Plz help me for Shimla>Kalpa>Sarahan>Sangla>Ch hitkul trip

somnath

Durga puja is approaching (yeah, I know 3 more months ) and it is my turn to plan the next trip. Last year it was Kashmir and this time I am planning for Shimla - Kalpa – Srahan – Sangla – Chhitkul trip during Puja vacations (September end). What do you think? I’ve seen some photographs and I think I’ll not be disappointed.

I can start on 28th Sept night and must be back (Kolkata) on 9th Oct morning, so I’ve 10 days for the trip. Is it possible?
Friends, if anyone could suggest an itinerary, staying options, mode of transport and some idea of expense (approx Rs.600-700 per day for hotels is my estimation) would be a great help.

There are some threads regarding this area and I am going through those posts but if possible plz reply on this thread.


Thanks,
Somnath

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mk26in

Hi Somnath,

I am not sure whether you are going by your own vehicle or state transport buses. But here's my itinrary Himachal - A solo drive through

Mk

somnath

Hi MK,
Thank you so much for the response . Let me go through your post, I am sure it will help me. And thanks for sharing such lovely photographs.

BTW, I am not sure about the taxi or State Transport bus till now. I’ll definitely ask you regarding the approximate fares and details to decide.

Cheers,
Somnath

somnath

Well, my planning is (till now) like this:

28th September (night) Train from Kolkata
29th September Train
30th September Shimla
1st October Shimla - Sarahan
2nd October Sarahan - Sangla
3rd October Sangla - Chhitkul - Sangla
4th October Sangla - Kalpa
5th October Kalpa
6th October Kalpa -Rampur
7th October Rampur - Kalka * - Train
8th October Train
9th October (morning) Kolkata

* Is it possible to travel Rampur to Kalka directly?

mk26in

Hi Somnath,

Only one thing i would like to point out. You've planned 6 Oct. as Kalpa-Rampur. There's no
point in staying at Rampur. Theres' nothing special in Rampur. Kalpa-Rampur will take only 4-5 Hrs. So start early and take a halt at Narkanda (66 Km./2.5 Hrs from Rampur). Rampur is only 900 Metres whereas Narkanda is 2000+ metres.

And don't worry you can get direct transportation from Rampur to Kalka and if you decide for Narkanda, you'll get to Kalka more easily.

Mk

somnath

Excellent idea MK . Thank you so much. It will be better to minimize the distance from Kalka.
Narkanda sounds very practical and interesting too.


Thank you.
Somnath

AvidTrekker

1st Oct Shimla to Sarahan

You will reach after 6 hrs by private vehicle & 8 hrs by bus. How will you enjoy Sarahan in the dark if you are going to Sangla the next day?

Again, the bus route to Sangla involves three buses with changes at .... Jeori and Karcham.

Sangla Chitkul Sangla and Kalpa can be done in a single day by private vehicle. Stay at Kalpa is good.

There is a direct bus Kalpa to Chandigarh. Kalpa 15:00 to next day 04:45 Kalka. See the time table here.

As the gentleman has advised you, break journey at Narkanda. Its the highest altitude on the bus route & all the buses halt there.

If costing around 2100 Rs per day is not a problem, hire your own vehicle from Kalka or Shimla. It'll be worth it coz mountain buses take a very long time and are infrequent. If there are seven or eight of you, it will be more economical too.

I'll be there around the same time but walking on the mountains ... my plan is for the entire month of September.

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somnath

Ahhh……. Avid !!!! Thank you, Sir. You are here . First of all, I am planning for hired jeep (I can understand the difficulties with bus on mountain) and my estimation was 2000 / day.
Avid, I don’t think I’ll be able to be flexible with time. I understand that one full day at Sarahan would be better but I need to do it within stipulated time at any cost I cant afford another day. So what I can do is I can start early from Shimla. Or if you can suggest any other itinerary will be a great help.

3rd October Sangla - Chhitkul – Sangla
- OK, you mean to say we can do it Sangla - Chhitkul – Kalpa. Right? That’s good but what is your suggestion, should I relax and spend the afternoon at Sangla or should I come to Kalpa ? I am keeping one full day for Kalpa. My parents will be there with me this time so just wanted to make it relaxing.

And another point is which would be a better option ( plz consider both expense and availability)?:
A ) Hired car from Shimla for the entire trip (comfort level and cost - high)
B ) Hired from destination to destination, like Shimla – Sarahan and next day another car / jeep for Sangla and so on. So that at the end of the tour I can catch the bus http://himachal.gov.in/hrtc/rmap.asp?link=2040003 that starts from Narkanda at 9.30 am and arrives at 16.30 (and the Kalka Howrah mail departs at 23:45). Do you think 2nd option will be economical?

And best wishes for your forthcoming trek , Avid. What is your plan?

Yogesh Sarkar

As far as enjoying Sarahan goes, I think you can enjoy and still leave the next day. After all Sangla is only 100kms from Sarahan, I know it will take 5hours or so to reach there, but then again you would be able to spend good 4-5hours in Sarahan before leaving for Sangla.

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smnray

"Originally Posted by mk26in
....... if you decide for Narkanda, you'll get to Kalka more easily."
What is the opinion of staying at thanedar instead of narkanda ? Will apple orchard be visible at end of september ?

( I have just joined indiamike, and planning to go to sangal at similar time )
Thanks,
- Suman

ddutta

Somnath,

My suggestion is hire a car for the entire trip. ( Shimla - Shimla/ Narkanda ) that will be better bcos point to point /droping will not be economical.It will be boring/tiresome to fix/bargain/search for a new car everytime in a new place, when time is a factor. Moreover , I have seen the car charges are quite high for dropping, specially in rush/busy seoson. And in off seqason they simply refused to go OR often demand extra money bcos they have to return empty.

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somnath

Thank you friends. I’ll prefer to hire a jeep for the entire trip. Thank you all for all the inputs.

Cheers,
Somnath

khaadu75

Hey Suman , Do I know you from some other forum by any chance ??? And yes staying in Thanedar wud be better than Narkanda ... apples might not be visible on trees at that time as the apple crop this year is pretty less and thus the season will finish much earlier but you JUST may get lucky to see a few trees with some apples on it .

As for accomodation in Thanedar/Kotgarh area pls feel free to contact me and I will definitely help you ( Im belong to Kotgarh ) ....

Cheers

khaadu75

Hey, Incase you want a jeep with a local driver for your trip pls contact me and I will arrange one with a local driver ....

Cheers

smnray

Possibly no. I stay in NOIDA with my wife and son. But anyway, now we know each other ! ( And all the members of indiamike )