If you chant a places name again and again, do you get to go there. I dunno about that. Seriously no clue.
But on Saturday, 9th May 7am, we were chanting Rohtang, and driving towards it. Being a Saturday, lots of people were already heading there. If we wanted to go, we would have to beat West Bengal. The KKR IPL team may be languishing at the bottom, but their fellow statesmen are the leaders when it comes to tourism.
We passed countless taxis, as we drove on.
The water crossings had become worse, but BRO men were on their toes, redirecting the water, picking up large stones which roll down. Hats of to these men.
With every meter we gained in altitude, our spirits soared. So did our aprehension.
Today was the last day at Manali. We had to go to Rohtang, come what may.
Reached the Marhi bridge well before 8, and thankfully no jam yet.
Couple of minutes later we are at the same check post.
This time the soldiers are smiling. Both of them recognize us.
And then with same smiling faces they say no.
A local taxi guy tells us we should have come at 6am.
We beg and plead. For 30 minutes we are after their lives. But they do not budge.
Finally I tell them, I will come again in evening, can you let us go then. They tell me that evening they will see, I can come at 4 again, and then they will see.
We are dejected, our spirits are low, and we don't know where to go.
With heavy hearts we turn back, hoping that the bridge would be clear. Thankfully the jam is still short.
Tired and hungry we stop at a shack at Gulaba, and have horrendous omelette and tea, pretty expensive too at 30rs
Before 11 we are at our guest house again. We will go to Rohtang again in the evening. No matter what.
Even if we have to go in the middle of the night, we will go.
With that determination, we go for a 2km jog in the high mountains. Jogging in cold mountain air is an antidepressant. It cools your nerves and soothes your senses.
We have no plans for the day, so we decide to get ready and head to vashisht to see some spring thingy there.
However I decide to take some pictures, and take the gear out of the bag, for the first time, quarter past 11am.
There are some clouds in the sky and sun plays hide and seek
But what better time to take some IR shots!
More IR shots
Satisfied with the pictures, its time to head downhill, towards vashisht.
But we are not reaching in any hurry. there is a jam just after Kothi as BRO constructs the road.
It takes 45 minutes for the road to open, and we drive down. Thankfully hardly any traffic. We skip solang, as we had driven there yesterday, and found it lousy with too much rush and garbage.
Soon we are heading on the high road up to Vashisht.
The road is narrow, traffic okay, and soon we are at the parking.
Millions of tourists, parking problems. All to see some silly hot springs.
Not our cup of tea. We decide to turn back.
Have some maggi at a dhaba, and then head to beas river, and contemplate on the plans for the day.
We will go to Rohtang, thats final.
But before that we check out river crossing. I decide to skip it but my wife takes a shot, and thoroughly enjoys it.
This small detour has also cheered me, and something tells me that Rohtang will be conquired.
We look at the high mountain, and the dark clouds forming on the top. Good sign or not? Time will tell
As we start proceeding, the cloud seems to be getting thicker and thicker.
So with a silent prayer, we charge at the cold mountain
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