My first
blog post was a travelogue – I started writing blogs because there was so
little information on the web on these places where I visited. This post is a
throwback to those posts.
Anyone who
knows me, knows how I love the mountains. And how I like a little physical outdoor
activity like trekking. Since our marriage, I have taken Smita to two treks –
the first one resulted in us returning in two days from the hills of Dzongri /
Goecha la. The second, to Sandakphu and was a grand success. Since then, due to
our daughter being very young, we have not planned treks at all, although it
was always my wish to do a proper trek alone, since Smita doesn’t really enjoy
them. After planning and pondering for over two years, finally booked a trek to
Hampta pass, a popular trek near Manali, Himachal Pradesh. The trek takes one
from the green Kullu valley to the dry Spiti valley.
Took a
flight to Delhi on 15th June and an overnight bus to Manali the same
day. Checked in to a backpacker’s hostel (my first time) in Old Manali and
roamed around the city a bit. The next morning, started the trek from Prini, a
village nearby where we met our fellow trekkers. The first part of the journey
was a ride to Jobra from Prini, negotiating 40 odd hairpin bends on the road.
From Jobra, the trek to Chikha campsite was an easy one, and covered in about
three hours with at least 6 – 7 breaks! The Chikha campsite was in a valley,
right next to the Jobri river. The evening was spent roaming around the
campsite, crossing over the river for a stroll, and generally getting to know
our fellow trekkers better.
Next day
was slightly longer with the hike taking us about 6-7 hours. The highlight of
the day was crossing of the river near Jwara just before lunch, and the pretty
site where we had our packed lunch. The campsite at Balu ka Ghera was once
again in a valley and next to the river. The evening was a blast thanks to all
the singing and games we played before an early dinner.
Next day we
started early as there was a long way to Hampta Pass and cross over to Spiti
valley onward to the next camp site at Shea Goru. The trek was slightly tougher
than the other days, with a lot of boulders to negotiate. There were few
patches of snow which we had to cross too. The final approach up to Hampta Pass
was also covered with snow and it slowed the entire group down. Once we reached
Hampta Pass, it started to rain with ice crystals. We had our lunch of Veg
Biryani in the rain and started the steep descent towards Shea Goru. The first
segment was slippery with a lot of mud and slush, and then there was a section
where a steep slope full of snow was traversed with sliding on the snow. The last
section was a gradual slope down the hill and on to the valley where the camp
was set.
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| Hampta Pass |
The next
day started with crossing of the river – and this was some cold water. The
fingers instantly went numb, and even after several minutes, could not feel the
feet. The walk thereafter was through gradual slopes and ridges, and with the
sun shining bright, was an easy walk, especially compared to the previous day.
We reached the campsite at Chhatru, and soon took the waiting cars for a drive
to Chandrataal, a high altitude lake about 50 km away.
 |
| Chandrataal |
Next day,
the same cars took us back to Manali via Rohtang Pass. Enjoyed Manali through
the day and just roamed about leisurely. The old trees in this city simply
makes a great sight and makes one realize how mountains are meant to be. Wrapped
the trip by meeting few friends in Delhi, which is always a joy for me.
 |
| His Majesty, @Chhatru |
Manali
(2000m) - Jobra (2707m) - Chikha (3000m) - Balu - Ka - Gheera (3600m) - Hampta
Pass (4270m) - Shea Gahru (3700m) - Chatru (3300m) - Chandratal
(4250m) - Chatru (3300m) - Manali (2000m)
 |
| Hidimba Mandir, Manali |
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