Shringi Vatika, Himachal Pradesh

mridula

Shringi Vatika is a small place that rents out three to four rooms, a few tents and a hall in Himachal Pradesh. Some pictures can be found here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mridula/Shringi

I made a trip there in second errk of February and enjoyed the stay. Here is an account of the journey to reach the place.

We spent two and a half days at Shringi Vatika in Himanchal Pradesh. Reaching there itself was a task. Both of us are not fond of driving and the motion sickness complicates the issue further. So, we reached ISBT (bus station in New Delhi) to take a bus to Manali (we would have to get off before Manali to reach Shringi). But by the time we reached ISBT, the last bus for Manali had left. In fact, outside ISBT we met at least four touts trying to tell us that at this hour (it was 9.30 in the night, not all that late) no buses apart from their's was available. Once we managed to enter the bus station, we found that the best course was to take a bus to Chandigarh and that is what we did. It was a 2X2 decent bus, the only decent bus we took in this entire journey.

We reached Chandigarh at 4.00 in the morning (I was frozen for the part of the journey, it was cold) and then we took a local bus to Mandi. From there we headed towards Aut. We had to get down at that tunnel just before Aut to take a bus for Banjar (which does not go through the tunnel) which might go as far as Jibhi. We did all this and finally around 2.30 reached Jibhi. I was so sleepy for the entire way because of the Avomine that I took no tea anywhere (this is becoming a habit now, almost, bad really bad I must say). At some point, Sesha offered me a laddu (sweet) and that is all I ate for the entire day.

We walked the last two kilometers from Jibhi to Shringi, rather than wait for a bus that was available an hour later. It started raining lightly on the way. Finally, when we saw the board of Shringi Vatika, it was such a relief. It took us 17 hours to reach the place. How we attacked the aloo parathas (stuffed Indian bread) that were served to us a while later.

Another account of it can be found here:

http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfr...l-pradesh.html

__________________
mridula

http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/

Dilliwala

mridula, it's me again (yep! I'm all over the net today )

I've added Shringi/Shringpur to The List - never heard of it before reading your report (though I might have seen Ghiyagi on a map).
U know, I'm getting envious of all the places u've seen in the Banjar/Jalori region - in 3 trips to HP in 3 Octobers running, I haven't managed to make the turn-off from Aut or Sainj/Luhri! Came close in '05 (Shimla to Manali) - the choice was between this route or Mashobra/Tattapani/Alsindi/Pandoh; ended up choosing the latter as it seemed shorter. That route was good too, no regrets.
Oh well, there's always this year, or the next, or the next.

mridula

Dilliwala, I think you will like Shringi, it is a small place and the people at Shringi cook excellent food. Ask then for sweet Rajma and a dish called Sidu and nettle soup (bichu jari soup)

kullukid

My kinda place, thanks for that Mridula. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my hometown of Leeds, would've been nice to meet/entertain you, but i was in Rishi at the time. KK

mridula

Hi Kullukid, Leeds was good though a very stay. Do go to Shringi and better still go in off season so you have the entire place to yourself.

Dilliwala

First thing I thought of when I saw the pic was also the sweet.
I've heard of nettle-soup before but never heard of anyone trying it! I think they make it in a few parts of Garhwal too, but not really sure.