Chitkul - The Last Village on India-Tibet Road
My first solo bike trip
How a Dharamshala-Mcleod Ganj bike trip changed to Chitkul???
The original plan was for Dharamshala-Mcleodganj, a friend of mine was supposed to accompany me in this trip. Planning started in the 2nd week of November, I already got my leaves approved. Time was not an issue as I had 7 days(19th-25th Nov) in hand and I wanted to cover as much as I can. So I called my friend on Thursday(15th Nov) to know about his preparation and discuss the timings of our departure on Monday(19th Nov). I was so shattered and upset to hear that his leaves got cancelled as his team mate had to take urgent leaves as one of his family members was not well. I got frustrated and so was him as he wanted to be in this trip real bad.
So it had to be a solo trip, I cant cancel it as I was waiting for this from such a long time. Then came the humongous task of convincing my parents for a solo bike trip to Dharamshala. I knew they would never approve it. So should I lie to them that I got company and leave and just tell them the truth once I return? It was a battle between mind and heart. Finally heart won and I decided that I will try to convince them and if they don't approve then with a heavy heart I'll just cancel the trip.
A big thanks to www.bcmtouring.com(The best travel community site), I would probably have not been to all these beautiful places had I not read the amazing travelogues on this site. My inspiration to ride solo came from some great men, who are well known in the travel community, Narender Gautam(A.k.a. Master ji), Yogesh Sarkar, Jasdeep phaji, Hoodibaba and some others for their solo trips. I consider them as my idols. I showed their experiences to my parents, literally begged them, and after numerous requests, they finally agreed. That moment, I was so happy and excited for my first solo bike trip.
Then on Saturday(17th Nov) morning, I slipped while climbing the stairs of my house. My left ankle got twisted, my foot was badly hurt and I was in severe pain. I had to hide that pain from my parents as they would have canceled the trip then and there. So I knew I had to change my plan as I cant do the Triund Trek(9 kms) @ Mcleodganj on one leg. I had Chitkul in mind to be covered in future trips, so decided go for Chitkul instead. I told my parents about this change and was able to convince them by saying that I want to do the 9km trek with a friend as it would be too boring if I do it alone. They asked few questions about Chitkul and then approved it.
My plan was to start early in the morning around 4:00-4:30am and reach Rampur before 6:00pm. But I had to listen to my parents here. They said that it's your first trip as solo, so you shouldn't be driving that long in a day. Start a little late, cover till Solan on day 1, stay at massi's house and then cover the rest on day 2.
AGREED!!!
Day 1 and 2.
Nov 19th-20th(Monday-Tuesday), 2012, 6:25am
(Conversation between me and mom, before leaving for the trip.)
Me: Please don't worry, I will be fine and keep you updated.
Mom: It wont be easy for us, you will know when you have kids.
Me(jokingly): If I'll have kids, I won't be a worrying parent, I will buy them rockets and tell them, they can go to moon, if they want to.
Left home @ 6:30am and reached Solan @ 1:25pm.
Day 2.
Nov 20th(Tuesday), 9:45am
I planned to leave by 6:00am but massi(mirror image of my mother). How can you leave without the breakfast and hence the delay.
There was a huge jam at shimla and chota shimla, a lot of time wasted there. Saw many people standing at this point clicking pics, I didn't know that I reached Kufri. Asked a local guy about the place to which he replied:"KUFRI".
(Conversation between me and the local Himachal guy)
Me(jokingly): This can't be Kufri!!! if this is Kufri then show me the snow?
Him(with devilish grin on his face): Just wait here for another month or so and you will get your snow.
Me(thinking): ye tou mere hi maje lae gaya.
My massi and uncle told me not to travel @ night, cover till Rampur and then do rest of the route tomorrow. Reached Rampur @ 3:20pm. Had lunch in a restaurant, sorry don't remember the name. The restaurant staff was playing cards. They only had daal chawal, so ordered it and also had tea there. Asked the restaurant owner, what are the special places to visit here in Rampur?
He replied that you can roam the market and there are some temples that one can visit.
(Conversation between me and the Restaurant staff)
Him: what's your destination for today?
Me: Chitkul.
Him: I suggest you go till Sangla, it will take about 3 hours, stay at Sangla and then do Chitkul tomorrow.
Me: How is the road ahead till Sangla?
Him: Not so good.
Me(Thinking),I am not tired and can cover more as I have another 2 hours or so before it gets dark and Sangla is just 3 hours away. I can drive an hour in the dark, reach Sangla and cover Chitkul the other day. So went ahead with this plan(didn't know that this was going to be a huge mistake).
The roads from Delhi all the way till Rampur are butter smooth, like heaven but the last stretch, Wangtu(I think) till Chitkul gives you nightmares, about 70 straight kms of HELL.
But do we really visit these places to ride on good roads??? Nahhhh!!!
Below are some pics clicked on Day 1 and 2..... And Day 2 is not over yet ;)
@ Himalayan E-way
Kufri
Narkanda, HP
River Satluj, near Rampur
Approaching Rampur
My first solo bike trip
How a Dharamshala-Mcleod Ganj bike trip changed to Chitkul???
The original plan was for Dharamshala-Mcleodganj, a friend of mine was supposed to accompany me in this trip. Planning started in the 2nd week of November, I already got my leaves approved. Time was not an issue as I had 7 days(19th-25th Nov) in hand and I wanted to cover as much as I can. So I called my friend on Thursday(15th Nov) to know about his preparation and discuss the timings of our departure on Monday(19th Nov). I was so shattered and upset to hear that his leaves got cancelled as his team mate had to take urgent leaves as one of his family members was not well. I got frustrated and so was him as he wanted to be in this trip real bad.
So it had to be a solo trip, I cant cancel it as I was waiting for this from such a long time. Then came the humongous task of convincing my parents for a solo bike trip to Dharamshala. I knew they would never approve it. So should I lie to them that I got company and leave and just tell them the truth once I return? It was a battle between mind and heart. Finally heart won and I decided that I will try to convince them and if they don't approve then with a heavy heart I'll just cancel the trip.
A big thanks to www.bcmtouring.com(The best travel community site), I would probably have not been to all these beautiful places had I not read the amazing travelogues on this site. My inspiration to ride solo came from some great men, who are well known in the travel community, Narender Gautam(A.k.a. Master ji), Yogesh Sarkar, Jasdeep phaji, Hoodibaba and some others for their solo trips. I consider them as my idols. I showed their experiences to my parents, literally begged them, and after numerous requests, they finally agreed. That moment, I was so happy and excited for my first solo bike trip.
Then on Saturday(17th Nov) morning, I slipped while climbing the stairs of my house. My left ankle got twisted, my foot was badly hurt and I was in severe pain. I had to hide that pain from my parents as they would have canceled the trip then and there. So I knew I had to change my plan as I cant do the Triund Trek(9 kms) @ Mcleodganj on one leg. I had Chitkul in mind to be covered in future trips, so decided go for Chitkul instead. I told my parents about this change and was able to convince them by saying that I want to do the 9km trek with a friend as it would be too boring if I do it alone. They asked few questions about Chitkul and then approved it.
My plan was to start early in the morning around 4:00-4:30am and reach Rampur before 6:00pm. But I had to listen to my parents here. They said that it's your first trip as solo, so you shouldn't be driving that long in a day. Start a little late, cover till Solan on day 1, stay at massi's house and then cover the rest on day 2.
AGREED!!!
Day 1 and 2.
Nov 19th-20th(Monday-Tuesday), 2012, 6:25am
(Conversation between me and mom, before leaving for the trip.)
Me: Please don't worry, I will be fine and keep you updated.
Mom: It wont be easy for us, you will know when you have kids.
Me(jokingly): If I'll have kids, I won't be a worrying parent, I will buy them rockets and tell them, they can go to moon, if they want to.
Left home @ 6:30am and reached Solan @ 1:25pm.
Day 2.
Nov 20th(Tuesday), 9:45am
I planned to leave by 6:00am but massi(mirror image of my mother). How can you leave without the breakfast and hence the delay.
There was a huge jam at shimla and chota shimla, a lot of time wasted there. Saw many people standing at this point clicking pics, I didn't know that I reached Kufri. Asked a local guy about the place to which he replied:"KUFRI".
(Conversation between me and the local Himachal guy)
Me(jokingly): This can't be Kufri!!! if this is Kufri then show me the snow?
Him(with devilish grin on his face): Just wait here for another month or so and you will get your snow.
Me(thinking): ye tou mere hi maje lae gaya.
My massi and uncle told me not to travel @ night, cover till Rampur and then do rest of the route tomorrow. Reached Rampur @ 3:20pm. Had lunch in a restaurant, sorry don't remember the name. The restaurant staff was playing cards. They only had daal chawal, so ordered it and also had tea there. Asked the restaurant owner, what are the special places to visit here in Rampur?
He replied that you can roam the market and there are some temples that one can visit.
(Conversation between me and the Restaurant staff)
Him: what's your destination for today?
Me: Chitkul.
Him: I suggest you go till Sangla, it will take about 3 hours, stay at Sangla and then do Chitkul tomorrow.
Me: How is the road ahead till Sangla?
Him: Not so good.
Me(Thinking),I am not tired and can cover more as I have another 2 hours or so before it gets dark and Sangla is just 3 hours away. I can drive an hour in the dark, reach Sangla and cover Chitkul the other day. So went ahead with this plan(didn't know that this was going to be a huge mistake).
The roads from Delhi all the way till Rampur are butter smooth, like heaven but the last stretch, Wangtu(I think) till Chitkul gives you nightmares, about 70 straight kms of HELL.
But do we really visit these places to ride on good roads??? Nahhhh!!!
Below are some pics clicked on Day 1 and 2..... And Day 2 is not over yet ;)
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