Visit to Himachal at December -January

mrityunjit · Oct 16th, 2009, 16:06

Hi All

I am planning a tour to Himachal Pradesh at the end of this year with my family (wife and a 3 years girl) and some colleagues (Total 8 persons + 1Kid). I want to visit Shimla,Sarahan,Sangla, Kalpa, Rampur,Manali,Dalhousie. After surfing the PWD website I came to know that the department have some Circuit/Rest Houses at these places. I want to book those Circuit/Rest Houses during my tour.
We are starting by Howrah-Kalka Mail on 26th December 2009 and then Shivalik Dlx Exp.
My itinerary is -

28th December - 29th December - Shimla

30th December - Sarahan

31st December - Sangla

1st January - Kalpa

2nd January - Rampur

3rd January to 5th January - Manali

6th January - Dalhousie

7th January - Amritsar

And on 8th January 2010 we are starting for Kolkata by Amritsar-Sealdah Express and reaching Kolkata on 9th January.

My questions are :-

1) Is my itinerary ok ?

2) What would be the charge for a SUMO if we take it from Shimla and kept with us upto Manali/Dalhousie ?

3) Is advance booking possible at those Circuit/Rest Houses by sending an application letter?

4) Is theose Circuit/Rest Houses are good for Winter Season ?

5) What precautions should be taken, specally for my 3 years old kid.

6) Could we reach Sarahan,Sangla, Kalpa, Rampur at that time ?

Please help me with your valuable thoughts.

indracal · Oct 17th, 2009, 03:46

My answers are in GREEN color.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrityunjit

1) Is my itinerary ok ?

No, too much locations, too less time. You would be travelling always, won't be able to do ANY justice to any of the place you're going except probably Sarahan and Shimla. Shimla/Manali is still close and doable as a single trip, but Manali-DAL is 360/390 KMs

- you start on 6th morning and it should take around 10+ hours if you're lucky. Then you leave Amritsar next day to catch an early morning train for Sealdah. I guess you plan to see Amritsar points also? I would have felt more exhausted than happy being a group member, sorry!

The Kinnaur locations are not typically like having x, y, z tourist points where you go and see some "thing" - it's more like taking a walk or seating beside the Pine tress for a while when the sun sets, with it's reflection on the nearest peak, or just talk to a local about "nothing" and get to have a wild idea of what life means to them.

IMHO It's not worth including DAL in this loop and rather plan to return from Chandigarh. DAL can be covered later when you plan for Dharamsala/Palampur/Chamba with DAL as starting/end point.

2) What would be the charge for a SUMO if we take it from Shimla and kept with us upto Manali/Dalhousie ?

Should be around 1600-1800 - consider that this is a peak season. They might charge you extra for the return from ASR to SML leg. Search IM forums for good driver references.

3) Is advance booking possible at those Circuit/Rest Houses by sending an application letter?

Possible. Call the respective booking offices and find out the details. Be ready for no/minimal food there (your group is big, the caretaker may not be willing, or may not have enough utensils

), which will add pain to your already extremely hectic journey.

4) Is theose Circuit/Rest Houses are good for Winter Season ?

Some of the prominent ones should be, not sure for the others. I don't have any first hand experience yet, so shouldn't comment actually.

5) What precautions should be taken, specally for my 3 years old kid.

Talk to your paediatrician. Esp. tell him that she might be subject to extreme cold (Shimla to Kalpa/Manali/Dalhousie - all these places can have snowfall around that time). Always buy mineral water for your kid and carry all medicines.

6) Could we reach Sarahan,Sangla, Kalpa, Rampur at that time ?

Weather god knows - I understand you presumed everything will be fine, as your itinerary doesn't have any reserve day - which should have been done in End-Dec/early-Jan.

Sorry for my rough tone (rather unusual of me, I guess), but I've always wondered

why people would travel in such a hectic manner, when the idea is to relax! May be I'm too slow for people around

!

Lo, my rant is over!

indracal · Oct 17th, 2009, 11:42

Hi Mrityunjit,

Subho Deepabali!

Please note that Sumo might as well be a tad lower (1500-ish) and will depend on your negotiation. I think it is better to have an idea by calling the refs that you get from various websites (esp. IM), but finalize only when you're there - as then you can negotiate face to face.

And Welcome to IndiaMike!

And, once again, though yesterday was probably a bad day for me (and hence the rant

)- but the points are still valid.

mrityunjit · Oct 20th, 2009, 14:10

Hi Indracal,
SUbha Deepaboli.
Thanks for your suggestions. Actually I have not booked any hotel or circuit house till now just because of the weather, so everyday is our reserve day

. We know that we may not reach some points of Kinnaur, if so we are ready to modify our itinerary accordingly. But the point you raise, I must rethink about that is the food. What is your suggestion about that ? Another point about booking of PWD rest houses, I have a talk with the G.A.D dept. Shimla they said advance booking not done, and they also suggested to post an application. I already send a letter for booking and waiting for their reply. I have a request Please suggest some hotels where we can stay (not too costly).

Thanks once again.

indracal · Oct 20th, 2009, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrityunjit

I must rethink about that is the food. What is your suggestion about that ? Another point about booking of PWD rest houses, I have a talk with the G.A.D dept. Shimla they said advance booking not done, and they also suggested to post an application. I already send a letter for booking and waiting for their reply. I have a request Please suggest some hotels where we can stay (not too costly).

Once again I suggest that you stick to one circuit - if you choose to do Dalhousie-Amritsar side, go there and add Chamba/Palampur/Kangra/Dharamsala to your itinerary. Alternately, choose the Kinnaur side, but expect road blocks/unplanned stops for snow. Dalhousie can also get blocked, though shouldn't be closed for more than a day or two.

I have never heard of GAD dept, what's that? Do they have any guest house? Where are such guest houses located?

PWD guest house details are available in HP PWD website. YOu will get the respective circle office number from which to book.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that you're going to travel during peak travel season (christmas/new year), so ensure that you have confirmed booking in hotels/guest houses before you go. Remember that you'll have a very big group and a kid with you!

mrityunjit · Oct 23rd, 2009, 14:38

GAD dept. is a department of PWD. that dept handles the booking of rest houses and circuit houses. Thanks, I will rethink about my itinerary. My first perference is Kinnaur. Please suggest some hotels where we can stay. Thanks in advance.

Bhaswaran · Oct 28th, 2009, 16:06

I also agree with Indracal...very hectic trip. I would advise you to just flush out Dalhousie-Amritsar section. Rebook your return on 2312 Kalka Mail instead from Kalka/Chandigarh. There are direct buses (HPTDC) coming down to Kalka/Chandigarh. They start in the morning.

mrityunjit · Oct 29th, 2009, 19:29

Thanks all I modified my itinerary after cansultation with Vasuki. My current itinerary is-

28-29 in Shimla
30 in Sarahan
31 in Chindi
1-3 in Manali
4 in Dharamshala
5-6 in Dalhousie
7 in Amritsar

Now plz make comment on this.

ashwinnaagar · Nov 2nd, 2009, 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrityunjit

Thanks all I modified my itinerary after cansultation with Vasuki. My current itinerary is-

28-29 in Shimla
30 in Sarahan
31 in Chindi
1-3 in Manali
4 in Dharamshala
5-6 in Dalhousie
7 in Amritsar

Now plz make comment on this.

note that manali to dharamsala takes a good 6-7 hrs.So if you start on the 4th frm manali you will reach in the evening after which you wont have time for dharamsala.

Oct 16th, 2009, 16:06	#1
mrityunjit Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 11	Visit to Himachal at December -January Hi All I am planning a tour to Himachal Pradesh at the end of this year with my family (wife and a 3 years girl) and some colleagues (Total 8 persons + 1Kid). I want to visit Shimla,Sarahan,Sangla, Kalpa, Rampur,Manali,Dalhousie. After surfing the PWD website I came to know that the department have some Circuit/Rest Houses at these places. I want to book those Circuit/Rest Houses during my tour. We are starting by Howrah-Kalka Mail on 26th December 2009 and then Shivalik Dlx Exp. My itinerary is - 28th December - 29th December - Shimla 30th December - Sarahan 31st December - Sangla 1st January - Kalpa 2nd January - Rampur 3rd January to 5th January - Manali 6th January - Dalhousie 7th January - Amritsar And on 8th January 2010 we are starting for Kolkata by Amritsar-Sealdah Express and reaching Kolkata on 9th January. My questions are :- 1) Is my itinerary ok ? 2) What would be the charge for a SUMO if we take it from Shimla and kept with us upto Manali/Dalhousie ? 3) Is advance booking possible at those Circuit/Rest Houses by sending an application letter? 4) Is theose Circuit/Rest Houses are good for Winter Season ? 5) What precautions should be taken, specally for my 3 years old kid. 6) Could we reach Sarahan,Sangla, Kalpa, Rampur at that time ? Please help me with your valuable thoughts.

Oct 17th, 2009, 11:42	#3
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	Addendum to previous post Hi Mrityunjit, Subho Deepabali! Please note that Sumo might as well be a tad lower (1500-ish) and will depend on your negotiation. I think it is better to have an idea by calling the refs that you get from various websites (esp. IM), but finalize only when you're there - as then you can negotiate face to face. And Welcome to IndiaMike! And, once again, though yesterday was probably a bad day for me (and hence the rant )- but the points are still valid. Last edited by indracal : Oct 17th, 2009 at 22:25. Reason: typo, grammer

Oct 20th, 2009, 14:10	#4
mrityunjit Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 11	Thanks Indracal Hi Indracal, SUbha Deepaboli. Thanks for your suggestions. Actually I have not booked any hotel or circuit house till now just because of the weather, so everyday is our reserve day . We know that we may not reach some points of Kinnaur, if so we are ready to modify our itinerary accordingly. But the point you raise, I must rethink about that is the food. What is your suggestion about that ? Another point about booking of PWD rest houses, I have a talk with the G.A.D dept. Shimla they said advance booking not done, and they also suggested to post an application. I already send a letter for booking and waiting for their reply. I have a request Please suggest some hotels where we can stay (not too costly). Thanks once again.

Oct 28th, 2009, 16:06	#7
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 1,353	I also agree with Indracal...very hectic trip. I would advise you to just flush out Dalhousie-Amritsar section. Rebook your return on 2312 Kalka Mail instead from Kalka/Chandigarh. There are direct buses (HPTDC) coming down to Kalka/Chandigarh. They start in the morning. __________________ ....life is a journey.....and the journey is more important than the destination........ Photos in Indiamike :http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...0/ppuser/15496 Photos in Flickr :http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhaswaran/ Darjeeling trip Video : "Darjeeling - The Queen of Hills" DVD

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Oct 23rd, 2009, 14:38	#6
mrityunjit Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 11	GAD dept. is a department of PWD. that dept handles the booking of rest houses and circuit houses. Thanks, I will rethink about my itinerary. My first perference is Kinnaur. Please suggest some hotels where we can stay. Thanks in advance.

Oct 29th, 2009, 19:29	#8
mrityunjit Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 11	Thanks all I modified my itinerary after cansultation with Vasuki. My current itinerary is- 28-29 in Shimla 30 in Sarahan 31 in Chindi 1-3 in Manali 4 in Dharamshala 5-6 in Dalhousie 7 in Amritsar Now plz make comment on this.

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