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In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Manali-Tosh-Rohtang:The closest to Heaven experience you can have-Just jump in!

16/08/2022 No Comments

I have been all over Indian Himalayas, and trust me; nothing beats Manali in terms of beauty. Easy to reach and stay and so much to see, Rafting and adventure coupled with trekking bonanza. Rohtang is stunning when the road opens up in June, and the snow is still thick and strong. Tosh is a gateway to a heavenly one-day trek to Kheerganga-itself, offering staggering views of green tops and gushing waters. There’s a lot on offer when you are at Manali-juts that you need to have time-you have plenty to trek, and even if you don’t, you have lots of nature to gaze at!

6 reasons why you must visit Manali-Tosh-Rohtang:

Manali is thought a paradise for trekking like Hampta Pass, Beas Kund, Bhrigu Lake, Deo Tibba base camp, etc.

Manali in early morning in month of June

This beautiful place is known for paragliding, especially in the Solang valley from January-May and October-December. Solang Valley has lots of other adventurous activities on offer as well.
14 km Rafting in the waters of Beas River that starts from Manali and terminates at Jhiri is an experience not to be missed. The best time to do Rafting here is from April to June.
Manali is also known for a waterfall named Jogini waterfall, which is about 7.5 km from Manali Town.

Manali is widely known for the Hadimba Temple dedicated to Hadimba, the wife of Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers from the Mahabharata, in the middle of the Dhungri Park. Ghatotkach, the son of Bhima and Hidimba, is also worshipped as a sacred tree.
Kheerganga is a must trekking adventure of 3 hours that takes you through the wilderness, tiny paths, and dense forests and lands you up in a meadow surrounded by snow-capped mountains-dream come true moment-Right!
Walking along the Parvati River is a must-to-do activity in Tosh (close to Manali), located at an elevation of 7,900 ft.

Location: Manali and Rohtang are about 540 km and 590 km respectively north of Delhi, and close to Kullu is about 540 km north of Delhi.

Lush green meadows are common after the snow melts over the Rohtang region.

Lush green meadows are common after snow melts over Rohtang region

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Manikaran Hot Spring, Manikaran Gurudwara,Kullu,Kheerganga,Malana,Chandratal lake,Rohtang La and Manali:Hadimba Devi Temple,Mall Road,The Great Himalayan National Park,Nehru Kund,Bhrigu Lake,Jogini Falls

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Tosh, Kangra, Kheerganga, Narkanda, Chandigarh, Kullu, Manali, Rohtang Pass, and Bir-Billing, which range from 150 to 400 km.

Kullu in the late evening time

Distance Charts:(Manali)

Kullu-Manali section offers excellent rafting opportunity

How to Reach Shimla/Dharamshala:

Road Routes:

Delhi-Shimla-Kullu-Tosh-Kheerganga-Tosh-Malana-Manali-Rohtang La-Chandrataal

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Roads are smooth in most places except in Rohtang and Tosh regions.

2)Rains are to be avoided -strictly a no-no from June to September due to frequent landslides and floods.

3)Public transport is almost everywhere, so there’s not much to worry about.

4)November to May -you need a good winter jacket and cap with gloves and shoes-anti-slip/snow resistant. In June, before the monsoon arrives, light woolens will also do/have an umbrella.

5)Please book hotels in advance, especially for peak seasons, May-June and September end-November start as there’s a full rush.

6)Try covering treks to tosh, Malana, Kheerganga, Kasol, and Solang Valley by at least taking six days extra on your existing itinerary.

7)Food is available throughout the region; hence, no issue on that part, have water with you if you need it in an emergency.

8)Manali is the gateway to two regions-Kaza, and Keylong side (Lahaul-Spiti), and the Leh-Zanskar regions-do. So make a plan from late May onwards.

RAIL: The nearest railway station is Shimla, for which toy trains run from Kalka/Chandigarh.

AIR: Chandigarh is the nearest airport for both tourist spots.

ROAD: A bus from Delhi and Chandigarh ( HPSRTC BUS SERVICE ) will help you be here in about 8-11 hours, depending on whether it’s Kullu or Manali.

Map:

Kullu Tosh Kheerganga Malana Manali Rohtang Kunzum Pass — Kullu Manali Rohtang Kunzum Pass

Time to Visit:

May to June; September-October are best times to be here.

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:

Manali and Kullu are flooded with hotels, but when it’s peak season, Manali becomes a costly and damn difficult place to lodge in. Kullu will be cheaper and easy to stay. Manali will be better off if you book in advance (through Goibibo or Makemytrip or Yatra website) or get a package tour from local agents to help you see Shimla, Kullu, Manali and Rohtang Pass(Will be cheaper for families, followed by groups). Food is never a big deal all through-Aalu(Potato), Paratha(Bread), and Maggi! Hahaha…

Expense:

A 3-day trip to Kullu and Manali will cost as follows:

Food:INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X3

Transport: INR 800 for bus charges from Kullu to Rohtang and back; Kullu to Tosh will cost 300 INR by bus up to a point after that which public transport is a question mark at least in my case. I May need to hire a car halfway down @INR 1000

Lodging: INR 900/day X2@ Manali and INR 600/day X1 @ Kullu

Entry Fees include various places (varies): INR 200 (max)-at Rohtang for parking and a few places in Manali

NOTE: You can add some days to the itinerary if you plan to do some treks to Kheerganga, Malana, Bhrigu Lake, etc., and that’ll be worth every penny more, so if you can, go to the Chandrataal side.

A tourist who came to visit Tosh along.

Total: 5600 INR(goes upto INR 6800 if the private car for Fagu/Chail is booked)

Total: 5600 INR(goes upto INR 6800 if private car for Fagu/Chail booked)

Nearby Attractions(Manali)

Tosh is beauty blessed-one more fall captured in memories

In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Leh-Land of Lamas and Monasteries you can’t miss out on!

12/08/2022 6 Comments

Leh-The capital of Ladakh Union territory resembles the CPU of a computer-like CPU that acts as a center of coordination among all other parts of a computer. Similarly, Leh is the node from where you plan tours in the Ladakh district one by one.Nubra Valley,Pangong Tso,Tso Moriri,Sham Valley,Zanskar Valley and so many treks can be planned from here .It has rich culture and heritage to be proud of. Stay tuned to know more…

Reasons why you must visit Leh:

Monasteries are life in Leh Ladakh. This reflects a part of the regional culture as well. The tranquillity offered by the location of these monasteries is unmatched.
Trekker’s paradise is what Leh is, and Chadar Trek in winters is one among them. There are all sorts of trekking of varying difficulty. Drang Drung is another beautiful one!

Hemis festival at hemis monastery in Leh in June — Hemis festival at Hemis monastery in Leh in June

Camel Safari at Hunder Sand dunes-yeah the two-humped Bactrian variety-the view is terrific, plus a bonanza camel ride…

Pangong Tso Lake in evening — Pangong Tso Lake is one of the most sought destination in Ladakh

Leh has a beautiful night view from Shanti Stupa, and Tsemo Castle has a fantastic view of the city. Not to forget Namgyal Tsemo and the Hall of Fame!
Leh gives you a winter rush in June or July without letting you drench in the rain! Perfect weather for Travel.Right!

The beautiful vistas on my way to Padum through Zanskar Valley

Rafting is what the Himalayas is so known for.Jump to Leh to catch up some rafting in routes like Phey-Nimo, Saspol-Khaltsey, and Sangam-Alchi.
Thukpa, SKU, and Momos-yes, the indigenous food of the region, are a must-try, and why miss out when you are in Leh?
Some famous festivals in the vicinity are the Hemis Festival, the Dosmochey Festival, Spituk Gustor, and the Losar Celebration. Just check out dates on google, and off you set a plan and go…

Location : Leh is capital of Ladakh U.T. about 500 kms north of Manali and 500 kms east of Srinagar, placed in extreme north of India.

Leh city view from Tsemo Castle in evening

Tourist Attraction in Leh:

Leh has a lot to offer in and around it. Hemis, Thiksey, Shey, and Spituk monasteries are a few options, and the Hall of Fame museum, Shanti Stupa, Zorawar Fort, Leh Palace, and Namgyal Tsemo are in Leh. So the whole summation is that you won’t be bored touring in and around this beautiful city.

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Hanle, Pangong lake, Sham valley (Magnetic hill, Nimoo, Alchi, Rizong, Likir monasteries, Basgo Palace), Tso Moriri, Khardung La, Turtuk, Panamik, and Diskit. Not to forget, Kargil and Zanskar Valley also add to the treat package!

Panamik in afternoon within Nubra Valley

Distance Charts:(Ex Leh)

Hanle Monastery at a visible still far off distance

How to Reach Leh:

Road Routes:

Delhi-Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Jammu-Anantnag-Srinagar-Sonamarg-Dras-Kargil-Lamayuru-Leh
OR
Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla-Kullu-Manali-Keylong-Jsiap-Pang-Hemis-Leh

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Try hopping in Leh by road via Manali-Keylong instead of Jammu-Srinagar-Kargil, as the latter will be lengthy and a bit risky compared to the former. Scenery-wise, I feel the Manali route has more to offer.

2)Leh is around 3 K.M. height above sea level, so whether it’s June or September, have a jacket with you and some full sleeves as temperatures dip at night, even in summers.

3)Avoid taking flights and use road transport to avoid breathing/respiratory problems. Yes, if there is a time constraint, you can prefer flights with a two-day rest in Leh.

4)Don’t forget to keep a day aside for all the permits to tour around Leh. 14-day permits are usually given at maximum, after which renewal is necessary.

5)Have the timings noted in mind when visiting monasteries or monuments as for various tourist places, the timetable varies. Again, use the website or ask travel agents to help you out.

Suraj Taal(Lake) near Jispa,Manali-Leh Highway

RAIL:Railways are restricted upto Shimla thereafter which you need to hop in a bus to get to Leh!

AIR: Leh has good connectivity by air all over India

ROAD:You need to be at Leh either through Rohtang Pass(June onwards) from Manali side or from Srinagar side via Zozila Pass.

In case you want to reach from Delhi or Chandigarh, the Shimla-Manali-Leh corridor shall be a better choice in terms of scenery and safety, which will take 3 days with a one-day halt at Keylong to acclimatize. Even from Jammu side, it will take 3 days but acclimatize option can be left out pretty easily.

Map:

Leh in and around-local sight seeing map -go to Hemis,Spituk,Shey,Thiksey — Leh local sight seeing map

Time to Visit:

June to Mid-October

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:

Hotels and flooding are not a problem, but in peak season, you’ll land in trouble for hotels. Hotels will be packed, and even if you find one, it will be rented at a fiery bumper price. Please get in touch with travel agents and plan a tour with them; they might help you get a room at a much cheaper rate-reasonable in peak season, to be precise. Food -north Indian, local dishes, and south Indian are available- no problems with food! Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip if you want a booking. Zomato and swiggy can be used for food breaks!

Expense:

Local sightseeing takes one day. But who can miss out on Hemis festival that happens once a year and hence,Leh trip slid on to a two day trip-a memorable one of course.

Live Hemis Festival at Hemis Monastery in June

Food:INR 200/person/day(3 times a day)X5
Transport:INR 3500 for leh local sightseeing by private car;for Hemis festival-I took a shared bus to Hemis which costs around INR 50 one way-100 INR both ways. You can save a lot by using public transport for local sight seeing-just add an extra day of food and lodging as not all places have public transport connectivity and even if they have you need to come to Leh for many a time. (You can save INR 1500 by this method)
Lodging:INR 700/day X2 @ Leh
Entry Fees includes various places (varies):Entry fees is there for museums and monastery antiques at few places(INR 250 max)

Total: 6250 INR( Can be brought down to 4000 INR by public transport and cheap food/lodging)

Nearby Attractions(Leh)

In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Shimla and Dharamshala-The gateway to mighty Himalayas of India

09/08/2022 No Comments

Shimla is the capital of the Himachal State of India, whereas Dharamshala is known for being the home to Dalai Lama and the highest cricket stadium in India.

Shimla has some good places to see, like Chail, Fagu, or taking a ride to Kalka by toy train. In contrast, Dharamshala is the gateway to Triund and Indrahar Pass treks which, in my opinion, are must-visits due to the immense natural beauty through McLeod Ganj.

8 Golden Reasons why you must visit Shimla and Dharamshala:

Shimla and Dharamshala being at height, are all-time cool hill stations and hence can be visited any time of the year except for monsoons when landslides are often.

The 6-hour train ride between Kalka and Shimla, covering 107 tunnels and bridges along with beautiful Shivaliks, is a compulsory activity when entering Himachal. It looks more beautiful post winters when there’s snow all around.
Chail and Mashobra are 60 km and 14 km from Shimla and are must-visits when you are in Shimla for the simple fact that you can walk in dense forests and get a view of vast meadows with the provision of pony rides. Cloud covers make the place go romantic!
McLeod Ganj in Dharmshala is a must-visit place for it is the second home of His Holiness Dalai Lama and is known as “Little Lhasa” due to the considerable population of Tibetans.

Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is a scenic cricket stadium where international matches do happen. Lush green forests and snow-capped mountains surround it.
The Bhagsu Waterfall near Dharamshala in Mcleodganj is a great place, especially post-monsoon.
Dharamshala is also the gateway to Indrahar Pass, Hanuman ka Dibba, Triund, and Lahesh caves treks. These treks require time, but the hikes are worth it-the views being tempting under clear skies.
This city is also home to several temples, with Chamunda Devi Temple and Kunal Pathri Temple being the most revered ones.

Location : Shimla is about 350 kms north of Delhi and Dharamshala is about 450 kms north of Delhi.

Triund-a nearby trek spot in Dharamshala

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Dharamshala: Namgyal Monastery, Dharamkot-Bhagsunag Falls, Dharamshala Cricket Stadium; Shimla: Christ Church, Viceregal Lodge, Army Heritage Museum, Gorton Castle, Chail, Fagu

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Tosh, Kangra, Kheerganga, Narkanda, Chandigarh, Kullu, Manali, Rohtang Pass, and Bir-Billing, which range from 150 to 400 km.

Distance Charts:(Shimla | Dharamshala)

Leh (660 | 640 km)
Chandigarh:(110 | 240 km)
Delhi:(340 | 470 km)
Kargil:(840 | 630 km)
Padum:(500 | 480 km)-via Shingo la
Keylong:(31 0 | 285 km)
Kaza:(430 | 400 km)
Manali:(240 | 220 km)
Shimla :(0 | 230 km)
Jammu :(400 | 200 km)
Srinagar:(620 | 420 km)
Dehradun:(230 | 460 km)
Chitkul(Kinnaur):(250 | 450 km)
Nainital:(540 | 690 km)
Valley of Flowers:(620 | 770 km)
Valley of Flowers:(620 | 770 km)

How to Reach Shimla/Dharamshala:

Road Routes:

Delhi-Panipat-Kurukshetra-Chandigarh-Solan-Shimla-Hamirpur-Jwalamukhi-Kangra-Dharamshala-Mcleod Ganj

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)First and foremost, use the Kalka Shimla Toy train to be at Shimla; Book in advance from the first app, like 1-2 months in advance, and you’ll not regret this one bit-have a good phone or video camera to capture few highlights!

2)Shimla has little to offer regarding tourist places. Still, if you go to nearby places like Chail, Fagu, and Narkanda, you’ll surely love the places, especially in winters, due to the beautiful landscape and significantly fewer skyscraper madness!

3)Public transport will help you in most parts of either Dharamshala or Shimla. State buses run at regular intervals, so saving bucks is easy.

4)From Dharamshala, there is a beautiful trek to Triund and Indrahar pass taking you around 3-10 days depending on how far and how relaxed you want the trip to be.

This needs a different amount of time and stamina, though the trip isn’t that tough.

5) Research temples, monasteries, parks, and church times properly before getting in. In most cases, the morning and late afternoon slots are open, making for an ideal visit time to such places.

6)Bir-Billing, the paragliding paradise, is close to Dharamshala, so you can get some adrenaline rush!

7)Roads are pretty good, and eating options are healthy. Of course, having some snacks and water is good as always.

Kufri, Shimla

RAIL:Nearest railway station is Shimla for which toy trains run from Kalka/Chandigarh.

AIR:Chandigarh is nearest airport for both of the tourist spots.

ROAD:Simple answer is take a bus or car from Delhi (or Chandigarh) and in 6-8 hours you are at Shimla or Dharamshala. Dharamshala to Shimla will take around 7 hours. HRTC bus services are great and aplenty on offer.

Map:

Time to Visit:

April to June; September-October is the best time to be here.

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:

Lodging isn’t trouble in Shimla and Dharamshala unless it’s peak season. For peak seasons, book in advance online on websites like Goibibo or Makemytrip, or Yatra at cheaper rates. Alternatively, do a night stay at Kangra /Kullu, where rooms are available for INR 700-800 in peak seasons. Food will never be a trouble, so be rest assured of it.

Expense:

A one-day trip to Dharamshala and Shimla, each without a trek, will cost:

Food: INR 150/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: INR 400 from Delhi to Shimla and Shimla-Dharamshala will cost another INR 300 by HRTC state bus service. For Chail and Fagu, you’ll get shared cars and buses towards Narkanda and then need to hitchhike or book a private car-assume INR 400 both ways if you hitchhike and use public transport(else INR 3000 booking from Shimla)

Lodging: INR 1000/day X2@ Shimla and Dharamshala(costly and tourist-bound areas)

Entry Fees include various places (varies): Entry fees applicable in a few places in Shimla-INR 200 approx.

Note: In case you trek, add two days for ground and seven days for Indrahar pass -the extra cost being 1000 INR for Triund and 6000 INR for Indrahar Pass, which includes staying guide and food.

Mcleodganj St John Church

Total: 4200 INR(goes up to INR 6800 if the private car for Fagu/Chail is booked)

Nearby Attractions(Shimla|Dharamshala)

Bhagsunag Waterfalls,Dharamshala

In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Zanskar Valley-Breathtaking views with greenery and snow in a mix

05/08/2022 No Comments

If you are coming all over to Leh and Srinagar and thinking of skipping Zanskar for next time, sorry to say you are missing the cherry on the cake! That’s where I rank Zanskar on my list of travel-somewhere close to Spiti Valley, right on top of the most recommended places in the Indian Himalayan circuit. The beauty lies mainly en route to Padum rather than Padum itself. So, don’t miss out on Zanskar-it should be there in your itinerary at any cost! I will post amazing photos and a youtube video wrt Zanskar Valley, and you can always visit my insta id-explorewithbob1, where you’ll find beautiful Himalayan photos shot by me!

5 Reasons why you must visit Zanskar Valley:

When Zanskar is on our trip list, the Chadar trek comes to mind right out of nowhere! Choose the coldest month of December to February and unleash your adventure avatar trekking on the frozen Zanskar River at sub-zero temperature for about a week to reach Padum-the center of the valley. Vegetation is largely compromised with lots of fun around with snow to play with!

Zanskar Valley is known for its picturesque landscape from Panikhar through Rangdum to Padum. The greenery with shades of haunting whites imbibed with turquoise water lakes makes the journey too memorable to be forgotten.
Padum, once a capital of the Zanskar kingdom, and Rangdum are pretty towns, with Padum having a more naked shade of browns and Rangdum shading whites on one side and greens on the other. Rangdum is arguably more beautiful than Padum, with a stream flowing by and Drang Drung glacier visible in the vicinity.
Pensi La is a beautiful pass that marks the division between Suru and Zanskar Valley-It is surrounded by glaciers and has lakes in patches, a shade of greenery too! The Zanskar and Suru rivers originate from these glaciers.

Want some mountaineering engine gushing on in months of summer-wait no further-Nun and Kun peaks where the famous Shafat glacier is waiting to welcome you. Relish the adventure of trekking to these Nun-Kun peaks, closely watching the Shafat glacier passing by.

Location: Padum is 230 km south of Kargil, which takes nearly 9-10 hours by shared cars(buses are hardly available) due to pathetic road conditions after Parkachik.Water is all over the roads, and nallahs and landslides are plenty. So prepare for a day’s exercise through this treacherous section!

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Padum has a lot to offer in terms of landscape and historical monuments.-Phutgtal, stongdey, Marsha, and Sani monastery, among others.

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Rangdum, Shafat Glacier trek, and can see Lahaul (Keylong area) via Darcha via Shinkula Pass(open to public from June 2021-yayy-Good news, right! 🙂 )

Distance Charts:(From Zanskar/Padum)

How to Reach Padum:

Road Routes:

From Leh: Leh-Shey-Thiksey-Hemis-Upshi-Kiari-Chumathang-Karzok-Tso Moriri Lake viewpoint
From Manali: Leh-Shey-Thiksey-Hemis-Upshi-Kiari-Chumathang-Karzok-Tso Moriri Lake viewpoint
A gompa near Sani monastery

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Roads are treacherous. That’s the first and foremost factor you must keep in mind. This is a challenge that one must overcome-what fun when there is no challenge to see Heaven’s beauty-correct! Isn’t it?

2)Roads are nallahs. So have spare tires with you and drive slow and steady!

3) There are long stretches with no sign of villages, petrol bunks, and food stalls. So, carry snacks, water, and surplus petrol/diesel with you

4)Journey is long and tiresome. So be ready for 10-12 hours of rest once you get to Padum. The roads do make the 230 km Kargil-Padum stretch look way more tedious than it is.

5)Request your driver to start early and stop at a few places to get good shots! It’s worth stopping a while from capturing the beautiful Suru-Zanskar Valley features! There’s so much to see within such a short distance-You’ll feel like watching nature for hours from this road route.

The en route vista towards Rangdum Gompa

6)Padum is worthy of a day stay.Do hire a vehicle and see the monasteries and beautiful landscape from the hilltops.

RAIL:Railways is a dream after Shimla/Srinagar,.hereafter you make roadways your friend 😉

You can watch the below video to get a better idea! Do like and share if you find it informative!

AIR: Leh/Chandigarh/Srinagar is the nearest airport to Zanskar Valley.

ROAD: You first must come to Kargil either through Rohtang Pass(June onwards) from Manali or Srinagar via Zozila Pass. Also, you can opt for the newly inaugurated Darcha-Padum road, which saves the hassle of making a round trip. This route is especially useful if you are short on time for Zanskar or want to go towards Srinagar via the most scenic route in the Ladakh region! Unfortunately, HRTC buses may not be available throughout this route.

Map:

Leh Kargil Padum Road trip Map — Leh Kargil Padum Road Map for Zanskar Valley

Time to Visit:

Early June to Mid October(avoid snow melting months like May or early June, or late October)

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are in good numbers in Padum along with eateries.No need for bookings as the crowd is much less for this sector. So on your way, have snacks and water with you. Refer to Goibibo, Makemytrip, and Easemytrip if you want a booking.

Expense:

For a three-day trip by shared public car for Zanskar Valley ( Ex Kargil), with two night stays at Padum, the cost was as follows:

Food: INR 150/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: INR 600 INR by shared car;3500 INR for Padum local sightseeing(either you walk or hire such a vehicle-your choice!)

Lodging: INR 700/day X2 at Padum(two nights stay)

Entry Fees include various places (varies):100 INR as a safe side

Sani Festival at Sani Monastery

Total: 6500 INR