sangla valley

AndreasW

Interesting pictures, uttam... and congratulations for this trek

Some questions... Is the road head into the Rupin valley still in Dhaula and fit for jeep traffic yet? Is this planed further to the Dodra Kwar region? Should I visit this region soon?

Could you tell a little bit more about the remote and mystical Dodra Kwar region? "No outsider eats in the local houses in Dodra for fear of being poisoned as sacrifice to local spirits."... mentioned Deepak Sanan & Dhanu Swadi... .... I should stay for longer there!... - Curious!!!

uttam, you mentioned the trek to Parvati-Kund. ...Glacier, lake, spring??? Where is it? Surely behind the ITBP check point and forbidden for foreigners as a consequence. Right?

So long
AndreasW

... and Listigarang and Kashang passes at next?

AvidTrekker

Andreas, in 1998 I went walking from Naitwar to Dhaula on the jeep road. Its not a good road, but ok for jeeps.
Uttam??

I went there for this very reason !! I had some 24 children with me. Nothing happened.... nothing! No one was sacrificed!

Probably banned for foreigners.

Andreas, what are you planning for 2007?

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himadventures

I walked 3-4 times but from CHITKUL to SANGLA and this was always a memorable walk. After crossing over the pass-we used to stay overnight at CHITKUL but sometimes bus had not come...and sometimes we need to have a walk...just for fun. There was bus for SHIMLA at 10.30 AM and we used to reach well in time to catch.

I am not sure you will be able to handle gear part of your question- everyone will be asking you for an advance for it [ If someone will be having gear there which I am not sure someone will have ] and returning gear in another city is again requires good money as you will be paying travel expenses of that guy + your own money also.

uttam

Thanx, Andreas.
Yes, the road is still till Dhaula and only Jeeps ply between Netwar and Dhaula. However, construction of road was in full swing. One road artery will be reaching very near to Jiskon from Chanshal ghati side while on the right bank of Rupin river, rudimentary road was visible almost till Kitarwari. Another six months and these roads should be functional for atleast jeeps!
It's good to visit this area now. I suspect after better road connectivity, hoards of tourist and trekkers would barge into the area with both positive and negative consequences. Some degree of its Mystical charm will certainly diminish. Even now this route is problem free and people are very helpful. Don't think about what Deepak Sanan has written. Such things, if they happened at all are past now. I hope Avid will agree with me. I trekked alone in the Dodra Kwar region and ate at three places, still i am writing this post!!!! Infact, i started three days after my friends set out and could meet them only above Jakha at Hudaknaal. Jakha and Jiskon villagers are fully into meditation and prayer. 'Radha-Swami Satsang'centers have very dominant presence in villagers life. The whole village of Jiskon and Jakha have turned vegetarian and quit boozing. Of late, at the onset of winters all villagers of Jakha & Jiskon (Except one or two from every household stay back to look after their homes and animals) go to the Radha-Swami-Satsang's headquarters in Punjab and stay there for 2-3 months.

If u r planning to stay for sometime in the Rupin valley, explore at the possibility of doing Baraadsar lake-Kakurkaanditaal(lake)- Bhedwa waterfall- one more lake(name forgot)Trek. It's 3-4 trek and leads to Sangla too. I don't know if deepak Sanan has mentioned about this sepherd's trail in his book. The route to Barradsar goes from Bitri and Kwaari Villages both. Trail to Bitri village goes from Dhaula while Kwaari can be approached from above Sewa. I could not make it to Barradsar because i had to catch-up with my friends enroute Rupin pass. But i hope someday i,ll return back to dhaula for Baraadsar.

Parvati-kund is a lake and i forgot that it's offlimits to foreigners
Listigarang is absolutely on my priority list but i am waiting for my friends...meanwhile small treks in kinnaur may happen.
regards

AndreasW

Thanks for your valuable infos, uttam!

I just read this... http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/200...himachal.htm#6
Pabbar valley and Rupin valley are still connected by road via Chansal ghati? Thought it's a trek

AndreasW

@Avid: I've no great plans this year, only short visits at the Italian Alps. I'll miss Himachal!

uttam

I have very limited knowledge about Pabbar Valley. When the road to Dodra-Kwar becomes functional, it will shorten 2-3 days of trekking. The real trek of this route starts above Jakha village where road won't be reaching. It will still be very-very beautiful trek may be a bit more commercialised though!

AvidTrekker

I feel its a misprint or some misinformation. Some bikers had been upwards from Larot on a dirt track just two years back and they could go only two kilometres or so. It was written on Indiamike in this thread. with some excellent pix of the dirt track.

See this thread about the same place also....

Its not impossible to build a road across the 12000 foot high Chansil Ghati... just that it does not serve a major purpose.

Anna_N

I recommend staying in tent accom in Sangla. Not sure what the rates are as I went there on a bike tour package, but tents are awesome - even with flushing toilet attached.

A lesser known tent place KINNER CAMP is in Kharogla - in between Sangla and Chittkul villages. See attached photos - I highly recommend it.