Friday 24 April 2020

Billing Hike and Trek

How to Go Hiking Trekking to Billing, the Second Best Paragliding Launch Site of Asia in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Hiking and trekking around Triund near Palampur, Baijnath.

Billing is the Second Best Para-gliding Launch Site of Asia in Himachal Pradesh, Distt Kangra and is linked via road and the jungle hiking trail as well.

If you don’t want to use automobile or taxi and want to go to Billing, then this post will guide you on how to go hiking, trekking to Billing.

To start your day hike to Billing, you need to reach Bir and the building of Tourist Information Center and the Water Storage tank few meters behind the building the by the side of the Bir-Billing Road.
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To start your Billing Hike and Trek

1st. Reach Baijnath by road either from Dharamsala, Palampur or Kangra side.

2nd From Baijnath ISBT board any bus bound to Bir (mostly you will find Anurag Bus Service and HRTC ordinary state bus, that ply directly from Baijnath, Palampur and Dharamsala ISBT or Himsuta a Volvo Bus of Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation from Kashmiri Gate, New Delhi ISBT)

3rd Once you reach Bir bus stop marked with gate to Tea Factory and some shops. Walk towards North east, by pass road heading to the village Gunehar and another one to left going towards Rest House.

You will notice the building of Tourist Information Center on your right hand side. Keep on walking on the road to Billing.

After around 2-3 minutes’ walk you will notice a medium sized concrete Water Tank to the right of Bir Billing Road and to your right downward side.

Bir Billing Jungle Trail 1
View of Water Tank to the right of Bir Billing Road


 4th Just to your left, you will notice a rough trail going northward, here is a map link for the Bir-Billing Jungle Trail.

Bir Billing Jungle Trail 6
The Bir Billing Jungle Trail


Climb upward and now you are on the old jungle trail to Billing, no need to worry about Wild Animals, but still remain alert and keep walking straight upward, avoid any trail going deep left or deep right.

With your watchful eyes you will identify the trail without any problem.

Keep walking upward and this very trail will cross the Bir-Billing Road four times…but the trail is shorter than the road. This is an easy hiking trail with a little bit of steepness on final climb.

Read complete directions here

Saturday 18 February 2017

The Native Connection

The Native Connection


As I recall…with the height of about 3 foot, I entered the class room for the first time…somewhere back in a remote village and as my curious eyes surveyed…a calendar bought my attention. 



Monday 2 January 2017

Cold Stone Mountains



Cold Stone Mountains


Mostly people refer Mountains as nothing but heap of granite boulder and rocks…may be true though, but these days, it is opposite!


This post is not about all Himachali folks and Indians but refers to the minority of them, who are rapidly increasing to be in the majority or are almost in majority too! This could happen anywhere in the world but it is about local! Read Here >>


Sunday 18 October 2015

Trek to Langha Mata

How to Trek to Langha Mata

Langha Mata with temple site in the lap of Green hills looked over by Dhauladhar Mountains in Palampur side. This is an easy Day Hike trek, so we advice start early in the morning.

View of Langha Mata Temple and Shiva Temple

Trek But Please Do Not Throw Your Garbage on Trail and near Temple premises, carry an extra bag to put your garbage in.

To reach the starting point of trail to Langha Mata temple, you need to reach village Nanahar, which comes after Village Kandbari and Village Khas Bari.

You can board a Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation Bus (HRTC) leaves Palampur ISBT around 07:30 AM and goes through Old Palampur Bus Stand and bus stop near Punjab National Bank at 08:00 AM (keep a watchful eye if you decide to board from Old Bus Stand), this bus will drop you near Govt Sr Sec School and Primary Health Center of Nanahar and by the side water filtration system, the starting point of this trek.

The first HRTC bus leaves Palampur ISBT at 07:30 AM, consult the bus stand authorities a day in advance, though no need of advance booking for seat. Alternatively you can drive up to Nanahar, or can board any bus for Baijnath, Manali and ask for Dramman bus stop.
From Dramman bus stop either board a shared cab up to Kandbari or hire a taxi for Nanahar (a not so good option).

Once you reach Nanahar School, climb a steep concrete road going upward North. At the end of this concrete road turn left and then after 20 meter walk, turn right up side, here this trail has a shop on to the left...post this shop the concrete trail gets divided in to two parts.

You can take any of them… (a) the trail on to left will go through a house with temple of Lord Hanuman and a right turn through fields and will end in front of homes and a Water Well with a small temple on top… (b) if you take right hand concrete trail, which is a little bit of lengthy but straight and will end in front of the same water Well.
View from Nanahar point, here the Trail is divided in two direction
View from Nanahar

From the Water Well and after a little walk from the back side of the house and livestock point, one trail goes to left and other trail goes to right hand side...take turn to right hand up side trail and after a short walk, you will notice a waterhole on left...cross over and from there the single trail starts, climb up the pebbled trail and turn right up side…..and once you reach near the water tank do not deviate either left side or right side...just look out for the trail straight up side (North)….with two rest points on trail.
Trail Coming from Palampur side
On the last rest point...you will notice a punctured water pipe and another trail going down to left and one going to right...as said earlier once you are on main trail, Avoid any trail going left or right….keep walking upside and since here trail visibility is 100% clear, so no chance of getting lost.
Last of the Climb

View of Temple from Opposite side
With a bit of common sense you will make it to the temple of Langha Mata. There are no shops on trail or near temple, so carry your lunch, water and some fruits for refreshment.

You can come back to village Nanahar bus stop by least 03:00 PM or early and better reach bus stop of village Kandbari to retreat either Palampur or Dharamsala. The last bus from Kandbari leaves at 04:30 PM

Saturday 10 October 2015

Chandigarh to Dharamsala via Kaza

Chandigarh to Dharamsala via Kaza


The Making


October 8, 2011

I’d been looking at the posters of Kaza terrain in one of the washrooms of Sector 34, Chandigarh for a long-long time and read more on only over the internet.

Then after 3 years came a moment when I decided to stop gazing at the posters and visit Kaza myself in practical. I searched on the internet about travel options, distance and choose my mode of transport and routes.

Fixed October 14, 2011 as final day to check out for Dharamsala (Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi) via Kaza from Chandigarh. Then I asked some of my friends if they would like to join me on this trip.

All declined with the excuse of beginning of cold weather in Kaza and which eventually set my mind also to postpone my Kaza excursion and instead head to my home.

Chandigarh to Kaza- Day First


As the days neared to October 14, I searched again on internet if it was right

decision to visit Kaza in October but found no response. Then I tried some forums
contributed by various travelers on internet, I joined them and put my question about visiting Kaza in October….but there too I got no response from senior members.

Well then it was the morning of October 14 and I was in the market of Sector 22 Chandigarh getting prints of some photographs for home and after getting the prints, something made me to reach my room as soon as possible. 
Upon reaching my room at 04:05 PM, I searched the internet for the contact number of HRTC Dept in Chandigarh and called them to inquire which and when bus to Kaza will leave Chandigarh.

The representative of HRTC told me the bus will leave at 06:00PM sharp. As I was staying at a distance of about 1 hour of travel from ISBT Sector 43 of Chandigarh (Since all buses to HP, Jammu and Uttaranchal depart from Sector 43, except for Delhi, Ambala that depart from Sector 17 ISBT of Chandigarh) I hurried and packed up backpack with my laptop, one jacket and other stuff and was ready to leave room by 05:05PM. 

At the bus stop the local bus showed up by 05:15 PM and I was not sure if I would make it to Sector 43 ISBT on time....and as I’d assumed, the local bus dropped me at Sector 43 ISBT at 06:10 PM.

I felt the bus might have left already….and walked to the platform from where buses to Shimla leave and was surprised to see the bus to Kaza still there, but it was already almost full and I was looking for a window seat on left hand side.

Still happy to see the bus still available approached the ticket counter only to find out the last seat was already taken a few moments ago :\ … As I thought it was the only and only one bus to leave for Kaza in a day….went for advance booking for the other day….and there the representative informed me that there will be another bus up to Reckong Peo leaving at 07:30 PM.

Hearing that I decided to wait for 07:30 PM and board the bus up to Reckong-Peo. In the mean time I inquired more and found there were at least more buses that leave at the interval of 2 hours up to 04:30 AM from Chandigarh up to Reckong Peo!

At 07:30 PM I lined up to board the bus from Chandigarh to Kalpa near Reckong Peo. But the conductor gave me the ticket up to Rampur and the ticket cost was INR -270 and he told me from Rampur, we’ll have to change the bus to Reckong Peo, and from Reckong Peo I need to change another bus for Kaza.
Well there started my maiden trip to newer districts of HP beyond Simla.

Chandigarh to Kaza- Day Two in Reckon Peo


As I read in internet fellow travelers complained it was not easy to travel in regular buses for 14 hours up to Reckong Peo and further up to Kaza….some suggested a deluxe bus service up to Reckong Peo and a shared taxi from Reckong Peo to Kaza.

But I felt no unease on traveling more than 12 hours in a regular bus (probably because of my curiosity of new place and a night travel) wearing only a T-shirt and jeans (though I was carrying a jacket).

As the bus entered Parwanoo in Himachal from Kalka, we were stuck in the traffic for about 1 hour as some irresponsible truck driver had parked his truck in the middle of the left side lane, blocking the traffic flow coming down from Simla.

Further to my surprise after getting out of the traffic jam….the HRTC bus driver held mobile on his left hand and steered the bus with his right hand and to my surprise no one complained to conductor and neither the conductor stopped the driver from using mobile.

Since the road on which the driver was using one hand drive is accident prone with hundreds foot deep slide, I was concerned but could not gather the courage to ask the driver to stop using mobile on drive and he continued for more than 2km with one hand drive on night and then he put the mobile aside.

Well we stopped at Sonawaar for dinner and arrived Simla new ISBT at 01:25 AM. I was welcomed by all new ISBT of Simla in Tutikandi….and saw some fuming passengers there,  who had no bus to reach the old bus stand of Simla about 7km from new ISBT. Since I was wearing only a T-shirt and jeans felt the cold of Simla and had second thoughts about the weather in Reckong Peo and Kaza ….but even then did not brought out my jacket.

At 03:30 AM the bus stopped somewhere in a shop for tea….and there I’d to pull out my jacked from bag….as I didn’t wanted to spoil my trip with cold that gets severe on me mostly.  At the outside of the shop I saw an aged driver bathing with cold tap water….seeing that gave me some courage to face the cold.

I could not sleep all night not because it was cold but because I was more enjoying seeing the dark woods and mountains silhouette out from the window of my seat.

Then came the sunrise and we were still on ride….and as I was sitting on the left window side and down the road which was amazingly carved out of the solid mountain sides could see the river flowing.

You will be surprised (If you visit for the first time) to see how the personnel of Border Road Organization have cut out the road on mountain sides  and only a professional can drive here….!

But the drivers of HRTC are more competent here and some were driving as if they were on an open wider Broadway. Though I’d been riding (bus ride) on such roads from childhood but these were the extreme sort of and giving me more of joy than fear.

As the bus was moving up and down some time slow, some time fast….I was just enjoying the beauty outside and had the desire only if I could get down the bus and feel the surroundings myself for a little longer.

But we were on constant move and reached Rampur of district Kinnaur around the morning of 06:30 AM. At 07:45 AM from Rampur, I boarded a private bus up to Reckong Peo with ticket cost of INR 110, the bus stopped at Jeori stop for breakfast from where on right hand side there is another road for Sarahan with a distance of around 17KM, another interesting point with temples of Bhima Kali and more.

Further from Jeori the views outside are just amazing and for some like me an open invitation to come again. The road gets more adventures (If you can manage own vehicle, it’ll we more of more adventures, but please do not throw garbage).

I saw new faces of Kinnaur region and noticed that here men also use eyeliners.
We crossed many villages, bridges but the river was constantly flowing on the left hand side. I was amazed to see how the electricity wires were put up from one point to another point with thousands feet of depth and across the wide mountains.

After climbing another 1000 feet we reached Reckong Peo around 12:00 PM. As there is only one bus leaving to Kaza early in the morning by 06:30 AM so I headed to Kalpa and after returning from Kalpa stayed in a guest house and next morning woke up early by 05:30 AM.

Chandigarh to Kaza- Day Third in Kaza


Since the bus leaving to Kaza is the only one so there is good crowd.

I reached Reckong Peo bus stand at 06:15 AM, but the bus arrived at 07:00AM half an hour late. After getting the ticket to Kaza for INR -260….I witnessed the sun rays slowly kissing the mountain series above Reckong Peo.

Well the bus started off at 07:30 AM. Prefer a seat on the right hand side window as 98% views are on the right side with calm and constantly flowing Spiti river and here too the road is well engineered by Border Road Organization though in most of points the work is still in progress rest the road is in good condition.

Not to mention here, also on this route the HRTC driver was careless or overconfident as he was using mobile while driving….and this time inside the bus I noticed a number 09459100100 where anyone with complaint on driving or traffic violation could send instant sms.

I sent a text about the driver but lucky for the driver I was using a private mobile operator the service of which is not available there and the sms landed on outbox instead of sent item box :( and since the driver was using BSNL mobile  he was enjoying his chat.

Well then we stopped for breakfast and I took the opportunity to shoot some photographs. After the stop we started again and the views around were or are awesome and inspiring with each turn the bus went up a few feet more and more and some time were at a height of 2621 meter and then 2518 meter and 3624 meter. By 04:30 PM we reached the bus stand of KAZA.………to be continued