Tabo, Dhankar & Kaza may 18th

So the next day had arrived and we were planning to do another ambitious trip to Kaza, wich is 140 km away from Nako. On our way, we saw the Monasteries of Tabo And Dhankar . In the way to Tabo, we got stuck in a landslide. Thanks to the three army Jawans and contribution by us, we could clear a way through the landslide.

Tabo – This is a monastery, which is built of mud. As photography is not allowed inside, we couldn’t take any pictures of the interior. The sculptures and paintings inside are more than1000 years old and still, they look as beautiful and majestic as ever. The color still looks so fresh that you can almost smell it. Crisp and majestic is all that can be said about it.
Dhankar: - This is another ancient monastery. The interesting thing about this is its magnificent height & brilliant placement on a narrow mountain cliff. There underneath it, the two gigantic rivers of Pin& Spiti embrace each other. A program was going to commence in the monastery just after two days and the preparations were in full swing.

Sunrise at Nako

the cute little village of Nako

Dhankar Monastry

A Pashmina goat


































Compare the size of anthill like structures on the way to Kaza with our car

 

Big plans can fail, May 17th

We were planning to travel directly to Tabo, which is almost 200 km away from Raksham. Naturally, it is a very ambitious plan when you are driving in Himalayas. We took a lot of time for food and driving as the roads were very curvy. Thus, our plan to go all the way to Tabo failed. So in order to spend the night somewhere, we halted at a local Inn in Nako. Nako is three fourth the distance to Tabo. The small but well known lake of Nako, is just in front of the Inn, Siddhu was afraid of lake monster who he believed to be living in the lake. I & papa enjoyed a walk around the lake, engrossed in appreciating the high literacy rate and the brilliant irrigation system in the state . At the night, as everyone was waiting for food, Dadu first went for a long walk alone. When he came back and described his experience I, Mom & Papa also went for the walk. The moon was shinning brighter than ever lighting the road like floodlights. We met some local women, who coming from a long distance after attending funeral in the adjacent village. Still, they were as jolly as ever. One of them, told us that there was a ghost ahead and then laughed ringingly, clearly indicating that she was joking. They even asked us to take them to Bombay.

 

Kinner Kailash from Kalpa

 

The bridge across the Spiti and Satlaj Confluene

 

 

 

HPTDC hotel across Nako lake

 

just staring the glistening waters of a mountain spring at Nako

 

The sunset

 

 

The roar of Baspa…May16th

Our second day at the beautiful tent resort. So the snow on the hills was as fresh as ever & the river was roaring at her loudest. Papa and the others except the Chetan dada family and me are going to Chitkul. So I and Siddhu were getting bored so we & Gauri tai decided to go and have a look at the river Baspa. The river’s very close to the resort, so it was jolly trip down to the river. The rapids in the river were very fast fast and turbulent. I knew this, but I had never , not even imagined that these rapids would be so deadly. I and Siddhu enjoyed throwing pinecones in the rapids and see them float down the river.
When I, Dadu and papa went to do the same, we threw a huge log and enjoyed watching it in the rapids.
The night was same with the campfire and a lot of tasty food J

 

 

Parking lot of Mastrang camp

Siddhu and me

 

just one of the many mountain veiws from the camp

 

Sun rise at our wonderous camp

Into the hills of Spiti & Baspa, May 15th

We lest the hotel early as the drive was going be very long. All of the guys except me & Papa went to eat in a Buddhist Chinese restaurant to eat Thukpa (a bland preparation of soupy noodles).
I and Papa had gone to see Monal in a local but big bird house. Unfortunately, the place was closed as it was breeding season.
On our way to Mustrang in the Baspa Valley, we met a Sadhu who worshipped Ma Durga. He was originally from Chiplun in Maharashtra. He suggested that we stay in a local tent resort. We went to the place and were astonished to see the mighty mountains so close to our tents. We ate some Pakoda as soon we reached there. We lit a campfire and had a lot of fun around it including playing Mafia. Finally we reluctantly went to sleep.

 

Temple of Ma Durga on the way to Baspa valley

Inside the Sarhan village

 

our camp at Mastrang

 

Around the campfire

 

Mt. Hatu, may14th

Title: - Mt. Hatu, may14th
We had decided to leave the hotel at 7:00 in the morning. But, due to delay, we left the place at 7:30. We got to know by the locals, that there is a hillock called Hatu Peak very close to the hotel. We left for the place immediately. The road was extremely narrow while both of our cars were quite wide. Somehow, with a great deal of backseat driving, we finally managed to go until a point, where there was no road… then we trekked to the top.
We then continued our trip to Sarhan. We were hoping to see the famous and rare Monal bird. No such luck, still we saw a beautiful Paradise flycatcher. The hotel was quite rustic and old. We also had a good view of snow peaks and everyone was very excited about it.

Hatu Peak

 

 

My brave Papa

 

Chetan dada and Gauri Tai by satlaj river

 

breakfast with a view!

In the toy train…,May13

We left the hotel and the dog at around 7:20 in the morning.
Everybody was feeling cranky at least I was crankyJ! We went to the Barog station. Where I, Dadu, Chetan Dada, Gauri Tai and Chota Chetan (Siddhu) were supposed to board a beautiful narrow gage train. We had purchased tickets to go to Shimla. On the other hand all the other guys were going to drive. While we were waiting for this ‘toy train’, we enjoyed eating tasty and crisp cutlets in a restaurant at the station. When we finished eating in the restaurant, we came down to wait at the station. There we met a dog. I made great friendship with it.
The trip in the train was awesome and breathtaking I clicked almost 130 pictures in all! We reached Shimla at about 3;00 in the afternoon. I was expecting Shimla to be very peaceful and without many people. But I was completely wrong! It is highly crowded.
There at mall road, we did some shopping & eating . I bought a little balloon which used to create a loud noise and go round & round when its mouth is opened. We ate at a restaurant called Honeyhut, they offered us the one of the finest veg frankis. Then we drove to a place called Narkanda. We lived in an M.T.D.C. hotel called the Hatu Resort. A fabulous place really. This was the first time, we the settled for the best rooms of all.

toy train at Barog station

View from our HPTDC resort at Barog

View of our toy train engine from my bogie

 

 

Into Himachal…., May12

You can understand the problem this time of not being able to publish the blog since there is no connection of internet in these mountainous regions!

So let’s continue with the journey… for breakfast, we went to sector 17 of Chandigarh which has got the most number of restaurants and hotels in the entire city… One shopkeeper recommended us to eat in a place called Sai Sweets. We ate some Chlola Bhatura and Samosas. Ooh! Just the thought makes my mouth water. Right, I just remembered about a place called Hari Ka Dhaba where we had our lunch while driving from Delhi to Chandigarh. The Dhaba is in Murathal right after Sonepat. The waiters served us with a fabulous and tasty Parathas and really yummy Lassi and Kheer. Mixed, onion filled, paneer filled, and garlic filled… If by any chance, you are traveling from Delhi to Chandigarh, it is a must to have your lunch in this place !
Ok so now let’s go further from Delhi towards Shimla, that’s right , into Himachhal Pradesh . So we took a leftturn and within 25km of Kalka, very narrow and turning road, we reached Kasauli. This place had a fabulous view but, due to repair works, the place had no rooms for great travelers like us J
So, we went ahead to live in an H.P.T.D.C. resort in Barog. The resort is known as The Pinewood Resort. Barog is a fabulous and gorgeous place to live in. At the lawns of the resort, there was a small cute little puppy. Black in colour, had its little tummy was stuffed with food, a lot of fur and a very happy and jolly nature. I, Papa, Debu & Siddhu spent a lot of time playing with this cute little puppy.

 

visit to monkey hill at Kasauli