Himachal Journey - Day 16

Landed in Delhi in morning.

Freshened up at NDLS metro station, put luggage in cloak room.
Took metro to some station then went to Purani Qila
Then to Connaught place for breakfast.
Then we went to some place for sweets Bangla sweet shop.
Then went to Karim's near Red Fort where few of my friends had lunch. I did not, I had a huge mug of Lassi which bloated my stomach.

Came back to NDLS railway station. Took our belongings and started towards T3 terminal.

My Flight was at 6 40pm and there you go I came to Bangalore at around 9 20 pm.

Cheers, Trip has come to an end!!

Thanks for God, my parents and my teachers, Cheers once again!

Himachal Journey - Day 15

Morning breakfast - Something in Kunga cafe dont remember

Morning visit to St John's Church. Sat near McLeodGanj circle doing nothing for 2-3 hours in the afternoon. Then went for lunch. Started reading a book at Kunga cafe.

Evening strolled around Dalai Lama temple had 2 cups of tea.

Late evening time for our bus to Delhi.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 14

Breakfast - Roadside momos, bun sold at road side. Tibetian kinda breakfast at Kunga Cafe.

Events -

Morning - Visit to Bhagusa Nag temple, did some shopping. came back, went for a shave. Then moved ahead for Dalai Lama temple.

Afternoon / Evening - Moved ahead to Dharamsala, stood in queue for free food. Visited Kangra museum. Then started towards Palampur Baijnath temple. Full evening spent in Baijnath. Came back to McleodGanj around 9 45pm.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 13 Part 2

Second half of the day, was more of travelling. Travelled from Bir to Billing, then hired another taxi to take us from Billing to McLeodGanj.

The route went through Palampur, saw Baijnath Temple, did not visit though.
Even saw Chamunda Devi temple as well.

This drive felt awesome, knowing that we had completed the trek and then were free birds. Sometimes its so much fun wandering like a mad dog, no responsibilities, I wish life was simple.

Reached McLeodGanj around 7 pm and started lookout for rooms. Found a room refreshed, came out for dinner and then day got to close.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 13 Part 1

Final day, finally we were done with the trek.

Day started casually, ended casually. Reached Bir by afternoon. Preparations were on for world paragliding championship over there, so enjoyed few moments there, then it was a taxi ride to Billing where our team members who paraglided just would have landed.

We said goodbye to our guide and horsemen at Bir and then it was our team, thats it.
Trek was over. We had reached civilization, 12 days of wilderness was done!

Wow, as I recollect while I write this, it was an out of earth experience.
Wish I could do the same trek again and again!

Cheers,

Breakfast - Chole Bhature + egg.
Lunch - Apple + 5 star + froot=

Route was pretty straight forward, walking along side a mountain trail all the way to Bir.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 12

Today was one more epic day.
- We were about to reach Rajgunta.
- We were about to get mobile signal after 11 days.
- We were on the last but one day of completing our memorable trek.
- We would meet civilization.

The whole day was wrecked with bad weather.
We had trekked in rain, but never trekked in hail storms. Today was that day to meet our friend hailstorm.

It hit right on our face. We were drenched. Our shoes were wet, gone, saggy dripping, but we had no option but to continue in the rain rather hail storm.

Finally after 2.5 hours of walking in the rain reached a shelter where we could escape rain. Put a fire started drying ourselves, though we were shivering.

Finally after 1 hour of waiting we were ready to go again. Meanwhile finished dinner over there too.

Then in the late evening,weather turned out to be extremely fine, we reached Rajgunta and then it was evening. Got an accomdation instead of staying in tent because we had reached civilization. Tomorrow we would be completing the trek, 12 day of wilderness thus coming to a close.

We got mobile coverage and called up homes got data as well checked stuffs.

Cheers,

Breakfast - Poha + Egg Burji + Omlette + black tea

Lunch - Chapati wrapped with vegetables + frooti + apple + egg + 5 star.

Evening  - Tea + chocolate cream biscuits

Dinner - chowmen + fried rice + pasta + cake - success party.

Himachal Journey - Day 11

We had to cross Thamsar pass today. Early morning few people who had started from BaraBhangal yesterday came around the kitchen tent too. They were fed and given tea breakfast and then they proceeded with their journey.

We had other company around 30 horses carrying ration from Barabhangal to Bir. So today we were not alone after all.

Breakfast - Porridge + Pancake + Black Tea

Lunch - Egg + Kichdi + Frooti + diary milk + Apple.

We continued on the rocky trail and somewhere we met the villagers of BaraBhangal. We finished the rocky trail and then reached snow. Pass crossing was slow and around 12 30 we were at top of Thamsar pass.

Descended the pass and finished lunch near a lake.

Finally with more walk we reached around campsite around 5pm. It was getting late, foggy and managed to reach the campsite before dark.

Dinner - Rice + Roti + Black Tea + Plain Dal

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 10

- Today we were starting from BaraBhangal village.
- Our dream of spending one idle day doing nothing at BaraBhangal was not possible.
- We had a tough path ahead today and the day was long.

Breakfast - Methi Parota + corn flakes + tea

We said bye to all of the villagers and then started. Crossed a bridge and boy then there was one huge climb all the way parallel to the waterfall. It was a tough day. Sun was hitting very hard. Meanwhile the food and other rations had come down and one of the horseman was riding on the horse instead of walking.

Lunch was alongside a waterfall consisting of,

Salted Potato + apple + 5 star + frooti + Egg.

We started again along the rocky path. It was a tough climb. Completely exposed to sunlight along a quarry of stones we made our way thorough it.

Finally reached evening campsite around 4pm.

This was another day to remember,

- We stole wood stocked up by the shepard and lit a campfire. First one at 13k Feet.
- Guide and horseman were very happy since weather god's had permitted us to come this far.

Dinner - Masoor dal + Rice + roti + tuna fish + vegatables (Potato+ cauliflower+ carrot)
Sweet- custard.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 9 Part b

BaraBhangal village was an awesome place. The moment we entered, we were greeted by a farmer, who was cultivating Rajma. After 8 days, what a fun in meeting people civilization.

- BaraBhangal is a village closed for 6 months of the year, due to the too much of snowfall it recieves.
- People stay and grow crops during 6 months and next move to Bir/Billing.
- The school too functions 6 months over here, 6 months in Bir.
- We had a chance to roam around the village.
- Pluck apples, Yes we were in Himachal Pradesh after all :)-

Once we reached our campsite, we were greeted by a gentleman who turned out to be a government doctor stationed for this village. Since half the team had not yet reached, me and horsemen got up to pitch the tents

Almost after 1 hour rest of the guys who had lost their way arrived. We had freshened up then, quickly it turned dark. Few people had gone to make a telephone call home since there was a satellite phone available. But that was operating on a solar battery which too out of charge!

Then it was dinner time. Next morning I got to take a walk around BaraBhangal, the temple over there, small shops over there etc etc. Then it was time to packup. Big day ahead of us, since we had to start since weather was getting bad, villagers had advised us, not to stay a day more!

Cheers,

A video which I took in BaraBhangal village. 

Himachal Journey - Day 9 Part a

I remember this day way too well. It was an epic day. The reasons being,

- We were reaching BaraBhangal village
- After 8 days of wandering all alone in the hills we would hit civilization.
- Team members felt they could get hot water for bath.
- Guide thought we could refill our supplies of potato + korn + rajma for next leg of the trek.
- Meet people greet people wander around Barabhangal
- Satellite phone.
- Possible bear sightings.
- A day where lots happened.
- Our planned stay at BaraBhangal was cut short by our utilizing the spare day in betwen, now we had no option but to move ahead.

Breakfast - Carrot + Meti parota + omlette + oat meal porridge + black tea.

Day started with a great hope and ended in a brilliant way. Somewhere in the middle we reached a water fall for lunch and then our team decided to split, one team which would go fast and reach the village quick and the other one, would go slow at their own pace.

Lunch at the waterfall - Mashed potato + egg + apple + frooti + diary milk.

The guide told the quicker team to follow the horses, instead they ran ahead in front of the horses and lost their path. Where they had to climb they descended into the valley.

And as a result, we reached Barabhangal village before the quicker team which lost their way. In the middle the horsmen had a sighting of bear and believe me, we four guys of the team were all alone. Luckily we did not sight any bear over there.

Reached BaraBhangal village and there you go, 65% of the trek done!

On reaching campsite we had Tea + Parle G biscuits

Dinner - Rice + Dal + vegetables + roti + jamoon + Soya Chunks

Cheers,