India has its best secrets hidden in some of the most unexpected spots on the map. From one destination to another, there's an invisible stretch of the road connecting two towns. But there are always stories waiting for you when you hit the brakes in the middle of a road trip.
Here's where I found my story waiting.
A second Chandigarh in the lap of Himalayas.
On my roadtrip from Kaza to Recong Peo, after an hour's drive from Sichling, the driver narrated a rather interesting anecdote. It was about the hidden Chandigarh of Himachal Pradesh.
Here's the incredible story of this town.
During the 1962 Indo-China War, the people of the village of Lapcha were told to vacate their houses and make way for the military basecamp to be setup in their village.
The Indian government promised to relocate the locals of Lapcha near Chandigarh along with the offer of the best monetary compensation.
But the decision of the people of Lapcha brought an amazing twist to the story.
The people of the village adhered to the decision of the government as dutiful citizens but at the sametime decided to relocate their houses down the valley near the Spiti river.
If we believe the popular anecdote,
The people of Lapcha told the officials that the only thing they know is how to grow apples. Instead of relocating the village to a completely new terrain in Chandigarh, they chose to move down the valley near the river.
THEY NAMED THIS NEW VILLAGE CHANDIGARH.
Now if you stop by at this small town, intrigued by the confusion owing to its name, you'll witness the green orchards with ripe apples in the month of September. The village people, over the years, have worked hard to keep their word with the government.
Here's a view of a house in Chandigarh with apples waiting for you in the veranda.
Stories overwhelm and when discovered on the road they often bring new meanings to your journey.
Leaving you now with a story to remember and something more..
Like the story? Share it.