Weekend Trip
Time is running fast and another week has come, so I had to plan for my weekend trip. This week I heading to Gangothri, Gomukh and if possible try to visit Yamunothri.
Friday, May 28, 2004
Trip to Little Lhasa - Part III
We woke the next day with high hopes that we will be heading to view the mountaintop and the glacier, but to our dismay it was heavy raining till 8Am and hence had to drop the plan of trekking. At that moment we decided that we would head towards Dalhousie. Near Dalhousie there is a place called Khajjiar, which is a 1x1km stretch of grassland. We had to drive around 6hrs to reach this place, but it was worth it for the drive. At around 2.30Pm we had our lunch in Dalhousie and then headed to Khajjiar. The road from Dalhousie to Khajjiar is good. I have visited lots of hill stations, but the one I admired is Dalhousie.
We spent around 2 hrs and rejoiced the place. By 5Pm it started to heavy rain and we had to run towards our cab to start off from that place. This time we took the return route through Chamba valley, the road was not so good but still the view was ultimate. After an hour or two, one of our types got punctured and had to halt. The cab had an extra tyre but was not able to find any spanners, so the driver waited to get a lift to the nearby village to get the tools. By 8.30Pm the tyre was replaced and all along the route we were trying to fix the old tyre. By 12.30Am we were able to find a shop and it took us another 45mins to fix.
I should appreciate my driver for the way he drived through the hill station. The amazing stuff was he started to drive from Sunday morning 5Am to Morning 4AM with just a 2 hr rest at Khajjiar. After 4Am on Monday he took a 1hr nap and started off. I was dropped at my home by 10Am. For those 2 days we had traveled around 2000Kms, our driver had a good stamina to cover that distance.
Tips: Try to avoid driving a distance of 2000Km in two days.
We woke the next day with high hopes that we will be heading to view the mountaintop and the glacier, but to our dismay it was heavy raining till 8Am and hence had to drop the plan of trekking. At that moment we decided that we would head towards Dalhousie. Near Dalhousie there is a place called Khajjiar, which is a 1x1km stretch of grassland. We had to drive around 6hrs to reach this place, but it was worth it for the drive. At around 2.30Pm we had our lunch in Dalhousie and then headed to Khajjiar. The road from Dalhousie to Khajjiar is good. I have visited lots of hill stations, but the one I admired is Dalhousie.
We spent around 2 hrs and rejoiced the place. By 5Pm it started to heavy rain and we had to run towards our cab to start off from that place. This time we took the return route through Chamba valley, the road was not so good but still the view was ultimate. After an hour or two, one of our types got punctured and had to halt. The cab had an extra tyre but was not able to find any spanners, so the driver waited to get a lift to the nearby village to get the tools. By 8.30Pm the tyre was replaced and all along the route we were trying to fix the old tyre. By 12.30Am we were able to find a shop and it took us another 45mins to fix.
I should appreciate my driver for the way he drived through the hill station. The amazing stuff was he started to drive from Sunday morning 5Am to Morning 4AM with just a 2 hr rest at Khajjiar. After 4Am on Monday he took a 1hr nap and started off. I was dropped at my home by 10Am. For those 2 days we had traveled around 2000Kms, our driver had a good stamina to cover that distance.
Tips: Try to avoid driving a distance of 2000Km in two days.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Trip to Little Lhasa - Part II
Once we reached Mcleodganj we were very much astonished, since one could count out the Indians residing there. It was more of exile Tibetians and close followers of His Holiness. For more than ½ hr we tried getting some accommodation, but were not successful. We had to walk around 2kms from the main market to get an accommodation. By 1Pm we got settled in the hotel and I fell like a log and had a good sleep for around 1 ½ hr. By the time I woke up the others were ready and it took me another 30mins to get ready and straight away headed for lunch.
After lunch we visited the Monastery, which includes Karmachakra Temple, Buddha statue and residence of His Holiness. Then we headed to the Tibetian Museum, which depicted the life of Tibetians under the Chinese invasion. We came to know that His Holiness was at his residence and tried to meet him, but our request was politely turned down. Then we headed to Dal Lake, which is 5km from the main market, which was not much convincing, so we further drove another 3km for a place called Nandoo. This is a viewpoint of the neighboring mountains, which looked amazing under the sunset.
After spending some time we went back to our hotel rooms to take some rest. As per our plan we decided to trek 13km stretch towards Trinud-Illaqa the next day morning. Trinud is 9km walk and can have a close view of the snow-covered mountaintop and Illaqa is place where we can see glaciers. With the anticipation of viewing this spots we went to sleep.
More to come about our Sunday plan...
Once we reached Mcleodganj we were very much astonished, since one could count out the Indians residing there. It was more of exile Tibetians and close followers of His Holiness. For more than ½ hr we tried getting some accommodation, but were not successful. We had to walk around 2kms from the main market to get an accommodation. By 1Pm we got settled in the hotel and I fell like a log and had a good sleep for around 1 ½ hr. By the time I woke up the others were ready and it took me another 30mins to get ready and straight away headed for lunch.
After lunch we visited the Monastery, which includes Karmachakra Temple, Buddha statue and residence of His Holiness. Then we headed to the Tibetian Museum, which depicted the life of Tibetians under the Chinese invasion. We came to know that His Holiness was at his residence and tried to meet him, but our request was politely turned down. Then we headed to Dal Lake, which is 5km from the main market, which was not much convincing, so we further drove another 3km for a place called Nandoo. This is a viewpoint of the neighboring mountains, which looked amazing under the sunset.
After spending some time we went back to our hotel rooms to take some rest. As per our plan we decided to trek 13km stretch towards Trinud-Illaqa the next day morning. Trinud is 9km walk and can have a close view of the snow-covered mountaintop and Illaqa is place where we can see glaciers. With the anticipation of viewing this spots we went to sleep.
More to come about our Sunday plan...
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Trip to Little Lhasa – Part I
Last weekend the trip was planned to Gangothri, but as a last minute change we headed to Dharamsala, which is 500Km from Delhi. This trip was the one that we had not planned where and what are we going to do. On Thursday we started to search for a cab. Since our regular travels guy was not able to provide a cab for us. On Friday morning I got a call from my travel mate that he was not able to arrange a vehicle. I tried my best but was not able to get one for the rates we were searching. Finally I decided that I would speak to our company transport guys if they can provide one. After a long negotiation, they agreed to give a Scorpio at Rs. 6.75/- per km. We had asked the supervisor for the cab at 8Pm so that we can reach by 10 or 11Am in Gangothri.
At around 5Pm my friend told me that the plan to Gangothri is dropped and we are heading to Almora. I was not interested in Almora. I even thought it is better to drop out of the trip. We had a plan for Dharamsala and Dalhousie for the next week. After discussing with people who had been there, we decided to head towards Dharamsala this weekend and we could make Gangothri the next weekend.
Around 6.30Pm I called the transport guy and informed him that we will be heading to Dharamsala. The transport guy was somewhat reluctant to this idea of changing the place, but later agreed to come along with us. At around 7Pm I called the supervisor and asked him has the cab come. At that moment I found that the cab has to come from the north end of Delhi, which is around 50Km from Noida and it, has to cross the heavy traffic. Finally the cab reached us at 11.30Pm and when we told the driver that we have to pickup two of our friends in Gurgoan he was so worried because of the extra 50km we are suppose to do now. The other thing is that he had started from near this place, which would have made more sense to first pick them up and then come to us.
Around 12.30Am we managed to leave Delhi and started driving towards Dharamsala. We should thank our ex-PM for his thought of golden quadrilateral. The road was so good that we were able reach Chandigarh by 4.30Am. From there we headed to the India’s largest Dam Bhakra Nangal, but we could not see that due to time constraint. Then we headed towards Dharamsala and reached by 11.30AM. Here the roads were not so good but was able to drive at the speed of 60/70 Km/hr. Since Dharamsala did not have anything to see we directly headed to Mcleodganj which was 10km from Dharamsala.
More to come on Mcleodgang…
Last weekend the trip was planned to Gangothri, but as a last minute change we headed to Dharamsala, which is 500Km from Delhi. This trip was the one that we had not planned where and what are we going to do. On Thursday we started to search for a cab. Since our regular travels guy was not able to provide a cab for us. On Friday morning I got a call from my travel mate that he was not able to arrange a vehicle. I tried my best but was not able to get one for the rates we were searching. Finally I decided that I would speak to our company transport guys if they can provide one. After a long negotiation, they agreed to give a Scorpio at Rs. 6.75/- per km. We had asked the supervisor for the cab at 8Pm so that we can reach by 10 or 11Am in Gangothri.
At around 5Pm my friend told me that the plan to Gangothri is dropped and we are heading to Almora. I was not interested in Almora. I even thought it is better to drop out of the trip. We had a plan for Dharamsala and Dalhousie for the next week. After discussing with people who had been there, we decided to head towards Dharamsala this weekend and we could make Gangothri the next weekend.
Around 6.30Pm I called the transport guy and informed him that we will be heading to Dharamsala. The transport guy was somewhat reluctant to this idea of changing the place, but later agreed to come along with us. At around 7Pm I called the supervisor and asked him has the cab come. At that moment I found that the cab has to come from the north end of Delhi, which is around 50Km from Noida and it, has to cross the heavy traffic. Finally the cab reached us at 11.30Pm and when we told the driver that we have to pickup two of our friends in Gurgoan he was so worried because of the extra 50km we are suppose to do now. The other thing is that he had started from near this place, which would have made more sense to first pick them up and then come to us.
Around 12.30Am we managed to leave Delhi and started driving towards Dharamsala. We should thank our ex-PM for his thought of golden quadrilateral. The road was so good that we were able reach Chandigarh by 4.30Am. From there we headed to the India’s largest Dam Bhakra Nangal, but we could not see that due to time constraint. Then we headed towards Dharamsala and reached by 11.30AM. Here the roads were not so good but was able to drive at the speed of 60/70 Km/hr. Since Dharamsala did not have anything to see we directly headed to Mcleodganj which was 10km from Dharamsala.
More to come on Mcleodgang…
Monday, May 24, 2004
About Little Lhasa
Lhasa was the capital of Tibet before the Chinese occupied during 1949-50. China claims that Tibet is a part of China and not a different country. The head of Tibet is His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. After his exile from Tibet, he has made India as the new homeland and rules the Tibetians from McLeod Ganj, which is called Little Lhasa. McLeod Ganj is 13kms from Dharamsala and it has the monastery and palace of His Holiness.
Lhasa was the capital of Tibet before the Chinese occupied during 1949-50. China claims that Tibet is a part of China and not a different country. The head of Tibet is His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. After his exile from Tibet, he has made India as the new homeland and rules the Tibetians from McLeod Ganj, which is called Little Lhasa. McLeod Ganj is 13kms from Dharamsala and it has the monastery and palace of His Holiness.
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