How many times have we heard people say this? Everyone advises teens like us to go abroad and make a career. But, to be honest, I don’t understand the need to, and I quite disagree to the suggestion.
Haven't they ever felt the beauty of being an Indian? Haven't they ever felt the pride to belong to this country? Haven't they ever felt, for instance...
That joy when Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit the winning sixer in Wankhede…
That urge to eat two more plates of Golgappes in Delhi...
That excitement during the heavy monsoon rains in Mumbai…
That fun when you watch Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in Maratha Mandir with a tub of popcorn…
And that happiness you get when you reach the last motorable point in your country...
Which brings me to my story; in the year 2009.
Summer had arrived and what could be a better vacation than to chill out near the foothills of the Himalayas? No place could be better than Himachal Pradesh to enjoy its scenic beauty, but this year, we wanted to go somewhere different. Neither Shimla nor Manali (The first thought that comes in everyone’s mind when one says Himachal Pradesh), but somewhere one would feel off the road, some place without disturbing phone calls or chatty audiences.
After a lot of researching, and a few talks with my uncle-cum-travel agent, we decided on a list of destinations in the Kinnaur district of Himachal. These destinations were, and actually still are, very less explored. The population of these places (at that time) was almost just over a mere 1000 or 2000. The perfect place.
Our group of five families departed from Mumbai on 1st may for Delhi via the Mumbai- Delhi Rajdhani; always a thrilling experience. Eager for the trip, all of us were high on excitement. On reaching Delhi, we freshened up and started for Chandigarh. Speeding by the sugarcane and rice fields of Punjab at five in the evening, watching the glorious sun set at a speed of 120 kph, it was more than just beautiful.
The next day we started for Narkanda. A journey of 176 kms approximately and mostly dominated by the Ghats, surrounded by the Shivalik range, it was a treat to the senses.
We reached at around 1-2 in the afternoon and left for Hatu peak after an hour. Hatu peak is at a distance of 5 kms from Narkanda. But those 5 kms seemed never ending. Two huge Innovas on a five feet wide road, it took us almost a quarter of an hour to reach to the top, and that quite explains it all. But all the geared up nervousness vanished at a glance of the mighty Himalayas at a distance. Those white, snow-clad peaks, shining due to the scorching sun.. it was exhilarating. Words can't be enough to express its beauty. It's Heaven. The night was pleasant, not too cold. And hence, was the serene experience in Narkanda.
Sarahan, a small town, along the banks of the Satluj river, is the site of the famous Bhimakali temple. The distant peaks of the Himalayas, the cool weather, it was the perfect spot to sit with a hot cup of tea at sunset, and let your eyes get mesmerized by the view of the snow clad mountains and just relax.
The next day we departed from Sarahan, to Kalpa in the Kinnaur district, the abode of Shiva. I gave a sigh of relief once we reached, glad to find my back still in one piece. The road; Dusty, very kaccha, with broken sidings.. the rapid Sutlej on your left, frequent glimpses of landslides, construction work all around, and the scorching heat, it was a literal off the road experience!
But as we neared the place at around 4 in the evening, the weather slowly cooled a bit.
Although very remotely placed in Himachal, Kalpa is one of the biggest and most populated villages in the state and has a vast history of ancient temples. The famous Kailash Shivling, which according to legends, changes its colour at different points of the day, can also be seen from here. The famous Kinnaur Kailas Parbat was just 50 kms away from our hotel. The temperatures were around 0-5 °C and getting out of your room after 7 in the evening without proper woolen clothes would've seriously been a mistake.
I would like to end here for this article, but do stay tuned for my next article, where I would cover the rest of this unexplored district of Himachal. I hope you enjoyed reading this, and please do not forget to give your comments & suggestions below. Thank you.
Keep exploring :)
-RiKu