Beautiful Places in Himachal Pradesh

17th Aug: Gemur to Chandertaal (7 hours) Drive to Chandartaal lake. Surrounded by snows and acres of scree, this deep blue-water lake has a circumference of2.5 k.m. This is the source of the river Chandra. According to some believers, this is the spot from where the god Indra''s chariot took Yudhishtra to ''Swarga'' (Heaven) in his mortal form. Accomodation: Camping crew will pitch tents for overnight stay

The lake is situated at an altitude of 14,100 ft. in Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh. It's an amazing destination for trekking and camping. We started our journey from Manali crossing Rohtang pass and entering into Lahaul and Spiti district. The offroading experience with Chandra river flowing along makes it a memorable journey. Once you reach Batal, you can trek for almost 14 kms to the lake. The magnificent view of lake and the crystal clear water and heavenly sky reflection in water vanishes all the tiredness of trek on barren mountains. Camping in the extreme cold gives a thrilling experience. It's a paradise on earth, totally Worth a visit...!!!

Mt CB 13 or Mt Chandrabhaga 13 is a magnificent peak on the Dhaka glacier that is visible from Chandertal. Oh that night, I can still recall the quiver of that chilled and breezy night. The day started very early with a lot of zeal and exhilaration for the journey ahead. As we started from Manali a lot of conjectures were ripping up in our minds as to what the valley would unfold. But nature had other plans for us; the route to the Chandrataal base camp was perhaps one of the most bumpy ride I had ever undertaken. At one point of time I was pondering if it was better for me to get an helmet before boarding the Sumo we took for the jaunt(Arpan surely will agree to it) . At last after a gruesome drive of near about eight hours were at the camp site. It was gloomy by the time we landed there. Wearied by the elongated and strenuous journey there was no vigor left in us to do any kind of activity; all we wanted was a hot meal to suppress our hunger and our tents to respite. Well as they say that “what we expect is not what we get and what we get always comes out of the blue. The open sky above was what made our day; it seemed to have eased our hunger and fatigue. It literally reminded me of the rhyme “Twinkle Twinkle little star, like a diamond in the sky” but a million diamonds were in the sky. To be precise it was one of the unblemished skies I had ever seen, something untouched by what we call effluence. Sometimes I feel that some places on this earth should be kept as they are virgin; without roads, without easy accessibility as their beauty is to be fostered that way and we humans living in th concrete jungle have elapsed what nature and mother earth has to offer. Standing beneath that sky and with the Mt CB13 in front it was imperative for us to capture that beauty; and the rest as we say is history.

Enjoy the magnificent chandratal, Considered the second most holy lake after kailash manasarovar.

At an altitude of 4300 mts. Chandra Taal lake is an unclaimed lake in the Spiti valley. The open sky, the lake that freezes at night, temperatures dropping to -7 degrees in mid June and an unforgettable journey to the lake. It is a guaranteed life changing location. The water of the lake shines blue in the afternoon and translucent in the morning sky reflecting the whole surroundings like a mirror. The lake stretches upto about 2 kilometers. If you’re an adventurer you might want to visit before the roads are open to tourism. Tourism allows a lot of camps near the lake. Going there before any one will fill you with a sense of pride. You will be lost in the vastness of the mountains with complete ecstasy. You can choose to take a guide along with you to make the journey safer and simpler or leave the guide and the comfort behind to really explore and connect with yourself on a deeper level. The choice is yours to make! Some do’s and don’ts in and around the lake for your safety: DON'T: • Try to swim in the lake; There have been reported deaths of people who have tried to. • Litter; Let’s help preserve whatever’s left of our beautiful planet. • Trek under influence of alcohol. You need to have massive control over your body. DO: • Take a lot of food with you, it is most important. • Take all necessities from a knife to whatever you think will keep you safe, cowdung kerosene and matchboxes are a must, to cook and stay warm. • Carry the warmest jacket you have. • Have the proper gear to trek through snow, water and sludge. • Stargaze; The best view you can get of the infinite space! • Carry music; The silence really is deafening! Here is a list of things necessary for camping: Dried Cowdung+Kerosene+Lot of Matchboxes(Lighters don't work)+Dry twigs(Found near the lake-the dry bushes with purple flowers) Gloves+Cap+Windcheater(Basically everything of the warmest kind, but just the necessary ones, You want to keep your bags light) Torch+Knife A pan+A plate+forks+Maggi+Coffee/milk/sugar sachets+Chocolates(Lots of)+Anything else full of carbs+A lot of water+Local alcohol(Ignore the taste/Drink for keeping warm) Camera+Music+Two walking sticks(Helps for walking on snow and sluge) Tent+Sleeping bags(With mattresses)+Paper soap+Medicines

Amazing place. Beautiful lake in the remotest of area. The place is so peaceful.

This place is awesome.... this lake is a big Natural Mirror....

Parasol Camps

Stayed in Zamaica Camps , chilling again :-D

Tread the treacherous road -- the road from Batal, the last inhabited point before Chandratal is nothing but lethal -- that leads to the Chandratal Lake and absorb the splendid view whilst taking deep breaths! Do remember to keep your jaw from falling off and hitting the ground! The view of the river bed and the glaciers on the far off mountains is breath-taking. Meditate, take a walk around the lake or pitch your tent - the lake is a spectacle to behold! If you have days in hand, then a trek from Sooraj Tal to Chandra Tal - or the other way round - could give you the adrenaline boost you had always been anticipating.

One of the most beautiful lakes in the entire world.

Day 8: Losar To Chandratal (3 Hours; 38Kms)

The 6th day was for Chandratal, another blissful, Not at all, I would say “Dar ke aage Chandratal Hai”. The roads were so adventurous; it didn’t allow me to leave the rear grab handle of the car. After trekking of 1 KM, we reached our destination “Chandratal”. I was continuously taking short breaths; suddenly I glanced at Chandratal. The aerial view of Chandratal made me feel so composed. I would say, I was blessed by the nature. I had never seen something so magical.

We finally reached Chandratal. As per the latest government rules camping is not allowed near the lake. You can take your vehicle up to a certain point, from where its less than an hours trek to the lake. At this height due to lack of oxygen you tend to get exhausted very easily, so make sure you carry some water. The moment you get the first glimpse of the lake you will realize it was all worth it. Its just beautiful, its surreal and difficult to explain. I believe India is full of beautiful places but its sad we Indians don't preserve the beauty. Such places which are difficult to access are fortunately still preserved. The water in the lake is crystal clear and you will get to see shades of blue depending upon the sun light. As it was really cold there nobody dared to go in the water. Its not a crowded place at all but you will still manage to see few people around the lake. People who have been to Pangong lake in Leh ladakh, you would find this like its mini version. We sat there for around 1-2 hours had a nice time, clicked numerous pictures and started back.

• Leave for Kunzum Pass early morning.• Trek from Kunzum Pass to Chandrataal Lake (you can also go by car).• Enjoy the lake and view.• Stay at the camps near the lake (Tenzin camps are reasonable and good. It charges Rs. 800 per person with food).

 

I lived a dream in this short trip. Encountering the fear of an unknown mishap was great in itself. Many might have scaled these mountains and felt victorious , but I felt the roar of them inside and there mightiness.

There is a huge difference between a tourist and a traveller. A Tourist sees what he knows; a traveller sees what he wants.This was my first trip made solo as a traveller and not a mere tourist. Spiti was a place that I came to know about a year ago. It’s enchanting and breathtaking views clogged me to it. It developed a strong urge within to visit this untouched valley and explore it.Being an amateur, and my zeal of making that first solo trip; Spiti was my aimed destination. To begin with the geographical settings and forecast- Spiti is situated in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The Middle Land", i.e. the land between Tibet and India. The Spiti Valley is also known as “Cold Desert” valley located high in the Himalaya Mountains.The valley and surrounding region is one of the least populated regions in India. The route starts from Keylong via the Rohtang Pass or Kunzum Pass respectively. The capital is Kaza Village which is situated along the Spiti River at an elevation of about 12,500 feet (3,800 m) above sea level.The Rohtang Pass, at 13,054 feet (3,979 m), separates Lahaul and Spiti from the Kullu Valley. Lahaul and Spiti are cut off from each other by the higher Kunzum Pass, at 15,059 feet (4,590 m). A road connects the two divisions, but is cut off frequently in winter and spring due to heavy snow.The climatic conditions, no doubt is very cold. The oxygen level up there gradually reduces as you go higher from 8,000- 10,000 ft. People tend to get high altitude sickness/ Mountain sickness due to this. Symptoms are high body temperature, severe headache, chest pain, vomiting, lack of sleep, fatigue and nausea. Do not ignore these signs and remedies are must for this.This basically happens due to body not receiving the actual amount of oxygen that it is used to. Hence for your body to adapt to this environmental change, we need to take care in following ways:Drink lots of water (As water is the source of oxygen, also use with Electral/ Glucon-D etc)Diamox (Medicine, highly used for acute mountain sickness/ Doctor prescribed is preferred)Do Not exhaust more, walk slowly, maintain your calmness, no fast breathing.Enough of the Specs and facts, but this was the information gathering that I did to know more about Spiti. But let me tell you, the actual experience was just so different than the Spiti I imagined. Be ready to get amazed because it is just so much more that you see in the usual pictures that you google for Spiti.I went for a 6day trip starting from Manali-Spiti-Manali. The group was so diverse, people from different professional background came together due to a similar interest. No one knowing each other till the day of the trip. Our trip started from 7th September. Moreover I was worried initially about the “No connectivity and network” issues and “rugged terrain”. Little was I to know that these were the only things that made the journey so worthwhile.From Manali via Rohtang Pass which took around 8 hours to reach Chandra Taal. We passed areas of Batal and Chatru, where we took a short break for tea at the only dhaba we found on the way.CHANDRA TAAL:We reached to a base camp which is around 3kms away from Chandra Taal. The night we spend camping and star gazing. And what a splendid view to just look above in the sky. A sky so clear. A sky just so clustered with stars. You can also recognize constellations and stars. Early morning wakeup was just so thrilling. We woke up to the view of snow cladded mountains from our tent and the sunrays getting stronger and brighter. Temperature was too low. We all turned purple just as we removed our gloves and caps. The camp provided tea and omelet bread which was highly needed. Thanks to the NOMADIC CAMP.From the camp we need to reach a motorable track, later we need to cover 1 km in foot to reach the lake. The first scenic view we visited was of the Chandra Taal Lake.This lake is situated at an altitude of about 4,300 meters (14,100 ft). Mountains overlook the lake on one side, and a magnificent cirque presents a view on the other. The lake is known for the Full Moon beauty that is reflected in this lake during the night. Also in the day time, the lake is known to change its color depending upon the sky color.At first even I was assuming that how is this possible, but when we were reaching the lake it was a little greyish in color. We all just spend some time there roaming around and clicking pics. Suddenly we just saw the lake and OMG the lake was blue in color. Later the border turned green. It was definitely the reflection of sky, but this is just the beauty of the nature that we can simply be amazed of.The lake can be visited only during (June- September) months. For the rest of the season, the lake remains cut off and frozen.KUNZUM PASS:Moving ahead from Chandra Taal, we visited the highest peak “Kunzum Pass” (4551 meters) where the locals believe to pray by performing a respectful circuit of the stupas strewn with fluttering prayer flags at the top before continuing down into Spiti.KAZA:From Kunzum we moved ahead for Kaza. The journey was of around 75kms. In Between we had a halt at Lossar to have something for lunch.Moving ahead from Lossar, you will come along very amazing and picturesque views of the Valley which seriously will keep you wondering. The most apt dialogue one guy in our group said was ”YAAR AB KYA HUM JAAN DE DE KYA YE NAZARE DEKH DEKH KE”. It’s the exact definition of the nature that you will witness. Speechless it was to look out of the window. Where ever you see, you will always be surprised. You will see the amazing mountain structures which will spellbound you.Along we just came along with a road so amazing in the valley base.Very beautiful view it was. And we just jumped of the car and just clicked pictured like crazy people giving crazy poses.Moving ahead we visited small habitants of Haal Village, Rangrik , Kyurik, Syurik Villages which had their own small monasteries. Here we finally got to see some greenery due to the vegetation the farmers do. But yet again the villages are just spread across 8-10 houses.We had a view of the very famous (KYE-Monastery) along the path. The setting sun rays just illuminated the view. But our next stop was Kaza Village. It is known to have the highest altitude situated post office and petrol pump in the World. Our stay was in Zostel. It was a very nice setup made for the travelers to have a pleasant stay in such environment. Good dormitory with common room to enjoy indoor games and some area to just chill out. Finally here you can have some varieties of food.KOMIC VILLAGEFinally having a sound sleep in Kaza , the next day we began our journey to visit Komic Village. This village is known as the highest village in the World with population around 114 people in area of 100kms. This village has a monastery about 1000 years old. Many fossils were found by the locals. This bears some civilisation history. Today we were not feeling any health issue as we were having lots of water. Also our body adapted to the climate.Lang Zha:Returning from Komic we visited Lang Zha village. This place we witnessed different kinds of birds. This place is known for amazing Buddha stupa located at the mountain top which is just so beautiful.Kye Monastery:Next stop was the Kye Gompa, the history of this monastery you can read at its entrance. This is the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist Monastery close to Spiti River. The structure is splendid as it is built across a mountain top. It is a religious training center for Lamas. It reportedly had 100 monks in 1855. The amazing thing is the travellers can stay in the monastery with the monks and also share their kitchen and have a chit chat chai with them.It was real divine experience to see the monks habitat and school etc. Also the peace that you receive there is priceless. It’s always that the one’s who has very less to give, only have their Big Heart. The people were that welcoming and always smiling. I can come now any number times and spend a part of my life in this great hidden valley which has so much amazed me.We left the place with all the beauty always remaining fresh in our memories. Though we cannot capture everything in camera because:Spiti for me is not just a place to visit. But an experience to be lived.Travel Courtesy:The Weeknders Group: Akanksha, NishantDriver: Sanju Bhaiya

P.S. The lesser mortal in me chose to leave a part of myself there by making the eight -stone structure of small stones in the lake. The mini stone structures are a common sight in Spiti which was earlier used to mark ways for fellow trekkers to follow.Himachal Diaries is a series of some short and some long blogs from my recent 10-day trip to Himachal with four of my friends. The multiple blogs will cover places we saw, people we met, funny experiences and some instances which amuse us at a personal level. This is part three of the Himachal Diaries series, Hope you enjoy, feedback welcome!

#TripotoTakeMeToDeoriatal

3rd July :- At night I felt severe back pain & was not able to sleep. This was the first time I had back pain in my life, so I didn't know how to deal with it. I barely slept for 2-3 hours. In the morning the pain was less so I decided to continue my journey. The weather was fantastic with clouds moving in the mountains. I reached kunzum pass at around 11A.M. From there I had to go for a 12 kms solo trek. It was drizzling at that time & the beauty of the place cannot be described in words ( I think pictures can help). I completed the trek in 3 hours & it was an amazing experience. I could see big glaciers and river beds from the distance. I reached Chandratal at 2 P.M & there I met 3 locals who came there to enjoy the day. I joined them & roamed around the place for 4 hours. As it is on much higher altitude( 4300 m) than other places so it was getting very cold and windy in the evening. The lake guard was relative to one of the member, so we enjoyed tea at his camp near the lake. The campsite is 3 kms from the lake. One of the campsite owner was friend to the locals, we went there & enjoyed the meal & I also got a tent to sleep. The camp owner was going to Manali the next day in his pick up truck. So I decided to join him with couple of other people. The night was windy & chilly & we had to left for Manali at 5:30 A.M.

If you ever had a dream of going to a place which you can truly call being 'In the middle of nowhere', Chandratal lake trek is the place for you. It's a 12 km easy trek from Kunzum pass but it can give you a tough time because of its high altitude. Kunzum Pass is located at 15,060 feet while Chandratal Lake is at 14,100 feet. The trek starts from a gradual ascend and then number of ascends and decends. Just after 15-20 mins of trekking, you can have a first glimpse of the lake. It looks like a small blue water drop in the middle of desert mountains. The beauty of the landscape keeps you spell bound throughout the trek but the charm of the trek is in the mesmerising view of barren mountains and the glimpse of the blue lake which you keep on seeing throughout the trek. It makes you feel that the lake is pretty near to you but it actually takes 4-5 hours of trekking with normal speed to reach up to the lake. The first 3 hours of trek takes you through the barren mountains and then to rocky path. After crossing this, you see a stream which is going all the way to the lake.

The mesmerizing beauty of the landscape makes 12 km frantic walk to Chandratal from Kunzum pass, a pleasurable one. It gives you a feel of walking into wilderness and the glimpse of the blue lake makes it all the way more fascinating.PS: Can you spot people in this pic??

One look at the lake is enough to calm every aching bone of your body. I was speechless in wonder at the sight of this beautiful lake!

It works like Ganga, washes all the pain(physical and mental) :) #ChandraTaal #Lake #Spiti #Himachal #LiveLife #Travel

The next day we went on The Chandratal Trek which I had been dreaming for a while. Please read about my on Chandratal-The Moon River trek.

The first thing was undoubtedly visiting Chandratal Lake, which is totally off the route for some 16 kms, 16 kms of pure serenity, including another big Nala which I was so anxious to cross. Fate stole it from us as the roads were blocked due to heavy snow and the only way was to trek for a good 7-8 kms which the majority wasn’t willing to. We made our next stop at Kunzum Pass 15,059 feet above sea level, did a Parikrana of the ‘temple’ there and moved on towards Losar. On our way we witnessed a beautiful meadow, which was off the way but we rode over it, parked our bikes and once again were amused by the beauty of everything we saw. All our fatigue vanished, ironically by jumping, shouting and rolling on the grass there! After all we were in Spiti Valley. We could see the landscapes painted by nature itself. In a while we started rolling again and stopped at Losar for security check and a brief lunch. That’s where the welcome board to Spiti Valley was put as the civilization starts from that village. There were proper constructed roads from there and what we witnessed while riding through the valley was something that could only be seen in dreams, in fact even better. Lush green grasslands, meandering streams, towering snow clad peaks, formidable mountains of different colours. The landscapes were such that for a moment I left my belief of the journey being bigger than the destination behind and got lost in the surroundings. The distance of 58 kms from Losar to Kaza could have been easily covered in an hour because of the beautiful roads but it took us over 3 hours as we couldn’t stop ourselves from stopping every few kms. And we can’t blame ourselves either. On our way a kid who was rearing sheep, stopped me and asked for the time and for chocolates if I had any. I did, and I gave him all of them. He spoke to me in English! We reached Kaza by evening and stayed there for the night.

Once we reached the camping spot, some locals approached us to know if we need any camping stuff or help in setting up the tents. We politely refused thinking we are well equipped. Little did we know that these are the guys we would need to approach once we realise our lack of preparedness and information that we managed for a trip like this. It was a bright cool day and since it was August, we never even thought that we need to get scared and respectful of the night at such towering heights.

Day 5 : Kaza to Manali via Chandrataal (260 km) This has to be undoubtedly, the most thrilling day; handsdown!From the beginning of trip we were fed horror stories on Kunzum pass and pagal Nallah, about how they have overpowered travelers to succumb to their will often.But we were positive, as we had left on time, and the breathtaking views provided the fortitude to carry on steadfast:

You can start very early next morning to either go back to Manali via the Kunzum and Rohtang passes, or you can take another detour to visit the enchanting Chandratal Lake, situated at almost 13500 ft. After Kunzum pass, which is the highest pass in this route, if you take the bifurcation from Batal you will soon find yourself in the camping site near Chandrataal. You can rest a bit and visit the lake in the late afternoon, which is around 3 km away. The car has to be parked in a place marked for that purpose, and from there the lake is a short and leisurely walk. Besides the main moon-shaped blue lake, which is the starting point of the famous Chandra river (that later becomes the ChandraBhaga also known as Chenab, after joining Bhaga river in Tandipule near Keylong), there are many other smaller water bodies. A camp stay in the camping site is a must in the Chandratal Lake, if you want to enjoy the tranquillity of the place and also want to view the lake in early morning light.

Our trip’s greatest delight was an early morning trek to ChandraTal Lake. ChandraTal Lake is situated at an altitude of 14100 feet and is popularly known as the Moon lake. We stayed in the camp for a night and started from the camp base at morning 4 am to climb up towards the lake.

CHANDRATAL

Finally we were at the Chandratal lake and I must say the lake looks much more sublime than in the photos. It is worth travelling on a dangerous road and experiencing the chilling waves, harsh sunlight and all the discomforts. We stayed at the lake for an hour and then started our backward journey to reach the camp since we had to reach Manali by the evening.We reached our camp, took our rucksacks and started walking to the Batal to catch the bus coming from Kaza. Since I already told there is only one bus from Kaza to Kullu and it reaches Batal between 1-2 pm, so we didn’t have much time to spend in other activities. We reached Batal at around 2 pm but the bad news was that the bus had left Batal half an hour ago. We had no option than to wait for hitchhiking. Luckily we found someone returning from Kaza and going to Manali with an empty Traveller coach. He allowed us to join him and our journey to Manali began.

Visit Chandratal via Kunzum Pass and enjoy the day thereCamps are about 2.5 KMs from the lake, either stay there or back to Battal where there is a PWD rest house now though without electricity. But, no point going back a painful ride to Losar over Kunzum Pass unless you want to stay in guest house with electricity. Better stay at Battal and save time as well as energy for next day.About 4 – 5 Hrs drive minimumOvernight at Battal or Chandratal CampsDay 9 | Battal / Chandratal – Kunzum Pass – Rohtang Pass – Manali

9) Chandratal - An absolute must - visit. It is a short detour from the Kaza-Manali route.

6. Land of Spiti Valley- ChandrataalThere are a few of us for whom mountains are like second home. That's because we went there once, and left a part of ourselves behind. If you are anything like me, and are in love with the mountains, then there is one heavenly place you must visit: Spiti Valley. Spiti is situated at an altitude of 14,500 ft above sea level. The ever-changing hues of the barren mountains is a sight to behold.

We spotted some tents on the way and assumed Lake Chandratal was nearby, so we stopped near one of the tents and asked the gentleman sitting outside for directions. As per tourism guidelines, camping was not allowed within the lake's perimeters. We had to ride two kilometers ahead cutting a small mountain where several tourist SUVs were parked. After parking our bikes, I approached the drivers to ask about the whereabouts of the Lake as we still could not see anything in our vicinity that resembled one. As expected, we were told to trek 1km cutting the next mountain to reach the Lake, so we started walking. It took us 10 minutes to walk 50 steps in total which showed us how inactive we were. Hari was feeling ill at this point and Bob was dehydrated. After taking a few sips of glucose we had packed, we made it to Lake Chandratal. There she was, beautiful and blue, surrounded by endless mountains and greenery. We slowly got down and crashed on to the shore to regain our breaths back from the breathtaking view. I had never seen such clean, clear and pristine water anywhere before. I put my palm ever so subtly in it and stared at my reflection for some time. A bunch of thoughts gathered in my head. All the time I was feeling depressed and worried in the past, everything felt insignificant as I thought about my present state. My mind and body was in a tranquil state, something I had never felt before. Sadly, a tourist threw a rock in the water that broke my tranquillity. I stood up immediately and saw Hari laying down and heard Bob vaguely talking about pot. I checked my watch, it was 11:30 and it was time to go. We took a different path that lay behind the mountain for ease and hopped on our bikes, rode for one and a half hour to get back to the intersection that led to Kaza.Roads were again dreadful with endless hairpin turns and loose mud. But none of us were bothered anymore. We were back from a paradise heading to another. We saw bright beautiful peaks snow white and glistening while riding ahead.Bob spotted a white Gompa surrounded by huge Buddhist flags with a path leading to it from afar. I assumed it was Kunzum Mata and as we closed in, my assumption became surety. Kunzum Mata is a holy shrine that lies in the midway of Batal and Losar. Legend states that the people travelling from either side are bound to make a full circle following the path around it for good luck. Failing to do so usually turns into a catastrophe. Us being three agnostics was one thing, but the roads we had seen so far instilled the need of faith in our mind. We made a full circle and spent some time feeling the strong winds circulating from the snowy mountain tops surrounding the place. Our next stop was Losar, and according to the hosts in Batal, the roads were to become way better beyond Losar heading towards Kaza.

We started our journey on 25th June, 2017. One can go to Chandra Taal by two ways, either from Manali or from Shimla. The buses are easily available for both Shimla as well as Manali from ISBT Kashmiri Gate. Also, one can book buses from HRTC online website as well as from Redbus or Paytm. However, I would recommend to go by HRTC as sometimes private buses get cancelled.

We took the Manali route. It is a long journey of 15-16 hours from Delhi. So, I would recommend to take a comfortable volvo for a smooth ride.We reached Manali by 2 pm on the next day. We had already booked a hotel at Vashisht which is 3km from the Bus stand. We chilled in Vashisht on that day exploring the famous Vashisht temple where hot spring is there.We booked a cab from Manali on per seat basis to Batal. The best way to explore Manali and nearby areas including Spiti valley is by bike, but the rentals here are not that good. So, a personal vehicle is highly recommended.Things to do-1. If you wish to go to Rohtang pass or Spiti or Leh, then get a permit online in advance.2. The rentals are costly as well as have various conditions such as they rent bike minimum for 4 days and minimum 3 bikes and other conditions varying from person to person.3. The best way for a budget trip is to take a HRTC bus to BATAL and do trekking from Batal. The bus leaves early in the morning around 5-6 am.4. If you miss your bus, then go to Hotel Kiran near SBI bank. You can get a seat in a cab. All other options will be costlier. One must visit place is old Manali. It is 2-3 kms walk from the mall road and calm and peaceful place to hangout with friends. There are awesome riverside cafes where you can enjoy your soup or drink.Cafe 1947

On day 3, we started early morning to Batal. Batal is good 120 km from Manali. It is advised to leave Manali by 6 in the morning because there is heavy jam at Rohtang pass crossing. Once you cross the checkpoint, there is a smooth and scenic ride for the next 30 km. After that the treacherous as well as adventurous ride started which lasted for 4 hours. Literally there is no road and the car moves entirely on kutcha road which are made worse by the nallahs. So, amateur riders are not at all advised and even experienced rider should consider wearing all the guards. Raincoat is a must as the weather is quite unpredictable.

A glimpse of the kind of road After we reached Batal, we had our lunch at the Chandra Taal Dhaba run by Batal Chacha and Chachi. The food was delicious. The camp for Chandra Taal is around 8 km from here. We started our trekking at around 5. We were lucky that we got another cab ride which was going to the camping site itself. It was a joyous ride in an open jeep. We reached the camp and stayed there at the Tanzing camp. The guy is good and provided good service. The per head cost for stay as well as dinner and breakfast was Rs 1000.

Our tent We started trekking to Chadra Taal early in the morning at around 5 am. At this time of the season, there is sufficient light at 5:30 in the morning, so no torches were required. We reached the lake in an hour or so. Finally we were on our destination. The journey to it was hard and tiresome but it was worth it. The calm and serene view of the lake made us forget all our tiredness. We stayed there for a good half an hour, clicked some photographs and then returned to the camp.

Lake Chandra TaalAfter having a breakfast of bread toast and a cup of tea we were on our way again by 8:30 and walked all the way down to Batal and had some light food at Batal chacha again. We took a ride back to Manali in a local traveller bus. It was a whole family which was going from Spiti to Keylong on a marriage ceremony. The driver agreed to drop us in the midway from where we could get the other bus. We interacted with the local people and they were very cool singing and dancing all the way on the local songs which we didn't understand a word. They also offered us food and local beer(desi) called Chung. I didn't like the food but beer was awesome.

In the last 3-4 kms of the trek you can see the Chandrataal Lake , Camping Sites from above , so it actually acts as a constant source of motivation. The trails directly takes you to Chandrataal - the turquoise blue lake. Words aren't enough to appreciate the beauty of Chandrataal , that's one of the most beautiful lakes in India. The circumference of the lake is around 2.4 kms , you can take a walk around if you wish. You can stay at the lake upto 7:30 PM , after that get ready to be hounded by the local police.

Stay: Chandratal campsDay 8: Chandratal - Rohtang la - Manali Distance & Duration: nearly 140 Kms ( 6 hrs)

The roads gets better ( metal roads ) only before 20 kms from reaching Kaza .

Chandra Taal (meaning the Lake of the Moon), or Chandra Tal is situated in the Spiti part of the Lahul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh (India). The name of the lake originates from its crescent shape. It is situated at an altitude of about 4,300 metres (14,100 ft) in the Himalayas. Mountains of scree overlook the lake on one side, and a magnificent cirque presents a view on the other. Chandra Taal is a popular destination for trekkers and campers. The lake is accessible on foot from Batal as well as from Kunzum Pass from late May to early October. There is also a motorable road available till a parking made 2km before the lake. Stay options are available 5km before the lake on prebooking. The road from Kunzum Pass is accessible only on foot, and it is about 8 km (5.0 mi) from Chandra Taal.DISTANCE INFO-●Manali to Chandratal Distance: 124 Kilometers●Shimla to Chandratal Distance: 530 Kilometers via Reckong Peo, Puh, Kaza ●BatalKeylong to Chandratal Distance: 120 kilometers●Gramphoo to Chandratal Distance: 70 kilometersThe route which I took was :- Manali to ChandratalIMP NOTE- take a early drive from manali. And you will a bus to kaza early in the morning around 4.30am or 5amThe distance from Manali to Chandratal is not really that much, only 124 kilometers which leads some people like me too, to believe that they can quickly cover this trip but Make no mistake however, this small distance takes almost 7-8 hours to complete because the route is full of mud and and steepy turns and it will be a nightmare to be honest. But after reaching there you will not feel any kind of stress and you will surely have a good time.Suraj Tal is also accessible Chandra Taal, 30 km (19 mi) away. Vast meadows on the banks of the lake are the camping sites. During springtime, these meadows are carpeted with hundreds of kinds of wildflowers.The lake is one of two high-altitude wetlands of India which have been designated as Ramsar sites.

It was 5:00 in the morning when we felt the cool breeze and the chirps of the birds, Shobhit and Ashish were already up setting up things and packing stuff, we had the chance to take a bath but winter was already on the way, so we neglected it.we had booked a Taxi from Manali to Manali over a period of seven days, which was for 28k(everything included), the Driver was one hell of man, now let me tell you the difference between drivers who drive fast and drivers who fast drive, the former ones drive fast neglecting the comfort one feels inside the car and also don't care about their vehicle, he was the latter.

Prashar Lake lies 49 km north of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India, with a three storied pagoda-like temple dedicated to the sage Prashar. The lake is located at a height of 2730 m above sea level. With deep blue waters, the lake is held sacred to the sage Prashar and he is regarded to have meditated there. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and looking down on the fast flowing river Beas, the lake can be approached via Drang. The temple was built in the thirteenth century and legend has it was built by a baby from a single tree. The lake has a floating island in it and it is said to be unclear how deep it is, with a diver not being able to determine its depth.[1]

Standing in the midst of mountains are an amazing lake and a beautiful temple. Many online resources have mentioned that the beauty of the lake has different phases in different weathers. Winter season provide a completely view from the one during summer season. I went during winter - 13th Dec 2015 when the area was covered in snow and the lake was alive in all the white fresh snow.One can reach here by two ways - either directly by an early morning bus ride to Prashar (the roads need to be clear of snow for this) or by a trek from Baggi village (buses available from Mandi bus station to Baggi village in morning).This is also possible to cover in one day if one leaves early and is able to do the trek quickly. In case you are not comfortable to do the trek, then pls buffer a day extra.There are options available to stay at the top - PWD rest house and some other constructed around the temple at Prashar lake. Camping is also possible during non winter weather.

This is the unexplored Parashar lake. Frozen in December-March period

One of the best places in Himalayas surrounded by mesmerizing beauty of nature.

Prashar Lake is approximately 45 kms from Mandi and 70 km from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. The Lake is located at a height of 2730 m (9000 ft) above sea level. With deep blue waters, the lake is held sacred to the sage Prashar and he is supposed to have meditated there. There is a three storied pagoda like temple dedicated to the sage Prashar. The temple was built in the thirteenth century. The lake has a floating island in it. It is said to be unclear how deep the lake is.The lake has a total circumference of 1.5 km. Set in the midst of lush green valley, the Prashar Lake appears like a gem of the valley. The place is a real treat for the nature lovers. The valley which is covered in greenery throughout the year, turns into completely white during winter when it snows heavily. The place is flooded with the tourists all the year round.

The road from here is a dirt track, passes through thick, dark but beautiful forest. There are a number of water crossings. You should not be surprised if you don’t see any human or vehicle for many miles. Though there are some small villages en route. Temple is around half a mile walk up the hill on a autumn burnt dry grass. The lake and temple area is maintained by a trust and is fenced all around with barbed wire. There are small iron gates to enter the area. After walking half a mile, the first glimpse of the lake and pagoda shaped temple is a pretty sight. After paying my respect at the temple, walked around the lake and went up a nearby hill. At one point, the hike and angle of the climb was such that I felt like falling and rolling down the hill on my back. There are two approaches for Prashar Lake. One is from the town of Mandi, from where you can start your journey to Prashar lake either by your own personal vehicle or hired cabs.

Overview:If a place untouched by a lot of tourists fascinates you & if you are an admirer of true natural beauty, then I would suggest you to visit Prashar Lake at least once. I had read a lot about this place, but was not really sure if I wanted to visit there or not. Finally we decided to visit the place in March 2016, which fortunately turned out to be one of our best & memorable trips so far, because of many reasons.Location Overview:Prashar Lake is situated 49 KM from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India, with a temple dedicated to the Sage Prashar. The lake is located at a height of 2730 meters above sea level & it is considered quite sacred to the Sage Prashar and he is regarded to have meditated there. The temple was built in the thirteenth century and legend says that, it was built by a baby from a single tree. Prashar Lake also has a floating island in it and it is said to be unclear how deep it is & divers were also not able to determine its depth.

1. Prashar Lake Trek

On our way back we visited one more special place known as Parashar lake, though it was not exactly planned but we thought the place need to be visited. The road leading to this lake trust me was not very easy, narrow roads with turns , unbuilt at some point but thrilling , adventurous. It is believed that the lake has its own mystical power and the sadhus or tapasvis go for their meditation in the depth of this lake. We also get to know from the locals that their original temple is within the same lake and nobody can guess the depth of that lake. Theweather of course was chilling we actually happen to walk among the clouds. The experience was simply amazing. The place not has to be some happing place ,even a small temple or a village can tell a great story and no ears can hear that story, no eyes can see that story without the zeal of a seeker, that's what I learned in this small yet beautiful place of Himachal.#TripotoTakeMeToHampta.

Lake on the top of mountain , seems one of the best views of himachal . there are many stories about this place and one strange thing is that round set of grass which is in lake moves , in morning  it will be on other side of the lake and by the end of the day it will be on another side .

The temple was built in the thirteenth century and legend has it was built by a baby from a single tree. The lake has a floating island in it and it is said to be unclear how deep it is, with a diver not being able to determine its depth. Mythology says that this lake was formed by Pandawas when they were on their way after Mahabharata with Deity Kamrunag (based on which this entire valley is known as Kamru Valley today) to find best place for their teacher, Dev Kamrunag and Deity love the isolation of this place so much that he decided to stay here for the rest of his life. On his request, Bheem one of the Pandava brothers formed the lake by pushing his elbow and forearm on the peak of the mountain. And that is the reason believed by locals after oval-shaped lake with depth unknown. Many a time in storms an almost 30-meter-tall cedar tree would fall into the lake to disappear.

#TripotoTakeMeToDeoriatal . Prashar Lake is a half hour drive from Kamand in Mandi . How to reach here cheap ? Go to IIT MANDI during their fest (Exodia) . Get a room for yourself by registering for any event ( Cheap Ones) . So you will be having a shared room for 3-4 days with meals included for as cheap as 1000 bucks and yes you get to see battle of bands for free . You can hire a taxi(500 on sharing ) or trek to Prashar Lake for free .

From there, head back to the Mandi bus stop and take either a bus or taxi to Baggi village. The taxi fare for one way is Rs 600, and for a round trip, they will charge you Rs 2000. You can also trek to Prashar Lake from Baggi. There is a small guesthouse near the lake, but you can also camp the night and then head back on foot the next morning.

Where: Situated in the Mandi District of Himachal, the trek to Parashar Lake begins from Baggi Village. To reach Baggi Village, take an overnight bus from Delhi to Mandi and then a taxi or local bus to Baggi Village.Trail: Start on the jeep trail from Baggi Village and stay on it for 40 minutes. Soon, you will come to a fork, from where you should take the route going right and start the steep ascent through the dense forest. The well-defined trail will guide you for four more hours, leading straight to Parashar Lake. The government guesthouse is temporarily closed, but there is enough space for you to pitch your own tent.Duration: 5-6 hours

We had to cover a mere 114km, so we all reclined and waded into a gentle pace enjoying the great roads and even better scenery around:

Named after the sage Prashar (father of Ved Vyas), Prashar Lake is said to be the place where the mighty sage meditated. In the 14th century, a pagoda was built by Raja Ban Sen, giving this isolated meditation spot religious and spiritual validation. Along with the beautiful lake, the specific area is also well known for the stunning panoramic view it gives of the entire valley.

The lake is slightly underwhelming but the wonderful architecture and position of the temple enhances the aesthetic of the place.

Best time to visit: December to AprilHow to reach: Take an overnight bus to Mandi, from there take a local bus to Baggi. The trek starts from Baggi and can take 4-6 hours depending on your speed.Trail: The trail to Prashar Lake starts from a rocky road, from which you later diverge to join the forest trail. In winter, there are patches of ice, which can make walking a bit tricky. The trek is slightly strenuous but absolutely stunning.

Located near Mandi,Himachal Pradesh is this hidden beauty on the mountain top. Away from the bustling city life spend a night to experience the serene life by having gentle conversation with the twinkling stars and get lost in your inner soul...With a trek of approx. 5km and its steep slopes, reaching the mountain top takes a toll and could take you from 6-8 hrs to reach the destination.Afraid !!! Don't worry...There is car service also available on hire if you think you can't make it to the top...#Tobecontinued

The place was just spectacular, serene beauty. The lake was surrounded all around by snow from all sides but ours. It had a magnificent temple near it dedicated to Parashar Rishi.

There are two ways to go to Parshar lake, first you take a bus directly from Mandi to Parshar, it leaves in the morning at 7.30 from Mandi bus stand for Parashar, or you take bus to Baggi Village and then you can trek to Parshar, it takes around 4 hours to reach parshar lake from Baggi village. I took the Morning bus and reached the lake by 12.30, all the bus rides are amazing in the Parvati valley as you see picturesque locations, beautiful mountains and lush green forests. I visited the Parshar temple and lake, it is a three storied pagoda temple dedicated to Rishi Parshar, and the lake is surrounded by mountains from all the four sides. I also had lunch there, in lunch i tried aloo Parathas in the temple canteen, it was really good and cheap, they only took 35 bucks for 2 parathas and a tea. It was the cheapest food that i had in whole Himachal. I would suggest to do this trek in winter as Mountains are covered in snow and the lake looks even more beautiful surrounded by white snowy mountains.

We got lost (or we thought we were lost) atleast half a dozen times during the trek (due to the lack of signs of course) but we kept making our way to the top. We could not see any signs of human contact with this part of the world.We walked for about 3 hours in absolute disarray, not knowing if we were headed in the right direction. Sometime after that, we reached a level plane ground and sat down to relax there. What we saw there would fill us with joy!We saw plastic wrappers and plastic bottles (even though I hate littering in the mountains, I was happy to see this) and we knew that we were on the right track because humans have been here!In another half hour, we could see electricity cables and huge electric poles. We remembered that the local had told us to reach that point and then continue following the cables.When we made it to the electric poles, we could finally see some kaccha houses, and knew we had finally contacted civilisation. It was another half hour to walk to the lake from here, we sat down for some time to take in the view.We had CLIMBED AN ENTIRE MOUNTAIN! We started at the bottom (the root of the mountain) and made it to the very top. Relaxed, took some pictures, had some water from the locals, and then walked to Parashar lake.The lake itself sees a normal amount of crowd (because we realised now that you can reach here by road, and families come here) but it was tranquil when we got here. Sat for some time by the lake, went to the temple to get blessings, and made our way to the cottage.There are only 2 cottages in Parashar (if you plan to stay here) so it is advisable to book in advance because room availability is always an issue. We took a room for one night, and the night was chilling! It was extremely cold (even in June). Cost 1000 INR for one night, which is expensive for the quality of rooms that we got.

The next day we packed up our shit, went to the Lake, climbed to the highest spot and relaxed there for some time, and then made our way back to Mandi.From Mandi, we took another local bus to Bir Billing for our next adventure!

trekking

Kheerganga, I fall short of words to describe the beauty, peace, serenity and tranquillity of the place, it’s around 15kms trek from Barsheni, beautiful meadow, surrounded by Snow clad mountains at approx 3000mts.Hot Spring and Star Gazing must do!!

Amazing Hot Water Spring.

Scenic Beauty, Amazing experiences, Cold Weather and hotsprings

October 24, 2015: On the second day, we had planned to go for the Kheerganga Trek (12km). This was my first ever trek. Being the most lazy person, this trek was a challenge. We geared up with all our essentials and headed to Barshaini, the starting point of the trek. We warmed up a little before starting our journey on foot. First 2-3km was not hard. After a while we entered to this view of lush green pines all around and I had my first encounter with the Himalayas. The view was breathtaking. Though my legs were tired of climbing, but something about the place kept me going. I forgot why I took this trip in the first place. Looking at the mountains and the beautiful trail ahead, I introspected and accepted the fact that while you're growing up you will make some friends and lose some. You can't keep blaming yourself for whatever happens. You just need to close that chapter and start a new one. And here I was, making new friends in the laps of The Himalayas.

KheergangaFinally, now comes the treat for your eyes. After all that struggle finishing the trek, the tranquility welcomes you. This picturesque beauty will delight your eyes and soul. The trek, your workout, your creaky calves and achy legs are all worth it!

Till now I have covered few places all of them though is a must visit but one most recent and memorable adventurous trip was to Kasol. Famously known as hippes paradise, heaven for few and many more names. Few people may feel like it does not have much places for sightseeing,but what it has is special, a serenity, a calmness, relaxed and laid back atmosphere. Not every place needs to have it all type , some just attract people through its simplicity. My travel to kasol was kind of relaxing and refreshing. I travelled with my friends. Kheerganga a very known place in kasol is famous for its rough and adventurous trek but what you experience when you reach the top is my friend what travel is about. Reaching top feels like an accomplishment , gives you happiness and to be honest the happiness cannot be much described in words.Camping, it was my first camping experience also, after a difficult trek we were a bit tired we went to pamper us a bit????. At the hill top there was this place for steam bath. We had a very relaxing time and then returned to our camps. We played cards had an amazing time singing laughing playing what else is needed. At night the place was even more amazing. It was raining not heavily but yes even the rain drops their gives a different experience . The more I stayed and enjoyed the weather the more I feel connected to the place.

I woke up around 7:00 am and had a cup of tea. After freshen up,i went to hot water spring with other companions (which i met during trekking upside). Thats the one of the best thing happened to any traveler. Water is very hot and very relaxing . i sat over there for around 1 hour and then visited kartika cave . They have closed it as there are few incident happened .

Kheerganga is located at a height of 13,051 feet above sea-level (3978 m) and trekking starts from Barshaini. We took a cab early morning from Kasol to Barshaini (Fare Rs700). Had our breakfast in a small cafe run by two very amicable ladies and their paranthas prepared in kadhai are simply awesome. Best paranthas I had in Kasol.And finally we started trekking. Trek can be quite challenging as its full of steep climbs on narrow trails. It takes around 4 hrs to reach the top.There will be around 3-4 halts in the trek, which are nothing but small cafes setups serving tea, maggie, momos, water bottles and more.After reaching mid-way, there is a huge mighty waterfall alongside a hanging wooden bridge with no railings at all. Once you cross it, the rest of the trek is straight dead steep climb with no patches of down slopes. That’s the most challenging part of the trek. On reaching the top, its lush green somewhat plain terrain with ice scattered all around in the background. Trek was finally over, we breathed a sigh of relief.One can easily complete the trek without the need of guides and sherpas. During the trek, you will cross a couple of villages where you will come across kids selling wooden sticks for a comfortable trek. Also, horses carrying goods up and down the path. That’s how a water bottle cost goes up to 50 rupees at the top, which is justified actually.On the top, one can find accommodation in common big tents with multiple mattresses placed and also angethis to keep the enclosure warm. Here, multiple groups can be seen ordering meals and taking rest. Also available are few rooms in a guest house, private rooms built with wooden walls and tin roofs. But our experience was not very pleasant with the room here as during the nigh, cold weather made us realize what small gaps between the constructed wooden walls can do with 3-4 layers of blankets on. However, cost was just 200/person which includes dinner and morning tea. They served rajma rice of good standard in dinner and black tea in the morning, black tea surprisingly tasted good and perfect to start a cold morning. Night experience was good, caretaker himself would call out all the travelers staying to a common place in open where one can find utensils and then you stand in a short queue in front of kitchen. And then you see groups dining near bonfire, some playing instruments and singing. Dining this way felt more authentic and close to nature. This place fills up fast no wonder.

It is an ideal destination for backpackers, trekkers, nature lover and adventure enthusiasts because of Kheerganga’s scenic beauty, untouched mountains and great climate. Moreover, the abstract blend of shade, greenery, activity and tranquility in Kheerganga can yield concrete advantages for people like convincing them to appreciate and preserve the old-grown forests for future generations.

Located in the Parvati Valley of Kullu district just 22kms away from Manikaran, is a beautiful place called Kheer Ganga. This is the place where ‘Kartik Ji’, the elder son of ‘Lord Shiva’ remained in ‘samadhi’ for thousands of years while they stayed on earth. Kheer Ganga is not only popular for its hot springs, but also for the holy River Parvati that surrounds the virgin forests of this place and gushes down mischievously through the verdant forests. The valley offers some amazing landscapes, forests, streams and complete solace. Definitely a must visit for any mountain lover.

After an hour of a bumpy bus ride to the base point Barsheni and 4 hours of trek through the picturesque villages and some breathtaking views, we were finally at the Shiva's place i.e Kheerganga. After making our tent and having lunch we were set to go the most awaited place that would be taking our pain of the trek away, the hot water spring.After spending about 2 hours in the sulphur spring talking how heavenly it felt being there we came back to our tents. Campfire and cards below the million stars was the last thing we did before going to sleep.

A little trekking through the dense forests of the Kullu District will lead you to the amazing Kheerganga hot springs. The temperature of the springs here is lower than at Manikaran, but this is exactly what makes it worthy of a natural Jacuzzi. Just what you need after a long trek, it’s a natural spa. It attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world. Maybe it will attract you too..

Where: Situated in the Kullu District of Himachal, the Kheerganga Trek begins from Barshaini or Tosh. To reach Barshaini, take an overnight bus or train from Delhi to Bhuntar and then a taxi or local bus to Barshaini or Tosh.Route: The total distance of the trek is 15km and it is fairly easy in the first half. After you cross the first dhaba on the route, the trail gets steeper. The mid-point of the trek is Nakthan Village, which also a great place to stop. Definitely carry a raincoat, but a tent and cooking items are not essential since there are enough options to eat and stay at Kheerganga. A few metres from where the trek ends is a Shiv Temple with a hot water spring, which is a great place to unwind.Duration: 5-6 hours

The trek to Kheer Ganga is around 12 kilometeres from the base Barshaini. From the base, one way goes to Tosh and other to Kheer Ganga and Mantalai lake (the origin of Parvati river). There is a sweet shop (the only one), try Rasgullas of there, we just loved them.Also, a tip for the pros, just check out the trek of Mantalai lake, which is 82 kilometer from Barshaini each way, and that is definitely gonna be the next trek I would go on. Imagine trekking for 6 days straight, mostly alongside the river, or in the core jungle, sleeping in the tents, eating the minimal food available. This is my kind of trek I can say.Anyways back to the trek we actually went on. (:D)First 6 kilometers were easy. We had fun on the way, stopping wherever we wished to, clicking pictures and just laughing the hours away. After 6 kilometers, there were some cafes where we had our lunch. Try the daal and butter roti there, they serve it deliciously good. It was cold, but the day was sunny which I actually slept sunbathing in.

Kheerganga is nature's dual personality, personified. On one hand the air is freezing cold. But getting half naked in that weather is worth it when what awaits is an oasis of perfectly, naturally heated water that flows out of the mountain into a pool of sorts, to slowly ease away the aches and pains you have to endure to get there. It’s easy to lose track of where you are when you’re in 5-star comfort like that. I even began to wonder why the girls were taking so long to join us until I realised we were in a holy place and not some friends farmhouse Jacuzzi. The girls section is separate (favourable since my summer body was on winter break). However, all good things have to end and unfortunately, this ended with going back to the biting cold air outside the cosy water. 

We started our trek with a hearty breakfast. The next stop we took was the Rudranag Waterfall. The beautiful waterfall was situated right next to a temple. After this the trek gets a tad bit difficult. We managed to reach the top with a good pace. On reaching, the view was incredible, we were surrounded by surreal mountains on all sides. With the help of our guides, we pitched our tents near the hot spring and took a relaxing bath. The water was amazing. I felt completely relaxed. My dad and I fell silent. The first dip in that boiling water was extremely peaceful. I roamed around, scouting for a location to take good photos of the night sky, and found that the place was completely packed. At least 50 people had no place to stay. They had to sleep in the restaurants and Cafes. As the sun went down right in between the mountains, creating different hues on the mountains that surrounded us, the real party started. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the milky way but the Stars gave us a feeling that I can't possibly convert into words. But, our peace wasn't long-lived after a group of 'cool' 'men' decided to start a fire behind our tent. They were screaming and shouting at the top of their lungs. Alcohol made matters worse. I felt this weird rage inside myself which wanted to teach them a lesson but I decided otherwise. Kheer ganga is a HOLY place, a place of religious significance to many. Please do NOT disturb the sanctity of the place. It is not a lounge, not the best place to play loud music. But, the best part was the attitude of the locals. I talked to the locals and they too were hurt to see what was happening to their home. Ignoring those idiots, we sang prayers for a few hours and slepy in our tents.

Around 3:00 PM we started our trek and there was a sure chance of rain and we have to do trek in night which does not sound great. We were walking, resting for a while then again start walking. The roaring sound of a Parvati river can be easily heard through out the trek. And then Bridge over the river came and crossing that we are on another mountain. Crossing every milestone and walking on the correct path we reached Kheerganga in dark around 9:00 PM , tired, hungry , just want only sleep and food also chai….Night in Kheerganga was so different then we expected, it was surrounded by the snow-capped mountains and songs like “bum bum bhole” were the only sound in the valley, people were chilling, rolling joints, drinking… but we can`t enjoy our night due to our tiredness.

Finally, we reached the top of Kheer Ganga trek and we had accomplished the alluring view of the Parvati Valley. The feeling was different and all the dialogues just came as a flash in the mind (main bhagna chahta hoon, main girna bhi chahta hu bas rukna ni chahta naina.....). The happiness was just relaxing and view just vanished all the fatigue of trekking. It was refreshing and enthusiasm was at its peak at that time.What happened next will be continued in next part......"Life is full of surprises , why not surprise life with such accomplishments.Doing things you want to do will always lead you to happiness and a better life."

In the previous blog, I made you go through my journey till Kheerganga trek now we will look what happens in rest of the Manali trip.

After a 14 km trek from Tosh, part of it being a walk in the park and part of it making me realise that getting my rucksack along for the trek was huge mistake. Kheerganga has panoramic skies and vast greenery, which is a much needed delight to the eyes and especially the tired legs. It's not just the destination though, en route to Kheerganga you will cross many waterfalls and bridges that might be your last step ever, the tremendous river flow and its thunderous sound do instil some fear into your heart about how strong mother nature really is. Once you get to the top though, there is nothing that feels better than a hot spring bath after walking 14 km, trust me, nothing. Take in everything that Kheerganga has to offer!Getting There:The Kheerganga trek starts from Barshaini and Tosh. You first need to get to Bhunter and then from the to Tosh Getting to Bhunter:From Delhi getting to Bhunter takes 14 hours approx. Start from the ISBT Kashmere Gate, you can reach the ISBT via metro, auto, bus or taxi from pretty much anywhere in Delhi.Getting to Tosh :From Bhuntar it is a 4 hour bumpy bus ride that shouldn't cost more that 100+ Rs or a Taxi that should take 1000 to 1200 Rs. Now when you take the bus it will only take you up to Barshaini (Bar-che-ni) from where you will have 2 options, take a cab that will cost 200 Rs or walk for around an hour across the hills to get to Tosh. Walk, trust me, walk. There is no better way to explore the Kheerganga trek. The trek:The kheerganga trek is 14-15 km long and is an easy walk in the park for the first 7 km but after you cross the first dhaba the Kheerganga trek can become a little more demanding especially if you are carrying a bag or if it rains, which in my case was both.One can finish the Kheerganga trek in 5-6 hours and there in no need for a porter or a guide on this trek. There's so many places on the way you'd want to just 'chill' for a while though and it might just take you a little more time if you stop at each one of those.Staying There:Kheerganga has plenty of places to stay and accommodation is rarely a problem.The rates may vary from 500 Rs a night to a mere 100 Rs a night at the 'Ashram' built on top.You can chose from brick or wooden houses to tents depending upon how much time you want to spend inside a room in beautiful valley and how comfortable you want to sleep at night.One can even carry there own tents and set them where ever they wish to which would save a lot on accommodation expenses, only if you're there for more than a week though.Food:As it is in most of Himachal, there's many foreign tourist in Kheerganga and one can find a variety of cuisines over there.Moderate price and alright taste would give the cafe's of Kheerganga 3 out of 5 stars.The one thing you'd love to do there is just sit and sip hot drinks, tea, coffee and other things people prefer consuming hot are the biggest sellers at all the cafes.Places to visit around:Many people travel to Kheerganga as it has a temple of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the hot water spring there is considered to have medicinal properties. The night sky that gives you a panoramic view of the outer milky way a treat you must not miss.

Riding on smooth narrow roads in the middle of huge blocks of snow

The road leading to Baralacha La is a wide, two-laned, extremely smooth highway. The boys took the opportunity to rip and were out of our sight until the next break. We ambled along, soaking in the beauty of the now deserted road, something that would not change all the way till Tanglang La. Deepak Tal was as green as ever, it even boasted of a dhaba now! The SASE post at Patseo is always a pretty sight with those colorful tents and so is the military base just ahead. The climb for Baralacha La began, and for a change it was a pleasure to begin a climb a high-altitude pass, unlike the dreaded Rohtang. The next scheduled break was just before the dreaded nallah for a cuppa.

At the BaralachLa pass (16,040 ft) we cross the Great Himalaya range. It crosses the greatest and the highest mountain range in the world.

Bara-Lacha La:​16040ft It is a high mountain pass at 16040ft above sea level in Zanskar range connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, situated 75kms after Keylong. The best way to start the trip is to take a stopover at Jispa. The pass is open from June to November and for the rest of the year it is under heavy snow. The snowfall in the regions around Baralacha la is said to be round about 12-14m. So you can expect to see snow covered walls on the side of the pass . And in fact it’s a valley on snow since you will find snow as far as your eyes can see. Expect symptoms of AMS during the ride.

End point of our journey, place with amazing view of snow laden peaks. We found fresh snow here and that just made the trip even more amazing !

Almost perennially covered with snow, the Baralacha Pass is at an unearthly altitude of 4850 meters above sea level. It is just a few kilometers above Sooraj Tal, which is the origin of river Bhaga that meanders through the Lahaul valley. Visit Deepak Tal, a small lake, enroute to Sooraj Tal and Baralacha La from Keylong.

After a steep ascent we finally reached the second out of five mountain passes. Baralacha La pass at an elevation of 16,500 ft. connects Lahaul and Ladakh. There were a number of colourful prayer flags here (just like all other passes) and also many stacks of stones. On enquiring, our driver informed that this practice is done for good luck and fortune.

At 16,540 ft, stood the mighty Baralacha La (La means Pass). The snow that covered road and lower reaches had all melted during summers. There was a slight disappointment in me for not being able to view the renowned “white valley” and frozen Suraj Taal (glacial lake at Baralacha La). As a customary gesture I stepped out to get myself photographed at the colorfully decorated Baralacha top. But the moment I came out of the car, I felt like being snap frozen for a couple of moments. At 6°C temperature and 12Km/hr wind speed. I was unable to move. I still wonder if it was 6°C or -6°C. Getting photographed at that moment was nothing less than some punishment. Just 5-6 minutes of movement, left both of us huffing and puffing. We immediately restored fluids and glucose in our body. And descended towards Bharatpur.

7. Baralacha La

At 4 am we were up and ready to move ahead.. Everyone was ready with breakfast provided by guesthouse for journey. We started from there and came jispa.. A heavenly place on heaven.. A campers paradise,All around it was tents and tents only. Then I thought we must at least camp at least for 1-2 days on this trip. Which happened later on the trip. Bus was continuously moving to altitude, we were feeling the low oxygen, everyone was just sleeping, chewing chocolates and drinking water. Suddenly it was like cloudy all around. Then conductor told us that we are about to reach BaralachaLa paas and it may rain heavily. But wow we crossed 4-5 serpentine roads and were at much altitude that it was snowfall. For me it was 1st snowfall of my life. We couldn't resist to go out there. Stopped bus for 3-4 mins only as it was really getting tougher to walk in such a low oxygen. But it was awesome view altogether. After this paas descent started and we were seeing those icecaped mountains. All around snow was blowing with the wind but it looked like as cloudy. Just what we wanted on a memorable trip. After descending almost for 1000 feets we stopped at a small snacks center in the middle of nowhere. But there was snowfall, ice-cold wind blowing our minds out, sun shining, a river and a rainbow. We and everyone on our bus decided to just stop there only. I could never forget that place ever in my life. I have heard earlier and also read in blogs that weather changes every minute in that region. But it was all weather at a single place, I was just awestruck by the beauty of that place. We had some Maggie, parontha(parathe) and chai over there. And moved on for next paas.

Baralacha La was the next hurdle. The treacherous pass was cloaked in a blanket of fog when we set out to conquer it. It was one of the scariest moments of our drive - inching forward against the rain and mist on a ramshackle path cut through snowy peaks. Often the road was only wide enough to accommodate one vehicle at a time. Once, we had to reverse our vehicle and park it on the edge of a canyon to allow an oncoming truck to pass. All the fear gave way to awe when we reached Jispa - an enchanting valley flushed to life in the recent downpour. And then came Tandi, the point where all the vehicles plying that route filled up their tanks because the next petrol bunk was a whopping 365 km away!

Because I was travelling a lot, I started writing about my experiences & documenting my journeys on my GoPro. I started sharing them on social platforms and got fairly popular among my friends & fellow travellers. This is when I started my own website - http://www.roadshaman.com. I upload all my travel stories, pictures & videos here. So yeah, that was my story. Coming back to my passion; what really drives me to quit jobs, spend all my savings, fight with my parents/friends to go on these trips? The answer is simple - 1) The Zen: This is the obvious one. Almost all my life decisions have been taken while riding on an open road in the middle of nowhere. All my worries take a back seat & I am actually at peace with myself when I am on my motorcycle. The long rides give me ample time to think about everything that matters in a more relaxed state.

We left the Zing Zing bar at around 7:30 am for the rustic and remarkable city of Leh. Enjoy the high mountain pass of Baralach la with the view of snow hugging the sides of the road. Get a mandatory click at Tanlang La Pass which is known (though incorrectly) for being the world’s second highest motorable pass.

Making our way to BaralachLa we crossed Darcha and Zingzing Bar. Darcha is the last permanent settlement on this route, Once here you may have enthralling treks in this region, amongst all the Darcha-Padum trek is the most popular. Zingzing Bar isone of the highest roadside bars in the world- a resting ground of the army and the tourists.

Patseo - Baralacha La - Killing Sarai (45kms, 5-6hrs)We started early from patseo after having a relaxing breakfast near Deepak tal. The view here is absolutely mesmerizing. Uphill from patseo toward zing zing bar is a little steep and you will slow down as the ride isn't well constructed.

2. BARALACHA LA MOUNTAIN PASS

On reaching Baralacha la, we were greeted by cold breezes that were bent upon massacring our faces; it was becoming difficult to move forward. The sudden increase in altitude combined with changed weather and less than satisfactory condition of the bike, initially, made it difficult for us to move. But we pushed ourselves and reached Zing Zing Bar.