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

hitanshu

Somnath:

IMO, Stay at Sangla is not that great an idea. The really painful part is the 21km from Karchcham-Sangla: narrow roads, heavily trucked due to hydel plant. From there on, Chitkul is 20km and is amazing. Pristine beauty, total peace, and a nice HP circuit house there (try booking apriori). That way you can have a nice trek/walk out there in the morning as well to Kanda:
http://freebirds.50webs.com/kanda.html
http://freebirds.50webs.com/chitkul.html (my own triplog)

PS: I agree with the idea to stay at Narkanda instead of Rampur. That way its much cooler, and the time saved, you coudl visit Hatu peak in the early morning as well and hit Kalka by evening peacefully!

PPS: Staying at Shimla is a very bad idea imo - its over crowded, heavily touristy and traffic (esp Shimla-Kufri) is mad. How about giving Fagu/Theog a shot? Fagu is much more subtle, a handful of buildings, is much higher/cooler and isnt crawling with tourists! You'll be there on weekend when every Delhiite troops in!

AvidTrekker

Here is a suggested itinerary.... merely tweaking your own program.... now that you have decided to take your own vehicle..

If you have "seen" Shimla, skip it... in any case one day is not enough in Shimla... use the "extra day" to do "around Kalpa" by jeep...

1st October Shimla - Sarahan
2nd October Stay at Sarahan inside Bhimakali temple accomodation [very good]
3rd October Sarahan - Rakcham/Chitkul [NOT Sangla}
4th October Stay & explore the Baspa Valley at Rakcham/Chitkul... evening 4:00 PM start for Kalpa... reach Kalpa in 2 to 2 & a half hrs.
5th October Kalpa and around Kalpa...
6th October Kalpa - Narkanda[Thanedar is even better but slightly off track... now that you have your own vehicle... go to Thanedar]
7th October Narkanda/Thanedar to Kalka
8th October Train
9th October (morning) Kolkata

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!!! HAVE FUn!!!

__________________
The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

MeCasa

Somnath, it makes me feel good to see you recieving such fine help as you yourself have so unselfishly helped so many

Have a good trip ;-)

somnath

Let me apologize for the delay. I am struggling to stay online in IM (there is something wrong with my network). Hence, unable to contact you.

Khaadu75:
Thank you so much. This is just great!!!! I’ll definitely send you a PM once I am able reserve my train tickets. If a local friend helps to arrange for a car – nothing like it. thank you once again.

Smnray:
Welcome to IndiMike, Suman. Have a nice time here and best wishes for your trip.

Hitansu:
Nice tips, my friend. I didn’t know that there is a staying option at Chhitkul. This info is very helpful. “Kanda” is doable if I can stay at Chhitkul circuit house.
BTW, thanks for sharing such beautiful photographs. http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc059131wf.jpg - this place is amazing, I can spend my day here. “Hatu peak in the early morning” is another nice tip Hitansu I’ll definitely try to do it. Thank you for your inputs.

Avid:
Before talking about Shimla episode let me say thank you. I’ve “seen” so many travelers and trekkers from IM are benefited from your posts . As soon as I saw your post I became relaxed - Avid has come and my itinerary will be ready by a few days. He he….. just see the result!!!!! It is fixed now. Now, what I think 4th October will be a vital day. but that’s OK.
Avid, I had never been to Shimla. Once I thought I’ll cover Shimla during this trip but when I found that I do not have enough time, it is kept for the next trip. What I think regarding hill stations like Darjeeling or Shimla, these are not the places to just see. Need to be a part (for some days) of it to actually enjoy the true essence. So, I’ll plan for another trip for the traditional touristy rout of Shimla – Kullu – Manali. Yeah I know Hitansu is giving a firry look… ...... ha ha ha…… but, Hitansu bhai, these places are touristy, over crowded but they have a history of old era and I love to guess their glorious past too.

MeCasa:
How are you? I am thankful to all of you. I’ve actually learned a lot from this forum. I love to travel but never realized that experience sharing can help someone or there is a community that makes traveler’s life comfortable before joining IM. There are some threads regarding ‘why you are here’ and similar and it is mentioned that ‘I have friends here’. As you all know the IM journey was not very smooth, it is like those mountain roads but I am really enjoying my journey. And the credit goes to ALL co-passengers .

Cheers,
Somnath

__________________
Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.

* My Travel Pix...

hitanshu

There's a nice Thakur guest house at Chitkul too, non AC, barebones but nice place.

As for Shimla, let me put it this way - while the Viceregal lodge, Jakhu temple etc are all nice, you can do that while rushing through Shimla - you *needn't* stay there, just see the places and get out asap The university side (SummerHill?) is nice, good trekking options and some waterfall too - and away from the maddening crowd! So, See but not Stay!! And yes, avid has a nice pilaan! Should u wanna trek, you can take 2 days from chitkul and reach uttarkashi

somnath

Yeah I love trekking and I think that is the best way to enjoy mountains. It is impossible to experience such beauty(http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...00/ppuser/4434 or http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...00/ppuser/4434 ) unless you are walking a couple of kilometers on your feet but not possible this time . I am planning to travel with my family members. So, may be next year…..

Thank you once again.

Bigzero

Tthis is a good discussion. I havent been to any of these places myself - so i cant help much here - but being someone who dreams of spending extended time in himalayas, all of these inputs are very valuable. Who knows, one fine day i will take a printout of these pages and set out on my own! Thanks all of you for contributing

Somnath, all the best, you are getting good help here, hope you have a nice trip!

__________________
miles to go....

Bigzero's Photo Gallery

somnath

BigZ’ee …….
Yeah this is really an accumulation of priceless information. But you know my problem, this is a mystery of my life that till date I am not able to implement my planning (regarding traveling). Just imagine the story of last year all of a sudden it was decided that I am going to Kashmir but it was nowhere in my mind. He he….. that’s why I am worried about the future of this proposed trip. Lets hope for the best.

But one thing is very clear this thread is a gem for anyone who is planning for this trip.

Thank you.
Somnath

AvidTrekker

Off TOPIC

For a good trekker, it will take minimum 11 days... that too for a very dood trekking team. I have been planning it, only the other way round... Uttarkaashi to Sangla

Chitkul to Har ki doon via Badaasu Ghati .... three to four days

Har ki Doon to Yamunotri via Yamunotri Pass or Dhumdar Kaandi Pass will take three to four days.

Yamunotri to Dodi tal via Darwa Pass ... three to four days.

Dodi tal to Uttarkaashi will take two days

AvidTrekker

Increase your no of days to 15, then see what schedule unfolds before you

somnath

You must be joking, Avid. If I dare to apply for a 15 days vacation, I’m sure that I’ll get a permanent leave from office . OK, I can see the opportunity to become an assistant of photojournalist but not sure about the future. Well, contract jobs are not so easy in India till now. So, I don’t want to lose my current job, Avid plz don’t provoke me .


BTW, Yamunotri to Dodi tal ……… . Wish some day…… keeping my finger crossed.

shirish1968

I am doing the same trup from 28th to 8th October

agmenon

Somnath,

I did Shimla-Kalpa-Sangla a couple of days back. I agree with suggestions of staying at Chitkul instead of Sangla. However, the road from Sangla to Chitkul has been damaged by floods at a couple of places as of today - one in Sangla village and another at Rakcham. So you may have to leave your vehicle and cross over to get to Chitkul. You might want to check the situation before you leave and factor in that much more time into your schedule.

somnath

There are some current threads regarding this route and I just thought to share this valuable info in this old thread.
Hence just a bump so that it can help you to determine the itinerary and some staying options.

Cheers.

lifeiscooldude

I want to travel to chitkul, buran pass and then to Kalpa may be..just to see kinner kailash range and take few shots.. I will be getting down at Kalka station on 10th morning.. I m having around 7days on hand..Is my plan feasible...?..
Anybody travelled on that route plz tell.
Do we get direct bus from Kalka to chitkul/sangla..??..if yes, what time..any link available for that..??