After waking up to one of the most beautiful mornings that I've ever seen and witnessing some of the most memorable and breathtaking scenery, I decided that it was time to go for a morning walk and explore the quaint little village of Kalpa. For the first time in forever, I didn't have any morning commitments, responsibilities and time constraints. I had the whole morning and the whole day to myself. I had the perfect opportunity to travel like a nomad, explore every nook and cranny of the village, listen to the sounds of the winds and the clouds and the songs of the birds, discover hidden trails and witness the majestic sights of the Himalayas from many high and isolated vantage points.
The School Playground
As it was my last day in Kalpa and I spent most of the previous day enjoying the views of the glittering snow-capped peaks of the Kinnaur Kailash range of the Himalayas ( And trust me, you can never get bored of it!) and feasting on the delicious noodles, mutton momos and thukpas, I decided to go on a sightseeing tour today and visit all the tourist attractions in and around Kalpa. My plans were ruined quicker than they were made when the caretaker of my hotel informed me that in Kalpa, all the handicraft shops ( I really wanted to buy some local Kinnauri shawls and caps) and the school ( obviously, duh) remained closed on Sundays. But, he said with a beaming smile on his face that I could walk to the famous Suicide Point and the Roghi Village, located at a distance of 6 kilometers from Kalpa.
With a feeling of disappointment in my heart, I went to have breakfast. The hot bowl of Thukpa and the delicious mutton momos cheered me up and with a belly full of my favorite comfort food, my zeal for travelling was also back.
A hot bowl of mutton ThukpaMutton Momos
The caretaker of my hotel told me that there were two paths in the village that take you to the main highway that connects Kalpa to Roghi. Inspired by Robert Frost, I took the road less traveled by, that passes through the woods, and that made all the difference.
There are some very big reasons because of which I always choose and prefer off-beat locations over popular tourist destinations. Apart from the huge crowds, the loud noises and the heavy commercialization associated with such places, the other reason for me preferring remote lands over popular destinations is the heavy littering done in these places by tourists. On the road to Roghi, I noticed that this practice of littering and polluting the environment has also started affecting Kinnaur. This deeply saddened me and I would strongly advise all those reading this blog post to learn effective waste management practices and stop polluting this beautiful planet. It is already over-polluted.
This needs to Stop
Surrounded by the snow capped peaks of Mount Kailash and the mighty Kinnaur Kailash Mountain range and lush green forests of pine trees, the road to Roghi was adorned with panoramic views and majestic landscapes. The Suicide Point on the way to Roghi will satiate the inner-adventurer and thrill-seeker in you. This enthralling journey to Roghi mesmerized my eyes and filled my heart with buckets of peace and tranquility and still, I kept yearning for more.
On my way to RoghiSuicide Point
The picturesque village of Roghi is one of the best places to visit in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Nestled in the Himalayas, Roghi is an off-beat destination and it is a perfect spot for travelers to relax, recharge and rejuvenate their minds and souls in the laps of nature.
If Kalpa was the extroverted popular elder sibling then Roghi was her shy and introverted younger sister. A visit to Kinnaur is incomplete without experiencing the unadulterated and pristine beauty of this isolated and hidden village.
After soaking in all the views and sights that my eyes could find and my heart could capture and getting my nostrils filled with the fresh mountain air and the scent of the pine trees, I bid goodbye to this scenic little village. This visit to Roghi was completely unplanned and was only made possible because the caretaker of my hotel strongly recommended it. And this is why it is so important to connect to the locals when you travel somewhere and earn your welcome in their humble abode.
I thanked Thakur ji ( the caretaker of my hotel) for everything that he had done for me during my stay in Kalpa. His reply moved me and even today, I fondly remember those words.
"Be Good and Kind to Everyone around you. In return, most of them will be good and kind to you and for those who are not, it doesn't matter. It brought you peace and happiness and that's all that matters"