[dinesha]

(Cont.. Day 3)

These pictures deserves a special post.

MY humble request,please download these pictures and view then full resolution against black background (Windows Picture Galary) to have a glimpse of the beautiful vista. These photographs were taken somewhere near Wangtu.

Beauty Galore.


My current wallpaper. (1400x768px)


No words needed..


close-up

(Cont.. Day 3)

[dinesha]

(Cont..Day 3)

This route has been photographs so many time but still I can't help it.


Hats off the people who have built this road


Naptha Jhakri Dam




and entrances to the underground powerhouse


IF not for this project, we would have suffered more here in Delhi..




We cross Bhawa Nagar, Wangtu and reach Tapri around quarter past noon. We proceed ahead unaware of existence of best meals here in whole of Kinnaur and Spiti. Anybody going that way please know that Tapri has a dhaba named “Pappu Dhaba” which serves delicious veg meal (Thali) and this meal deserves to be eaten by one and all.


(Cont..Day 3)

[rajeevn]

Dinesh, This is fantastic stuff—and many times more so considering that this is your first-ever TLog. Thanks so much—I have saved all of the route information and maps for my trip next month.

Great read indeed.

[man_and_machine]

Hi Dinesha,

Fantastic!

I was fascinated to see "sudarshana" the circularly carved stones in your travelogue. I would like to know more about it. I am actually looking for them.

can you provide me with details.

1. Where did you spot them?
2. How many did you spot
3.Did you bring some with you?
4. How to get there?

Does team-bhp allow sharing of personal contacts in the forum? I would like some details as I want to make the trip too if the sudarshanas as available for collection.

[wanderernomad]

Sudarshana? What are these? Can you point to a specific picture of them here?

[dinesha]

Originally Posted by rajeevn

Dinesh, This is fantastic stuff—and many times more so considering that this is your first-ever TLog. Thanks so much—I have saved all of the route information and maps for my trip next month.

Great read indeed.

Thank you. I hope the info helps you.

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

Sudarshana? What are these? Can you point to a specific picture of them here?

He is referring to "Ammonite Fossils". 8th Picture on Intro post (First post, first page).

Some revere them as "Sudarshana chakra shaligram stone". They have given the name "Sudarshana chakra shaligram stone" because they believe that it has naturally formed imprints of Lord Visnu sudarshana chakra in it".

Originally Posted by man_and_machine

Hi Dinesha,

Fantastic!

I was fascinated to see "sudarshana" the circularly carved stones in your travelogue. I would like to know more about it. I am actually looking for them.

can you provide me with details.

1. Where did you spot them?
2. How many did you spot
3.Did you bring some with you?
4. How to get there?

Does team-bhp allow sharing of personal contacts in the forum? I would like some details as I want to make the trip too if the sudarshanas as available for collection.

Please share the belief/story behind it. You also believe them as shaligram stones?
I have few of these 'fossils' found in Langza Valley. Will cover the details later in the story.

[dinesha]

(Cont..Day 3)


Karchham is about 9kms from Tapri. One needs to turn right and pass through this bridge to go to the Sangla valley.


However we continue our journey on NH22 and head towards Powari. Our destination for the day is Kapla. Itinerary beyond Kalpa will be decided tomorrow after getting due feedback about the road condition from Lotey and HPPWD people at Kokshar.

We pass the Karchham Dam biult by Jaypee group. The landscape already looks quite barren.


Jaypeed 300MV HPP is located little upstream. They have built mammoth retaining wall to protect the tunnel entrance and the building structure. True scale of the massive construction work cannot be captured in a photograph, but I try. Compare the height of the main gate or the concrete truck in the picture to get an idea about the height of the retaining structure. No doubt built in layers but I am impressed.


Despite many environmental cries I find these projects fine example of human endeavor and achievement. We may curse these projects for the havoc they have created but without them many tales and travel besides worldly comfort and leisure in the cities below would not have been possible. We need to have a proper perspective and take balanced view.

Anyways the Karchham Dam has been flooded this year only (march) and this has led to the submergence of this portion of old NH22. Jaypee has built the new stretch at higher elevation on the opposite bank.

This the the photo of the old route at Karchham. This photo was taken by adc during his 2008 trip.


And this is how it is now.






well we say goodbye to the Jaypee project and move ahead towards Powari. This is how the route looks beyond Karchham.


Soon we encounter of fist glacial Nallah the “Ralley Nallah"


We stop there for a quick break, unaware that we will have to stop again little ahead.


Wild “Cannabis indica" growing near the stream. These bhang plants grows in abundance in and around Kalpa.


The road was closed by BRO little ahead (between the Ralley Nallah and the Shongton Bridge) for blasting and road widening work.


We had reached there around 1:10PM and apparently BRO closes the road at widening sites between 12:30 and 1:30 PM for the blasting activity. So Travelers please plan the travel accordingly.. We wait.


the road opens around 1:30PM as scheduled..


and we move ahead towards Powari


Soon we cross Shongton bridge


and few minutes later arrive at Powari. We stop here for the fuel stop. Travelers travelling directly towards Spiti (Skipping Rekong Peo) please be aware this Fuel pump is the last pump on NH22. Next fuel pump on this route would be at Kaza. So better fill up. For those traveeling via Kalpa, there in a fuel station at Rekong Peo also.


Seen this distance chart at the Fuel pump at Powari


(Cont..Day 3)

[man_and_machine]

Yes those are sudarshanas, similar to saligrama shilas.

Brief: Saligrama slias are the most revered non shapitha adhiastanas or the lord. There are various type and kinds and one can find more details in the padma purana. I guess if I start to explain it then it will be very deep into Hindu philosophy (I guess team-bhp is quite neutral when it comes to religious discussions) so I will leave out the details here.

In a nut shell the photos really look like sudarshanas and I would like to see if you have more pictures. If they are indeed then friend I should say you have hit a jackpot!

@Mods: Can I share my e-mail on this forum for offline discussion on this topic?

[fine69]

Great going Dinesh! The journey is very well captured and since I'd be doing the same route starting 13th august upto Lahaul I find it all the more intriguing. Shall PM you for specific details. By the way you've got to speed up a little, I'm sure like myself a lot of people must be running out of patience.

[dinesha]

Originally Posted by man_and_machine

Yes those are sudarshanas, similar to saligrama shilas.

Brief: Saligrama slias are the most revered non shapitha adhiastanas or the lord. There are various type and kinds and one can find more details in the padma purana. I guess if I start to explain it then it will be very deep into Hindu philosophy (I guess team-bhp is quite neutral when it comes to religious discussions) so I will leave out the details here.

In a nut shell the photos really look like sudarshanas and I would like to see if you have more pictures. If they are indeed then friend I should say you have hit a jackpot!

@Mods: Can I share my e-mail on this forum for offline discussion on this topic?

Well, I think they are fossils. More photos for you to analyze. PM me for any other info.

[dinesha]

Originally Posted by fine69

Great going Dinesh! The journey is very well captured and since I'd be doing the same route starting 13th august upto Lahaul I find it all the more intriguing. Shall PM you for specific details. By the way you've got to speed up a little, I'm sure like myself a lot of people must be running out of patience.

Thanks for the compliment and let me know anytime for any specific help.
The slow posting has been non-intentional. I have been quite busy with my work. I will definitely speed up, please bear with me.

Thanks to all.
Dinesh

[dinesha]

(Cont..Day 3)

After refuling we proceed to Rekong Peo, the distt. headquarter of kinnaur. Its a busy little town. The main market is no-parking area and the vehicles are supposed to be parked at the taxi stand on Kalpa road.

By the time we reach Rekong Peo we ware all hungry. Vinkal took us to a first floor (along with terrace) restaurant called "Little Chef" at the main market. Appearently this is the best restaurant here but hyginewise first look inside the dining hall does not inspire any confidence. We move to the top terrace hoping it will be cleaner and at least open to sky. We ware wrong. Although chef cum Waiter cum cleaner served us an excellent meal. The food were freshly prepared and highly recommended. Not much traveling was left for the day so we take our time and enjoy our lunch.

View from the terrace of "Little Chef"


After lunch we move towards Kalpa.
View from the road.


Lots of cloud on the mountains..


Excellent road conditions..


Cloud clears up after a while. We have an excellent first few of "Shivling" and the Kinner Kailash range..


We reached our hotel "Kinner Villa" at around 4:30PM. I had called up the manager Mr. Purohit from Shimla and Sarahan for a good room. He has kept us room number 101. I checked all other rooms in the hotel and found out that room number 101 (ground Floor) and 201 (first floor) provides the best view. I prefer room 101 as varandha just out is at easy reach.

View from varandha outside the room (#101).


(Cont.. Day 3)

[dinesha]

(Cont.. Day 3)

Kinner villa owned by a local guy named Mr Shivdayal Negi is the one of the best hotel in Kalpa. This property is very clean and in excellent condition of maintenance. The manager Mr. Anil Purohit from Gaziabad is a nice and helpful chap and works hard to keep his guest happy.The food and the service is very good. Kinner villa is one of the very few private hotels in the entire Kinnaur and Spiti offering TV (Tatasky) in the room. This hotel is an excellent alternative to pricy HPTDC "Kinner Kailash".

I would definetly recommend to anybody travelling that way.

View from the Hotel: Raldang Peak (Elevation 5499 Mtrs)


View from the Hotel: Jorkanden Range (Elevation 6473 meters0


View from the Hotel: Jorkanden


View from the Hotel:Raldang peak


View from the Hotel: Kinner Kailash range (Elev:6050 mtrs)


View from the Hotel:Shivling


Lone vigil on the roof of nearby home.


Some more shots of Raldang and Jorkhand..





Mr. Purohit serves us excellent dinner. During after dinner chat with him the talk veered towards AMS and altitude sickness. He wanted to tell us a tale about the AMS. He asks us, "Should I tell you a recent happening here about an old lady (tourist) who suffered AMS? You will not be scared?" My wife shouts "NO story tonight, tell us tomorrow".

We go to bed, my wife feels bloated and breathlessness due to overeating. She wonders if she is suffering from altitude sickness, I hope not. We keep one of the window ajar. You never know.

Tomorrow would be a rest day at Kalpa. We will do some local sightseeing and plan the trip beyond here after due consultation with Lotey and HPPWD guys.

My nevigator says that elev at Kinner villa is 2852Mtrs MSL.


I spend my first peaceful night.

Leave Shimla at 9:30 AM
Arrive Sarahan at 4:30 PM

Stayed at Kinner Villa (My Rating 4/5)

Other Staying options
Kalpa
• Kinner Villa (5/5 Rating) Mr.Shivdayal Negi-9418036006; Anil Purohit (Manager)-9418441036 - Kinner Villa Web-site (best Private Hotel in Kalpa; Choose Room 201 or 101)
• Rakpa Regency- Mr. Sandeep:9816803505, (9477870625 Kolkata no., During Winter Months) Geetanjali Tours :: Geetanjali Tour-Web-site
• Grand Shangrila [Expensive]
• HPTDC Kinner Kailash HPTDC Web-site

Meals En-route
Tapri
• Pappu Dhaba; Owner-Surinder Maan-9805229686, 9816179261

Rekong Peo
• Little Chef; On the main market, near Chowk.


(Cont.. Day 3)

[man_and_machine]

Gee, thanks! I love what I see. Can we please have an offline discussion. I would like to know more. Is there somehow you can send me say an e-mail or something?

[dinesha]

(Cont.. Day 3)
One of my best shot of the day taken from Varandha of Kinner Villa

Sunset on Jorkanden Peak


(Cont..Day 4)