 When I thought about Lahaul , memories of tiring long journeys over Rohtang Pass haunted me most. Yet never had I stopped in the valley to explore like I had done to other Trans-Himalayan region of Spiti , Ladakh or even remote Johar valley. As it was written , finally in March 2021 , I did take my time out to visit Lahaul and explore a bit parts of it.  HIMACHAL PUBLIC BUSES AND ITS BEAUTIFUL HIGHWAYS.  ROADS TO LAHAUL BY CHANDRABHAGA RIVER.  ROADTRIPS BY BIKE OR SCOOTY ALSO POSSIBLE FROM MANALI VIA THIS HIGHWAY. Overshadowed by the popularity of Ladakh and Spiti , the valley of Lahaul nestled between this two held on to it's beauty and secrets for long. The rough and long ride over Rohtang and inaccessibility in the winter's due to high snow made it a affair only chosen by few. While posts on social media is filled with Spiti and Ladakh, and it's popularity surging everyday, Lahaul remains the exclusive place. The offbeat small villages with some of the head turning views all around from your drive , surely etches a long-term unforgettable memory in the heart. With time obviously , Lahaul will gain it's popularity , which is why I would recommend, if you want to visit it's authenticity, this is the time.  ENTRY TO LAHUAL VALLEY.  VILLAGES OF LAHAUL ON THE WAY.  THE TOWN OF KEYLONG CENTRE TO LAHAUL VALLEY. The expenses in Lahaul are a bit higher due to it's harsh weather and climate making it hard for people to operate hospitality business. Yet it doesn't boil a hole in your pocket. Worth it if you ask me the views you see. Prime centres of attraction and stat are Keylong and Sissu. Keylong is like the regional capital of the valley with a stretched town in the laps of ragged green less mountains of Lahaul. Almost all facilities can be found here and there are monasteries to visit around making it a perfect destination to stop. The religion of Lahaul is primarily Tibetan Buddhism , so such similarities with Spiti and Ladakh is easy to discover and find.  BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES NEAR KEYLONG.  LANDSCAPE OF KEYLONG AND SURROUNDING.  PRETTY COLOURS OF KEYLONG TOWN. The most attractive village and travel hotspot of Lahual Currently will be Sissu. Nestled in one corner of a huge valley where Chandrabhaga flows breaking the mountains , this small village is perfectly positioned as a painting in the huge canvas that Lahaul landscape provides. Honestly speaking , you can't stop clicking pictures while being here. Hotels , guest houses and homestay are available , but less in number for best service it is advisable to prebook. But if it's not weekend , one can find a good deal while being there. Sissu has Beautiful forests that look entirely alien to the general landscapes of India, and are often compared to exotic foreing destinations. It is sad , that half of us have such trouble to believe that India itself in it's various forms could be so beautiful that we don't need to compare. All in all Sissu is a must if you're in Lahaul.  THE VILLAGE OF SISSU WITH MIGHTY MOUNTAINS IN BACKDROP.  PRIVATE HOUSES OF LOCALS AMIDST BEAUTIFUL FOREST.  THE OLD FOREST DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF SISSU SET AMIDST EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL FOREST. The road from Manali to Lahaul is another Adventure altogether , as we go through a very talked about Atal Tunnel in Solang valley. One can see what man and his machines can achieve when they see such a creation. The journey to Sissu which took around 7 hours over Rohtang now takes only 3 hours roughly. All thanks to the massive tunnel that cuts through the Dhauladhar range and opens to other side of the valley. The road in Lahaul is smooth for now , as has been created recently , and the drive is one of the prettiest road trip you will ever take. People like us would just walk long on the road, to click some great shots of the terrain. Hitchhiking is possible as the people of Lahaul are kind and warm from heart.  MAINTAINING THE IMPORTANT AND TREACHOROUS ROADS OF LAHAUL.  PEOPLE OF LAHUAL GOING FOR WORK. I would definitely need to go back and explore more of it's exclusivity, with time and energy. For now I just let's say , read the preface of the book that awaits my arrival. But knowing my travelers how would they so want to discover this hidden sides of Lahaul I am already running road trips here. 3 Night 4 Days Roadtrip is at 5000 INR per person. For more information on that, you can directly message me. To imagine what to expect from the road trip, you can check out my full video of Lahaul in my YouTube channel TOUR GUIDE JOURNAL. Click here   For people from the sun scorching plains of India , winter strikes to be the most magical time. A time when pleasant weather sweeps in the plain, and the snowfall changes the known landscapes into extraordinary sights. So today I am remembering my first winter in Himalayas back In 2014. Working as a trek leader for an adventure organisation , I was stationed in the region of Dalhousie , Himachal Pradesh, for two long months of peak winter season. While trekking in such environment has a lot of physical stress, but the memories made, are surely beyond what can be termed " beautiful ". Walking through hard snowfall , leading batches after batches has a toll on your knees. Layers of skin burn due to the sub zero cold and dampness all around, with fingers and feet having the risk of blood clotting and eventually frost bite. But with such risk and hard work comes the ethereal views of landscapes , that I was lucky enough to capture with my basic digital camera. Check them out and the stories with it.  In the small wildlife sanctuary of Kalatop, nestled in Dhauladhar range above Dalhousie , I was stationed for a month. This was my little cottage. Built during the colonial times with Deodar trees ( Silver fir ) , it was warm inside for the nights. However continuous snowfall kept everything wet and damp, and the fire place could not be used. I could easily call this one of the best homes , I have had my fortune to stay in.  Walking out of the sanctuary , one could reach a tiny hamlet of temporary settlement. During the summer months when snow was no where , this is used by people of nearby region. A nearby Hindu temple which gets opened in summer , brings flocks of tourist , and makes this hamlet the perfect trade post. In the winter , the snow claims there empire , leaving the houses and giving a feel of haunted hamlet.  Even the most ordinary of landscapes turn magical , as snow spreads its wings around. A seating around the corner in the village which might be overlooked in any other times, becomes a perfect spot to romanticize and miss someone you love. How I wish , I had her beside me to sit, and sip in a hot cup of coffee. Tell me who would you like to have with you , in such a magical place?  Khajjiar is a very crowded tourist spot throughout the year. Its rolling green meadows and velvet touched pine forest depicts a reflection of Swiss Alps according to Indian tourists. Hence it is always flocked by herds of tourist all the time except winter. Winter means roads are often closed due to the high snowfall , and only those like us who has a love for hiking can reach here. The green gives away to white , the famous lake freezes and people can walk over it easily but carefully. A fantasy world is created hence forth, with not much people to disturb you, you might just feel you have walked in Narnia. Such is the beauty of winters.  Heavy snowfall is a common occurance in the high Himalayas. At times with in four to five hours the snow can reach six to ten feet. In such a case, everything is stranded on the road for next few days untill the authorities come to open up. If you are a person who has no much obligations in life , like me , you will have a good time. Or else for people with a limited time in hand for vacation might get stuck and find themselves in knee deep problems , with knee deep snow!  However hard life may be , winter is just fabulous. Personally it is my favourite season. A season when you see the nature has let go of everything , embraced an ending , only to begin anew. Movies like Frozen and Narnia , has always stirred a beautiful picture of winter in mind, and being in India , it is easy to have a budget experience of such a fantastic season. If you are in love with winter , awaiting snowfall or planning to make a magical unforgettable memory like me , do use the next four months from December to March , to fulfill yourself. For any kind of advises or to plan a tour , you can always hit me up. Also write about your favorite memory from winter , I would be glad to know.   As more and more , travel industry is driven by social media , most travelers choose their next destination from pictures of other travelers and friends over Instagram and such handles. While it is a good way to promote such places, this also does not keep the destinations elusive anymore. You are expected to have crowds of other people , while visiting such a place . Yet to the blessing of huge range of Himalayas , some hidden hamlets and villages still hold on to their exclusivity. They are yet not, too much famous, in their reputation, and I chose to list five of them , for those who seek to go beyond the known trails. Check out if you have been to any one of this.  TONGLU - WEST BENGAL Falling on the border of India and Nepal , Tonglu is my personal favorite. With majestic Kanchenjunga , world's third highest mountain looming large on the background , this village has some mind blowing landscapes around. Its just four houses in this village and settled atop a hill , pretty isolated from the rest of the world. With the chilling cold temperature round the year , Tonglu is a respite for summer and heat always. In the winter , snowfall, makes it beautiful and cold in both ways. Falling near Darjeeling , it can be reached by car or foot . For more information to plan a vacation here, ping me directly.  THACHI - HIMACHAL The village is well kept secret of central Himachal, and though the state continues to grow in its fame of tourism , Thachi still holds on to its elusive characteristics of being unknown. Though Accessible by public transportation , the nature is still raw and well kept here. Most tourist know of Tirthan and by pass the turn that needs to be taken on Aut - Rampur highway to turn towards Thachi. It is of your choice where you want to venture, but if you want to visit somewhere with almost no tourist along with you, then this is highly recommended. Addition to the beautiful nature, the culture here is highly rich , and amazing food delicacies such as SIddu can be found to adore the taste of locals. Also for travelers who might want to hike around , amazing temple tops as Churdhar Mahadev makes a place from where one can get uninterrupted views of panaromic Himalayas. To know more , of course of this village , do message me directly.  OSLA - UTTARAKHAND Legend has it , that this village has a temple dedicated to Duryodhana , the leader of Kauravas , from the epic Mahabharata. And the residents of this village are some of his descendants. But as all legends are , there is no proof to it, and the temple in the village indeed beautiful and striking in looks, is said to be of Lord Shiva , by the local residents. The temple door only opens during the annual fair which takes place in monsoon here, and thus the controversy remains. Hidden in the North western frontier of Uttarakhand , beyond reach of any transportation, this village is also gateway to a lot of amazing hikes and treks. A little tricky and time consuming to reach here , yet the journey and destination , totally captivates the mind and heart of all travelers that dare to go here. To plan a trip here, let me know.  GRAHAN - HIMACHAL PRADESH A lesser known village in otherwise very famous Parvati valley , Grahan , in my view, is the most beautiful village of the valley , yet very less frequented. May be due to its accessibility only on foot, and no transportation makes it elusive as it is. The village still holds true to its customs and traditions and houses constructions that are two hundred years or more old. Surrounded by green mountains with snow during winter , Grahan is perfect to spend week , just detached from the outside world. Lonliness can never crop in , as the locals are very friendly and mingling with them is very easy. Activities here would range from hiking around forest, finding amazing waterfalls to take a bath in on sunny day. Evenings to mingle with other travelers and smoke some of the best hash in world. Interested ? You know whom to connect for a plan.  KANAK CHAURI - UTTARAKHAND A very well kept secret of Uttarakhand, Kanak Chauri is situated in Rudraprayag distric. It is famous for its views of Himalayalan ranges , specially Chaukhamba that stands tall in the background. As it is connected with public transportation , reaching here is easy and weekend trips from Delhi suits perfectly. For travelers who wants to beat the rush , this place is ideal as hardly tourist know about this. Also for those who love hiking , the Kartik swamy temple sitting atop a hill , just 3 kilometres walk from the village is most amazing. One can enjoy the panaromic views of Himalayas from here, with 22 high peaks including Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nilkanth , Jankut , Kedardome , Chaukhamba and such visible from here easily. Travelers also stay in homestay and mingle with locals and walk around in the green farms around the village to see the true life of Garhwal Himalayas. To know more about this place or to plan a visit , do consult with me.  There are many more such beautiful villages in every corner of regions of Himalayas. My list is here, on the basis that I have been to all this places , and have never seen, much Instagram post or a hash tag on or from this place. If you know of such cool places or hidden villages, do leave the name in comment box, as I too , seek for more of such beauties.  The grand mountains of Himalayas always welcome change , and it is here throughout a year we see starling differences as one season gives way to another. As the post monsoon season is upon us , the Autumn has officially arrived , and with this season , some hikes and treks look better than the others. With clear sky , more sunshine than any other time of the year , September to November is the perfect time to climb some trails to view undisturbed views of some world renowned summits and move towards its base , to spend a grand time with the famous mountains. Here is a list of hike and treks you should choose to do for best experience in Autumn.  1. Sandakphu Trek. Situated in the borders of West Bengal in India and Nepal , this trek is perfectly suited for this season. The nights can be chilly as hell yet with enough sunshine throughout the day , Sandakphu is at its best during the Autumn. The cherry on the cake, has to be the most brilliant sunrise to see from the summit. As a clear sun makes up through sea of clouds, in it's first light glows world's highest mountains like Mt.Everest , Mt. Lhotse and Mt.Kanchenjunga. If this intrigues you enough , plan up.  2. Har ki Doon. In the beautiful mountain state of Uttarakhand , lies in the western corner the valley of Lord Shiva a.k.a Har Ki Doon. A very famous route , involving mystical villages and mind blowing landscape views, this trail has mixture of forest , Meadows and native Himalayan lifestyle to offer for the visitors. The cherry on the cake , is camping by Mt. Swargorohini massif. This unclimbed peak has the legend of great Yudhishthir , from Mahabharata , walking up to it and getting an entry to heaven. Since then no man ever could walk up to it's summit. I say , if you spend a night in its base or walk this trail , you inevitably early heaven here itself.  3. Buran Ghati Trek The most unknown of the lot , yet personally my favorite trek would be Buran Ghati. Residing in Himachal Pradesh, a stunning cross over trek starting from the remote valley of Pabbar , climbing through vast Meadows of endless flowers and green , we cross over to Kinnaur valley. Being less frequented , it's rawness and virgin trail makes your eyes shine as you see mother nature at it's truest beauty. The cherry on the cake, has to be the campsite of Dayara , which is one of the prettiest place on Earth to spend your night in. If new trail and flowering green attracts you , this trek should top your list in this season.  4. Goechala Trek A long unending trail lies in the mystical kingdom of Sikkim. It is through this trail that man can approach the base of the great Mt. kanchenjunga ( 3rd highest mountain in the world ). Also through this trail , we can walk up to great glaciers and high altitude Alpine lakes that form the region. It is highly spoken of as the most romantic trek in India , and I don't argue with that. Campsites such as Lamuney and Thamsing can make your heart beat faster with love , for a human or for the mountains. So if you think love is something you'd like to feel , I recommend planning this trek.  5. Gaumukh - Tapovan Trek. The holiest pilgrimage trek of the lot , resides in Uttarakhand. It is on this trek , that you see the source of mighty Ganges. The life line of India finds its birth in the Gaumukh glacier that stretches 45 kilometres , and traversing it , we climb to Tapovan , one of the most beautiful high altitude Meadows. The cherry on the cake, is the divine , unearthly views of renowned Himalayan summits such as Mt. Bhagirathi massif , Mt. Sudarshan and my favourite Mt.Shivling. The slow transformation of colours on mountains during sunrise and sunset is one of the rarest thing to see here on the trek. If this excites you plan up for this. All in All , this is my recommended list , but Himalayas being so vast, there are surely other hidden gems of treks and trail for Autumn one can go upon. If you know any such kindly let me know. |
Note from the Author," Travel made me rich and free. Magic and miracles are true , once you wander on the roads to places different and divine. I have collected so many thoughts and stories while being a Tour & Trek guide for last seven years. Sharing with you all, those memories and stories , and wishing you all , that someday you guys travel far and wide too. I am not a great writer , so ignore my grammar and spellings, read it with feelings, and you might just be affected with the wanderlust to hit the road" Categories
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