[unoczar]

Snow Snow Snow!! Great Log, and great luck you got! Please tell me you have a video of the snowfall!

[maximus.]

Really amazing pictures and good narration.Envy you man! This place is surely heaven on earth.

[tsk1979]

the snowfall was still light. Clouds were getting darker through. It was 11am already, so we decided to wait for an hour or so and have some fun in the snow.
Where do you find even more snow?

The Hatu road of course. It was not motorable, so we decided to walk a bit on foot
Pics from the Hatu road




Snowfall kept getting heavier, and we decided to have a short ride on the country road to Thanedar


It was snowing all right, and the track was slippery. Some vehicles were still plying, but after a few minutes we were the only ones out!

This is the drivers view


Lean out and click a pic


It was getting heavier, and everything started to turn white.
This was heavier than what we had seen Last year in Feb. This was heavier than what we had seen at Khoksar in October 2009, and definitely heaver than what we saw in May 2009.
This was infact the heaviest snowfall I have ever seen in the flesh!

WE in white snowfall

The surroundings

The trees were turning white too!


Noon deadline forgotten, it was time to savor the snowfall. This probably would be our last change to witness such snow this season


The Signboard just before Narkanda when you come from thanedar


The Ice road


It was almost 12:30 when we decided to say goodbye To narkanda, and head back. A few more pics from thanedar road




Time to start the engines, and head downwards


so this was it. We were exiting narkanda. And saying goodbye to snowfall, or were we?
TO BE CONT....

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by Dragonov

How very true my friend ! Ice and snow need more respect than we anticipate.

Nevertheless an excellent log as usual

Thanks dragonov, you are right, Ice and snow is tricky business

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

This log has been a real treat mate. So much fun in the snow, laced with adventures on the sides. Spectacular! It's a shame about the Sangla Valley but even in 2008, I was hugely disappointed by the concrete mess in there. Though I wasn't able to visit Chitkul. :(

And those pupps are cho cho cute.

Thanks... but trust me, you did not miss much by missing chitkul

Originally Posted by unoczar

Snow Snow Snow!! Great Log, and great luck you got! Please tell me you have a video of the snowfall!

Thanks... but no video of snowfall, only stills

Originally Posted by maximus.

Really amazing pictures and good narration.Envy you man! This place is surely heaven on earth.

Thanks maximus

[lordofgondor]

The Hatu road pics are simply awesome. How I wish I was there! Thanks for the lovely glimpses and making my day mate.

Originally Posted by tsk1979

... Thanks... but trust me, you did not miss much by missing chitkul ...

Phew, that's kinda constant nagging feeling of my mind.

[Sugeeta]

@tsk1979; your narrative is wonderful and the pictures are awesome. Reminded of a 3 day vacation run we had done in that area a couple of years ago with the Mahindra Club Resort at Narkanda as our base.

The drive to Hatu even in 4X4 Gypsys was treacherous. The only way we could drive forward at some curves was by reversing a few inches and then moving on. Hatu temple was our destination. Will see if I can dig out some pics from the archives. Though picture quality would be nowhere near the beautiful pics posted by you. And no, we could only find the remanants of snow during the time we went in April.

The pictures with snowfall are worthy of being posted in a good travel promotion brochure for Himachal Pradesh.

[tsk1979]

We merged with NH22, and continued downhill. Between Kufri and Narkanda you descend to a valley, which was getting mostly sleet
Two pics from near Narkanda




It was past 2pm when we finally reached kufri. The road was empty. Totally empty, and light snowfall was still there. No vehicle crossed us.
This meant one of the two things
1. All tourists had gone into hiding due to snowfall
2. There was a roadblock ahead.
At Chail Turnoff, no 2. was confirmed.

So what to do?
We decided to take the ice road which goes to the top of the Kufri hill, before descending down to Chail.

It had little traffic, mostly downhill, and some MUVs trying hairpin turns uphill and not succeeding.

Thankfully, due to 4x4 no troubles here.
Snowfall got heavy as we ascended, and it was time to enjoy snowfall for the last time, the last time this season I think!

We parked on the side of the road, and spend a few minutes here. Traffic was nil and the entire road was to ourselves!












After that it was sedate run to Kandaghat via chail. And back to our daily grind.
Well thats about it folks, The end of the story

THE END.........

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

The Hatu road pics are simply awesome. How I wish I was there! Thanks for the lovely glimpses and making my day mate.



Phew, that's kinda constant nagging feeling of my mind.

Originally Posted by Sugeeta

@tsk1979; your narrative is wonderful and the pictures are awesome. Reminded of a 3 day vacation run we had done in that area a couple of years ago with the Mahindra Club Resort at Narkanda as our base.

The drive to Hatu even in 4X4 Gypsys was treacherous. The only way we could drive forward at some curves was by reversing a few inches and then moving on. Hatu temple was our destination. Will see if I can dig out some pics from the archives. Though picture quality would be nowhere near the beautiful pics posted by you. And no, we could only find the remanants of snow during the time we went in April.

The pictures with snowfall are worthy of being posted in a good travel promotion brochure for Himachal Pradesh.

Thanks for your comments.
When dry the Hatu road is best done by a small car. Its a tarred road, and the smaller the car, the better it is!

[R.I.P]

Really well conquered man.....
I can't accept that i had to come down to bangalore and miss all the snow this season :(

reminds me of a trip i made in the middle of last year to chitkul,
maybe i should also post some pics to show the contrast

[fine69]

Tanveer ji with 10 CLs in a year your itinerary for this trip must be really tight.
But seriously, could you share the itinerary for this trip, it'd be great help. And would April-end be a good time to visit the kalpa/sangla valley in a car like Swift Diesel?

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by R.I.P

Really well conquered man.....
I can't accept that i had to come down to bangalore and miss all the snow this season :(

reminds me of a trip i made in the middle of last year to chitkul,
maybe i should also post some pics to show the contrast

Thanks RIP

Originally Posted by fine69

Tanveer ji with 10 CLs in a year your itinerary for this trip must be really tight.
But seriously, could you share the itinerary for this trip, it'd be great help. And would April-end be a good time to visit the kalpa/sangla valley in a car like Swift Diesel?

Most of our trips are 4 day trips and happen around long weekends or Thursday/Tuesday off weeks.
So I just take 1 leave, and have 4 days in hand
for this trip, it was like this
1. Friday - Start in the evening around 5:30, reach HP border(Solan etc.,) by 10:30
2. Saturday - Start at 9am, and reach Kalpa by 7-8pm
3. Sunday, Full Day in Kalpa
4. Monday - Kalpa- Narkanda
5. Narkanda - back home!

So with 4 hols you can do this circuit.

As for Swift diesel, go by end april, and you will find roads are mostly okay. NH22 is the trouble spot with some slush, but with careful driving, no issues.

[PAVAN KADAM]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Thanks RIP

Most of our trips are 4 day trips and happen around long weekends or Thursday/Tuesday off weeks.
So I just take 1 leave, and have 4 days in hand
for this trip, it was like this
1. Friday - Start in the evening around 5:30, reach HP border(Solan etc.,) by 10:30
2. Saturday - Start at 9am, and reach Kalpa by 7-8pm
3. Sunday, Full Day in Kalpa
4. Monday - Kalpa- Narkanda
5. Narkanda - back home!

So with 4 hols you can do this circuit.

As for Swift diesel, go by end april, and you will find roads are mostly okay. NH22 is the trouble spot with some slush, but with careful driving, no issues.

Thats a well planned Trip i must say

Now, please spare some time and give me some gyan please.

25th March 2011, i am at SHIMLA by 6 pm.

1) What should i visit next day?
2) How much time will NARKANDA take if i set out by 3:00am?
3) What other places can i cover before i can reach Shimla by 10 am
4) Will i be able to Witness Snow or Snowfall??????


26th - 27th March 2011, i am at MANALI

1) Distance and time taken for travel between Shimla & Manali
2) What should i visit???


28th March 2011 , I am at DHARMSALA

1) Distance and time between Manali and Dharmsala
2) What should i visit

We are 11 Adults and 2 kids, and our means of Transport is a Force Traveller.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM

Thats a well planned Trip i must say

Now, please spare some time and give me some gyan please.

25th March 2011, i am at SHIMLA by 6 pm.

1) What should i visit next day?
2) How much time will NARKANDA take if i set out by 3:00am?
3) What other places can i cover before i can reach Shimla by 10 am
4) Will i be able to Witness Snow or Snowfall??????

Narkanda is a good 2.5 hours from Shimla if there is not much traffic.

Start at 3am from Shimla, and drive straight up to Hatu peak till the road is motorable. But its too narrow for a Force traveller, Walk rest of the way up. The sunrise will be out of this world, and you will find some snow around Hatu peak. If another Western disturbance happens, you will find lot of snow at the peak. Narkanda snow will have melted by then.
After Hatu peak, come down around 10-11am,
I presume after that you want to drive to Manali.
If the Jalori pass is open, take that route, you do not need to go back to shimla.
Jalori pass usually opens by 15th-20th march.
Shoja valley is a good place with apple blooms. You will see some snow at the place.
It should take you 7 hours to manali from Narkanda by Jalori pass.
If the pass is closed, Narkanda to manali is 9 hours

26th - 27th March 2011, i am at MANALI

1) Distance and time taken for travel between Shimla & Manali
2) What should i visit???


28th March 2011 , I am at DHARMSALA

1) Distance and time between Manali and Dharmsala
2) What should i visit

We are 11 Adults and 2 kids, and our means of Transport is a Force Traveller.

At Manali, you can visit Gulaba and see snow there. Its on Rohtang pass road.

That said, your whole itenary is touch and go. you want to see whole of himachal in one go. I suggest you either stick to Shimla side, and cover Narkanda and Sangla valley, or stick to Manali circuit and visit Dharamshala.
I am not much into monastories and all, so do not find Dharamshala very scenic and all.

[supertinu]

Another well planned trip and well written travelogue with beautiful pics my friend. You continue your amazing trips and get guys like me little frustrated sitting on our desks , thanks to you i would have never seen so many beautiful locations.

couple of questions

did you carry tyre chains with you? safer to carry those in snow driving based on my experience in US

the one night shot that you posted, how long was the exposure?

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by supertinu

Another well planned trip and well written travelogue with beautiful pics my friend. You continue your amazing trips and get guys like me little frustrated sitting on our desks , thanks to you i would have never seen so many beautiful locations.

couple of questions

did you carry tyre chains with you? safer to carry those in snow driving based on my experience in US

the one night shot that you posted, how long was the exposure?

Thanks tinu.
I do not have any chains. So I rely on 4WD.
As for the exposure, I think it was around 20 minutes.