Itinerary Part-16: Himachal Pradesh
Dear Readers,
So here comes the itinerary of the penultimate leg of my All
India Solo Trip (links to other
itineraries at the end of the post). In this leg I'll be covering the state
of Himachal Pradesh. This state is known for its natural environment, hill
stations and temples. This could very well be the last leg of the trip,
considering that I've kept Jammu and Kashmir for the absolute end. I will only
proceed to Jammu and Kashmir if the conditions are alright.
There are numerous options of Trekking available in this
state as well. And I've considered a mixture of easy to comparatively difficult
treks in this leg. A huge shout out to the India Hikes team for helping me
decide on which treks to go.
As with all the other Itineraries, I've had help from friends, fellow bloggers,
tourism department of Himachal Pradesh, travel companies and readers, providing
me various inputs on availability of local transports, places to visit, places
to stay, etcetera, to develop this
itinerary. And, as mentioned in previous posts, this itinerary is loosely based
on various ideal situations. Thus, following it may not be possible due to
reasons out of our hand during the trip.
So here's the itinerary for the sixteenth leg of my All
India Solo Trip in the state of Himachal Pradesh:
Day 1: Shimla.
The first stop in this leg of the trip will be the capital city of the state,
Shimla. Snow capped mountains, colonial architectures and the pleasant climate
makes this one of the most popular hill station of India.
Check this out from my last visit to Shimla:
Day 2-8: Pin BhabaPass Trek. The first trek on this leg of the trip will be the 7 days long trek to Pin Bhaba Pass. A comparatively difficult trek, this is one of the best crossover treks in Himachal Pradesh. It features some of the most dramatic shifts in landscapes and cultures. The trek will end at Kaza. (Complete Itinerary of this trek can be found here)
Day 9: Kaza. A
day to rest after the difficult trek.
Day 10-14: Spiti ValleyTrek. Next up, is the 5 days long trek of the Spiti-Lahaul region. With a
terrain that is seriously challenging and a landscape that is drop dead
gorgeous, the Spiti valley makes for an exceptional adventure destination.
The trek will end at Manali. (Complete
Itinerary of this trek can be found here)
Day 15: Solang.
On this day I will travel to Solang from Manali, and rest for the day before
proceeding the next trek. No better place to rest than a valley surrounded by majestic
Himalayas on all sides.
Day 16-19: Beas KundTrek. Next trek on this circuit will be a 4 days long trek to Beas Kund. A
relatively easy trek, this trek takes us to the originating place of the river
Beas. (Complete Itinerary of this trek
can be found here)
Day 20: Manali.
Next up, is Manali for a day's rest between the concluded trek and the upcoming
trek.
Day 21-30: HamptaPass, Chandratal and Deo Tibba trek. Next trek will be 10 days long
combined trek through Hampta Pass, Chandratal and Deo Tibba. Through the
journey, the view of the oak and walnut trees entwined in the thick canopy of
the forest is simply mesmerizing. (Complete
Itinerary of this trek can be found here)
Day 31: Manali.
Another rest day, after the long trek, at Manali.
Day 32-44: Shepherd TrailTrek. Another long trek, but one of the most beautiful, the Shepherd Trail
Trek. This trek will consume 13 days. This trek, locally known as Gaddi Trek,
connects the pictorial valley of Kullu with Kangra Valley. The Trek will end at
Dharamsala. (Complete Itinerary of this
trek can be found here)
Check this out from my last visit to Manali:
Day 45: Dharamsala.
Next stop, is the seat of the Dalai Lama of the Tibetian Sect, Dharamsala. The
city is surrounded by a thick cover of deodar cedar trees
providing a picturesque surrounding. No better place to rest for a day after
the 2 week long trek.
Day 46-49: IndraharPass Trek. Next trek on this circuit which starts form Mcleodganj, a 4 days long trek to Indrahar Pass. It crosses the Dhauladhar range to end the trek in Ravi river basin. Deodar trees, snow bridges, and snaky mountain streams are the main attractions of the journey. (Complete Itinerary of this trek can be found here)
Day 50: Dalhousie.
Next stop, is one of the pristine hill stations, Dalhousie, named after Lord
Dalhousie, the British General who established the town. Neatly planned streets
and colonial era architectures surrounded by lush green and snow capped
mountains makes this place a marvelous retreat.
Day 51: Chamba.
Next stop, is the ancient city of Chamba. Lying on the banks of river Ravi,
with rich ancient history, this small town with its picturesque surroundings is
a popular tourist destination. Night stay back at Dharamsala.
Day 52: Palampur.
Next stop, is the hill station with numerous tea gardens and Paddy fields,
Palampur. Apart from the scenic beauty one would appreciate the architecture of
the temples situated in Palampur.
Day 53-54: Prashar Lake
Trek. Next up is a short trek to Prashar Lake. A 2 days trek starting from the
town of Mandi. This glacier lake, with deep blue water and a three storied
pagoda-like temple surrounded by snow capped mountains is a perfect place to
unwind yourself.
Day 55: Rewalsar Lake.
Next up, is a visit to another glacier lake situated at about 25 km from town
of Mandi, Rewalsar Lake. Located on a mountain spur, the ever calm lake is
considered sacred by Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist alike.
Day 56: Kasol.
Next stop, is the village of Kasol, located on the Parvati Valley. This village
is base for numerous treks. A day to rest and gear up for the upcoming trek.
Day 57-61: Sar PassTrek. The final trek in this state will be a 5 days trek across Sar Pass. A
relatively easy trek, with forests,
meadows, quaint villages, and snow-covered mountains, this trail offers a gamut
of experiences. The trek ends at Rumsu. (Complete
Itinerary of this trek can be found here)
Day 62: Rumsu. A
day to rest after the final trek.
Day 63: Shimla.
The end of this leg of the trip will be the same place as it started, because
of the public transport options available. Here, I would have to decide whether
to end the trip here and return home or proceed to Jammu and Kashmir.
Another one from my last trip to Himachal Pradesh:
So readers, if you feel that I should change the itinerary in some
way or other for me to move much better between places, please specify them on
the comment section. And ,as I've mentioned in earlier post, if any of you
reader wants to join me in any juncture of this journey, I would love to share
the journey with you.
You can also write to me at muditacharya28@gmail.com with your
valuable suggestions and questions about this trip.
And keep following the blog as I release further details and
further itineraries of the trip.
Cheers!
Links to other itineraries:
TAMIL NADU
KERALA
KARNATAKA
MAHARASHTRA
GUJARAT
RAJASTHAN
PUNJAB, HARYANA, CENTRAL INDIA
ODISHA & WEST BENGAL
SIKKIM
MEGHALAYA AND TRIPURA
MIZORAM, MANIPUR AND NAGALAND
ARUNACHAL PRADESH AND ASSAM
BIHAR AND JHARKHAND
UTTARAKHAND
JAMMU & KASHMIR
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