How does it feel to get acquainted with the ancient highlands of the Himalayas and in due course, getting an opportunity to peep into the plethora of cultural amalgamation of the uncharted terrains of the Himachal? From the cultural crossover of the Geyu Mummy to the unbiased grandeur of the Himalayan valleys, there is a certain sense of each one’s exclusiveness to this land. The serenity of the distant lakes of Chandratal or the gut-wrenching passage of Malling Nala takes you on a hike to your deepest human emotions. Sitting at a lone monastery amidst the vast expanse of the Spiti Valley lets you realize how One hundred years of solitude feels like does.
Himachal Pradesh boasts of its diverse terrains ranging from lush green valleys to barren white deserts; each one depicting unique emotional changes. You always take back something with you every time you pay a visit here. Himachal Pradesh is not only about tourism. It is a way of life.
We will be picked from Chandigarh for our way to Shimla. The day is meant for getting accustomed with the climate and the place by strolling at around the local area, gorging on local cuisine for dinner and an early sleep at the hotel room in Shimla for night stay.
We plan on visiting the picturesque village of Chitkul today; at a height of 9000 ft. Rampur can be a pit stop for lunch. Basking on the natural charisma, this place is a charm for itself as we explore through the village; getting familiar with the local inhabitants and their culture. Camping in the evening is all we can have as a perfect stay at Chitkul.
After an early breakfast, today is all about enjoying the village on foot and getting familiar with the local way of life. Our lunch at the camp will set our time for the next journey to the picturesque Sangla valley. The Batseri village, Baspa River, the dam, Bering Nag Temple among others are some interesting points to discover. The evening will be spent on staple dinner and serene night stay at Sangla.
We leave for the Kamru Fort as soon as we have our breakfast. An hour distance from Sangla, the welcoming brass door of the fort is a marvelous instance of ancient engineering. We continue our journey to the exotic Kalpa. The Kinnaur belt with its magnificent grandeur will greet us to the valley. Roaming around the lanes and getting accustomed to the local culture are the experiences to take back. A lovely dinner and the necessary rest shall be ideal for the body and mind to stay in sync for the night at Kalpa.
Today we will take the less travelled roads of the Himachal after a light breakfast. Our first destination is Khab, located at the confluence of the Spiti and the Satluj River. Khab is the gateway to Spiti Valley. We will take a pit stop, however, at Nako Lake for lunch. Gear up for the dangerous crossing at the Malling Nala after Nako. Taking the necessary permission from the Sumdo police, we will visit the Geyu village to witness one 500-year-old mummy, the folklore of which is intriguing. We will finally reach Tabo for our overnight stay and dinner.
We will have a brunch today before leaving for the Dhankar Village. The main attraction is the Dhankar Lake, situated at an elevation of 13,570 ft in the middle of the mountains. The Dhankar Monastery sheds an input on the way of living of the local inhabitants. We continue our journey through the barren stony terrain for 5 hours till we reach the Mud Village, where fooding and lodging for the night will be pre-arranged.
By admiring the less traveled roads of Kaza after early breakfast, we will be on our way to view the Chau Chau Kau Nelda peak from Langza, also known for its magnificent statue of Buddha, looking down at the valley. Tang Gyud monastery is also a must visit as it is the highest monastery in the Spiti Valley. However, to avoid the commotions of Kaza, we shall take the more secluded Losar which is about 2.5 hours drive from Kaza if we get manageable accommodation in Losar or else, we will stay for the night at Kaza.
Today’s destination is Chandratal, via the Kunzum Pass. Located at an altitude of 4300 meters, this crescent-shaped lake is arguably Himachal Pradesh’s most picturesque lake. We can trek through 8 KM from the Kunzum Pass to reach the Lake. Provisions for fooding and lodging are available at the campsite, 2.5 km from the lake where we will settle for an overnight stay near Chandratal.
Once breakfast is done, a hectic yet experiential holiday is almost coming to its end especially when our chauffeur will drive us back to Manali, through the Rohtang pass. But, this 7-8 hour drive will be unforgettable. The road through Battal, Chattru and Gramphu is unparalleled in its beauty and risk. Once we reach Manali late in the evening we must have our dinner and tuck in for an early sleep at the hotel room at Manali.
After an early light breakfast, we will straightway start our journey to Chandigarh airport/ railway station with scenes passing by the window and memories singing the tunes of the trip.
At zerodegreel
every moment will someday make you look back and want to experience it all over again.
