[simply_sunny001]

@Bob

you will be just fine in your optra at least till Manali.

best thing would be to hire a 4x4 zypsy or something else locally for Rohtang.

That will do the trick.

Drive safe and enjoy

[Bob]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

RTDC has a decent motel at Behror (100 kms short of Delhi), excellent bargain for money. Beyond Delhi, the Haryana Tourism has got an excellent network of motels (check out in their web-site) which are preferable to staying in expensive hotels in Delhi. I love all the Himachal Tourism hotels, be it on the way to Manali (such as Swarghat, Bilaspur) or at Manali itself (choice of Manalsu, Hadimba Cottages, Log Hut Cottages).

hi hvkumar

very informative.

would you pls suggest me tested and trusted must-go hptdc hotel with a good view in manali and bilaspur.

thanx . . .BOB

[Bob]

Originally Posted by Pankaj1126

Hi Bob,
You can very well do the trip by Optra.

As such I would say journeys within HP are more satisfying than the destination itself. So try to do HP stretches during daytime so that you can do plenty of sightseeing all through your way to the destinations.

Just my thoughts..

hi

pankaj1126

thats very detail gesture buddy.

i'll try to take as much as i can from your itinerary.

thanx . . .BOB

[m-hawk]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The road from Manali to Rohtang will be partly open - till Kothi/Marhi - in April. Road is narrow and take care if you do have to drive on snowy roads. The biggest hazard on this road is the traffic jam - unruly drivers, haphazard parking and the occasional breakdowns. Ideally, leave early in the morning (8 am or before) so that you can beat the crowds and return before the rest of the tourist mob wakes up and comes there.

The driver s and all transport people have a kind of disgust when they see self driven vehicles they think they have a right of way or something !!! on my sept 07 trip to leh there was a spot enroute rohtang pass where an army truck had broken down and that too at a turn on a steep incline the trucky managed to stick to the safe side leaving a narrow pass with slush on the mountain side to pass i was first at this spot with my innova behind me was a taxi tavera with hp registration who kept on honking me to pass i shut off the engine pulled the hand brake and told him i aint passing asked him to go ahead in the meanwhile a maruti van came down the incline and that too with it s bald tyre s just flyin the slush from the edge seeing which i was determined not to pass s all this while there was a small time arguement with the tavera cabbie for me to pass i gave him a side and asked him to pass for which he reluctatntly started for the army guy s were transport guy s who did nt interfere at all neither between the arguement or his try to negotiate the slushy incline bend .
Now the cabbie (mumbling his hill driver ****) managed to start with front wheel s almost @ the edge and rear view mirror from his side cm s away from the army truck as he turned left and accelerated my fear came true the rear wheel couldnt get traction the empty tavera skidded to his right and hit the army truck to which the army guy s now started with a string of abuses . SOmehow the tavera was left at the place and the army truck sraping his left side came down and the road was open i started my innova accelerated hard waved a bye to the tavera cabbie and sped off .
This aint to scare you or anything just to tell you that neither the army guy s will budge an inch to facilitate you nor will the cabbies help you .
You will have to play safe and defensive in all such situation s !!!
Scince you with family and all park the optra take local van or something to go till marhi and reaching rohtang in the date s u mention will not be easy !!

Do you know why is rohtang called so ROHTANG means pile of dead bodies . A certain mongolian leader wishin to conquer INDIA planned his invasion in a manner which led him to reach rohtang around DEC that s when his army was frozen to death and a huge pile of dead soldiers was found hence the name !!
The trip should definitely be a memorable one enjoi and put nice pictures here when you return .

[Bob]

Originally Posted by m-hawk

The driver s and all transport people have a kind of disgust when they see self driven vehicles they think they have a right of way or something !!! on my sept 07 trip to leh there was a spot enroute rohtang pass where an army truck had broken down and that too at a turn on a steep incline the trucky managed to stick to the safe side leaving a narrow pass with slush on the mountain side to pass i was first at this spot with my innova behind me was a taxi tavera with hp registration who kept on honking me to pass i shut off the engine pulled the hand brake and told him i aint passing asked him to go ahead in the meanwhile a maruti van came down the incline and that too with it s bald tyre s just flyin the slush from the edge seeing which i was determined not to pass s all this while there was a small time arguement with the tavera cabbie for me to pass i gave him a side and asked him to pass for which he reluctatntly started for the army guy s were transport guy s who did nt interfere at all neither between the arguement or his try to negotiate the slushy incline bend .return .

hi m-hawk

it's really scary.

that's words of caution by you which i'll take it in a right manner buddy.

thanx . . .BOB

[sudev]

Against the grain...but last August we escorted Petronas Expedition from Srinagar to Mumbai and instead of hitting Delhi we traveled through Rajasthan. It was easier and shorter too.
Look up travelling to Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Pali, Jodhpur. and then NH65 through Nagaur, Hissar and on it connects to Simla via Chandigarh. Low traffic density beyond Pali/Jodhpur and shorter too. Avoid NCR and its traffic jams.