Going to Kheerganga but reached Kutla- Part 2

Have you read its first part, how we accidentally start our trek to KUTLA, if not then here it is, Kutla Part 1. Without wasting much time, let's get started.............

29 Dec 2018, Sunday

So, we started our journey towards a place which we never heard of and never thought about it when we started. So for kutla we have to cross this beautiful village TOSH, the colorful houses, amazing built structures, a beautiful temple, one big dam when you move downwards, lot of Cafes where people are enjoying their food, tea, etc. We didn't spend our time here, we were just walking towards our destination while clicking some beautiful pictures. At this time, clouds come in the sky because of which the sky+mountains giving us different views and hope to have snowfall. So keep on moving then finally we come across this river which is coming from mountains and going deep down, here were some cafe serving Maggi, tea and food so to enjoy the view and food we made our stop here and ate something. 

Going towards kutla was a good trekking experience for us, it's an easy trek of not more than 5 Km, you come across mountains, rocks, sloppy regions, slippery regions, icy regions, everything in small packages I would say. So we started our trek again after filling our stomach (pet pooja). After every 20 minutes walking we had to ask someone 'How far is Kutla' and the standard reply of all-mountain local people is 'Just 10 more minutes. And only we people know what is the meaning of that. Then finally we saw one wooden house,  the first house on that mountain then we got somewhat relief that this might be our destination. and we went towards it as we went nearby we started seeing lots of tents and wooden houses at the back of this house. But we were so tired we went to the owner of the house and asked him about the room. Yes, he had one room empty but he denied giving it to us as we were four and the room was one. But we didn't have any problem as we had to save money and the bed was already that much big that we can easily adjust. So our next step we had to request uncle to give us that room. Then finally uncle agreed and we gave him around Rs 500 for this room only. Now next task we sat for an hour and decided to go for a walk in upwards direction before sunset because the next day we had to come down. 

So eating little snacks and we started our trek in upwards direction, and you will find lots of tents and doms, little houses to stay with different facilities. Then there was the big ground where last night snow was there and people were playing with that. You can see that in this picture. And then without wasting much time we move forward and found some amazing structures maybe there were some cafes which are closed now. But we sat there and enjoy our biscuits, chips etc. Then we click some pictures over there, and we also tried to go on it but the structure was not at all strong enough. 

And believe me, there was no one with us when we were trekking towards the Buddhaban Glacier. When we asked some local we got the same answer Just 10 minutes away, keep walking. I'm running out of words attempting to portray the scenes that we experienced. From open valleys where ponies touched to snow-covered mountains lolling in the delicate fall sun, everything was in a state of harmony with one another. The shades of harvest time were mixing consummately with the crazy measure of photographs we were clicking. We were accompanied by one dog who was the only one was walking alongside us (toh ek pic to uski bhi banti hai boss). Lot of pictures to share but here cannot upload them all due to some limitations. Then we come across a location some sort of temple was there, it looks a little scary to us and even the entire path was looking scary to us as sunset was nearby and we came very far from our tent house. So we decide to walk for a few more metres and then we would get back to our place.

Finally, after walking around 4-5km we reached one place where there was big ground with snow everywhere and river sound was coming and a beautiful view of the mountain with sunset in front of us. That was mesmerizing, we were a little disappointed earlier as we didn't know how to reach or see the Buddhaban Glacier but after looking at that beautiful mountain, I guess we reached the right place. Now we turned back and start moving towards our place as the sun already set and there were no lights in the path, our phones are the only source. Again walking for hours and we reached our place and it was already night 8 'o'clock. Now, first of all, there was no facility to charge our phones and secondly, there were no signals. So now we cannot post anything, we were left only with one thing friends. We asked our house owner to do the bonfire so he did and then we sat around it with two or three strangers with our speakers, ate our dinner around this bonfire. No lights, no phones, only songs and bonfire under the clear sky and starry night. Damn the stars were looking so amazing. After spending some hours, we all went to sleep as time was increasing, the night was getting chilly and chilly and we started shivering. Then we did some backchodi n all and slept. 

30 Dec 2018, Monday

When we woke up next day, we got to know that there was a big snowfall at night and guess what we missed it. No worries as our paths will become more slippery damn so we freshened up and did our breakfast and started preparing to come down and we had to board our bus from Bhuntar bus stand so we need to come to Tosh first by walking and then we need taxi to come to manikaran then we need bus from manikaran to bhuntar which was going to take the full day.

The return leg of the trek was much more testing as the track was steep and it required some investment to explore our way back from Kutla to Tosh. Tosh to Barshaini was a simple walk and we soared downhill in 1 hr while stopping and clicking photographs. Then we needed taxi from Barshaini to Manikaran, which was a difficult task because barshaini was packed up because people were coming to celebrate New year. It was our luck we found one taxi and he was going in that direction, so we board it and settled him down at Rs 400. Damn, he was a crazy driver,  I sat in the front seat and he scared the hell out of me, he was only playing electronic music sounds like ghost music. So I asked him why didn't he play something else. He answered my question after a while, after removing his speks and looking at me, I got the look of his dark red eyes and then he told us how can someone ride without getting high in these hilly areas. And damn i was totally scared now. But thanks to him we reached our destination safely. The next task we needed to get the govt bus from Manakaran to bhuntar. So hopefully the bus was ready and about to leave and we need to eat something. So three of us requested the driver to stop for some time and one guy was getting the burgers to eat. Finally, our bus started and again the driver's driving gave us an adrenaline rush, we sat at the last seat so at every break we were like jumping on the seat. Damn finally we reached safely and it was hell exciting. Now we have still 2hrs left when our bus would get started at 9 PM so we roam around the market bhuntar this time its the different market and found one restaurant and ate our dinner, charged our phones then board the bus to our destination.

31 Dec 2018, Tuesday

So we were in midway, midnight, thoughts were coming into our minds.

New Beginnings

New Hopes

New Ideas

New Resolutions

And the OLD US

IN A HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!

Going to Kheerganga but reached Kutla- Part 1

You can't predict your journey even if it is so planned that’s what happened with us when we start our trip to kheerganga. In this blog, I will tell you about our entire budget, accommodation, transport everything. Before starting just remember that we are just another bunch of friends who needs budget-friendly trips and then this is how we planned. This is not just another luxurious trip of yours but yes it is very much enjoyable, got so much experience from it and a journey to remember.

So, after all the hustle and bustle that whose going with us, four of us finally confirmed that we were going to this trip. Then we just booked a private bus to Bhuntar cost around Rs 1400 per person just three days before the trip starts i.e., on 25th Dec 2018. What should I write about our preparation because you should be completely agreed with me that there will be no preparation for the boys. We just packed our bags and ready to leave.

28 Dec 2018, Friday

We reached the Delhi bus stand at 9 PM Friday after finished our daily office work then we ate chole bhature with the nearby shops outside the bus stands, yeah, I know it’s not healthy but sometimes you just want to eat because you like it. And we are all set to go. We grab our seats then the bus left the bus stand at 10 PM sharp.

29 Dec 2018, Saturday

The expected time to reach the Bhuntar bus stand is around 9 AM in the morning, and we were all excited. Then things turn around from the morning and we got to know at 9 AM that we are still far from our destination by 4hrs, then we all people of the bus requested the bus driver to stop at least for half an hour as we all were damn tired and we needed to get freshen up. There we had light breakfast, it costs us around 200 for four people. Then we are all set to dive into the situation again. And yes finally we reached Bhuntar at 2 PM. As soon as we left the bus, taxi drivers came to take us to kheerganga directly. But we prefered to go to Bus stand in bhuntar as planned, its just 200m away where our bus left us, You can ask the local guys about the bus stand. Only two-three buses stand at the same time, bus stand was small. So the first thing we did we confirm our local bus to go to the kheerganga. Okay BANG, we got to know bus will leave at 4 and it will drop us at Manikaran then we have to see ourselves. Okay, no worries we agreed to that, now we have 2hrs. So we visited this small beautiful market connected with a bus stand for 15 minutes and turned into one local food shop. There we had thukpa (kind of soup with noodles), I don’t know about others but I kinda like it. Then we have momos and noodles, and it cost us around 200 for four-person. Now we still have some time, so we went to

opposite side market and at the end of the market we got one Rishikesh type jhula, and it exactly giving us the same view as Rishikesh, the only difference is that there was no noise. We clicked some pictures and we returned to market again, there we have some Jalebis and took some Boondi (Tuesday Hanuman ji wali if you remember) because the halwai was making it at that time and cost us around Rs100. Then finally we board our local bus to manikaran from bhuntar and cost us around Rs 60 per person. And if you ever travel in local buses, then you already know that local buses are always fun, you get to see different types of people around you, travelers, students, local people with pahadi music in the house bro, the driver was in full mood and everybody was enjoying and chilling even after there was no place to stand (haha, you thought we took the local bus and we easily got the seat, you have to be clever for that, hahaha). We were still confused that how to reach kheerganga because our bus still stuck at kasol bus stand, because of the Near Year nearby there was so much public and buses from Delhi, looks like all Delhi people come here to celebrate. So finally we reached manikaran at 7 PM as it was the last stop and it’s the winter's night so there was all dark. Welcome to Manikaran.

So now our next task will be to find a place to stay because this was not a part of trip to stay at manikaran and that add some extra cost to our trip. So what we did, we explore one-two random hotels and tried to find a single room so that we all can stay together. Then we went to the market side which means you have to go to the backside of Manikaran Gurudwara, you will find a market over there and if you check this image on the right side, this is the track path where you will find everything in manikaran. So when the market ends, there was one guest house and one strict aunty is the owner. So I went to the aunty and it was around 8PM and told her everything that how we stuck here then she gave us one room with a very big double bed so we all 4 can easily fit into it. And now let me tell you the real thing, the room cost us Rs 500 Only for one night. Dammnnn So nice. Then we settle down for some time then visit the market area which was almost closed so we bought some chips n all and did our dinner at dhaba which was just under our guest house and which cost us around Rs 300 for four people. We spent the entire night there, played cards, interesting bakchodi....etc etc. 

29 Dec 2018, Sunday

Next morning we went to the HOT WATER BATH, which was just two houses away from our guest house, okay let me give you one clearance here. There is two hot water bath in manikaran, one is in Gurudwara and the second one is near to Shree ram temple which is opened for daily bath and for locals, so we went here and believe me it was just an amazing feeling. It's just awesome similarly like kheerganga, so we already did here. About Manikaran, it's a very amazing place, quite spiritual, beautiful Gurudwara and then shiv temple beside it both have hot water tanks and amazing view. Then beautiful ram temple, and it just under the big mountain so that's the picturesque view. So next we did our breakfast at the same dhaba (paranthas wo bhi aloo ke bhai). Then bought some extra socks just in case we need it. Talk to some locals about how to go to kheerganga. Finally, we reached the Taxi stand where we have to take the Taxi cost us around Rs 400 to take us halfway as snowfall happened at night so roads were blocked.

So Taxi left us halfway so we started our trek from that point we got the shortcut so that so we would not come across the snow, so now we are walking and clicking some pictures. Then we got one more group of 7 people and we are 10 walking towards our destination which was very far, then suddenly we found one more big tax we hired it for Rs 1000 for all 10 people. He left us at the starting point where we can start our trek towards kheerganga. And this starting point is called Barshaini. So now we are at the point. and it was around 1PM, I guess, so now we settled down at one local shop and ordered some tea and biscuits, His Tea just turned away our tiredness. The best tea I had in that time with some discussion that what should we do next.

By the way that was the view when we reach Barshaini, could not stop ourselves to take so many pictures of these beautiful and stunning snow-capped mountains.

Snowfall at that time was so heavy on the mountains where we have to go and locals said there were so many people already trapped, and we didn't even get the tents to stay there, and even you had to clear the snow on the way then only you can trek properly. So after having a discussion with locals we decided not to go to kheerganga. And then some traveller who was passing by, tell us about the KUTLA and its way. 

To be Continued.............

Read the Part 2 of Kutla:

https://blogofchirkuts.blogspot.com/2021/03/going-to-kheerganga-but-reached-kutla-2.html