PARK, NEW DELHI

PARK, NEW DELHI, a photo by Kalta Harsh on Flickr.

Jubbar, Marog (Himachal Pradesh)

Place named Kadhar, situated at a height of 8000 feet.

GREAT HIMALAYAS ENLISTMENT

Sangla located at an altitude of around 2700 meters above sea level, is a scenic hill-town in the Baspa Valley, in the kinnaur Dist. of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, close to the Tibetan border. The valley is enveloped by richly forested slopes and offers delightful views of the high mountains.Sangla has managed to retain its pristine nature and is famous for pine nut orchards, Royal red apples and cherry trees. Winters in Sangla are very sever, as the valley is covered with snow and the temperature is in minus degrees. The stretch of 12 kms from Rachham to Chitkul is delightful. 

HIMALAYAS BEHIND SANGLA 

Chitkul is  the last  inhabited village near the Indo-Tibet border, the Indian road ends here.During winters the place remains covered with the snow. Chtikul on the banks of Baspa River, is the first  village of the Baspa Valley and the last village on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route. It is also the last point in India one can travel to without a permit. This village is located at an altitude of 4000 meters very close to nature. The valley is extremely beautiful, on the left bank of the Baspa River are snow-clad mountains and on the right bank the whole terrain is full of orchids and wooden houses.This is the last Indian village on border with China. The road doesn"t take you till the actual border. There are hotels and Guest houses, but in winters they remain closed. Thakur rest house is the oldest guest house in Chitkul, known for its good services.

VILLAGE CHITKUL

My adventurous trip with my friend Himanshu, to both these exquisite places in the month of January right after the snowfall, when roads were blocked and had to walk in snow for miles, was impossible but we made it. I saw the wooden built houses, trees and mountains covered with snow as we entered Sangla. Such a stance was never witnessed by me, I felt as I have landed in the arms of nature. Life in the valley is different from the normal life, everything seems out of the world. Here one can see beautiful wooden temple and touching houses, people busy in their normal course of work which takes  a huge amount of time in this harsh environment. Sangla was not our destination we had to reach Chitkul which was 24 kms from here. We stayed for a night in Sangla and continued our journey next morning towards Chitkul. On our way to chitkul early morning, we came across many beautiful sights. The entire stretch to this village runs alongside the Baspa river. On reaching Chitkul, Mr. Thakur the owner of one of the guest house welcomed us and gave room in his own house. The hospitality was great beyond expectations, they provided us with each and everything to beat the sever cold. Here I wind up the brief description
of my tour to HIMALAYAS.


Here are some photographs  from this tour, that shows the essence of beauty that our heavenly state is bestowed with.The images reflect the rich tapestry of this place.
   Hope you like them.




                                    Village Rachham 18 kms from Sangla.

PEOPLE OF VILLAGE RACHAMM OUT IN SNOW

OLD MAN SITTING IN SUN BEFORE LEAVING FOR HIS WORK

ON OUR WAY FROM RACHAMM TO CHITKUL

         NARROW ROAD TOWARDS CHITKUL 

BACKDROP OF SNOWY MOUNTAINS AGAINST A CERULEAN SKY

HUTS COVERED WITH SNOW

SURROUNDED BY HIMALAYAS

WOODEN HOUSES SITUATED ON THE RIVER SIDE OF  BASPA

Ill-fated bus met an accident few months back 

FEW DISTANCE FROM OUR DESTINATION

GREAT HIMALAYAS

 

MOTHER CARRYING HER CHILD ON HER BACK  RETURNING FORM THE TEMPLE. 

MAN IN JOVIAL MOOD

PWD WORKERS CLEARING THE ROAD TO CHITKUL

ANIMALS OUT IN SUN

 WORKERS ENJOYING THEIR LUNCH

FOOTMARKS NEAR BASPA RIVER

ISOLATED HUT IN HIMALAYAS

RIVER STREAM FLOWING

Second Time Snowfall In Shimla

Shimla Snowfall is a howling event. It will transport you to a fairytale place where anything can happen. Shimla snowfall is truly a much awaited event in Shimla. Second time again God blessed the people of Shimla with the snow on 14th January. People of all age groups had an anceinte time once again.


The climate of Shimla is extremely cold during winters. Snowfall in Shimla occurs during the winter months. The temperature of Shimla city and its adjoining ecosystem varies between minus 7 degrees and 10 degrees in winter. Shimla snowfall usually occurs during late January and early February.


              People on Ridge Shimla having smashing time.                           

                              
                                Scandal Point view.
   


                                During night time.

HASSAN VALLEY ALSO KNOWN AS WILD LIFE SANCTUARY

This Sanctuary and  Catchment Area is situated adjacent to National Highway 22. It starts right after Dhalli and extends beyond Kufri..The altitude ranges from 1,900 m to 2,620 m. The sanctuary is connected by a forest corridor to Chail Sanctuary in the south. This catchment which is the main water supply for Shimla.  The natural vegetation comprises pine, oak, cedar or Himalayan deodar, and rhododendron, as well as maple and horse chestnut. The wildlife consists of jackals, kakkar (barking deer), and the occasional leopard, as well as numerous bird species such as the Himalayan eagle, pheasants, chikor and partridges.There is one rest house inside, and one small room in the middle of the Sanctuary which was built by the Britishers where British officers used to play cards.

 On 13th January,2011  I was accompanied by my three friends and went to explore the Sanctuary, it was a difficult task to cover the distance of 28kms but we managed to do it in 10 hrs. We crossed 14 small bridges to reach our final destination. All together it was an amazing experience for all of us.

ROOM WHERE BRITISH OFFICERS USED YO PLAY CARDS.............

   
                             Bridge covered with white blanket of snow

                        
                               Path surrounded by thick grass and dense trees.

BREAK OF THE DAY

Sight of first light from the historied  Tara Devi temple located at the height of 1851 meters. Tara Devi temple is situated on Tarav Parvat, on the west side of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. There is also a resort located seven miles from the hill, the temple offers a large majority of the mountains below. Every year lot of pilgrims visit the temple of Tara Devi, it has great spiritual and cultural heritage. Historically, the temple was built about 250 years.
This is a link

snowfall

Layer of snow covering the trees in the woods of Jakhu,Shimla.

DECEMBER 31st, SHIMLA.

Snowfall in Shimla  after many years on 31st December, this day  was the moment to cherish to the people of Shimla and the tourists..
This is a link