Sarahan in July?

neeltje

Dear all,

We are planning to travel from Shimla to Kafnu around July 10th (to do a trek from Kafnu to Mud), but now I'm wondering whether we should visit Sarahan in between. Is it worth it, even though it'll probably be raining? If so, does anyone know how much a taxi from Shimla would cost and how much time it would take (and if anyone wants to share the taxi, please let me know)? The bus takes about 9 hours, the idea of visiting Sarahan would be more appealing if a taxi is faster and not too expensive. And is it easy to find transport in Sarahan to travel on to Kafnu, or Wangtu?
Thanks for any help on this!

AvidTrekker

Sarahan is definitely worth a visit at any time of the year. Yes, it does rain there but its a North facing slope and you won't have the really heavy rain.

Stay there for at least a day or two at the beautiful guest house inside the bheemakaali temple courtyard. Taxi Shimla to Sarahan will cost around rs 1500 to 2500 depending... The bus ticket is around 100 rupees. If you are taking a train to Kalka and do not wish to visit Shimla, there is a morning 07:00 bus to Sarahan starting at Kalka station.... and reaching Sarahan around 19:30.

Transport to Wangtu can be hitched on local share-a-taxi vehicles. From there to Kafnu in local share jeeps or hitch rides. You can even start your trek at Sarahan itself and walk to Wangtu in 3 or 4 days.

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kinky_lizzard

sarahan will be a great addition, as avid recommends, stay at the bhimakali courtyard resthouse, a charming quaint wooden structure, only rs. 120 for a room with a bathroom (last year). and the views are amazing, if u require any pics for the place e-mail@ bhanu1313@yahoo.com

irsel

As above said Sarahan is worth to be visited for 1 or 2 days. The temple is an interesting place and the surrounding of Sarahan is very beautiful even if it rains. You would miss a lovely place!

neeltje

Thanks to all three of you, you are very convincing, so we'll go!

shpatel

Sarahan was absolutely amazing. When we arrived there it was raining and I was a bit disappointed since I really couldn't see the landscape around it. But when I woke up that morning to see the sunrise, I couldn't believe my eyes. There was an absolutely beautiful view of the peaks right in front of you.
In fact if you get lucky and get a clear night, you can see the moon's relfection off the snow capped mountains. What a sight!

Have fun

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neeltje

Now that I've decided we'll go, I have made a plan for how to go. Because the taxi from Shimla is too expensive but the bus a bit slow too my taste, I am thinking of taking the bus to Rampur and take a taxi from there, because in the bus time table I saw that the bus waits for two hours in Rampur. In that way taxi costs will be about half, and travelling time about two hours shorter. I might even get off the bus in Kuramsain (I believe that's the name...) already, where the bus waits for 50 minutes, and take a taxi from there.
If anyone has comments on this plan, don't hesitate.

AvidTrekker

Private taxis are available from Shimla. Furthur on... doubtful.

Rampur and kumarsain are rural places. No private taxis available [in the real sense of the word] Some rattletrap jeeps normally plying as "local share a ride" transports will agree to come for you exclusively. [at a price] After you are aboard and away, they will STILL pick up passengers saying "they are relatives". If you get angry, they will say... "ok get down" .... and you cannot get down in the middle of nowhere.

If you wanna take a taxi, take one from Shimla. Otherwise stick to the bus. The other places i can only say "best of luck"; if you wanna learn the hard way... go ahead.

If possible, give your schedule delhi to delhi. Possibly, we can help you out better.

neeltje

OK, so I guess we'll stick to the bus, and walk around Rampur for two hours, be patient and see Sarahan the next morning when the sun comes up (bus arrives at 19.30 or so).

AvidTrekker

What bus? From where to where and what time to what time? If it arrives 19:30 how will you see the sunrise? Rampur to Sarahan is quite near... you are saying that the bus will reach next morning? I am quite confused now

dhananjay

Hi,
There are regular buses fom shimla to Rampur ... One after each half an hour ... From rampur it is possible to hire a private van or a jeep @ 600/- to 1200/- to Sarahan ... The temple guest house is by far the best blace to stay ... Recommended visits are to The Bird park and a days hike to Chaura and back ..... One good trek from Sarahan is towards wangtu or Roghi ... which is walking along the Old HT road ... amazing trek with night halts at rest houses over 100 years old .... at the most one cant spend over two days at Sarahan ... however hiring a jeep one can explore the great sights around sarahan ... treading along the old HT road towards Narkanda ... Kinnu for the waterfall and the Yam ka Kanda village ... right below a glacier ... Moving further towards Daran Ghati ... unexplored and charming small places .. the road is narrow as in narrow and the cliff side over 800 mts drop ... amazing .... so in all three days in Sarahan and surrounding should do one good ....

Cheers,
Dhananjay

wandering_kat

This might be a dumb question, but are there any maps of the HT road and the villages it passes?

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AndreasW

Hi Dhananjay,

could you explain more about the places at the victinity of Sarahan and where they are situated? - Especialy "Kinnu"..."Yam ka Kanda village" and "Daran Ghati" sounds interesting for me! I didn't heard or read something before of these places...

Thanks
AndreasW

P.S. I've attached a picture of the famous Bhimakali Temple.

Attached Thumbnails

 

neeltje

AvidTrekker, if you want to know the details:
the morning bus from Shimla to Sarahan stays for one and a half two hours in Rampur, so by the time I'd get to Sarahan it would be dark (6 pm or 7.30 pm) and I wouldn't really see anything until next morning. Or doesn't it get dark at about 6pm?
(btw I got this information on bus schedule from hrtc.nic.in)

AvidTrekker

I had a look at the hrtc time table. The Kalka to Sarahan bus seems the only practical alternative. The bus will come filled up from Kalka, but lot of passengers get down at Shimla. You should get your two seats or whatever...

dhananjay is a local and has indicated that taxis ARE avlble at Rampur. This seems worth exploring, if you so wish.