some of us hiked to the Nako View Point which offers a panoramic view of the village, enveloped by the massive Himalayas and the frozen lake in the center, it was just a short hike but it was so cold, it felt like a major task.

We were informed that it was snowing heavily in Kaza from a couple of days and our trip lead also told us that the previous batch could not even reach Kaza due to road closures, which made me a little nervous because reaching Kaza was very important. But, the Gods were in our favor and it was well lit day and the trip lead told us that we will be heading to Kaza directly without making a stop at Tabo. We departed from Nako in the morning itself and were making good time on the road but then there was a road closure where we had to wait for more than an hour. I got a chance to converse with some Army soldiers who were also stuck with us and waiting for the road ahead to clear. We asked them about their families and they asked us about our jobs and lives, they were so humble and respectful. The road finally cleared and we bid farewell and thanked them for their services and again we were on the road to Kaza. 

The White Spiti started to exhibit itself when we started nearing Kaza, the landscape changed dramatically. The brownish mountains were now white, all covered in the heavy snow, there were some frozen waterfalls, the roads were entirely covered in fresh snow and the temperatures had further dipped. 

Kaza is the largest township in Lahaul and Spiti Valley situated at an elevation of  12,500 feet, boasting of high mountains with snowy crowns, crystal clear streams. We had some very concrete plans of café hopping in Kaza but all of them were canned when we found out that almost everything is closed in the town due to winters. We reached our homestay and after feasting on some hot maggi, we ventured out in the town to explore whatever was open. It was chilly, there was snow everywhere and then there was our group wandering around in the sleepy town of Kaza looking for possibilities to shop, eat and explore; to conclude it was a fun evening. We came back to our homestay and everyone was chilling in the common room, the heat was on and the dinner was served. After dinner around 11 PM, a couple of us went out again to stargaze, the sky was lit and it was -15 degrees but still we stayed out and went to the Kaza monastery and clicked a couple of pictures from outside.

Due to heavy snowfall, we had to hire 4*4 gypsies to visit Chicham Bridge, Key Monastery, Langza and Komic. Then came the next freezing morning, we boarded our 4*4 gypsies and hit the road again.

 

Stop No. 1 was Chicham Bridge which is the highest bridge in Asia at an staggering height of 13,596 feet above sea level. The yellow suspension bridge hangs dramatically on top of a 1,000 feet deep gorge keeping the Himalayan mountains in the backdrop, you can see the turquoise Spiti river flowing calmly from atop Chicham Bridge.

Stop No. 2 was Key Monastery (13,668 feet above sea level) which was founded in 11th century, it is one of the largest monastery in Spiti Valley and is a religious training center. We were welcomed by the monks who offered us delicious herbal tea and prasad, they showed us around the monastery, explaining the religious significance of the place and talking about their personal lives there. Being in their presence was so relaxing, listening to them talk about life and spirituality made me realize that there is no place for ego in our lives. 

We paid our respects and bid adieu to the monks and then hopped on the cars for the Stop No. 3, Langza Gompa (14,500 feet above sea level). I don't know why but I was itching to visit Langza, as I mentioned earlier, I had visited the place so many times in my head that I knew exactly what I was about to experience, I knew what kind of picture I wanted to click there and when I saw the Lord Buddha statue from a distance, it all felt so familiar like deja vu. 

Langza village is dominated by the Lord Buddha statue, overlooking and blessing the valley from a vantage point. It is a heavenly place, standing there and admiring the panoramic views of the valley, I felt so overwhelmed. It felt comfortable as if I was home after a tedious day, it was a blessing for me from the Lord himself and many deities of the valley.

Stop No. 4 was Komic village. Komic means "Eye of a Snow Cock" is a remote village situated at an altitude of 15,500 feet having its fame as the highest village in the world connected to a motorable road, the beauty of the place cannot even be described in the words. We made a quick stop at Komic as one of our friends was experiencing the ill effects of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) due to sudden gain in the elevation.

We reached our final stop of the day, Hikkim village (14,400 feet above sea level), the place is famous for its post office which is the highest in the world. The happiness of buying those postcards and the emotions of people scribbling their messages was so pure, everyone was busy recollecting the addresses of their loved ones and posing in front of the post office for pictures and videos. I also wrote down a couple of post cards, I posted some and took some home with me. It was a fulfilling experience.

We started heading back to Kaza sailing through the white snowy desert, my eyes set at the magnificent landscapes and my heart beating for them, it was a surreal drive.

We safely reached back to Kaza and the rest of the evening was free to relax. We took another stroll to the Kaza market and then came back to our homestay for dinner, the vibe was good, everyone was enjoying and having fun. After a while, we retired to our respective rooms as we had to leave for Kalpa again in the morning. 

We left for Kalpa making a stopover at the ancient Tabo Monastery. Tabo is located in a very arid, cold and rocky area at an altitude of 10,010 feet above sea level. Above the monastery there are a number of caves carved into the cliff which are used for meditation by the monks. The monastery was founded in 996 CE and the walls inside are covered with priceless murals and statues.

That evening we came back to Kalpa for the night stay and God has listened to my prayers again and I got to experience my first snowfall there. Everyone was having the time of their lives, dancing and playing outside in the snow. Oh! That was a glorious evening.

The majestic Kinnaur Kailash mountains welcomed us again and all of the group was busy in playing with the snow, we also tried making snowman but it turned out as Annabelle, but at least we tried.

The trip was coming to an end and there was only one place left to visit so, we were on the road to Chitkul village.

Chitkul stole my heart! It is such a gorgeous little place that you will be in its awe for a long long time. Chitkul is the last inhabited village near the Indo-China border. An absolute serene place with breathtaking scenery! You can go sit on the banks of Baspa river which is on the walking distance from the village, the freshness of the air, the sound of the flowing water and the beauty of the valley will calm you down and you'll wish to spend eternity there.

That night we went for stargazing and that was the clearest of skies I had ever witnessed, it was as if you could see the milky way up there and touch the stars, that was a mind blowing affair.

That's it, next morning we left for Shimla from where we had to board the bus for Delhi and the trip came to an end but the memories, the fun and the friends will stay forever. 

This trip made my dream come true, it made me realize how much I wanted to be there, what it meant to me. For me this was not a big dream or a small dream, it was just a dream, I just wanted to be surrounded by those magnificent mountains, being blessed by the Lord Buddha in Langza, write letters to my loved ones from Hikkim, when I saw shooting stars I didn't made a wish, I just closed my eyes and thanked God for making this trip possible, I thanked my family who never came cross with my love for travel.

Lastly, I want to thank JustWravel group for the trip, the trip lead Rishabh for all the support, our driver Mani Bhaiya, Dhairya, Himani, Indu, Shaurya, Smriti, Kshitij, Kishore, Ishan, Ruchi, Chirag, Denver and Deepak for their fun company.

Spiti will always remain very close to my heart. So often, we tell ourselves stories as to why we can't and why we shouldn't. This is absolute crap! The fact that we're here, living and breathing is a proof we're worthy. We are worthy of everything that we've ever wanted, just listen to your heart.

I do have many dreams but I never categorize them by their 'sizes', I just want to live and enjoy them, yes it'll take a lot of hard work but someday I'll be there and when I'll reach there I might write another blog, so maybe stay tuned.

Ciao!

The Wintry Wonderland of Himachal

 

The winter season is on the full swing and I am writing about yet another trip to Himachal Pradesh. After Dharamshala in 2016, it took me exactly 4 years to go back to my favorite state and this time I was travelling to Jibhi and Manali. Tired of working from home and definitely not being the kind of person who likes to stay at home for long periods of time, my feet were itching to go out and I was craving for some snow laden mountains.
I was looking for a trip to Himachal and the Photographers of India presented one in the nick of time and I grabbed it swiftly. There were a lot of questions, is it safe to travel, what will be the restrictions due to COVID-19 etc. but I was not worried about them, all I wanted was to get out and I was already counting the days. This time I was not completely alone, as my friend Sahista was also joining me on this trip.
I had to undergo the COVID test before leaving from home as it was advised to get it done just to be on the safer side and only God knows how much I hated those 2 seconds of agony. The result came out 'negative' and I was ready to witness the winter wonderland of Jibhi and Manali. We were supposed to reach Chandigarh on 27th December by 9 PM, so it was decided to take the train from Delhi only.
We boarded the Jan Shatabdi from New Delhi Railway Station in the afternoon and reached Chandigarh in the evening. The city welcomed us with extreme cold and rain which made me wonder about the temperature up in the mountains. On reaching the boarding point, we found out that due to heavy traffic the travelers have not yet arrived, so the only option was to wait it out. We had taken shelter outside a hotel named Sunbeam and thanks to those guys for not asking us to go away, as after sometime it seemed to look like a refugee camp. Finally, after waiting for more than 5-6 hours, the tempos came and we were ready to leave the lovely city of Chandigarh. The journey started around 2 in the morning and I decided to get some rest and fell asleep.
After a long drive and a couple of stops, we reached the mesmerizing hamlet of Jibhi situated amidst the lush green forests and surrounded by beautiful mountains in the afternoon. Well! It was not that straight forward, actually we had just entered the town and due to immense snowfall the previous night, the roads were totally blocked and were being cleared. Meanwhile, it was decided to explore the Jibhi Waterfall which was nearby, the temperature was dropping by every passing hour and we were presented with the first glimpses of snow.
To reach the waterfall, you have to take a short 10 minute walk. The place is neatly done with lovely arched wooden bridges made over the streams which are fed from the waterfall itself, the waterfall is tucked inside lush green jungle and the soothing sound of streams and the waterfall makes it even more precious.

After a short photography session, it was time to head back. We were informed that our tempos won't be able to go ahead, as the road was too slippery for them. Consequentially, a pick up truck was arranged for us and we had to hop on the trolley of the truck to reach our hostel.
An adventure was unfolding in front of our eyes, we were 7-8 people standing in the trolley holding on to each other. The climb started and in some time we came to a halt as one portion of the road was way too risky for the people coming down on their cars and bikes. A struggling trio of bikers were trying to get their Royal Enfields downhill, 3 people holding on to the bike and still falling down, gosh that was scary. After letting the traffic pass by, we started again and accidentally our pick up went inside a side drain and we had to push it. It was so slippery for us that we were falling down while pushing the truck but finally we made it and again hopped on. The climb was getting steeper and we were holding on to our dear lives because on our right was a deep gorge full of snow covered Deodars and if you fell, well that will be the end of your story.

It was 5 PM, the light was dying and we eventually reached 'The Hosteller' after all the struggles and hassles. Our bags were yet to be delivered to us, as taking them with us on the pick up truck was not possible. We got our rooms and mostly everyone fell on their beds, it was a very cozy and a comfortable stay. After freshening up and some rest, we went downstairs to the cafeteria for dinner and there we had a short introduction session. The dinner was done and when most people had decided to call it a night, myself and some friends decided to go out for night photography, the temperature had dipped to -6 but photography is love. We clicked outside for an hour and Sandip, (the Director as I call him) was giving us some tips and tricks. That was a great and a freezing night but we ended up with good pictures. Now, it was time for shut eye and much needed rest.

We woke up to a pleasing sunny morning and after some tea and breakfast, it was time for a hike to Jalori Pass. We started the ascend at 1 PM, it was at a distance of almost 5 kms from our hostel so it did not seem like a gigantic task. We started walking, making our way through the snow covered roads, the view was majestic, it felt like the mountains were embracing the valley. The snow started getting heavier on the road and it was getting difficult to walk, again the same pick up truck came to our rescue and we hopped on to reach the top.

 

Jalori Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 10280 feet above sea level, nestled in the peaks of Northern Himalayas. It is a sight to behold and there is a Mahakali temple at the top known as Jalori Maata and some small restaurants operated by local folks.  We reached the top and had tea because we were freezing and started clicking pictures and exploring the place. I certainly cannot miss out the lunch we had, steaming Rajma Chawal, oh boy! It was so delicious.

The daylight was dying and it was time to head back to our hostel. The descend was great fun, everyone was singing, sharing stories and most importantly slipping and falling down. We came back to the hostel by evening and after some rest, we were back at the cafeteria chilling with everyone.

Jibhi was so alluring and tranquil, it is the place where your thoughts will be at peace, away from the hustle and bustle, you will appreciate or at least learn to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.

The next morning, we had to start the next leg of our journey and the bustling town of Manali was waiting for us with more adventures and lesser temperatures. We bid adieu to Jibhi in the afternoon and were set for another 4 hour journey to Manali.

Traversing through the gigantic mountains, we reached Manali by 4PM in the evening and it was jam packed. The town was bustling like the entire population of India had come there for vacation, who says we are living in a pandemic world. We got off at Old Manali Bridge which separates Old and New Manali and from there we had to walk with our backpacks to The Orchards House - The Hidden Tribe.

The place is calm and serene, nestled away from the streets of the town, you will get to see the mountains jubilantly beaming at the valley.

We retired to our respective dorms to get some rest and then decided to head out to explore the streets of Manali. It was so crowded that after wandering around, we settled in a cozy looking café called Café Melange for some snacks and after a short shopping spree, we were back to our hostel. The bonfire was ready and temperatures had already dipped to -10 so, naturally everyone was sitting around the fire chatting, eating and drinking. We came back to our room well after midnight and it was time to sleep.

Next morning, the Jogini Waterfall trek was waiting for us and after some tea and breakfast, we left for the next adventure.

We were ferried on our travellers to the base point and from there it was just an hour long trek which seemed easy but I didn't know that my shoes will be failing me badly. I was not even able to get a proper grip at some places due to snow but after struggling for a while and getting some assistance from my fellow friends, I finally found my feet. Also, going back was not an option for me and the only way was up! The view was spectacular and it raised my spirits as we continued climbing through snow, mud, trees and what-not.

After an hour long arduous trek, we finally reached the top and the 150 feet high waterfall was in front of us. We made our way through some freezing streams and found a spot to click some pictures, drones were flying, people were posing in front of cameras, overall it was a fun little place. We filled our water bottle from one of the streams and that was the most delicious water I had ever tasted.

After the photography session, we started heading down to the base and had some refreshments. We came back to the Mall Road and it was time for some proper shopping. The Mall Road was immensely crowded as it was New Year's Eve, even walking was difficult for us and yet again these are 'pandemic times' we are living in. The shopping was done and now we were back at hostel for the new year party and the gloom of the trip ending was already looming over me but despite that I was content. That was the last night of our trip and everyone was chilling and celebrating the arrival of 2021.

The next morning we started the journey back home and that was altogether a different story.

Before this trip, I had decided that this will be a leisurely trip for me but it turned out to be one hell of an adventure that I will remember forever. And before ending this tale, a big shoutout to all the people who joined this adventure, you all made it lovely and I certainly cannot miss to mention my crazy roommates, a bunch of totally crazy people. Sahista! I seriously hope, you had a great time and now you know why I love Himachal so much, and thanks to 'Photographers of India' for this much needed getaway.

I am writing this from home but deep down I know, "Mera Dil Kahi Door, Pahadon Me Kho Gaya." 

Till the next Adventure, Keep Travelling and Keep Exploring!

Ciao!

The Greatest Trip of my Life

The year 2020 is taking toll on everyone and while the fight with the global pandemic is going on, I decided to write this blog after getting a push from my brother. So, a big thank you to my brother and as this is my very first attempt to write something like this,please pardon me of any discrepancies.

The year was 2016 and in the month of September, my brother sent me an Instagram direct message with the information of a Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) trip. It was supposed to take place in the month of December and around 40 seats were available, at first I was skeptical about it as I will not be knowing anyone in that trip but I decided to try it as it was a brand new experience for me (big shout out to my brother who paid for my trip).

December came and I was very excited with the prospects of going to a new place and trying  out my DSLR camera which was also gifted by my brother on my birthday. I reached the boarding point which was Majnu ka Teela, Delhi and called up the tour organizer and he told me that we are running a bit late but some guys have reached and they are at Ama's Cafe which was like a 10 minutes walk from the bus stand.  I walked up to the place and met some people who were waiting there and we instantly connected and thankfully I am still very much in touch with those people. Finally, we left for Dharamshala in the bus and after some chatting and dinner it was time to sleep.

We reached the city at early hours of dawn and it was super chilly. All we could see was  the glimmering lights of the mountain city soaked up in a beautiful silence. Day started to break and the first visuals of the city were in front of us and I was awe struck.

The trip started the same morning after some rest and breakfast, we started with local markets first getting to know the food, the people and the culture. The place was bustling with people doing their chores, setting up their business, the buddhist monks passing by in their trendy sneakers. I got busy doing some street photography taking some guidance from my friends and time passed by. It was a great first day to get comfortable and acclimatize. We ended the day with a proper Tibetan cuisine which I got to know I am not a big fan of.

There was plenty on the table the next day and Photography was growing on me, although I have always admired photography but here I was getting a wide range of subjects and landscapes to click also I was getting to learn from my fellow mates. I was itching up to go out as on the itinerary of that day it was the St. John's Church, HPCA Stadium and Naddi Point.

We first reached very beautiful St. John's Church surrounded by many Deodar trees maybe that is why it is called St. John's Church in the Wilderness. Beautiful Victorian architecture, very peaceful though you may not want to stay there till dark (it is not haunted or something but it will surely make you feel scared amidst those big deodar trees and the lone standing church).

Being in Dharamshala and not visiting the HPCA Stadium specially when you are cricket fan will be a sin so that was our next stop and boy o' boy it was splendid, nestled between the beautiful mountains it looked so surreal and i found myself clicking as many pictures as I could. 

As the day was coming to an end, we rushed to the Naddi point famous for it's sunsets and surely it did not disappoint. I am a sunset chaser and always click whenever I witness a beautiful sunset but that evening in Naddi was something else, it blew my expectations. I was so overwhelmed and possessed with the view that I decided to keep my camera away for a while and just watch nature showing all its glory. I found a spot and sat there eating some noodles and looking at the horizon, so beautiful that it is still etched in my mind vividly.

Came back to hotel and my love for photography was growing with every picture I clicked.

As Dharamshala has a very significant Tibetan population and his holiness Dalai Lama resides there so missing out on the Dalai Lama Temple was not an option. On the way, I met a monk and asked him for his picture which he very delightfully accepted, he did not know Hindi but was well versed in English and he asked me to show him what I had clicked. I showed him his picture and I asked him how is life here to which he replied "Life is very simple wherever you go, it is Us who complicate it". Obviously, I was not expecting a reply like this but it stuck to me. 

We explored the temple silently, clicked some pictures with proper permission and started to hike to Morgan's Cafe for some delicious thin crust pizza. It was an astounding evening.

It was the final day of the trip and it was reserved for leisurely stroll around the city, shopping and stuff but someone said in the previous night to visit the Triund which is approximately a 9 kms trek. Some people decided to go to Triund while some were in the mood to chill and stayed in the city only.

As we had to board the bus for Delhi in that same evening, we had to start at dawn and fortunately we did start on time. This was the pivotal decision that I decided to join the guys for the trek as I love doing treks and hikes. 

When we started to trek, I got to view the city and the Kangra valley from the vantage point. As I trekked higher whatever settlements were visible started to vanish and only huge deodars were visible and in the side the scary gorge. I was getting exhausted because the last portion of the trek was difficult and I was wearing my normal sneakers which were not helping my cause but finally we made it to the top and I was spellbound with view I had in front of my eyes. 

All the exhaustion and the pain vanished when I saw the Triund peak, the sky was so blue, the air was so clean and the view was so mesmerizing that I clicked almost a 100 pictures and even posed for some, come on I had to get clicked with those beautiful peaks.

 Those mountains made me fall in love with them and that started my never ending affair with them. So huge yet so humble. I even got myself inked with a beautiful mountain on my arm.

Finally, closing on this long memoir, I'd like to reflect that this trip to Dharamshala made me understand how much I love photography, it made me realize how many ways are there to get a good picture, you may get a good picture standing straight up or in some cases you might have to squat or even lie down to the ground to get a proper angle and perhaps same goes with our lives also.

That is why this trip to Dharamshala will always remain the most important trip of my life.

Keep it simple and silly and remember You need Mountains, Long Staircases Don't Make Good Hikers.