Himalaya trip

Trip Start Mar 18, 2008

Trip End May 19, 2010

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Flag of India Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Thursday, May 15, 2008

After our great accident in Orissa state, we decided trough out traveling by the main roads and pushed ourselves with the bike by train to Dehradun. We didn't stay here – just look in the map for some time and decide to go to Spiti Valley by the "easiest" way – straight up. The good way is painted in the map till Chakrata. But… it was a military city, and not foreigners are possible to go through it. One army gay (60 km before this city) took our map and pen and drew one line saying “there is the river – you should go by it”. “But we don’t have this road in our map!” (it was good map, and the absence of road didn’t mean anything good”. “Oh, it’s new road, you can do not have in the map. It’s the good road. The same like this”. Ha, some shadow of good road may be was… first 20 km. But then, when it was not an idea to go back, the roan finished. When we come to Tiuni (the only one place to stay n this area) we were little bit tired od this 100 km of off-road. There was one Hotel in this town, just on this absence of road. Unpredictably the room (450 rs) was perfect – all in wood, pretty clean and amazing view of our first mountain river! (We saw this view next morning before our checking out).

Second day – we visited Rohru – beautiful mountain city, pretty big (if to consider with other small villages in this area). Had some thali in the market place and show repairing and go further to Rampur. This day also first big rain cought us, so in Rampur (there are several budget hotels and 4-5 better). A new one cheap hotel in the bank of the river was full (rampur is already in the NH22 – the way from Shimla to absolutely closed Chinese Border), so we stayed in another one, also on the bank of the river, but little bit…worse (same 350 rs). Next morning we walked trough market and found one good-English-speaking-gay, who had shop of expensive kullu shawls. He was sitting with laptop on the table, and told us some information about political situation in Russia. He also have hotel with 100 rs per simple room. (I still have his visit-card).

Anyway we left Rohru for Recong Peo. It’s small so-so tourists place in 2500 mts high. There is near Kalpa even more welcome for tourist, but we didn’t visit it. Occasionally we made special permit what was necessary for our next moving. There was last ATM and no official money change (I felt like a detective agent while finding the gay, who at least changed some dollars for very low rate). Oh as usual I forgot to say about perfect mountain view (with snow ets.) and all other things. Anyway Recong Peo was very nice, I guess Kalpa is even more beautiful. We stayed there 2 days, also because there was the last Enfield garage, where my husband made something with the bike.

The next stop was Nako. It has lake and Buddhist monastery. And 1 hotel, 2 guesthouses and one camp. So it might be pretty settled by tourist but not in may. When we were here (3500 mts) it was cold and empty. But in this emptiness after India-traveling it was so charming!

Then we go through Tabo, just visited Tabo Monastery (the oldest one in this area), and came to Kaza.

Kaza was excellent! Full of different kind of lodging, but also empty. It was the first day when Kunzum pass was open, and we were happy to know that we needn’t to go through snow alone crossing closed pass. Also 3500 mts and cold. Beautiful tibetian-indian women. Nice foreigners (may be 10 people). Good food. And very expensive Internet. The only one gas station for all 500 km working 9-18 h.

Then we go to Manali. I went by jeep (5000 rs for (possible) 10 people for 200 km), and my fellow went by his ancient Enfield this 200 km of off-road.

In Manali we stayed in Old Manali in house with orange columns and amazing rose garden. In the end of the may it was already crowded by Indian tourists.

Dehradun hotels

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