Mountain Biking From Shimla To Manali

Dilliwala

Hey smackdog,

bunny has scanned a section of the exact same N&W map I wrote of earlier - after Dhamog on Route 1 u can see the "khar" of Brahmpukhar I mentioned earlier. Imagine the red line extending in the same direction to meet the Satluj river and joining the thick red line (NH 21 - as shown) going to Bhagrotoo and Mandi/Pandoh/Aut. So there u shud get a clear idea of the route the buses follow - these are the Shimla-Manali buses I was talking about.
The big buses have a problem going over Jalori most of the year, so they tend to avoid Route 3 for Shimla-Manali. Smaller and private buses do go via Jalori if coming from Rampur/Kinnaur. They are few and there's not much other traffic, espesh during the rains. BTW, u can get an approximate idea of the distance from Sainj to Aut from the point to point km-stones, so if poss pls get an approx figure - I'll be glad for the on-the-ground info.

There are a few buses going on route 2, but after Chail Chauk they head towards Baggi and Mandi, none go direct to Pandoh, certainly I didn't see any.

Oh, not at all. In the off-season (Oct 06) the rooms were 400 and 500 bucks (it's the Atul Regency actually, my mistake earlier. BTW, the words "Regency" and "Residency" are the most misused espesh in smaller places - they give no indication as to a hotel's size or facilities ). U cud negotiate for thereabouts or less if u want to stay - after all u are alone. In any case, if u get no other accom info for the route (WHY IS NO ONE ELSE GIVING ANY INFO? COME ON, TREKKERS!) - do try and stop here and talk to Govardhan Sharma, if he's there - he shud be able to help.
I now see that the GHs in HPT's website are off-route - Bathad and Goshaini at least. I can't locate Nagni and Laida on any of my maps. Other than that, my guide book lists:
2 GHs at Jibhi (9 km south of Banjar) - the Doli and the Dev Ganga. 100-250 bucks.
1 at Sidhwan (2 km "before" Banjar) - the Patial "Palace" (another much misused word!). 100-200 bucks.
1 at Banjar - the Meena. 150-200 bucks.
1 each at Shanghar and Ghiagi - no idea where these places are.
Plus a fancy/expensive resort at Shoja - the Banjara Retreat (tents I think). 2500-3000 including meals. I'm guessing this does not interest u.
Sorry I can't help more since I haven't travelled the route (yet).

P.S. I do strongly recommend that u pick up the N & W map. If u don't want to buy the 200 buck guide-book (with said map), u can buy just the map (attached to a booklet with travelling info) for 60 bucks. Most major bookshops have N&W publications.
Also the Survey of India trekking map entitled "Shimla Hills". At 20 bucks, def worth it.
Here's a few addresses where u can buy them in Delhi. U shud also be able to get N&W at bookshops in Shimla.

Smackdog

When i get to Sainj I will definitely check the km stones and see what they say at Aut. No problem there and I will probably have some reviews of some of the guest houses on the way.

thanks for the help. It is going to be one fun ride.

Dilliwala

All the best! When do u start?

Smackdog

Well i have completted the journey--from shimla to Narkanda-i drove the bike--65 kilos --it took 8 hours and alot of uphill and downhill--at Narkanda i spent the night for 250 rs, one hotel wanted 500 but i wasn't about to spend that kind of money ----the next morning it was all downhill 35 kilos to sainj where the atul regency is --i asked the atul regency how much a room was and they swaid 440 but then they said 100 would be alright---i wasn't desperate cause it was 9 in the morning so i think that is why they came down on the price --he could sense i really wasn't intersted. then it was mostly downhill to luhri about 3 or 4 kilos --luhri is a small town on the river-and i asked someone and they said up on the mountain across the river that there is a guest house---i should have gone up there and seen what kind of place it was and the rates but i was interested to keep moving on the journey----it was a long hard mostly 100 percent uphill to get to ani---not severe uphill but steady consistent uphill and some very scenic views---- i got to ani at 12 am and once there i found the bus stop bench where everyone was waiting for the bus-i asked someone about a guest house and they said that ani has one for 250 a night and pointed to a building a little elevated--i was looking at the map and how it is alot of elevation to jalori jot---and i was reall tired so i said to hell with it and waited 2 and a half hours for the bus and threw the bike on top of the bus with the help of some people--the bus was so full that i had to sit on top with the bike---it was all steep up hill to jalori jot sever steep uphill-
it woould have been killer to do that on the bike----after we reached jalori jot it was all downhill until we reached a big town with a big bus station just before the national highway and then it was all level mostly to the national highway----and then mostly level from the national highway to manali--very slight uphill---it was beautiful and scenic journey--i would recomend it to anyone. they just need to have strong legs for the part from ani to jalori jot---- thanks to everyone here---wheni was at sainj the only marker i saw was sign saying 100 kilos to shimla--then from narkanda the sign says 64 kilos to shimla---thanks -

Dilliwala

Hey, congrats!
Did u have a tough time with the rains?

rishabh6296

drving on Jalori must have been fun,its one of the steepest roads in india.

Andypolls

Hi - I cycled Shimla-Kaza-manali-Leh-Khardung La last summer, you can find out loads from my blog (or email me at andypolls@yahoo.com)

http://andypolls.wordpress.com

all the best

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