Day 7 (Sep 19): The Surreal Pin Valley
Woke up early in the morning, and after doing morning chores, went straight to monastery. Stopped my bike at the monastery's entrance and when I was about to enter the monastery I saw this board "It is the monastery's protector deity chapel *** not allowed to go inside". My mind filled with anger, it was boiling inside, some thousand fireworks went off in it. I started thinking I came a long way to visit this place, paid Rs.500 for the hotel room and all I could see is this board. Frustrated to the core, I started heading back, then, all of a sudden heard some noise. Looked back and saw this gorgeous woman descending down the stairs beside that board. My happiness did not last long as her boyfriend was right behind her. I thought of asking them, "where are you guys coming from?", "did any one saw you up there or tried to catch you? as we are not supposed to go there". But before I could open my mouth they disappeared like a fart in the air. Then I looked at the board again and realized the height of my foolishness, that board was only meant for the door sitting above it. One can see the rest of the monastery without getting beat up. A lama ji was there who opened the prayer room and warned "No photography inside the room".
The board that almost sent me back
Few pics of the monastery
Funny little fellas outside the monastery
Trekked upwards to see Dhankar palace and found it to be closed but the view from the top was amazing. Spent some time there, then, headed back to the hotel. While I was descending, a huge herd of goats blocked my way and asked me in their language, "Meeaahhh, Meeahhhhhhh(Who are you and what are you doing here?)". I replied in their language "Meeaaaaaahhhhhhhhh....(If you don't clear my way now, I'm going to whoop your A**). They got my message loud and clear, got out of my way and darted off in opposite directions. Reached hotel, packed luggage, paid the rent and headed towards Pin valley.
Dhankar Palace
Some village on the way to Pin Valley
Just few kms into the beginning of Pin valley, found this road block, the main road was blasted as some repair work was going on.
After chit-chatting with a local, found this alternate route, the first couple of kms were real bad after that it was the usual kacchi(unmetalled) road.
The first village that comes up is Gulling, I was literally starving as I didn't had breakfast. So, did brunch in a small dhaba in Gulling and then headed for Mud village. In my majestic ride to Pin valley, I witnessed the mountains changing colors and shape, from barren mountains to mountains with green spots to mountains covered with red and pinkish blankets, ALIEN shaped mountains and what not. One can spot beautiful tiny villages from miles away, surrounded by mighty mountains, river flowing on the left changing its patterns, clear blue sky above, all this left me spellbound. And I was in no hurry to reach mud as the vistas en-route were so breathtakingly beautiful. Its hard to describe, it cant be captured in pics, you just need to go there and experience it. After hours of blissful ride, finally reached mud.
I had tea in the dhaba "Spiti Tara Tours and Travels" and bought a pack of biscuits worth Rs.60(which I did not pay :( . I wasn't able to talk to mom dad yesterday due network issues at Dhankar, so I knew they must be worried about me. I told this to the dhaba owner and such a kind man he was, he took me to the only house in Mud which had a telephone. Talked to mom dad and informed them that I am more than OK. In all this hurry, I forgot to pay money to the dhaba owner and also left the pack of biscuits half eaten at the dhaba.
Strolled the village. Spent some time there and then left for Kaza. Reached Kaza by 5pm and found a room in Raasta guest house.
Gulling, The first village in Pin Valley
A very beautiful Sagnam village(This is probably the worst pic ever clicked of this village)
Mikkim Village
Mud Village
Vistas en-route
Woke up early in the morning, and after doing morning chores, went straight to monastery. Stopped my bike at the monastery's entrance and when I was about to enter the monastery I saw this board "It is the monastery's protector deity chapel *** not allowed to go inside". My mind filled with anger, it was boiling inside, some thousand fireworks went off in it. I started thinking I came a long way to visit this place, paid Rs.500 for the hotel room and all I could see is this board. Frustrated to the core, I started heading back, then, all of a sudden heard some noise. Looked back and saw this gorgeous woman descending down the stairs beside that board. My happiness did not last long as her boyfriend was right behind her. I thought of asking them, "where are you guys coming from?", "did any one saw you up there or tried to catch you? as we are not supposed to go there". But before I could open my mouth they disappeared like a fart in the air. Then I looked at the board again and realized the height of my foolishness, that board was only meant for the door sitting above it. One can see the rest of the monastery without getting beat up. A lama ji was there who opened the prayer room and warned "No photography inside the room".
The board that almost sent me back
Few pics of the monastery
Funny little fellas outside the monastery
Trekked upwards to see Dhankar palace and found it to be closed but the view from the top was amazing. Spent some time there, then, headed back to the hotel. While I was descending, a huge herd of goats blocked my way and asked me in their language, "Meeaahhh, Meeahhhhhhh(Who are you and what are you doing here?)". I replied in their language "Meeaaaaaahhhhhhhhh....(If you don't clear my way now, I'm going to whoop your A**). They got my message loud and clear, got out of my way and darted off in opposite directions. Reached hotel, packed luggage, paid the rent and headed towards Pin valley.
Dhankar Palace
Some village on the way to Pin Valley
Just few kms into the beginning of Pin valley, found this road block, the main road was blasted as some repair work was going on.
After chit-chatting with a local, found this alternate route, the first couple of kms were real bad after that it was the usual kacchi(unmetalled) road.
The first village that comes up is Gulling, I was literally starving as I didn't had breakfast. So, did brunch in a small dhaba in Gulling and then headed for Mud village. In my majestic ride to Pin valley, I witnessed the mountains changing colors and shape, from barren mountains to mountains with green spots to mountains covered with red and pinkish blankets, ALIEN shaped mountains and what not. One can spot beautiful tiny villages from miles away, surrounded by mighty mountains, river flowing on the left changing its patterns, clear blue sky above, all this left me spellbound. And I was in no hurry to reach mud as the vistas en-route were so breathtakingly beautiful. Its hard to describe, it cant be captured in pics, you just need to go there and experience it. After hours of blissful ride, finally reached mud.
I had tea in the dhaba "Spiti Tara Tours and Travels" and bought a pack of biscuits worth Rs.60(which I did not pay :( . I wasn't able to talk to mom dad yesterday due network issues at Dhankar, so I knew they must be worried about me. I told this to the dhaba owner and such a kind man he was, he took me to the only house in Mud which had a telephone. Talked to mom dad and informed them that I am more than OK. In all this hurry, I forgot to pay money to the dhaba owner and also left the pack of biscuits half eaten at the dhaba.
Strolled the village. Spent some time there and then left for Kaza. Reached Kaza by 5pm and found a room in Raasta guest house.
Gulling, The first village in Pin Valley
A very beautiful Sagnam village(This is probably the worst pic ever clicked of this village)
Mikkim Village
Mud Village
Vistas en-route
No comments:
Post a Comment