tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57379422353419363412024-02-17T19:35:21.915+05:30Goabirder“Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-30285538679874038742019-08-15T22:10:00.001+05:302019-08-16T11:04:14.046+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Soul of Incredible India - Bhaskareswara Temple</span></span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-soul-of-incredible-india-sun-temple.html" target="_blank">The Sun Temple at Konark</a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india.html" target="_blank">Kichakeswari Temple</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india.html" target="_blank">Dhanobeni Temple</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india-leaning.html" target="_blank">The Leaning Temple of Huma</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bhaskareswara Temple</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bhaskareswara Temple</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This 12th or 13th century temple is located in the old town area of Bhubaneswar in Odisha. Said to be built by the Ganga rulers, it is structured like a 'rath' or chariot of Lord Jagannath. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva in the form of Bhaskareswara. Giving it distinction is the 9 foot high Shiv-linga accessed from the upper floor of the temple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Vimana is in the 'Peedha' (stepped pyramid) style and not very heavily embellished. Some deities do feature on the outer walls though.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">Being an ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) site, the manicured lawns around the temple are beautiful and lend a very serene atmosphere to the place.</span></span></div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-88017465784723569812019-08-15T17:29:00.001+05:302019-08-15T17:36:27.481+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Padharo mhare des.... series</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/padharo-mhare-des-adoor-doorway.html" target="_blank">A'DOOR' the 'DOORWAY'</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Temples at Kiradu</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Deep in the Thar Desert and very close to the border with Pakistan in the state of Rajasthan lies the tiny village of Kiradu. This is an otherwise nondescript place but for the discovery of the ruins of at least 5 exquisitely carved temples. The inscriptions found there are dated to the 12th century though some archaeologists date the building of the temples themselves to the 11th century. Consensus is that they were built by the vassals of the Chalukyas. An 1178 CE inscription describes the renovation of the temples after the 'Turushkas' damaged it. Turkic invaders from the Ghurid clans led by Mohammed of Ghor came rampaging through these regions but were defeated at the battle of Kasahrada in 1178 CE. Either then or later, these outstanding works of art were mercilessly destroyed .... it pains to behold the ruthless and wanton destruction as will be evident in the pictures that follow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A closer look at the broken shikhara...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kiradu also boasts of a ghost story. One among the many told in Rajasthan. It went like this... After the desecration of the temples by the Ghurid invaders, the King Someshwara invited a Sage to help protect his kingdom. While the sage was away, the local villagers did not take care of his unwell disciple except a potter's wife. On his return, the livid sage cursed the village and turned everyone to stone except the lady. She was told to go away from the village and not turn back. A weak moment saw her turning around to see her village for the last time and was turned into stone at the edge of the village, where she stands to this day! So powerful is the belief in this story that no one stays the night here even today for fear of being turned to stone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The most famous and elaborately carved of these temples is the one dedicated to the Hindu God Someshwara. Tales from the puranas and the Hindu epics as well as court scenes and scenes of war are depicted here. The quality of workmanship as well as the plentiful erotica have led it to be called the Khajuraho of Rajasthan! Some examples...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A closer look at the theatre of war scene running as a base to the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">larger sculptures </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">above ...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4Raa-WNLWVFeeIK_0ibYiRXGGWW9ILIm0mRRfhp_CRtSC3STvselBljkKj7OXC8bijHARbpPKxzNdOCGqAjt6Y3SypvOkekklOKQUyeYwceKQPDqo-rBS3MhBo7XE9BYGmbXOxVRUFme/s1600/IMG_20190125_122030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1024" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4Raa-WNLWVFeeIK_0ibYiRXGGWW9ILIm0mRRfhp_CRtSC3STvselBljkKj7OXC8bijHARbpPKxzNdOCGqAjt6Y3SypvOkekklOKQUyeYwceKQPDqo-rBS3MhBo7XE9BYGmbXOxVRUFme/s640/IMG_20190125_122030.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is even a very cute panel probably showing the vanara (monkey) army from the epic Ramayana!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcZhDIj3puotKSgpNRGcsYYT_SzN-UyJfGigicUtJpB8hUmGtty17Yo4s255u1L_-bTR_p-aIefRxnj2gkSg1Iu0fzuJ0pZcp3tnwDLXJhmDOLWr8RT8wZ9QoKIAza32Gjut3UIE2QwPo/s1600/IMG_20190125_122333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="1024" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcZhDIj3puotKSgpNRGcsYYT_SzN-UyJfGigicUtJpB8hUmGtty17Yo4s255u1L_-bTR_p-aIefRxnj2gkSg1Iu0fzuJ0pZcp3tnwDLXJhmDOLWr8RT8wZ9QoKIAza32Gjut3UIE2QwPo/s640/IMG_20190125_122333.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And another of the famed 'Samudra Manthan' (churning of the ocean) from the Puranas...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8eUUyBD7Eeq9fxSKunpAWynJLE9eXjyvETTb-4mixBziOF4AnrNZy6p7g7c9WiOOByG32UMdCEi41iioDGcNDW82pVO4Y3glUSYDUq3kBXASrdJ5RhT5uUBUwkJJEFGjEPPT6r_BIUbN/s1600/IMG_20190125_122611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8eUUyBD7Eeq9fxSKunpAWynJLE9eXjyvETTb-4mixBziOF4AnrNZy6p7g7c9WiOOByG32UMdCEi41iioDGcNDW82pVO4Y3glUSYDUq3kBXASrdJ5RhT5uUBUwkJJEFGjEPPT6r_BIUbN/s640/IMG_20190125_122611.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The entrance to the sanctum is brilliantly and finely carved!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1IeMVWo3ScqOG7sm8sq6nbIhBGb5L9KaRl5sx55_p24SMDB0fiP-BnduP3NRim5LuUCa7TQEB3WLuSskqT7KMryKlyScZO8VVnVi_LP9detcGK7bsTb8Z05X7mOs4XL3792wS3bIjYSN/s1600/IMG_20190125_123004a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1IeMVWo3ScqOG7sm8sq6nbIhBGb5L9KaRl5sx55_p24SMDB0fiP-BnduP3NRim5LuUCa7TQEB3WLuSskqT7KMryKlyScZO8VVnVi_LP9detcGK7bsTb8Z05X7mOs4XL3792wS3bIjYSN/s640/IMG_20190125_123004a.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A sample inscription from the temple... there are more but they are all in varying states of decay. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkNaCiQ3B0IZDE0O98mlBqpdKL2kU86b-mRQuYNYXH6lXC9HzEGdEwzGCFh0vP4bwp9HqdxDbbebaMxU50BPCfk6UfW4_pDabsg_y74CkeIrzmOMlNaA501ut9FuwOk16lxp2-Z77356N/s1600/IMG_20190125_123341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkNaCiQ3B0IZDE0O98mlBqpdKL2kU86b-mRQuYNYXH6lXC9HzEGdEwzGCFh0vP4bwp9HqdxDbbebaMxU50BPCfk6UfW4_pDabsg_y74CkeIrzmOMlNaA501ut9FuwOk16lxp2-Z77356N/s640/IMG_20190125_123341.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And last, but not the least, a perfectly proportioned small shrine... shunned for not being perfect, but still standing tall... bearing it's badge of courage and resilience over the ages.. Silent yet Proud!</span></div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-64401679257899947632019-08-15T10:03:00.004+05:302019-08-15T22:13:17.473+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Soul of Incredible India - The Leaning Temple of Huma</span></span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Soul of Incredible India series - </span></span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-soul-of-incredible-india-sun-temple.html" target="_blank">The Sun Temple at Konark</a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india.html" target="_blank">Kichakeswari Temple</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india.html" target="_blank">Dhanobeni Temple</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Leaning Temple of Huma</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Leaning Temple of Huma</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A small place just 23 Kms south of Sambalpur is home to the intriguing 'Leaning temple of Shiva' in Huma. It stands on the left bank of the mighty river Mahanadi. Lord Shiva is revered here in the form of Bimaleswar.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiq4hLQf3cSezHw1ch6kd74cx_TknBAGmAvutTDhj1z4CNfPhM0MC_6OerXJbWaHnIfsXa8epI5J2qAIGJeOnS9rzSkGf4bN_yTKegLHxabl8KM23uz5VWenk5gXXLyunm1W08h25eJFE9/s1600/IMG_20190727_090121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiq4hLQf3cSezHw1ch6kd74cx_TknBAGmAvutTDhj1z4CNfPhM0MC_6OerXJbWaHnIfsXa8epI5J2qAIGJeOnS9rzSkGf4bN_yTKegLHxabl8KM23uz5VWenk5gXXLyunm1W08h25eJFE9/s640/IMG_20190727_090121.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having heard of this unique Shiva temple from friends in Sambalpur, we decided to see for ourselves where and how this temple came to be leaning!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Legend goes that a milkman used to cross the Mahanadi at this point and a jutting rock here used to be rendered a small amount of milk as an offering by him which was immediately guzzled up by the rock. The Raja gets to know of this and a temple is built at the site by Raja Baliar Singh, the fifth Chauhan Raja of Sambalpur roughly in the second half of the 17th century. According to some experts, the temple was built much earlier in the 12th century </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;">Ganga Vamsi Emperor Anangabhima Deva-III and renovated by the Chauhan King!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What's fascinating here is the main Temple itself and the two subsidiary temples are all tilted. The main temple is tilted including the walls and the Vimana but the shikhar (the pinnacle) is perpendicular to the ground! Funnily, they are tilted in different directions as are the gateways and the boundary walls. Nothing seems in logical symmetry, including the inclination. One reason could be that it was built that way? That sounds very difficult considering that the temple is about 350 years old and this kind of tilt would undoubtedly made it too unstable to still stand. Another could be the geological instability of the rock it stands upon. But the different angles and directions of tilt in the premises are baffling to say the least .... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiXo11Q7qgKJYsTU6hnGtgQIgX75RnPAwn79nrPLDVqHdFKG_Ski2dhNMPlK0rA6ybjGvb-Ebt6E8GLhhNEprZbnorm1sDl0C_xN03yJVR6HSuAoTfqZCG-Jj-om-qicDeY3t0ukz4dPR/s1600/IMG_20190727_090022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiXo11Q7qgKJYsTU6hnGtgQIgX75RnPAwn79nrPLDVqHdFKG_Ski2dhNMPlK0rA6ybjGvb-Ebt6E8GLhhNEprZbnorm1sDl0C_xN03yJVR6HSuAoTfqZCG-Jj-om-qicDeY3t0ukz4dPR/s640/IMG_20190727_090022.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another attraction here are the huge fish in the Mahanadi next to the temple fabled as the deity's own and thus protected from fishing. They are very tame and pilgrims love to feed them prasad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The temple is also home to a troupe of monkeys which are quick to grab the 'prasad' from any unsuspecting person's hands as we all discovered much to our amusement!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All in all... interesting place! If one is in those parts, worth a dekho...</span></div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-42474919263929265972019-08-05T11:27:00.000+05:302019-08-15T17:41:12.664+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Soul of Incredible India - Dhanobeni Temple</span></span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Soul of Incredible India series - </span></span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-soul-of-incredible-india-sun-temple.html" target="_blank">The Sun Temple at Konark</a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india.html" target="_blank">Kichakeswari Temple</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dhanobeni Temple</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india-leaning.html" target="_blank">The Leaning Temple of Huma</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ODISHA - This venerable land of temples has much to offer in terms of the best known ancient all the way to the modern temples. And then there are those that are not well known except to the avid trekkers and explorers. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiEfM38YhPoFZC8n43RIFjvZguRAoc57VeDImuAbuCh_9f_90nay-rU1E7TtH0KYiro6YQIyaWSGTht0UA_nrmviXoan5rK0A8HQR4mhOewLlyU5EPQTqKM89TMUqnVEcwrVmZY-lfvYE/s1600/IMG_20190723_162047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiEfM38YhPoFZC8n43RIFjvZguRAoc57VeDImuAbuCh_9f_90nay-rU1E7TtH0KYiro6YQIyaWSGTht0UA_nrmviXoan5rK0A8HQR4mhOewLlyU5EPQTqKM89TMUqnVEcwrVmZY-lfvYE/s640/IMG_20190723_162047.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dhanobeni is one such place. I have no idea of it's history since we did not see a soul there and have not found anything on the internet either. But the remote location and the serene environs drew me to it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dhanbeni village is just off the main highway to Keonjhar and about 20 Kms to the south of it. Dhanobeni temple in it's vicinity is built on this gigantic rocky hill which seems to be a single rocky outcrop jutting out of a boulder-strewn landscape. Surrounded by a little stream on one side and some fields, it is a very scenic location! The pictures will speak for themselves..... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIcvbPS5oF1-tB4UhgJBMs0P37SMo5Ks8Kt9ih_WMMRgH7YU6wnGS-eQjvVx24iCxA-Yt8W79-kseCIfmXsnHfOkfP3-fqPsLDWo-Sw-1S9k9nmfr_VujuY8VcAonSjXlJs35IaRvk8B_/s1600/IMG_20190723_155226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIcvbPS5oF1-tB4UhgJBMs0P37SMo5Ks8Kt9ih_WMMRgH7YU6wnGS-eQjvVx24iCxA-Yt8W79-kseCIfmXsnHfOkfP3-fqPsLDWo-Sw-1S9k9nmfr_VujuY8VcAonSjXlJs35IaRvk8B_/s640/IMG_20190723_155226.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRNRk_wi_w8-iG_f1APRnVBWZ9RuB6GzzQDltaamtdJuKZemsqVsQ-nxzyeIr6p0pv4PvM2_9yZw99jBX9dDieF_5eVXWAM0W_sss1N-x5JP2BnDT1NkanUxvWjjo4ljj3CEtJzbU61bq/s1600/IMG_20190723_155248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRNRk_wi_w8-iG_f1APRnVBWZ9RuB6GzzQDltaamtdJuKZemsqVsQ-nxzyeIr6p0pv4PvM2_9yZw99jBX9dDieF_5eVXWAM0W_sss1N-x5JP2BnDT1NkanUxvWjjo4ljj3CEtJzbU61bq/s640/IMG_20190723_155248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's super steep though!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVfwWeRdqn6VPfKtHbnZEi3OREysUZLSzYbf7X8uxowd-RJVbdPiGukhxvi3IptdoHoS4ocwjjwTw9KzA5oh9lJJrJjis80lCdamtwI-Bozc-e1Il1b-oBdopKXJxB3E6gFWZQmfzvytt/s1600/IMG_20190723_161200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVfwWeRdqn6VPfKtHbnZEi3OREysUZLSzYbf7X8uxowd-RJVbdPiGukhxvi3IptdoHoS4ocwjjwTw9KzA5oh9lJJrJjis80lCdamtwI-Bozc-e1Il1b-oBdopKXJxB3E6gFWZQmfzvytt/s640/IMG_20190723_161200.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The small shrine on top is a simple white-washed structure with 2 Nandis at the entrance. One looked old and the other a relatively new sculpture. The sanctum was closed but I assume there would be a Shivling inside. </span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6O9IS_-e9_sQNceiD0Xgwrh-zNsIPEW2J9AocvmU-tbWavrOhJzuJj-aXLpXSdtalt6b5TL8zY_JkQMd2XFnabEAf8xuYyL9edSHosrf9mPSC8D387HOOkBKar39vC4lzjGMb5C-Ee_f/s1600/IMG_20190723_155736%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6O9IS_-e9_sQNceiD0Xgwrh-zNsIPEW2J9AocvmU-tbWavrOhJzuJj-aXLpXSdtalt6b5TL8zY_JkQMd2XFnabEAf8xuYyL9edSHosrf9mPSC8D387HOOkBKar39vC4lzjGMb5C-Ee_f/s640/IMG_20190723_155736%257E2.jpg" width="486" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxLDHckLQx2-Eegqe9ardWQaf45lWeFynIzPV5kw3rvZa8PBKV8re4wZr5jMW8KUKk5c-h4rGBBZVg5hBdpkkJJmzeAkJ_YUYWnzrEjeNlw70gzDJpsDK2kU1t_TmijfI0Z_tbfRXwE2X/s1600/IMG_20190723_160405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxLDHckLQx2-Eegqe9ardWQaf45lWeFynIzPV5kw3rvZa8PBKV8re4wZr5jMW8KUKk5c-h4rGBBZVg5hBdpkkJJmzeAkJ_YUYWnzrEjeNlw70gzDJpsDK2kU1t_TmijfI0Z_tbfRXwE2X/s640/IMG_20190723_160405.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A tiny oasis from millennia of flying dust which has probably formed a thin layer of soil up on the rocky hill has supported so much greenery that it is wondrous to see... Trees have grown there, some of them with their roots encircling rocks and yet thriving!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdPderZd7JH5U29X2OMkc3L3ngJ8vCmW1vhBEHK9dAsWLjuuP8iq1a3cT4JFGK2va-5fLsFzuhIsNWHdakCej9lq5o8snwebtsELPdhqciAVbHGFVnlLPWeJ-TOpPBLvQCMcJDN8odjCG/s1600/IMG_20190723_160431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdPderZd7JH5U29X2OMkc3L3ngJ8vCmW1vhBEHK9dAsWLjuuP8iq1a3cT4JFGK2va-5fLsFzuhIsNWHdakCej9lq5o8snwebtsELPdhqciAVbHGFVnlLPWeJ-TOpPBLvQCMcJDN8odjCG/s640/IMG_20190723_160431.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_Gm3YJlYZ0CIAQlhUg2C_JjsVhht8XdmownTTSleCi_Fz3kxKRWcLMSV_CBOMjm8c6vFI9czFaL7YB6Tn50M5ne0vKKdLI1QTy1EoTIE98YfK5ZaznOUbu3ulvx76veg-xz3Bow9BjSW/s1600/IMG_20190723_160436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_Gm3YJlYZ0CIAQlhUg2C_JjsVhht8XdmownTTSleCi_Fz3kxKRWcLMSV_CBOMjm8c6vFI9czFaL7YB6Tn50M5ne0vKKdLI1QTy1EoTIE98YfK5ZaznOUbu3ulvx76veg-xz3Bow9BjSW/s640/IMG_20190723_160436.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One word of caution though. To comfortably climb this I would recommend closed shoes with good grip since there is no path to go up. One just has to climb the colossal rock! But you won't regret it!</span><br />
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-38651462090824320952019-08-04T17:45:00.000+05:302019-08-15T17:37:47.883+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Soul of Incredible India - Kichakeswari Temple</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-soul-of-incredible-india-sun-temple.html" target="_blank">The Sun Temple at Konark</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india-dhanobeni.html" target="_blank">Dhanobeni Temple</a> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india-leaning.html" target="_blank">The Leaning Temple of Huma</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Situated in Khiching about 50 Kms from Kendujhar (Keonjhar) and about 240 Km from Bhubaneswar in Odisha, the Kichakeswari temple is a magnificent temple dedicated to Maa Kichakeswari (a form of the 8-armed Chamunda Mata). The Goddess Kichakeswari was the Kuldevi of the Bhanj dynasty as well as the state deity of the Mayurbhanj Kingdom with it's capital at Khiching. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is an imposing structure built of black Chlorite adorned with gorgeous carvings all over the outer walls and the Rekha Deul (the towering Vimana over the main sanctum sanctorum or Garbha griha). This early Kalingan temple does not have any Jagamohan (the congregation hall) nor the Bhog or Natya Mandaps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is said that this early specimen of the Kalinga style of temple architecture was built somewhere in the 7-8th century and was renovated in the early 20th century by then King of Mayurbhanj kingdom for damages caused by vandals. A small museum here has some lovely old statues and artifacts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The outer walls have exquisite carvings of Ganapati, Kartikeya and many other Gods, Goddesses, NagKanyas and other intricate carvings of great finesse and beauty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The really intricate carving is an absolute delight to behold! This next carving is barely 4 inches wide including the beautiful beaded edging... and yet the expression is so visibly joyous!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the same courtyard is a small Shiva temple. Relatively plain, it still hassome lovely pieces of work in the Dwarpal panel and the statues on the outside walls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is a modern park just outside the temple premises which has a Shiv-Parvati tableau. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For history or architecture or just Indic culture aficionados, it's so worth visiting this hidden gem of Odisha! </span></div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-22398286448804581602019-08-04T15:42:00.002+05:302019-08-15T17:34:35.423+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Padharo mhare des.... A'DOOR' the 'DOORWAY'</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Padharo mhare des.... series</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A'DOOR' the 'DOORWAY'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/padharo-mhare-des-temples-at-kiradu.html" target="_blank">The Temples at Kiradu</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm a self confessed history addict. So all monuments interest me... older the better! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I A'DOOR' (adore) these entrances and found so many that were beautiful, that I decided that the first post on Rajasthan could be just that! Hence this 'portal' peeking into Royal Rajasthan! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Doors and Entryways at HAWAMAHAL, JAIPUR </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CITY PALACE, JAIPUR</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">AMBER FORT, JAIPUR</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even the simpler doors were fascinating!</span><br />
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-8872887467634758232019-02-14T21:58:00.002+05:302019-08-15T17:35:13.095+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Soul of Incredible India - The Sun Temple at Konark</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Soul of Incredible India series - </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Sun Temple at Konark</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india.html" target="_blank">Kichakeswari Temple</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india-dhanobeni.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Dhanobeni Temple</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-soul-of-incredible-india-leaning.html" target="_blank">The Leaning Temple of Huma</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Sun Temple at Konark</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this new series, I'm going to pick and write posts on the culturally vibrant state of Odisha.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Sun Temple at Konark is arguably the most famous tourist site in Odisha. It is the exquisite culmination of the Kalinga style of temple architecture. Dating back to the 13th century AD, this intricately embellished Temple Chariot of the Sun God was built by King Narsimhadeva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is a story from the '<i>Samba Purana'</i> surrounding this place. It is said that Saam or Samba, the son of Lord Krishna was cursed with leprosy. He performed severe penance for 12 years invoking the Sun God at a Sun temple he built in Mitravana on the banks of the Chandrabhaga river here and was cured. Even today in Odisha, this day is celebrated as the Samba Dashami on the 10th day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon fortnight) of Pausa masa (10th month of the Hindu calendar roughly in January). On this day, mothers pray to the Sun God for the health of their children!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPJPzII0BNb8MYRE4_YI6K3e9rv5PNy3OnB8PwQUV0BW1n_PrCUBhc0RghtxxqYJYOQEJds5mbfoQBb41MoXHSDfSIkAr0Ud1c_P_Pxop8o7LCd95GyDCUeEbRFfqOFMgSPEEZhLDUVs_/s1600/IMG-20180406-WA0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPJPzII0BNb8MYRE4_YI6K3e9rv5PNy3OnB8PwQUV0BW1n_PrCUBhc0RghtxxqYJYOQEJds5mbfoQBb41MoXHSDfSIkAr0Ud1c_P_Pxop8o7LCd95GyDCUeEbRFfqOFMgSPEEZhLDUVs_/s640/IMG-20180406-WA0032.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The very name Konark is an amalgamation of two words - 'Kona' meaning corner and 'Arka' is another name of the Sun God. The Sun god worshiped in Arka Kshetra is also called Konark. In <i>'Brahma Purana'</i> the Sun God in Ark-kshetra has been described as Konaditya. So it is evident that the place where the Kona Aditya (or Kona-arka, the Sun god) was worshiped was also popularly called Konark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is not well documented and a matter of controversy what caused the destruction of this pinnacle of Kalinga art, natural erosion (causes) or a desecration by invading armies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Konark temple has the main sanctum called the <i>Vimana</i> housing the main deity which is said to have had a <i>Shikhar</i> well over 200 feet high which has since fallen in. The Jagamohan or the assembly hall which is the bulk of the ruins visible today. The third is the Nrityamandapa or the dancing hall. This temple did not have a separate Bhogmandapa like the Jagannath temple at Puri or the Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar. Dancing and offering were probably both done in the same space. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This temple has been built according to vastushastra. As one enters the Temple grounds, to the left and in the south-east is the temple kitchen now in ruins. On the right in the north-east direction, is the puja mandap and the well for water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Directly in front is the Nrityamandapa with stairs leading up to it's high platform. The stairs are flanked by the fierce lion atop an elephant which has a man under it. This is supposed to symbolise that one must leave behind the arrogance of both intelligence and strength before entering the God's abode...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCU97dBkCdUyzG2pGQqabHSpfgNEPnIy9kbczk2auYwFHZPbzdbOvA3rTIxjBAj0fm5cWl16pXTS_rMKXoIRcrxDL8jz7599nqnTqPhYa40ZllaDunJPJHJl5QBOG6oYqRwGvky87p4q0/s1600/IMG_20170721_150933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCU97dBkCdUyzG2pGQqabHSpfgNEPnIy9kbczk2auYwFHZPbzdbOvA3rTIxjBAj0fm5cWl16pXTS_rMKXoIRcrxDL8jz7599nqnTqPhYa40ZllaDunJPJHJl5QBOG6oYqRwGvky87p4q0/s640/IMG_20170721_150933.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The roof has fallen in but the ornately carved platform and the pillars above are a treat to the eyes. Most of the sculptures here are of musicians and dancers.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbhtHI2JBNp55KSWN_H3UedXbzAu1DNNNudW-N4TP9iwsIWuVhUwd0LAAXPtI3PYAHecwFLBJEGHYZeGW6u6S-e2y-iamI0XOJHCKemnEjjOes1js278C8qDXkEmopcwpR2xEmqyqLXv8/s1600/IMG_20170721_142019+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbhtHI2JBNp55KSWN_H3UedXbzAu1DNNNudW-N4TP9iwsIWuVhUwd0LAAXPtI3PYAHecwFLBJEGHYZeGW6u6S-e2y-iamI0XOJHCKemnEjjOes1js278C8qDXkEmopcwpR2xEmqyqLXv8/s640/IMG_20170721_142019+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Konark temple has been built in the likeness of a gigantic chariot of the Sun God pulled by 7 horses symbolising the 7 colours in sunlight as also the 7 days of the week. The chariot sits on 12 exquisitely carved pairs of wheels for the twelve months of the year. Each pair of wheels represents the '<i>Shukla paksha'</i> (waxing moon fortnight of a month) and '<i>Krishna paksha' </i>(the waning moon fortnight of the month). The wheels are also sundials which can be read to an accuracy of 3 minutes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each of the spokes of the wheels have some representation of the daily rituals or calendar events.<span style="text-align: justify;"> One of the axles of the wheels has the Narasimha god carved on it.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAU-3lYCvSLd4M6R6-rwhvBlZb5CCXakhjk8UsrCmn8Fp4oI5mR5FeV6KTDDNFm5OMdk61m69HSFOiyDgEKWHgKX2b_mmvfaXzrTZYN6umllwyTCRenWPXtu1fxbMWCZy1ijrUE25RF0m/s1600/IMG_20171202_163121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAU-3lYCvSLd4M6R6-rwhvBlZb5CCXakhjk8UsrCmn8Fp4oI5mR5FeV6KTDDNFm5OMdk61m69HSFOiyDgEKWHgKX2b_mmvfaXzrTZYN6umllwyTCRenWPXtu1fxbMWCZy1ijrUE25RF0m/s640/IMG_20171202_163121.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The lowest layer of carvings on the platform is that of elephants in different poses.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PyCB7FP_avUGdCwgob9hBZQhrtto3G2aN-REUyOvQR1cfnAditOdbs1-ArsPi3ws_UmNKOKNNAjjOfojF7PD2KjZIZwHNbIIfQLoBLGxUJQxw1b3Baf2qDWsh-o-bdrNO8nvMxuoqBM1/s1600/IMG_20170721_142940+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PyCB7FP_avUGdCwgob9hBZQhrtto3G2aN-REUyOvQR1cfnAditOdbs1-ArsPi3ws_UmNKOKNNAjjOfojF7PD2KjZIZwHNbIIfQLoBLGxUJQxw1b3Baf2qDWsh-o-bdrNO8nvMxuoqBM1/s640/IMG_20170721_142940+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The middle row of sculptures are of everyday scenes and fabulous imaginary beings like the <i>Gajasardula</i> or the lion on elephant..</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkhcaZmCjQi4GI5VZa-PcalJweFLDnLR8NkQvW39dQKe9FbGxNugL6_R0k-S6aV_-VqoEX5J1bODZf54x2ewVMAN7RKfBDTvAPmV5D_670Xpc5EtLxNHgzfeMVbe1eb0TNqXz33QsnY9E/s1600/IMG_20170721_142632+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkhcaZmCjQi4GI5VZa-PcalJweFLDnLR8NkQvW39dQKe9FbGxNugL6_R0k-S6aV_-VqoEX5J1bODZf54x2ewVMAN7RKfBDTvAPmV5D_670Xpc5EtLxNHgzfeMVbe1eb0TNqXz33QsnY9E/s640/IMG_20170721_142632+-+Copy.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lion trampling elephant</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">... or the Naravyala (Lion on a man)... or the elephant trampling a man... </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy3Ed2IdArKVgQ5bhBf6e4VUxAuMyoMuvAu5anUQcftytrHBMVsdmz3JdeEo0G_5Jx0_APi8KqvTVllAAzmFStqDn3htRZtGlt-OUXtNWBylhZwXirkfCYH3_jOCChsRmmYqLvCvMfAzP/s1600/IMG_20170721_143952+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy3Ed2IdArKVgQ5bhBf6e4VUxAuMyoMuvAu5anUQcftytrHBMVsdmz3JdeEo0G_5Jx0_APi8KqvTVllAAzmFStqDn3htRZtGlt-OUXtNWBylhZwXirkfCYH3_jOCChsRmmYqLvCvMfAzP/s640/IMG_20170721_143952+-+Copy.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Elephant trampling a man</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Nagamithunas or the half man half snake beings which are said to live in the ocean depths hoarding great wealth...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaBpJN1T2LqRWjhzurwHiCLe7BVj08_TPT9lOUynP4dS7DKqF1ykC8qZHApzPEGNGD347Qww4mmfYkoFXjFs0hpD-zKvl7I1-akQsiTBu00DSfKgyqxWFi_HdjuCgfcAqKKVwxK2PPV9q/s1600/IMG_20170721_144210+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaBpJN1T2LqRWjhzurwHiCLe7BVj08_TPT9lOUynP4dS7DKqF1ykC8qZHApzPEGNGD347Qww4mmfYkoFXjFs0hpD-zKvl7I1-akQsiTBu00DSfKgyqxWFi_HdjuCgfcAqKKVwxK2PPV9q/s640/IMG_20170721_144210+-+Copy.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even the King is depicted in some panels on seated on elephants meeting important emissaries from afar carrying exotic gifts of jewels and animals (like the giraffe, in this panel)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqPBzWu7YRA8SUSUAGt-lxgC_o0pFZwhkptF8DFsnAt4LVM9IhYcoBN08OKac4xvjqFewOE1rW7eZPjgEnXIQqYnT5LSN1raPj09go5rFRnZJyIAX7ANqc-Ma0i0rVMmw5Y4UnOPfMns0/s1600/IMG_20190210_170221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqPBzWu7YRA8SUSUAGt-lxgC_o0pFZwhkptF8DFsnAt4LVM9IhYcoBN08OKac4xvjqFewOE1rW7eZPjgEnXIQqYnT5LSN1raPj09go5rFRnZJyIAX7ANqc-Ma0i0rVMmw5Y4UnOPfMns0/s640/IMG_20190210_170221.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Envoys carrying fabulous gifts for the King like the Giraffe here</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are everyday scenes like that of a lady doing <i>Shringar (make-up)</i>...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AZmHjyVQdk8QDSqrZatt8vvPZyut0obbcAXtoD9XkVInhEN8vqt9sumrzMdTQcv0CiUoxwftNtXsQeX6TRii4mMxV9w7L3BjAnZRdCfRE88KKK7jppdc5UUQ10QiAMUAAY2TivFBJknW/s1600/IMG_20190210_171910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AZmHjyVQdk8QDSqrZatt8vvPZyut0obbcAXtoD9XkVInhEN8vqt9sumrzMdTQcv0CiUoxwftNtXsQeX6TRii4mMxV9w7L3BjAnZRdCfRE88KKK7jppdc5UUQ10QiAMUAAY2TivFBJknW/s640/IMG_20190210_171910.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lady doing Shringar with her helpers carrying pouches and vanity bags</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Punishments for petty wrongs would be the chopping off of the hair as shown in this panel. The expression on the face of the culprit is visibly sad!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVOBEj2gzk5qpi_ujWs27biBCk9VAppJpOfDGQnHVzxZ3kf-MM_OgOhP05bsQRlYrIAbLmi7y7yb03qZglTtfDQYB0i1vT_qDQDaLkcQZ-xF2Q_AfspOtzGiqtnckSSj2zaboGmZfK5KG/s1600/IMG_20190210_171123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVOBEj2gzk5qpi_ujWs27biBCk9VAppJpOfDGQnHVzxZ3kf-MM_OgOhP05bsQRlYrIAbLmi7y7yb03qZglTtfDQYB0i1vT_qDQDaLkcQZ-xF2Q_AfspOtzGiqtnckSSj2zaboGmZfK5KG/s640/IMG_20190210_171123.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chopping off of hair as punishment</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the Sage Vishwamitra and Menaka..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another of a mother-in-law sharing her experience of life with the daughter-in-law...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-lKe7cu342LPQkb0C5NjPoxW8CAF1o8MR3hmFjStbvUPBC6oUAMwxTjO4XviotnGpdSoD6xtOOUH_iZiwzrKHjfmW6pX2GQ92MCl-Atm5bpX8hvcHUam5reI2vYrJxMLcEX4KKRSr3E8/s1600/IMG_20190210_171837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-lKe7cu342LPQkb0C5NjPoxW8CAF1o8MR3hmFjStbvUPBC6oUAMwxTjO4XviotnGpdSoD6xtOOUH_iZiwzrKHjfmW6pX2GQ92MCl-Atm5bpX8hvcHUam5reI2vYrJxMLcEX4KKRSr3E8/s640/IMG_20190210_171837.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A panel showing the devoted Shravan Kumar..</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfCEPCKY-yre9yL7ZO9ypSMZ8e8NVB_eOIiouW6iSH906gkgFB-UfqSPU5F3LgngS3TjXagJ-gXmJfY5aNzOm_aNiNh_GTwnQxJPpGXx3DMcFj2VoWc2r7uKmquggGFJ5qD4NUR73KVje/s1600/IMG_20190210_173656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="790" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfCEPCKY-yre9yL7ZO9ypSMZ8e8NVB_eOIiouW6iSH906gkgFB-UfqSPU5F3LgngS3TjXagJ-gXmJfY5aNzOm_aNiNh_GTwnQxJPpGXx3DMcFj2VoWc2r7uKmquggGFJ5qD4NUR73KVje/s640/IMG_20190210_173656.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another a playful scene of monkeys stealing butter from the cowherd's lady!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1SCL6bkoBgQOm8AFjezrUj99KfUKgygKtfdN7KqieUhxc_9rPwONP5bjf06EMQY3LSmMV3V7dVzA5fqqzLqpzefTIlzszE9x2EUt_WPe_bjc8ZAdYj2Ay8yLy8z3o6DMjIQrhM2tRX99/s1600/IMG_20190210_173716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="852" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1SCL6bkoBgQOm8AFjezrUj99KfUKgygKtfdN7KqieUhxc_9rPwONP5bjf06EMQY3LSmMV3V7dVzA5fqqzLqpzefTIlzszE9x2EUt_WPe_bjc8ZAdYj2Ay8yLy8z3o6DMjIQrhM2tRX99/s640/IMG_20190210_173716.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The rows of sculpture above this are mostly erotica... and teachings of medicine in some places.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The superstructure made of regular sandstone has entryways which are made out of chlorite and ornately carved. The foundation and inner core of the temple is made out of laterite. In the Vimana, there are three idols of the Sun God in Chlorite facing south, west and north depicting the rising, mid-day and setting sun. These have been re-installed after they were found fallen off the Vihara and so are not in order...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even though this megalith is nowhere near it's best with very large parts of it fallen, it still projects glorious aesthetics and brilliant craftsmanship. The aura of it's past grandeur still lingers in it's intended scale, the beautiful proportions of it's different spaces and definitely in it's peerless carvings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A tribute to the prodigious talent of the artisans of Kalinga, the Konark temple is a masterpiece indeed!</span></div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-87071651537698816412018-07-22T14:21:00.000+05:302018-07-26T15:59:11.252+05:30Heritage Heirlooms - In and around Udaipur, MP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
To read Part 1 <a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2018/07/udayeshwar-neelkantheshwar-temple.html" target="_blank">Heritage Heirlooms - Udayeshwar Neelkantheshwar temple</a><br />
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The more famous Udayeshwar Neelkantheshwar temple is surrounded by much smaller, yet intriguing temples ...<br />
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The Mata Mahamaya Mandir (temple) is situated just behind the main Udayeshwar temple. It has a beautiful entrance arch, a perennial stepped kund and a small mandir.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtmRps8HMtH2dGkzeUO5uoXIigAwld-JhwaqjQB2HDE9lt2k1E0aILUMEpJYMdaiejMWt-yR8CrHJPMpD-JhKQpkmRcB1ZmJDNDovSuZuq93-vDdMi89qphvpkiTVhPlFHUKkiRmmUhN7/s1600/IMG_20171213_132412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtmRps8HMtH2dGkzeUO5uoXIigAwld-JhwaqjQB2HDE9lt2k1E0aILUMEpJYMdaiejMWt-yR8CrHJPMpD-JhKQpkmRcB1ZmJDNDovSuZuq93-vDdMi89qphvpkiTVhPlFHUKkiRmmUhN7/s640/IMG_20171213_132412.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In India, every place of worship, big or small seems to have fascinating folklore attached to them. This place is no less... It is said that this is called the Mahamaya (Maha is great and Maya means A supernatural power of the Gods) Mandir since the Devi here shows a remarkable change in form. During the Navdurgas of Chaitra (about April) and Ashvin (about October or November) months of the Hindu calendar, the deity (Idol) has the appearance of a girl child in the morning, a youthful young woman in the afternoon and an old woman by evening! I believe one can see this happen first hand, if one visits during the Navdurgas.... Great motivation to plan a visit here then I think!.<br />
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There are nine avatars of the Goddess in the Mandir behind the main idol.<br />
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This is representative of the whole family of the Goddess... Lord Shiva in the centre with Nandi, his Vahan (vehicle)... the Devi herself in the form of Parvati with the two sons Ganapati and Kartikeya.<br />
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In the village just a few hundred metres from the Mata Mahamaya Mandir is the Pisanhari Mandir. It is said that an old childless woman who used to earn a living by milling flour (and therefore the name 'Pisanhari') had commissioned this temple from the money she saved. A small but charming temple ...<br />
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What I found interesting here is the way the doors were made of rough hewed stone with a built-in hinge so they could be opened/closed... and work well to this day... See the hinge below!<br />
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There is a small mosque too near the Pisanhari temple... Moti Masjid.<br />
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Has a nice six-fish-with-one-eye motif in the ceiling.<br />
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About 4 Kms from Udaipur is the hamlet of Muradpur. The old Hanuman temple here attracts a lot of pilgrims and is in a quiet setting amidst fields veiled from the temple by a screen of evergreen trees... The bells here particularly attracted me...<br />
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Behind the acclaimed Hanuman Mandir is one of the very few Varaha temples still standing. Though it is not worshiped at anymore after facing desecration in centuries past, people still come here to see this beautiful piece of art.. It's said that anyone who can slide under the Varaha would be washed of all their sins ... that's folklore and anybody's guess how true it could be. But a fun thing to try :-)<br />
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These are a few of the outlying places of interest around Udaipur. There are still more which we didn't find the time to visit.... only reaffirming the rich cultural identity of our ancient culture...!<br />
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-67609620424940602552018-07-19T21:37:00.003+05:302018-07-26T15:59:33.381+05:30Heritage Heirlooms - Udayeshwar Neelkantheshwar temple <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Udaipur is best known as the city of lakes in the Mewar region of Rajasthan. But there is another almost unknown Udaipur which is a village about 15 Kms from Ganj Basoda in Madhya Pradesh. This obscure place boasts of a very beautiful temple and many smaller ones in and around.<br />
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On hearing about this place in glowing terms, we decided to pay a visit.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The Legend</h3>
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The story goes that Raja Udayadit of the Parmar dynasty (made famous by Raja Bhoj who established the city of Bhojpal = Bhopal) built this temple in the 11th century AD. It is said that this temple was built only on a single day of every (roughly) month .. that is, in the Pushya Nakshtra. So the carvings and other materials were gotten ready for the 26 other days and then the actual building of the temple took place only for the time the Pushya Nakshtra was ruling in the 24-hour period on the 27th day. </div>
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This Shiva temple is east facing and the Sun's first ray of light falls on the deity twice a year around the equinoxes. The exquisite carvings are well preserved and are now under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India.<br />
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The regular offerings to Lord Shiva being sold outside the mandir.<br />
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The deity inside the temple... the God Udayeshwar Neelkantheshwar<br />
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Intricately carved exteriors...<br />
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The different dancing postures in the relief below are beautifully rendered.<br />
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One of the very interesting carvings and possibly a unique one in this temple is that of the God Ganapati in the female form seen on the right side of the picture below. On the left are his two wives Riddhi and Siddhi.<br />
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Another beautiful sculpture...<br />
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The Nataraj form of the Lord Shiva below.. with a Nagkanya in attendance with Kamadev.<br />
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The carving up front with the head desecrated is that of the Chamunda Mata complete with the scorpion on the belly and the gruesome garland of heads...<br />
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The carvings are superlative and deserve a lot of time to really appreciate them!<br />
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On the right is the Godess Saraswati ....<br />
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The Sun God.<br />
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Daksha... with a sheep's head in his hand.<br />
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Dharamaraj with the dog.<br />
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The one below is the Ardhanaareshwar.... Embodying the male and female forms in one body... signifying that each one of us has a bit of the masculine and the feminine within us!<br />
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There are many carvings of gods and goddesses and also of dancers and common village folk. One poignant one is of a mother with her child on her back... Another of a lady with an umbrella, the fluid lines of the carving very appealing!<br />
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One more<span style="font-family: inherit;"> beautiful depiction is that of a lady removing a thorn from her foot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 'Shikhara' is made up of miniature shrines of this temple all the way up culminating in the <span style="color: #545454;"><span style="background-color: white;">horizontal fluted disc called the Amalaka ending with the 'Kalash'.</span></span></span></div>
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A totally fascinating story here is the one explaining a human figure in stone hanging near the top of the shikhara... The story goes that after the temple was completed, the last thing left to do was to place the 'Kalash' on the top. A craftsman goes up and places the 'Kalash' but tarries too long admiring his handiwork. The sun rises and he is turned to stone, left to hang there for eternity!<br />
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There are even plans found etched in stone in the courtyard which are said to be the rudimentary drawings that were made prior to building this temple. Kind of like the blueprints of today! The one below is that of a pillar...<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Tughlaq Mosque</h3>
In the 14th century, a small mosque was built alongside the temple... some locals say that the dharamshala of the temple was converted into the mosque.... but there are some inscriptions in urdu telling the tale of mughal occupation and subsequent defacement of parts of the temple...<br />
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This place is a gem, not to be missed! There are many smaller temples in and around the village .... each one with it's own alluring charm and a place in history. I'll try to cover them at least pictorially in the next installment.<br />
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To read the next installment at Part 2 <a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/2018/07/heritage-heirlooms-in-and-around.html" target="_blank">Heritage Heirlooms - In and around Udaipur</a></div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-87940364334097453852017-03-13T15:47:00.006+05:302018-08-30T16:59:23.894+05:30Birding in Nagaland - Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/03/birding-in-nagaland.html" target="_blank">Birding in Nagaland - Part 1</a><br />
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Well fed, we start walking up the gully for the next phase of birding... Lots and lots of birdsong all around but the tragedy is the visibility :-( Whatever watery sunlight had appeared for a scant few minutes is gone replaced with more fog and a light drizzle now and again. The fog banks rise from the valley and drift up towards us blanketing everything on its way... And yet, we manage a few sightings keeping us hopeful of the weather clearing!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8DwGjkgUz0ucurAKoiWlN2n3vbZgClxHO7c5KtzHuJrkMxnbn2GE1Mf1PUn8E7a8R0FzBBDKkg9HC1uTMc-ld5ahB2qZBDlFTkw_9KVm1TITpYyzmXHkfppkAZNNLB_yeHY1MK3Y10uL/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8DwGjkgUz0ucurAKoiWlN2n3vbZgClxHO7c5KtzHuJrkMxnbn2GE1Mf1PUn8E7a8R0FzBBDKkg9HC1uTMc-ld5ahB2qZBDlFTkw_9KVm1TITpYyzmXHkfppkAZNNLB_yeHY1MK3Y10uL/s640/IMG_0746.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White-capped water Redstart</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS8Cmfsfl-l0roZgYT0PWIrNg5qCyrMgF-4h3r0QrelRsHZ6hQmg-GwSZKbKAcmVnjpsvz4whUimRL7YPGy132WKYzAMtReEFt68PKQgQrSeRC5XL53bUH3yqoUPk9GaTmOQM7cYsaxI8/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS8Cmfsfl-l0roZgYT0PWIrNg5qCyrMgF-4h3r0QrelRsHZ6hQmg-GwSZKbKAcmVnjpsvz4whUimRL7YPGy132WKYzAMtReEFt68PKQgQrSeRC5XL53bUH3yqoUPk9GaTmOQM7cYsaxI8/s640/IMG_0375.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blue fronted Robin (f)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4gcWzT1wsVWcfpPeuSPX9FEOdhVOqrxcB7sOScz1nENJCjaMWOyfOsK7f9uXRAaSumAsn0DKdsjm03k4qateyfVpaBAkfPsxXCn1KI_1Juku3Q37t4o1riR1mqwvbfb-vmWR_f99sVub/s1600/IMG_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4gcWzT1wsVWcfpPeuSPX9FEOdhVOqrxcB7sOScz1nENJCjaMWOyfOsK7f9uXRAaSumAsn0DKdsjm03k4qateyfVpaBAkfPsxXCn1KI_1Juku3Q37t4o1riR1mqwvbfb-vmWR_f99sVub/s640/IMG_0381.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Little Bunting</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPEX_894cAxUoEbRiAYaMgSRmeE3gkWN2NOF2Mx7SJ0iDyuGst8K2uUE-UA7VYMqH7SUvVQIaFSuBlcpoJQOagKaz_-DeIm6X4WOQ3ZVbN0SgY4EKHRLfTCWfrWml9OEQOMH0RBDFx1qi/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPEX_894cAxUoEbRiAYaMgSRmeE3gkWN2NOF2Mx7SJ0iDyuGst8K2uUE-UA7VYMqH7SUvVQIaFSuBlcpoJQOagKaz_-DeIm6X4WOQ3ZVbN0SgY4EKHRLfTCWfrWml9OEQOMH0RBDFx1qi/s640/IMG_0392.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crested Finchbill</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDy7eC_bmuhfc2InTVMfuUIEnJtxEZIPPwSegUbtikHaNDxEaR5Vz1urnu-MPiNJn_a32EefQgqU0-fzckutkUXNWpYTKfNfmEPCrPzApOZvfBmLX8z3amfrdJAtc-bbQhsJ5XBXFldRcB/s1600/IMG_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDy7eC_bmuhfc2InTVMfuUIEnJtxEZIPPwSegUbtikHaNDxEaR5Vz1urnu-MPiNJn_a32EefQgqU0-fzckutkUXNWpYTKfNfmEPCrPzApOZvfBmLX8z3amfrdJAtc-bbQhsJ5XBXFldRcB/s640/IMG_0423.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rusty-fronted Barwing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD55_CiCSstpMf5roBi0SVe5Fa2GUd55aelXY4zzAd_PUhbik_wtQv46-FqKmLib4HJlnME_QcyRVeD4ULOhyxkdWnFFzSoNtVzMVf5KtXjxXuGyIjv-wEHPD2G-GjRZYJYzANsxhvW2V/s1600/IMG_0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD55_CiCSstpMf5roBi0SVe5Fa2GUd55aelXY4zzAd_PUhbik_wtQv46-FqKmLib4HJlnME_QcyRVeD4ULOhyxkdWnFFzSoNtVzMVf5KtXjxXuGyIjv-wEHPD2G-GjRZYJYzANsxhvW2V/s640/IMG_0438.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fire tailed Sunbird in Non-breeding plumage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zU4286F2cQxWl8AUogwUalG7amdcVhQbAsXY7WiBDPfvlki0NixyX50rJWJSDVoC0lIWbIvJuAuy5aYPp-UVU4ZmYPNII1uykE_LNxGNBLZ4zTagISeO269MHtmKu6DrrBP_w47NeZe1/s1600/IMG_0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zU4286F2cQxWl8AUogwUalG7amdcVhQbAsXY7WiBDPfvlki0NixyX50rJWJSDVoC0lIWbIvJuAuy5aYPp-UVU4ZmYPNII1uykE_LNxGNBLZ4zTagISeO269MHtmKu6DrrBP_w47NeZe1/s640/IMG_0475.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Naga Wren-babbler</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m1cJt6tuo46BQGBAWbOv3NcNm2fu3t3DyetkfCFztz0BNQSvEBVeYy5vrA7iRfr4jczRX8TiA_5ZojCTAIHtIepRMfGEmFluLg7vxvpLrdUusoQejA9Dv2yQnj1ebVkq2VfNsozK8vTn/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m1cJt6tuo46BQGBAWbOv3NcNm2fu3t3DyetkfCFztz0BNQSvEBVeYy5vrA7iRfr4jczRX8TiA_5ZojCTAIHtIepRMfGEmFluLg7vxvpLrdUusoQejA9Dv2yQnj1ebVkq2VfNsozK8vTn/s640/IMG_0498.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Orange-bellied Leafbird</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Notwithstanding the dull and listless weather, we did get many lifers and whetted our appetites for a dedicated birding trip here soon.<br />
<br />
In addition to the many birds, we also saw the Yellow throated Marten. It came upon us suddenly and vanished just as quickly but not before we had framed it for posterity...!!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIObpwaKxcor47bOW1Mra2RPo24CRnr61blA8MTzOwp9SsRM1ztQ5AO1mO0hWRj7Hvnkz-njec_nSH2TJkBHpWn1LdPD1aJx7F_WtBvO7PErt0EQEoU_2PUiPKnarhO2Jo2tsaSEbwg2FH/s1600/IMG_0430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIObpwaKxcor47bOW1Mra2RPo24CRnr61blA8MTzOwp9SsRM1ztQ5AO1mO0hWRj7Hvnkz-njec_nSH2TJkBHpWn1LdPD1aJx7F_WtBvO7PErt0EQEoU_2PUiPKnarhO2Jo2tsaSEbwg2FH/s640/IMG_0430.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yellow throated Marten</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As a bonus, we saw a few birds on our way back. The entire journey was made more fascinating with the roads lined intermittently with blossoming cherry trees and views of the beautiful village of Khonoma nestled in the mountains of the Japfu range.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeJFU581ep40xlEg9nZWAFC526f8w9xdzhH8w36AT2ad21lTD-05XSstbeVe8Ez7OE1qUZsR5fgjkGRQm-4JKnTqABcyI_DtX2UYUsiP7ZqTTiJaD4UZQSl1Oyy6E4OjIbs1bIeuUMLpt/s1600/IMG_0558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeJFU581ep40xlEg9nZWAFC526f8w9xdzhH8w36AT2ad21lTD-05XSstbeVe8Ez7OE1qUZsR5fgjkGRQm-4JKnTqABcyI_DtX2UYUsiP7ZqTTiJaD4UZQSl1Oyy6E4OjIbs1bIeuUMLpt/s640/IMG_0558.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A pretty moss-stained boulder on our way down</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ahwRAqi67Dh7Jop_8cPgfp5RdVQCGqx55cwmUUZt0ALp4s6MsV9CDbEkx98JAhQyMQPXQ3lw5RYZHuvFqsZ5BGY92pFnbRFvZco_8u_8kPVi8bYsjm_RlR0gmTh009Efe3bPEwPcViMC/s1600/IMG_0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ahwRAqi67Dh7Jop_8cPgfp5RdVQCGqx55cwmUUZt0ALp4s6MsV9CDbEkx98JAhQyMQPXQ3lw5RYZHuvFqsZ5BGY92pFnbRFvZco_8u_8kPVi8bYsjm_RlR0gmTh009Efe3bPEwPcViMC/s640/IMG_0465.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Streaked Bulbul</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dgFSAElqV60RyMaXOhBa9wcPlEBpoMExMUmXbMrmfoT2hMLZefq0coI2dy5fFY8g8B6xIifRUqbT0C7sjl9xZkC7zlTu0NKVpOzHsuyKZdJaEBo9VmWqFewb1xmf6AMZ4mGvRNS2yHcs/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dgFSAElqV60RyMaXOhBa9wcPlEBpoMExMUmXbMrmfoT2hMLZefq0coI2dy5fFY8g8B6xIifRUqbT0C7sjl9xZkC7zlTu0NKVpOzHsuyKZdJaEBo9VmWqFewb1xmf6AMZ4mGvRNS2yHcs/s640/IMG_0642.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cherry blossoms</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vbbzEi5_smnYPd5ugdLLOTNi1jPXj-jHBpMGgsxaJWdQaVlMvoSoZFNMaj4WszcP6IF9NF1lBbipZ1ED3rNmDae9tllLytsLvG5df8bYoLHs20BoaE1J_xRJ6w16Q6mH-E4w43kKdjNU/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vbbzEi5_smnYPd5ugdLLOTNi1jPXj-jHBpMGgsxaJWdQaVlMvoSoZFNMaj4WszcP6IF9NF1lBbipZ1ED3rNmDae9tllLytsLvG5df8bYoLHs20BoaE1J_xRJ6w16Q6mH-E4w43kKdjNU/s640/IMG_0525.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Khonoma from a distance</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUpG3XXj7LaX7oPrA0di4pI2IHW1wd0Vg66SODIRc8TXLTX4le21jWs3rjVW8IHYcCaVk-1hqn_L2f73OhpRTNEkJxVI9vucAlvRQUl0kKN0BWQiU5oLsVeMWJgcb9bJfPqLnCOhjMtCk/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUpG3XXj7LaX7oPrA0di4pI2IHW1wd0Vg66SODIRc8TXLTX4le21jWs3rjVW8IHYcCaVk-1hqn_L2f73OhpRTNEkJxVI9vucAlvRQUl0kKN0BWQiU5oLsVeMWJgcb9bJfPqLnCOhjMtCk/s640/IMG_0638.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Brown 2-storied structure is the Dovipie Inn in Khonoma</span></td></tr>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-15231438511157841172017-03-10T15:34:00.001+05:302017-03-10T20:30:43.906+05:30Heritage Heirlooms - The Caves at Lamgaon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
INDEX</h3>
<div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-buddhist-caves-at.html" target="_blank">The Buddhist caves at Rivona</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-petroglyphs-of.html" target="_blank">The Petroglyphs of Usgalimal</a></h3>
<h3>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">
</div>
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-caves-at-arvalem.html" target="_blank">The Caves at Arvalem</a></h3>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-jain-temple-at-kudne.html" target="_blank">The Jain Temple at Kudne</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The Caves at Lamgaon</h3>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are two caves fairly close to each other near Lamgaon. The access to these used to be circuitous and long but in the recent past, it's a short walk from the village on a well marked though unpaved path. Just as one starts out towards the caves, and on what was the outskirts of the village then probably is a village deity guarding the perimeters of the village. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLW-e3qiWrLeyc722ThDpBNAKB3Up15RZLJWtrGRd0Jf556VwHGPxmHfzUkMB8b8NKY0eZmSrglT8PWY6sBUkGOkC30euFhSxLtYXDB7oEV7_qme45VJnw9H3pu88UakZB0OxB5xqB9HE/s1600/IMG_20170217_120050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLW-e3qiWrLeyc722ThDpBNAKB3Up15RZLJWtrGRd0Jf556VwHGPxmHfzUkMB8b8NKY0eZmSrglT8PWY6sBUkGOkC30euFhSxLtYXDB7oEV7_qme45VJnw9H3pu88UakZB0OxB5xqB9HE/s640/IMG_20170217_120050.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Possibly village deities... right at the edge of the village.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg255QYOF5u9ltBtr_-VKfBKEtA7rCiJM_Movl_HXpAH6D4jos6zokezUVjn3XgQTp2iIZV2BPwhUrFxS8IoaAmJ3_y0nHzDhchwlp7Dl81AdPGIHGqkWanoDPK1i1rwfIqTmPZ6BD2OBj_/s1600/IMG_20170217_121253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg255QYOF5u9ltBtr_-VKfBKEtA7rCiJM_Movl_HXpAH6D4jos6zokezUVjn3XgQTp2iIZV2BPwhUrFxS8IoaAmJ3_y0nHzDhchwlp7Dl81AdPGIHGqkWanoDPK1i1rwfIqTmPZ6BD2OBj_/s640/IMG_20170217_121253.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The picturesque path leading to the caves...</span></td></tr>
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These caves at Lamgaon have a Buddhist origin. The very name Lamgaon means the abode of the Lamas (Buddhist monks). The smaller of these has a nice courtyard with a Tulsi-vrindavan and a Nandi installed in it. The outer chamber has two columns on the outer facade and a smaller chamber inside, demarcated by two more columns in between. The inner chamber is the sanctum with a Shiv-ling installed in at a later date. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGe52sHD2kjxaa6nm4eL9203F99h3Iyw2nnsdYq_Kf-mL3OQUESmDxHspkSl7_aX6QK0wL5gqcDaHq8QKTKglhwomwYsuIXYCLuOSd8SZGe28Sjd-2IWEHDGoEe47kATI7wBMKY6BDvEoA/s1600/IMG_20170217_124019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGe52sHD2kjxaa6nm4eL9203F99h3Iyw2nnsdYq_Kf-mL3OQUESmDxHspkSl7_aX6QK0wL5gqcDaHq8QKTKglhwomwYsuIXYCLuOSd8SZGe28Sjd-2IWEHDGoEe47kATI7wBMKY6BDvEoA/s640/IMG_20170217_124019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The smaller cave with the Shiv-ling in the inner chamber</span></td></tr>
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The larger cave hollowed out of lateritic rock is quite big with a large assembly hall and a smaller inner chamber. This cave too has remnants of three columns and one column intact. The columns have a clear-cut stone beam-like structure connecting them on top but the floor is in very bad condition. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw2AnNcBJ5fziT98v5ZuLOJvtJm9HlAoqbvQdCi9lmiKQnTpKytV55aH6F_6awdcB39vtIk3h5Bo8_QMoLyrdBd2NTyvTWwab-4gJ-v5okvcyfsqR04A9Z5u7y9D-bwfRDxnOopbK59NX/s1600/IMG-20170217-WA0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw2AnNcBJ5fziT98v5ZuLOJvtJm9HlAoqbvQdCi9lmiKQnTpKytV55aH6F_6awdcB39vtIk3h5Bo8_QMoLyrdBd2NTyvTWwab-4gJ-v5okvcyfsqR04A9Z5u7y9D-bwfRDxnOopbK59NX/s640/IMG-20170217-WA0039.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The larger cave at Lamgaon</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is said that the smaller and the larger caves were connected by a tunnel the mouth of which is visible though I am not sure if anyone has tried access to it. </div>
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A very large stone outside the entrance can be easily overlooked but on careful inspection seems to have the typical cornices and adornments associated with the Buddhist Chaitya Arches. It seems likely that at some time long back, this must have been the top portion of the cave entrance which has since fallen in due to the vagaries of nature...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhscnYmLnx6BmFU_wdhAXVVwlhGFRyKiCiDobynB-iKBxGmxdBcvtHeSzx2GYPzC1883JE1wDeQeLErUVLi1kY-9AKEB1Gzgf8YqIq2-OZOo9UgZFo8b6n3ZOMYaDUKCb1iWwh7GR2cz1/s1600/IMG-20170217-WA0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhscnYmLnx6BmFU_wdhAXVVwlhGFRyKiCiDobynB-iKBxGmxdBcvtHeSzx2GYPzC1883JE1wDeQeLErUVLi1kY-9AKEB1Gzgf8YqIq2-OZOo9UgZFo8b6n3ZOMYaDUKCb1iWwh7GR2cz1/s640/IMG-20170217-WA0094.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The possible Chaitya Arch now fallen over</span></td></tr>
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These lesser known sites are a joy to behold if one makes the effort to reach them. A must visit for all history and archaeology aficionados. If my narrative enthuses even a few to visit, it would all have been worthwhile....</div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-8838966936446710782017-03-10T08:49:00.001+05:302017-03-13T15:50:37.304+05:30Birding in Nagaland - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Khonoma - has a quaint ring to it and conjures up images of tall, dense evergreen forests ornamented with exotic birdsong... The reality didn't disappoint either. We stayed at the Dovipie Inn. A comfortable and very clean place with great food. </div>
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As tied up earlier, Angulie Meyase, our guide for birding there met us at the hotel lobby at 5 am sharp. The excitement of birding for the first time in this exotic location had us all bundled up and rearing to go mindless of the freezing temperatures....<br />
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We set out on a foggy overcast morning with the sunrise still some time away. Maneuvering through the confined lanes of Khonoma with the headlights on is nothing short of scary! We zip past with centimeters to spare...<br />
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Once we are out of the village and driven some distance towards the Tragopan sanctuary, we slow down. And as if on cue, short of the next bend, Angulie tells the driver to stop. We watch with bated breath... There is this enormous Mithun standing on the road and five mountain bamboo partridges on the grassy edge! The light is terrible seeing that the sun is not yet out, but an attempt is made to record this lifer. Soon, they scamper away into the undergrowth and we move forward.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFikU62zgR5HNgm0Ot-UrG0SdKFAOs45INBk94FdEYGej0cow2PbJQwrKcAHhdnscYzct0MMTsLsR56_IRbU9YCpB6wmWe_c0-Arwg-VLINmS3gli6tOaJYHyETu4zt5w4ijCarq3hb1lu/s1600/IMG_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFikU62zgR5HNgm0Ot-UrG0SdKFAOs45INBk94FdEYGej0cow2PbJQwrKcAHhdnscYzct0MMTsLsR56_IRbU9YCpB6wmWe_c0-Arwg-VLINmS3gli6tOaJYHyETu4zt5w4ijCarq3hb1lu/s640/IMG_0315.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mithun</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1urq-jypV5hZRnwDtOhYW6NQ49lrUXdTSDQu7feyC9orpKVtzd24c_GNY3UkmnaBUBlgydRoqQtiTJmM7vC5p740ogXMfwsGpPMPgIBJ464E-zonh_IMso2IzjkrwPz50Eh65TPJUs9T/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1urq-jypV5hZRnwDtOhYW6NQ49lrUXdTSDQu7feyC9orpKVtzd24c_GNY3UkmnaBUBlgydRoqQtiTJmM7vC5p740ogXMfwsGpPMPgIBJ464E-zonh_IMso2IzjkrwPz50Eh65TPJUs9T/s640/IMG_0312.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mithun calf</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe0RlWR3lmzyIo5PilXf1NB5FcJ6FveVurjcSYuQUgsWhZtovydLB0vJ6oWera3k-QHLy9IJglY27r26DbhJTNjjJ7cim4d26s_oCmCXPKagLtyWsqpcEqYDppdR59_elNh7OI_7eeXoJ/s1600/IMG_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe0RlWR3lmzyIo5PilXf1NB5FcJ6FveVurjcSYuQUgsWhZtovydLB0vJ6oWera3k-QHLy9IJglY27r26DbhJTNjjJ7cim4d26s_oCmCXPKagLtyWsqpcEqYDppdR59_elNh7OI_7eeXoJ/s640/IMG_0560.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mountain Bamboo Partridge</span></td></tr>
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Past dense overhanging forest the road emerges into the open on a higher elevation. Henceforth, we stop at regular intervals and tick off many lifers, some seen well and some fleeting glimpses...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhA8FDrWBudVgXfstASiZG-NC80TqHqriFzfkh6plLgL3m6TvYQotfmgFvfS4KxidnjVPrm_TAz8epYKw8ZaK5-NnZckqP3kO03yWSgIcILfMUrLr1uggxpZEbllUP2c8hwMbvtKGLkfn7/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhA8FDrWBudVgXfstASiZG-NC80TqHqriFzfkh6plLgL3m6TvYQotfmgFvfS4KxidnjVPrm_TAz8epYKw8ZaK5-NnZckqP3kO03yWSgIcILfMUrLr1uggxpZEbllUP2c8hwMbvtKGLkfn7/s640/IMG_0340.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grey Sibia</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPhQ3f5IR7YaLC4lU4_tdJq-w4Q2z0MpayY9ppYtejEJhtUnRU9RvGPx6fed7U1FHevo-tbiejhAys6TfWI0EuF4mNl2SZW6WVaIWRBW3aMdiGUFXH9dQOM7EXT9sEGy9YBC5B6p2UdZ4/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPhQ3f5IR7YaLC4lU4_tdJq-w4Q2z0MpayY9ppYtejEJhtUnRU9RvGPx6fed7U1FHevo-tbiejhAys6TfWI0EuF4mNl2SZW6WVaIWRBW3aMdiGUFXH9dQOM7EXT9sEGy9YBC5B6p2UdZ4/s640/IMG_0403.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grey Sibia</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIH0SE4_6yV0iUKCH_bEirgPpBaxJz_d3RGSvGepCffDVcNKT9zi_bQnn49fNIGx5y_GaOFPobun1-8U8560AXN2W6RCMEik7N92mhhjxSwCO28-Y6dN5eqcED9vqbgh5GFbU0_7FQR_e5/s1600/IMG_0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIH0SE4_6yV0iUKCH_bEirgPpBaxJz_d3RGSvGepCffDVcNKT9zi_bQnn49fNIGx5y_GaOFPobun1-8U8560AXN2W6RCMEik7N92mhhjxSwCO28-Y6dN5eqcED9vqbgh5GFbU0_7FQR_e5/s640/IMG_0356.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ashy throated Warbler</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEJZJ0pThrbs4KgY8ANFh8DxrRvZrMM-XON885Eu7qOo3ZqboUdw1P8Nv7L_tVKEDEiX2VH67xi8EIdMEoIqVehkKQ6Tje0mAUAWVDYUufPo_xcoGN1iLp__N7emWSstpe9ZwmdxfrSe_/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEJZJ0pThrbs4KgY8ANFh8DxrRvZrMM-XON885Eu7qOo3ZqboUdw1P8Nv7L_tVKEDEiX2VH67xi8EIdMEoIqVehkKQ6Tje0mAUAWVDYUufPo_xcoGN1iLp__N7emWSstpe9ZwmdxfrSe_/s640/IMG_0365.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White capped water Redstart</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We next halted at the parking lot where we had a sumptuous breakfast of puri bhaji packed by the hotel. Well fed, the birding started again....<br />
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Part 2 is in the next post.<br />
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-69275840464153668762017-03-01T11:31:00.001+05:302017-03-10T15:38:29.512+05:30Heritage Heirlooms - The Jain Temple at Kudne<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
INDEX</h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-buddhist-caves-at.html" target="_blank">The Buddhist caves at Rivona</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-petroglyphs-of.html" target="_blank">The Petroglyphs of Usgalimal</a></h3>
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<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-caves-at-arvalem.html" target="_blank">The Caves at Arvalem</a></h3>
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The Jain Temple at Kudne</h3>
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<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/03/heritage-heirlooms-caves-at-lamgaon.html" target="_blank">The Caves at Lamgaon</a></h3>
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The golden age in Goa's history is undoubtedly in the reign of the Kadamba Dynasty. They ruled Goa from the 11th to the 14th century AD and had very good trade ties with Gujarat. In this time, many gujarati traders came and settled here with their families bringing with them their religion, culture and traditions. The tolerant Hindu Kadamba Kings paved the way for the integration and propagation of the Jain communtiy in and around Ponda and Bicholim. </div>
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It was during the rule of the Vijayanagar dynasty that grants were given to establish Jain bastis including their temples and shrines. Jain relics have been found in Bandoda, Ponda and in Kudne, Bicholim Taluka. This Jain temple is located near an area called the Gujir Vaado in Kudne. The name itself suggests the place was the Gujarati settlement area once upon a time.</div>
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It was in the year 1684 that the Mughal armies under Aurangzeb burnt down and plundered Bicholim leaving it in ruins.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAnki_eZTDx9JXFGPLwKpHO7GJAhI3MdPddQ6JnvNYjme-s1-IDXYzxQGwpatuyVvsOuoQntfIbc7El2C9UC4ZaPjCD6Toeu2-9PUpoQJrCelp4cqIXOnttHGdPM-WEuJalaB4A-coJuP/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAnki_eZTDx9JXFGPLwKpHO7GJAhI3MdPddQ6JnvNYjme-s1-IDXYzxQGwpatuyVvsOuoQntfIbc7El2C9UC4ZaPjCD6Toeu2-9PUpoQJrCelp4cqIXOnttHGdPM-WEuJalaB4A-coJuP/s640/1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jain Temple at Kudne</span></td></tr>
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The Jain Temple at Kudne was once a beautiful little temple dedicated to Adinatha and belongs to the medieval period. The monument is thoroughly neglected today though it must have stood elegant in this charming and quaint village of Kudne. Said to have been built through grants in the early Vijayanagar era, it is an important monument from the time of the period giving us an insight into the prevalent building practices then. </div>
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It is a proud structure built in the typical North Indian Shikhara style. The lateritic blocks uncovered point to the existence of arches in the Mukha Mandapa of the temple. The Octagonal Shikhara over the Garbha Griha is five tiered including the semi-spherical lower part with a small rectangular entrance to the sanctum.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIDUrItHirW5mTZzo0lahy3KBFqQzU5-c1PHYwzyIlVoxInDEeZlzmaKBAjb1goszmOs0Yv-e7SOgJnAdBp8cdz0J0b32bQmrTxbRqIj4Dg4D7sOhL6GZbxEz83oYC6w29Cs-TNBteMvx/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIDUrItHirW5mTZzo0lahy3KBFqQzU5-c1PHYwzyIlVoxInDEeZlzmaKBAjb1goszmOs0Yv-e7SOgJnAdBp8cdz0J0b32bQmrTxbRqIj4Dg4D7sOhL6GZbxEz83oYC6w29Cs-TNBteMvx/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The five tiered Shikhara</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A broken stone head of a Tirthankara (Jain religious leader)
with beautifully sculpted curls was also found near the garbhagriha. A
stone torso of a Jain Tirthankara with a srivasta symbol was also
unearthed. The sculptural structure of the idols indicates that the temple
belongs to the Kadamba period. This is the only medieval temple of Goa
which has a nagara (Indo-Aryan) architectural feature.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk4T7rZX2II_dYrGogUt4plgs-4EfdrrJX3xuKKZMZbE07JmfmSNFhgNT26Hd1UzPispR4YNGABNqi-_lUqlOaKKuLtJ2Tyj-hUcnxMHfeq0phILy-mw7Sy1oBsunpqfHz-EE3oxqYMxN/s1600/Kudnem_002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk4T7rZX2II_dYrGogUt4plgs-4EfdrrJX3xuKKZMZbE07JmfmSNFhgNT26Hd1UzPispR4YNGABNqi-_lUqlOaKKuLtJ2Tyj-hUcnxMHfeq0phILy-mw7Sy1oBsunpqfHz-EE3oxqYMxN/s640/Kudnem_002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Likeness of the Idol of the Tirthankara</span></td></tr>
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This temple also has a marked semblance with the Saptakoteshwar temple at Narve and the Chandranath at Paroda.</div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com2Jain Temple, Cudnem, Goa, India15.54507400578918 74.00760769844055215.54411800578918 74.006347198440551 15.546030005789181 74.008868198440553tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-78560023005437732272017-02-28T08:54:00.003+05:302017-03-10T15:46:24.476+05:30Heritage Heirlooms - The Caves at Arvalem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
INDEX</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-buddhist-caves-at.html" target="_blank">The Buddhist caves at Rivona</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-petroglyphs-of.html" target="_blank">The Petroglyphs of Usgalimal</a></h3>
<div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The Caves at Arvalem</h3>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-jain-temple-at-kudne.html" target="_blank">The Jain Temple at Kudne</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/03/heritage-heirlooms-caves-at-lamgaon.html" target="_blank">The Caves at Lamgaon</a></h3>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Goa is an ancient land. In the recent past, it has always been showcased as a Portuguese cultural centre, but its rich history predates the Portuguese by many millennia. The heritage structures in Goa include some really ancient laterite rock-cut caves. Fascinating as these are, they are from Buddhist, Jain and sometimes Brahmanical origin. The scholars are still ambivalent on some of them. One such place is the Arvalem caves in Bicholim Taluka.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30MeHRn9hB4TDguIRKbjnt5tiJUTpENI36scaZ5Whva3jVOeHBoXD5D-LVqKJeFNhE5mwsxnHVXdiCCla2yaTX6ZH8C8f0UbLZnfvHfqC26hX-EpOCOHQimMiz9FROPdSc5KxmM90eUBT/s1600/IMG_20170217_105659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30MeHRn9hB4TDguIRKbjnt5tiJUTpENI36scaZ5Whva3jVOeHBoXD5D-LVqKJeFNhE5mwsxnHVXdiCCla2yaTX6ZH8C8f0UbLZnfvHfqC26hX-EpOCOHQimMiz9FROPdSc5KxmM90eUBT/s640/IMG_20170217_105659.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Archaeological Survey of India plaque outside the caves </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLA7w7qL_fIQfo1__bol6KDXaEkCCkZaRSHRfZ_lsCwfHtMz6GclMOoBRQsdfnex-OZdCQSNtekQakGLzUaRm2mCsGhQmMI2pgXFpOPunUrei6g7UUxsC17mXMq7dluYWBBfcY6OUmmCp2/s1600/Aravelam-Caves-Bicholim-Goa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLA7w7qL_fIQfo1__bol6KDXaEkCCkZaRSHRfZ_lsCwfHtMz6GclMOoBRQsdfnex-OZdCQSNtekQakGLzUaRm2mCsGhQmMI2pgXFpOPunUrei6g7UUxsC17mXMq7dluYWBBfcY6OUmmCp2/s640/Aravelam-Caves-Bicholim-Goa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arvalem Caves</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">These caves are believed to have been carved out in the 6th century AD. Located near Sanquelim, overlooking a river, the caves have a courtyard in
front which has a flight of steps which probably went down to the river (Now
the area has been filled up by soil because of the road that is passing in
front of the cave). There are altogether five inner chambers having two outer
chambers and one separate chamber which seems to be a residential chamber. The
outer chambers have a colonnade. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Seeing the construction of these caves with the sanctuary at the southern end and the vihara at the northern end, many experts are of the opinion that these are Buddhist caves. In later times though, they seem to have been taken over by Hindus and Shiv-lings have been established which is attributed to the Bhoja period. This would be somewhere around the 8th century AD according to the dating done on the Shiv-lings.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sources: </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">1. Cave Architecture in Goa-A project report submitted to the Goa University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Bachelor of Architecture by<b> Varun Desai</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">2. Research in history books and websites</span></div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0Rudreshwar Colony, Sanquelim, Goa 403505, India15.5524421 74.02342539999995115.5514861 74.02216489999995 15.5533981 74.024685899999952tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-38843616218744620692017-02-26T23:25:00.002+05:302017-03-16T15:35:24.976+05:30Heritage Heirlooms - The Petroglyphs of Usgalimal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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INDEX</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-buddhist-caves-at.html" target="_blank">The Buddhist caves at Rivona</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The Petroglyphs of Usgalimal</h3>
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<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-caves-at-arvalem.html" target="_blank">The Caves at Arvalem</a></h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-jain-temple-at-kudne.html" target="_blank">The Jain Temple at Kudne</a></h3>
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<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/03/heritage-heirlooms-caves-at-lamgaon.html" target="_blank">The Caves at Lamgaon</a></h3>
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The sun, sand and surf attract tourists from around the world to Goa. And yet, this is not the only claim to fame this beautiful land has. As late as 1993 saw the accidental discovery of some ancient rock carvings at Usgalimal (also known as Pansalimal) in the Kushavati river bed in Sanguem Taluka of South Goa. After a bout of flooding, the silt from some part of the laterite river bed got washed off and exposed beautifully chiseled figures. Seeing this, the locals scrambled to call in the archaeologists who have since extensively studied and analysed them. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is believed that these carvings date back to the 8th century BC <span style="color: #313131; text-align: left;">or the upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic
period, perhaps more commonly thought of as “the Stone Age”</span>and were created by the people of the 'Kush' tribe inhabiting this valley. This makes them a whopping 10,000 years old!! </span></div>
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The carvings depict a wide range of subjects notably the bull, deer, antelope, peacock, dancing figure, mother and child, the mother goddess and the enigmatic 'triskelions'. These 'triskelions' are a concentric circle pattern more associated with the Celtic and European peoples and believed by some archaeologists to have been used to measure time. Elsewhere it's also called the circle of life.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib91gIaWvpjUZVnaOhU_jEvrAMcbGaD0Fw6gEA2s8o2wS7omrpSkRE2hzy4N_Gr6abD-T7QZvWgvfVGi7i9SvqGaH6z47EO1c8nrmUBFFdmqm69Kpei_urIO-KIS5CK_ycqmjHtt3FWyP9/s1600/IMG_20170127_114955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib91gIaWvpjUZVnaOhU_jEvrAMcbGaD0Fw6gEA2s8o2wS7omrpSkRE2hzy4N_Gr6abD-T7QZvWgvfVGi7i9SvqGaH6z47EO1c8nrmUBFFdmqm69Kpei_urIO-KIS5CK_ycqmjHtt3FWyP9/s640/IMG_20170127_114955.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Peacock</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPIcfI5ryotiZvM1APl8Ws9HWZBKdR0eJL8JoBl3D0f5403gDhku06veiiSDgz_2IRhref3xtBS7-j1cYb5bnp01Osb-xGfG9ImjYf5-mlKNiO_Zd7URNkQGRU0USA1FnNqWTM01DqsFP/s1600/IMG_20170127_115220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPIcfI5ryotiZvM1APl8Ws9HWZBKdR0eJL8JoBl3D0f5403gDhku06veiiSDgz_2IRhref3xtBS7-j1cYb5bnp01Osb-xGfG9ImjYf5-mlKNiO_Zd7URNkQGRU0USA1FnNqWTM01DqsFP/s640/IMG_20170127_115220.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dancing figure</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; text-align: justify;">The carvings are known as ‘Petroglyphs’, because they were created by chipping away the outer surface of the rock using a tool of some sort. They predate the rock paintings that have been previously discovered in other parts of India and are very different from them.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iYJ4_r4uvbj42Bz4N17z3wOyXbMiJzq1SGms9xO-5P3_pueJnYWJggtr6lf-Td2hvamuykqRCedGgepTFVAzvWuX0K2G9I8G53In4CLxyWd1bxTI7ftHAadj4q8MC7bNaAnUkoaY6brZ/s1600/IMG_20170127_115345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iYJ4_r4uvbj42Bz4N17z3wOyXbMiJzq1SGms9xO-5P3_pueJnYWJggtr6lf-Td2hvamuykqRCedGgepTFVAzvWuX0K2G9I8G53In4CLxyWd1bxTI7ftHAadj4q8MC7bNaAnUkoaY6brZ/s640/IMG_20170127_115345.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mother Goddess</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASrOWynwp2chvZXnOATL6Nslb6-1c_qgjQwMJDb-ZkNCCMjCSjSYENw2UOHCqgg3doDkfAgxGSUyGlXa-yZD1Kqg-JeYGsmjmaKpLJIQkt1Kmz8ldqov4M_Jfd62UplsSUSiBbKi7EvAa/s1600/IMG_20170127_115848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASrOWynwp2chvZXnOATL6Nslb6-1c_qgjQwMJDb-ZkNCCMjCSjSYENw2UOHCqgg3doDkfAgxGSUyGlXa-yZD1Kqg-JeYGsmjmaKpLJIQkt1Kmz8ldqov4M_Jfd62UplsSUSiBbKi7EvAa/s640/IMG_20170127_115848.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Animal figure</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdz5at-JPC_FGbu_Y4rtuaPUwNSmedj2akX6zzZlJazRFLttzQSfsr8A4orKvaWHCcSWWX5hWitYWI4KW3fcKHQMUACeNegoxoNuWDWCZTRwnopygqPOmZTYVlTkcfrqPnJe-rSMDPtQ0g/s1600/IMG_20170127_120532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdz5at-JPC_FGbu_Y4rtuaPUwNSmedj2akX6zzZlJazRFLttzQSfsr8A4orKvaWHCcSWWX5hWitYWI4KW3fcKHQMUACeNegoxoNuWDWCZTRwnopygqPOmZTYVlTkcfrqPnJe-rSMDPtQ0g/s640/IMG_20170127_120532.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hunting the Bison</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXmcz5_Ew_WA0-nKE9DCuxYmGzHhF3-lv3G-At-2piHSql7TvFxCAgOh3RdvQvi0gxdlyatGVkNmgdE7En8RcrhX9v9nkis_5UqFBarQHZ0gRk1pr50enSgZwLxN-I2ejiGGi5N9JOIU0/s1600/IMG_20170127_120545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXmcz5_Ew_WA0-nKE9DCuxYmGzHhF3-lv3G-At-2piHSql7TvFxCAgOh3RdvQvi0gxdlyatGVkNmgdE7En8RcrhX9v9nkis_5UqFBarQHZ0gRk1pr50enSgZwLxN-I2ejiGGi5N9JOIU0/s640/IMG_20170127_120545.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another Bull Motif</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FqdASWVUFGIckKSUW1mKGk9luky5a7OdyFLvzHt9VfE9MMMIjSJa6uI8P7G9WUrcHe0FROWOwYPj_moJQwKc1_GVZh-ogH3i7LiVxb2MxiAnNNJDUCzrdozGLtWw5LLtUUKrsU7vWyDj/s1600/IMG_20170127_120644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FqdASWVUFGIckKSUW1mKGk9luky5a7OdyFLvzHt9VfE9MMMIjSJa6uI8P7G9WUrcHe0FROWOwYPj_moJQwKc1_GVZh-ogH3i7LiVxb2MxiAnNNJDUCzrdozGLtWw5LLtUUKrsU7vWyDj/s640/IMG_20170127_120644.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Animal fights</span></td></tr>
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As with most prehistoric paintings as well as rock carvings, the predominant focus is on the animal figures as also some dancing figures and infants which suggests fertility rituals. The circle of life could point to some form of religious cosmology too.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3aVjR-cvfgMRHh2KFFLH_RxZ4BlI2SjZcifDejJvjzN82m-zMVxSKgGLtRF5o5mrlaECYKqP9OdyJYT9IbhV-bUXNNj7lHybRJ5SJ4vISXOeHfsMBx_gCclhyv-4LST4MlfWpgLI7D1J/s1600/IMG_20170127_120302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3aVjR-cvfgMRHh2KFFLH_RxZ4BlI2SjZcifDejJvjzN82m-zMVxSKgGLtRF5o5mrlaECYKqP9OdyJYT9IbhV-bUXNNj7lHybRJ5SJ4vISXOeHfsMBx_gCclhyv-4LST4MlfWpgLI7D1J/s640/IMG_20170127_120302.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The circle of life or the famous 'Labyrinth'</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9g5v1oiNz4RkZc8Ylw3ElWca_vPrr_zqFWWS4w3k4vyrNMgAytdn5Xciz9cnMZmYDm6r2OQ2BqL7pGhuvm6bx4ZhGYySD7qLD_O2uL72lruCRb2i9LQYLRb_md1FMa4NsccEDU7YaQ2Ii/s1600/IMG_20170127_120233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9g5v1oiNz4RkZc8Ylw3ElWca_vPrr_zqFWWS4w3k4vyrNMgAytdn5Xciz9cnMZmYDm6r2OQ2BqL7pGhuvm6bx4ZhGYySD7qLD_O2uL72lruCRb2i9LQYLRb_md1FMa4NsccEDU7YaQ2Ii/s640/IMG_20170127_120233.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A trapping cage for game</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cAF9tL0XMU29IYFUcVCHjjCEJLwtdrDVhLG8x2McyBV0euvWjVz_HaO7b_Piy6jMFYJu3sC7-LeHY7AOUAwYoQR0RCkABKaTfHijRm-5IRCKnsV0fVg2dr48DTnGKXoNDYlmbC68OcBD/s1600/IMG_20170127_120921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cAF9tL0XMU29IYFUcVCHjjCEJLwtdrDVhLG8x2McyBV0euvWjVz_HaO7b_Piy6jMFYJu3sC7-LeHY7AOUAwYoQR0RCkABKaTfHijRm-5IRCKnsV0fVg2dr48DTnGKXoNDYlmbC68OcBD/s640/IMG_20170127_120921.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kushavati River bed... site of the ancient Petroglyphs at <b>Usgalimal</b></td></tr>
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There is an urgent need for conservation of this unique and beautiful site. It's a silent testimony to the human urge for artistic expression from time immemorial. A little care will go a long way in preserving this heritage for future generations to get a peek into our prehistoric past!!</div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-56030902843910862732017-02-25T22:48:00.000+05:302017-03-10T15:37:57.036+05:30Heritage Heirlooms - The Buddhist Caves at Rivona<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">INDEX</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">The Buddhist Caves at Rivona</span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-petroglyphs-of.html" target="_blank">The Petroglyphs of Usgalimal</a></h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-caves-at-arvalem.html" target="_blank">The Caves at Arvalem</a></h3>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/02/heritage-heirlooms-jain-temple-at-kudne.html" target="_blank">The Jain Temple at Kudne</a></h3>
<h3>
<a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.in/2017/03/heritage-heirlooms-caves-at-lamgaon.html" target="_blank">The Caves at Lamgaon</a></h3>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">As part of bringing the rich cultural heritage of Goa in the
limelight and showing the average tourist and local alike that there are other,
more beautiful facets of Goa they have not yet discovered, I bring to you the
first in the series of .. -<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Heritage
Heirlooms</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>-<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>The Buddhist Caves at Rivona</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Cave 1 </span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Located near the Kushavati river, in the village of Rivona
(the name Rivona might have been derived from ‘Rishivana’ meaning the forest of
sages, or in the present case, of monks). The site is called devachi zaga (
meaning the abode of God). This cave is oriented towards the east. It has a
pedestal measuring 4.8 m X 3.2 m which fits the idol of Buddha and is called’
Sonyachi peti’ (Golden box). The idol of Buddha discovered at Rivona is seated
in Vajrasana position with Bhumisparsha-Mudra (right hand touching the earth
with the left hand kept on the lap.) A huge lotus pedestal for seating the idol
was also found at the site.<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVahjZ22Sj99fDoGIlcjz5tNWJJ1QW59ZdIBdzfvI2K4rF2OznJmCPM3NRDq2hgCRWAszkQ0a89krpDuga3aIrz2ylHFOJvp6hW7AHpDDF5yJM_3Ca10yOWjT-vLh_GfoQbggye6BC00h/s1600/unnamed+%25281%25291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVahjZ22Sj99fDoGIlcjz5tNWJJ1QW59ZdIBdzfvI2K4rF2OznJmCPM3NRDq2hgCRWAszkQ0a89krpDuga3aIrz2ylHFOJvp6hW7AHpDDF5yJM_3Ca10yOWjT-vLh_GfoQbggye6BC00h/s640/unnamed+%25281%25291.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The large Cave No. 1 at Rivona (Pic courtesy Preethy Nair)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Cave 2</span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">This Cave is at two levels and has two entrances, one at the
upper level and the other at the level below. The steps going down from the
upper level lead to the chamber which has a skylight and a stream of fresh
water. It also connects to the lower entrance. The skylight chamber leads
inside to another chamber which has a stepped platform built of laterite and
which has a vaulted ceiling. This cave has seen some intervention by later
humans since there are laterite bricks neatly laid at the upper entrance and a
tank made behind at the lower level. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAq0_qouMdScQ-2xU6ukm_h3mcO0rFa6brhrWHPypkrq7jpEXtt6t776bbYJxU88FApi40JPE3FoyqBU_VJgA0Hgk24wKJD4hyRhucSnjLZ9UByLJIWH_iH_FBR1kjqrhpOmBlt2LscTu/s1600/IMG-20170127-WA0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAq0_qouMdScQ-2xU6ukm_h3mcO0rFa6brhrWHPypkrq7jpEXtt6t776bbYJxU88FApi40JPE3FoyqBU_VJgA0Hgk24wKJD4hyRhucSnjLZ9UByLJIWH_iH_FBR1kjqrhpOmBlt2LscTu/s640/IMG-20170127-WA0018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cave no 2 Upper entrance (Pic courtesy Vandana Balakrishnan)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAEYzMhbVEjORCo_OZ3Siaguanqei410E06a5cEdRP8MR4YtmsRoT34eWoSdTHbGE-HOWJuFde7VSjTuvdlu1nCjpGF0yKKUSi3hb1KwdMI-Lj4sFGcbFCtbPcHVnlY7lnUbXVsAzJntT/s1600/IMG-20170127-WA0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAEYzMhbVEjORCo_OZ3Siaguanqei410E06a5cEdRP8MR4YtmsRoT34eWoSdTHbGE-HOWJuFde7VSjTuvdlu1nCjpGF0yKKUSi3hb1KwdMI-Lj4sFGcbFCtbPcHVnlY7lnUbXVsAzJntT/s640/IMG-20170127-WA0017.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lower entrance to the Cave 2</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgPcDi3H8F6DPfS-4rIiD13asFg_crLZDSxKw3jN08SxsrIUqWnetlUKIid3jAc7r-BMTDmwova0IqUpFlqQJzBCYb04PG0nkrYesCTPVkMzofxaZw4gC53pwPl0mJn9XZOOHu3hDrCW5/s1600/IMG_20170127_103727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgPcDi3H8F6DPfS-4rIiD13asFg_crLZDSxKw3jN08SxsrIUqWnetlUKIid3jAc7r-BMTDmwova0IqUpFlqQJzBCYb04PG0nkrYesCTPVkMzofxaZw4gC53pwPl0mJn9XZOOHu3hDrCW5/s640/IMG_20170127_103727.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tank behind the lower entrance</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbm0kzmqRQuoUGzFN47JBXp6mmUPP9aMULzgjgpQ9R79fdJ5-gbk_gm68M3bmV8K6CUiGbrPrPqrisX9dFVDtLCwminXE6AOfSmB_aWRNfD0mUORpJ-fKQGTMFnAuicT5urWMKhl2QpUn/s1600/IMG_20170127_101259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbm0kzmqRQuoUGzFN47JBXp6mmUPP9aMULzgjgpQ9R79fdJ5-gbk_gm68M3bmV8K6CUiGbrPrPqrisX9dFVDtLCwminXE6AOfSmB_aWRNfD0mUORpJ-fKQGTMFnAuicT5urWMKhl2QpUn/s640/IMG_20170127_101259.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Skylight in the chamber of Cave 2</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Source: Cave Architecture in Goa-A project report submitted to the Goa University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Bachelor of Architecture by<b> Varun Desai</b></span></div>
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goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-5247029088175862002014-11-23T19:37:00.001+05:302019-08-14T13:21:21.642+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Goa - Delhi.... the journey begins in the plains</a></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal</span></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank">Chhitkul... The emerald green Valley!</a></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank">Destination Pooh...</a></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Spiti.... journey through ‘The middle land’</span></a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Road to Chandratal</a></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank">Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</a></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</span></a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></a>White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">21
Jul 2014. This morning, I sleep in. Not up before the crack of dawn as has been
the routine every day since we started. The last two nights haven’t been all
that restful due to the intense cold and my flagging energy needed this booster
dose of sleep to be vital again today. Well rested, I am all charged up to take
the day on. We have joined forces with our Team B who have flown in from Goa
yesterday. They will take this journey forward through Nubra Valley, Pangong
Tso, Kargil, Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Delhi and then back to Goa. This is the
only time that both the teams are together... today and tomorrow giving Team B
time to acclimatise before they take the rally forward. </span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5liVLPIMggOBvqdkGTEA5AbJ6hf0TOTg9pb53zsZHC9tYUDrJaFb-Y0_2OWlrUNYUMzKywpf1gPDOg0cHGDqW20fFuLd4Vg0jVqgZtZujNeDqAahOvUvn7s4VYArOPdq75HLwA4JLvgG/s1600/Small+apples+from+Nimmu+camp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5liVLPIMggOBvqdkGTEA5AbJ6hf0TOTg9pb53zsZHC9tYUDrJaFb-Y0_2OWlrUNYUMzKywpf1gPDOg0cHGDqW20fFuLd4Vg0jVqgZtZujNeDqAahOvUvn7s4VYArOPdq75HLwA4JLvgG/s1600/Small+apples+from+Nimmu+camp.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Small apples from Nimmu camp</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AfWUkpHUdm5cyFrs5UdrHiwaN13R3SzUjuRNt7S80bGFzlhZni0qnTgP-Rc1tUGEt9uJQloeMYZ9Sl5E4EzacJYgeqI4N-JTDjURVvusrH2kdQvgBAFGZ8zxl1kIWQ-Nx56cPNBGixgD/s1600/Our+colourful+tent.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AfWUkpHUdm5cyFrs5UdrHiwaN13R3SzUjuRNt7S80bGFzlhZni0qnTgP-Rc1tUGEt9uJQloeMYZ9Sl5E4EzacJYgeqI4N-JTDjURVvusrH2kdQvgBAFGZ8zxl1kIWQ-Nx56cPNBGixgD/s1600/Our+colourful+tent.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our colourful tent</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right
after a leisurely breakfast and in our wetsuits and helmets, we assemble for
the planned white water rafting. This is my first time and I look forward to
it. In fact, most of us are going for the first time. We will be taken by bus
to just short of Leh and will raft down the Indus for about 14 Kms. I am told
that the rapids in this stretch are just 1 or 2 level and considered easy.
Tomorrow we are to go for the tougher stretch through the Zanskar River where
we expect 3 to 4 level of rapids. All of us are reminded to wear shades since
the glare off the water is intense and can be very hurtful to the eyes. Since
we are not carrying any glasses straps, we use a ‘jugaad’ of tying a string on
the shades to avoid them slipping off when wet or when looking down even though
they would be inside the helmet. I think it is a great idea! As we reach the
starting point, our guide Vikram gives a detailed briefing about what to expect
and what to do in case of a capsized raft. All safety procedures are explained
in detail and then we are off. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYcdyHpHH41sEDzNaHgXHZeb7hfGtD6UzhyphenhyphenIOEJpigkKVxwB8imeH_oBK-mUh8S-gBi5ACoQywY6Ek9xb3SQPrVkkN7pg9FqqZ4JeIi4gMnv_JHTAgzLpSOPIHqSlgwy5JHcBc3j21TIm/s1600/The+Rafts+we+used+for+the+white+water+experience....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYcdyHpHH41sEDzNaHgXHZeb7hfGtD6UzhyphenhyphenIOEJpigkKVxwB8imeH_oBK-mUh8S-gBi5ACoQywY6Ek9xb3SQPrVkkN7pg9FqqZ4JeIi4gMnv_JHTAgzLpSOPIHqSlgwy5JHcBc3j21TIm/s1600/The+Rafts+we+used+for+the+white+water+experience....JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Rafts we used for the white water experience...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Split
into 4 rafts, we set off after a mandatory dip in the river for all the members
on our raft. Our guide absolutely insists! It is fun actually after one
conquers the worry of how cold the waters would be and just jumps in...</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting
the hang of rowing takes just a few minutes and then there is competition
between the boats each vying for the top position including splashing the other
teams with water as they are overtaken. Chotak, the guy who runs the camp is a
champion rafter and No 1 in India and he is in a kayak today. His antics in the
water are to be seen! Has us in splits or gaping in awe in turns. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately,
our cameras are not on us today since the equipment is not safe in the rafts
and thus, no pics today! What a shame really! We have so much fun and all of it
is stored away in the upper storey... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A
kilometre short of the confluence with the Zanskar, I jump in again and swim
along quite lazily. I drift under the bridge which is just 100 metres short of
the confluence and then I realise that I have drifted far faster than the raft!
I have no intentions of going through into the icy waters of the Zanskar.
Zanskar is a much colder river since it travels shorter and is completely
sourced from melting ice. Our team has to row hard to get me before I hit the
confluence since the current is strong and I am unable to swim upriver. All’s
well that ends well! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back
at camp, we are all ravenous! Lunch is demolished and a while later we are off
to Leh for sightseeing and a trip to Khardungla. Our rally vehicles have been
given for a thorough servicing and we get a ride on the camp bus to Leh. Hiring
bikes, we are off to Khardungla on bikes... a different kind of thrill I assure
you! The route is good for a bit and then the road deteriorates into a wide but
rough unpaved path criss-crossed by small streams some of which are big enough
to soak our shoes as the bikes splash through them. The Zanskar range lies
spread out before us and the tallest peak Stok Kangri is visible all snow
covered. Reaching the top we are exhilarated! And cold! The altitude difference
between Leh at just under 12000 ft to Khardungla top at 18340 ft is immense! So
also the difference in temperature. A busy photo session later we head back.
Rendezvous at the ‘Rendezvous Cafe/German bakery’ and we are back to camp for
dinner and bed.</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcpw0_KMQuLLMZ6n2AF4VKvg2VnRMzkcDR9D0Bj9S9ZtvIPj2DPy4iP0j7wOqQ190GOrMzxAe4aq9Q09mlhChXwqwZhQxyVE4RgBxP1op6ltXFtffkz6VLWRF9u9an6awR1z2Mt3svi2x/s1600/The+Zanskar+range+as+seen+from+the+Khardungla+ascent....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcpw0_KMQuLLMZ6n2AF4VKvg2VnRMzkcDR9D0Bj9S9ZtvIPj2DPy4iP0j7wOqQ190GOrMzxAe4aq9Q09mlhChXwqwZhQxyVE4RgBxP1op6ltXFtffkz6VLWRF9u9an6awR1z2Mt3svi2x/s1600/The+Zanskar+range+as+seen+from+the+Khardungla+ascent....JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Zanskar range as seen from the Khardungla ascent...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGO-Ul6KyScEG6c-3kQDKFf-j_dlcr06PkJz2U2rnjhBiCbOXH6dG_NhIE2p25cBAcS0w_2iDfwvAf9HkUnR8erhISVXRKl6bf4aXhEfNHQyOTihM4Kt_uAZVo5T_V6hmnMeqiV3Zih3cv/s1600/Khardungla+top.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGO-Ul6KyScEG6c-3kQDKFf-j_dlcr06PkJz2U2rnjhBiCbOXH6dG_NhIE2p25cBAcS0w_2iDfwvAf9HkUnR8erhISVXRKl6bf4aXhEfNHQyOTihM4Kt_uAZVo5T_V6hmnMeqiV3Zih3cv/s1600/Khardungla+top.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Khardungla top</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFK5iFz69LctFC79JroBMLuIPCd87kGo6pNfrw4Mx_mMUEDF0c6sA1qtGp1NqsjsX01XsDyHcXjgbCfWoeZGimGgRTH57gdbZuv6NzKWXCmdGjetqazrhYeqfnERHtq2gGKcMZe7HLRVp/s1600/Rendezvous+Cafe+and+German+Bakery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFK5iFz69LctFC79JroBMLuIPCd87kGo6pNfrw4Mx_mMUEDF0c6sA1qtGp1NqsjsX01XsDyHcXjgbCfWoeZGimGgRTH57gdbZuv6NzKWXCmdGjetqazrhYeqfnERHtq2gGKcMZe7HLRVp/s1600/Rendezvous+Cafe+and+German+Bakery.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rendezvous Cafe and German Bakery</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">22
Jul 2014. A nervous excitement pervades the group as everyone is thinking of
the turbulent rapids we need to conquer today and hopefully (fingers crossed)
stay afloat through that! It is a 30 Kms route today. As is the norm, we pour
into the bus which takes us across the Indus over the bridge and then along the
right bank of the Zanskar. Today the manager of the camp is also accompanying
us armed with a camera and will take pictures from some (strategic!) locations
along the route. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It
is a newly laid road so it is super smooth sailing till the road abruptly
becomes the now familiar potholed and unpaved trail like the less trodden paths
elsewhere in Ladakh. We reach the starting point and go down to our rafts. We
are the lightest raft with 5 members plus the guide. The first hour is great.
Our confidence surges and the thrill overtakes us to the point where we think
we can conquer all... absolutely anything!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And
then it happens. We are warned that it is a really rough patch ahead and to be
rowing as hard and fast as we can as we hit it. Before I know it, the rapids
are upon us and .... I can see it happening in slow motion... our raft just
rises up from the right front end and keeps rising. The two members on the
right side fall on us taking all of us under with the raft overturned right on
top of us. I tell myself there is no need to panic. The guides are trained and
our protective gear is on therefore all I have to do is come up to the surface
even if under the raft and breathe from the air pockets under it. Easier said
than done. I come up and try to breathe and I can’t. Just swallow some water
from my mouth so resolutely, I close my mouth and try to breathe in through my
nose. No luck. It is as though the air had suddenly turned solid. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
raft has drifted off of me and my partner grabs me in the turmoil. In the
meantime I continue to struggle to breathe and nothing is helping. In rising
panic I have dunked my partner also a couple of times ensuring we both taste and
swallow the icy Zanskar waters. And then miraculously, I can breathe
again! My partner has realised my
predicament and pushed the shades up my nose. They must have slipped lower down
as we fell in the water blocking my nostrils and I have not realised it in the
‘excitement’ of the last few minutes. Also, they have not fallen off completely
because of the ‘jugaad’ we had employed!! Sometimes these things come back to
bite us when we least expect it! Anyways, the river has become wider right here
and the left side seems to have a slower current where my partner drags me to
the edge and hangs on to a rock with one hand and me in the other while I get
myself together.</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Long
story short, we all five of us get rescued and asked if we want to take a ride
back in the vehicle or go back in the rafts. No incident like this is going to
get the better of us! We choose to raft back. After this, we are slightly
shaken but there is an inexplicable freedom I feel.... of ‘been there, done
that’ and now bring on whatever else and we will triumph over it! Looking back
I feel good that we did it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reaching
camp, we get mobbed. Most are horrified and almost everyone has seen it happen
since we were the first to go into those rapids and overturned in front of
them. While stories are told to a suitably reverent audience, lunch is polished
off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
second leg of the rally is flagged off from our camp by our senior-most member
and Team B heads out to Nubra Valley hoping to cross over Khardungla well
before sunset. In minutes, we are also off for a final round of shopping to
Leh. It is a pleasure to stroll on the main street with hawkers selling fresh
produce along the sidewalk and many curio shops lining the bustling city
centre. I pick up some ‘khurmani’ and ‘walnuts’ and we are done... Some of us
also shop around for some T-shirts and other souvenirs for family and friends back
home. We get back late to a delicious dinner of noodles and momos (on request)
prepared by the staff at camp. Final day here... we leave early tomorrow
morning flying out to Delhi and onwards to Goa.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj_Gt-zEPZ9d4MPzvuSJR-DNfOb7Vsq_l92htGOICdqgw5lQVche6B8WRnF0vSoGe1DEKTj6utt3iIAfI6fUz4V8lCZD3B9vLS7OKV_F5bVRMwReTpkbw33_FWdbCeh30OTBSNCIFSN8n/s1600/Main+street+at+Leh+bazaar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj_Gt-zEPZ9d4MPzvuSJR-DNfOb7Vsq_l92htGOICdqgw5lQVche6B8WRnF0vSoGe1DEKTj6utt3iIAfI6fUz4V8lCZD3B9vLS7OKV_F5bVRMwReTpkbw33_FWdbCeh30OTBSNCIFSN8n/s1600/Main+street+at+Leh+bazaar.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Main street at Leh bazaar</span></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">23
Jul 2014. Early morning we are at the airport, boarded and off. I have
carefully chosen my right side window seat ensuring it is not over the wings so
that I can have good views of the Himalayas inflight. I am not disappointed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
end my travelogue here thanking everyone who has read through this long, but I
hope not too tedious series leaving you with the last pictures I clicked from
the plane... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adios!
Till we meet again...</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm44GU7ndGn74KtlAioeCBC-pMjPVU2amBgFgFtaCCwFDrK7UBBQwSqtyVkDzkvyxICPM8a0ezBdKZvAIHrrEMOhbLPK9K0Rqfkvbi0i9BG4DH6Nhc81zDaBKjNb8x76RSzOQ6ysX-xUZ/s1600/A+glacier+is+visible+on+the+left+side+of+the+picture.....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm44GU7ndGn74KtlAioeCBC-pMjPVU2amBgFgFtaCCwFDrK7UBBQwSqtyVkDzkvyxICPM8a0ezBdKZvAIHrrEMOhbLPK9K0Rqfkvbi0i9BG4DH6Nhc81zDaBKjNb8x76RSzOQ6ysX-xUZ/s1600/A+glacier+is+visible+on+the+left+side+of+the+picture.....JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A glacier is visible on the left side of the picture....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BlGLVwlAvN9LqbFDe_nAO1z_S_7JHLOklIz2UK5m_7Rb5clzj9dD7zZhQ0ghhJmXx8k57S0SeWVV05AD53J9kuhR4aGM3HID_-5Qet6xyYQdvbaRTMf5TmLe2-kzhbtDyf7f94VWVouW/s1600/Looks+almost+like+a+model+to+explain+what+snow+topped+mountains+look+like+-).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BlGLVwlAvN9LqbFDe_nAO1z_S_7JHLOklIz2UK5m_7Rb5clzj9dD7zZhQ0ghhJmXx8k57S0SeWVV05AD53J9kuhR4aGM3HID_-5Qet6xyYQdvbaRTMf5TmLe2-kzhbtDyf7f94VWVouW/s1600/Looks+almost+like+a+model+to+explain+what+snow+topped+mountains+look+like+-).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looks almost like a model to explain what snow topped mountains look like -)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfwL6M01eo5exhS-1dhqUAfarJ9gZxeysBxgYWgv92922MYgXu8GP9RZe3mP2wagM_u4V4LmOS4UC31swRorMY2phH6SOuYxdnsIeUCoBeXBdNwSGHRE2DFej1EFHxrd8e0K12DBsAZWY/s1600/The+play+of+clouds+among+the+high+Himalayas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfwL6M01eo5exhS-1dhqUAfarJ9gZxeysBxgYWgv92922MYgXu8GP9RZe3mP2wagM_u4V4LmOS4UC31swRorMY2phH6SOuYxdnsIeUCoBeXBdNwSGHRE2DFej1EFHxrd8e0K12DBsAZWY/s1600/The+play+of+clouds+among+the+high+Himalayas.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The play of clouds among the high Himalayas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-35362075221998881992014-11-16T19:28:00.001+05:302019-08-14T13:17:31.935+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Goa - Delhi.... the journey begins in the plains</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal</span></a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank">Chhitkul... The emerald green Valley!</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank">Destination Pooh...</a></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spiti.... journey through ‘The middle land’</span></a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Road to Chandratal</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank">Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/white-water-rafting-leh-and-khardungla.html" target="_blank">White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</a></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>20 Jul 2014.</b> Early morning in Sarchu
is even colder. I have had a bit of a cold and uncomfortable night. Uncomfortable,
not due to any uneasiness or discomfort due to altitude but more owing to the
freezing conditions.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The idea today is to start at the
crack of dawn and take in Tso Kar before heading out to Leh. It is just a 30
min detour one way and that is very doable if we pace ourselves well. Our
campsite is at Nimmu, further out of Leh but that is fine. Nimmu is just a
little over 30 kms ahead of Leh. The road conditions in Ladakh are expected to
be really good and the passage that much faster. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We leave Sarchu at 0530 hrs. It is
the crack of dawn.... the place is overcast and there is a bit of a drizzle.
The wind is howling, it is snowing in the higher elevations of the surrounding
mountains and I am chilled to the bone!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Right
after we set out, we cross a little bridge which I am told is the boundary
between Ladakh and Himachal. So now officially, we enter Ladakh! A little bit
further we come across this signboard... the BRO has already been spreading the
AIDS awareness message...! </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRL9n5ky5oo7leC1bEckKXhfwcWykADK6a2-pkGhwGpdF5kb-fJgDWLu4wBEFzJGdItzHnCBgonNQwmWiXuCrdl-6b9zs_bGL9w2pNyJITW5QVEO-e6Pi6YdcJ9ZbhzmLvK7R1GnCZTb-/s1600/Looks+like+the+BRO+has+already+been+spreading+the+message....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRL9n5ky5oo7leC1bEckKXhfwcWykADK6a2-pkGhwGpdF5kb-fJgDWLu4wBEFzJGdItzHnCBgonNQwmWiXuCrdl-6b9zs_bGL9w2pNyJITW5QVEO-e6Pi6YdcJ9ZbhzmLvK7R1GnCZTb-/s1600/Looks+like+the+BRO+has+already+been+spreading+the+message....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looks like the BRO has already been spreading the message...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Driving
along with the Tsarap Chu on our left, we reach the Gata Loops... starting at
about 4200 mtrs altitude. This is a series of 21 hair pin bends before we hit
the Nakila at 4739 mtrs. All along, the peaks seem to have a sprinkling of
fresh snow on them... just as if they were some giant muffins with a drizzle of
icing sugar on top! Very beautiful! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tpllkQdPBo6GfEuq4c0mWbrBVol2vr8a1Lhid7GPNUleVfq2mO6SfAgtVgllgmuKaqoE3oV-0xWBclGacCc4IupazpNZ1QBRh0F_e6caWZtG8iQdhA8ix2k2pJKgWx37du9cRpj0V-FW/s1600/Gata+Loops.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tpllkQdPBo6GfEuq4c0mWbrBVol2vr8a1Lhid7GPNUleVfq2mO6SfAgtVgllgmuKaqoE3oV-0xWBclGacCc4IupazpNZ1QBRh0F_e6caWZtG8iQdhA8ix2k2pJKgWx37du9cRpj0V-FW/s1600/Gata+Loops.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gata Loops</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There
is a fair amount of traffic on this route... even though it is so demanding a
journey. The day is getting brighter and the scenery more compelling. All of a
sudden I spot a dog sized something on the corner ahead. Its gait immediately
gives its identity away. It is a Himalayan Snowcock. Lo and behold! There are
two more right behind it and our Scorpio comes to a screeching halt. The moment
we stop (with squealing tyres) and rush to get to our cameras, they scramble up
the mountainside giving us precious little time to get in a few clicks. It is
then that I realise that there is a fourth one too! Am I happy!! A brilliant
start to the day indeed! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uajizGolmVBpFOdEerVdHRd21GZbHOEBQNnBOsE0nAWPjqv0W9cEBXf_qw6yO9qBg8GfxqmrQmFe4BPZvrMU5Czks5YAsIf13A8LuzRgc4D90rpoMG_hyROOZQnh8xgwmbiQqVHUQMcC/s1600/Himalayan+Snowcock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uajizGolmVBpFOdEerVdHRd21GZbHOEBQNnBOsE0nAWPjqv0W9cEBXf_qw6yO9qBg8GfxqmrQmFe4BPZvrMU5Czks5YAsIf13A8LuzRgc4D90rpoMG_hyROOZQnh8xgwmbiQqVHUQMcC/s1600/Himalayan+Snowcock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Himalayan Snowcock</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lachulungla at over 5000 mtrs is cold
and windy and we move ahead to Pang. It is very different from what I have
imagined it to be. I have expected a couple of dhabas but this is like walking
on Main Street.... at about 4700 mtrs! There are at least 7-8 dhabas each, on
either side of the road catering to the hungry, sleepy, out-of-fuel or just a
tired traveller. Imagine, a collection of 15 odd dhabas looks like ‘Main
Street’ after driving in these remote areas!!! Gives an idea of how sparse and
patchy the habitation is in these regions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A
quintessential breakfast of maggi and tea later, we are off. The road loops up
high over Pang giving a panoramic view of the settlement there from above as
well as the valley of the Lachung River with those typically distinct
geological formations in the valley, the result of high velocity winds in the
area. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vy3YwrQ7pbc-Df2puOX5rESm5E6KcbCwpi9TUr2Hc0y-mAY6ciMX9jyfRyAOJBtiimD_NIMEN_nnRCTbslry6npEth9wtrS1O3d7dgrD-BBzHBdvLne-lU4PUsfQFv2L2f0LjTZ9o5P_/s1600/Lachulungla..+with+a+sprinkling+of+fresh+snow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vy3YwrQ7pbc-Df2puOX5rESm5E6KcbCwpi9TUr2Hc0y-mAY6ciMX9jyfRyAOJBtiimD_NIMEN_nnRCTbslry6npEth9wtrS1O3d7dgrD-BBzHBdvLne-lU4PUsfQFv2L2f0LjTZ9o5P_/s1600/Lachulungla..+with+a+sprinkling+of+fresh+snow.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lachulungla.. with a sprinkling of fresh snow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglABWicBZaRKr3H3Nr8UuDL6SVWen_SHYkC-Z8aEROx7mpTLG8p8toF01vmmJ7b4fAvvTFZtXgvc-_q6TlNqoYgyC7AkRkWVHI-Ti-2lHHLuAPu09_arAEMQIqVt_DqxI6mwECp4pcC-h9/s1600/The+tented+camp+dorm-beds+in+Pang.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglABWicBZaRKr3H3Nr8UuDL6SVWen_SHYkC-Z8aEROx7mpTLG8p8toF01vmmJ7b4fAvvTFZtXgvc-_q6TlNqoYgyC7AkRkWVHI-Ti-2lHHLuAPu09_arAEMQIqVt_DqxI6mwECp4pcC-h9/s1600/The+tented+camp+dorm-beds+in+Pang.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The dorm-beds at the dhabas at Pang</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWU2A4xzVX9TVhh23vP-CbBsnPl75Vq5UQyTy7fZtfgbV8EH-jCGUn9X8f0rBNUfkKKSm39P65XV57cwITWBXQYUALVSdgCD3JZzHJHNYEVA2mFvsqn-_DU2e53UzMF9Cnk1XWO4Fgq7W/s1600/The+dhabas+at+Pang+also+offering++tented+dorm-type+accommodation..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWU2A4xzVX9TVhh23vP-CbBsnPl75Vq5UQyTy7fZtfgbV8EH-jCGUn9X8f0rBNUfkKKSm39P65XV57cwITWBXQYUALVSdgCD3JZzHJHNYEVA2mFvsqn-_DU2e53UzMF9Cnk1XWO4Fgq7W/s1600/The+dhabas+at+Pang+also+offering++tented+dorm-type+accommodation..JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The dhabas at Pang also offering tented dorm-type accommodation.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4bqzS1oEyRUBEvvIKAtZSU40bzhHAWiGPDX9JACcNSnD54elETeUiyifazMSGs0s4xlqCWCT28UkBDBUjrI7t3yef-g0Gq3Vc-q2CMvaLjWgfgTG-2apkDmaRGWS0Z45UI9PSm5ZgQfK/s1600/Pang,+from+the+road+above....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4bqzS1oEyRUBEvvIKAtZSU40bzhHAWiGPDX9JACcNSnD54elETeUiyifazMSGs0s4xlqCWCT28UkBDBUjrI7t3yef-g0Gq3Vc-q2CMvaLjWgfgTG-2apkDmaRGWS0Z45UI9PSm5ZgQfK/s1600/Pang,+from+the+road+above....jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pang, from the road above</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih271EVejxxZF7VWUmGCAeAvxLpzVh2po-41pWssX8PDJshyphenhyphendjAbD2arUChfQ6rc7dOxavu0EsTENeOL-DYklmL1SWW_UwLLNFYutE0m9QLXHhoiJ6L0H2aybr0LTJScvxb81_sjjo_GrE/s1600/Close+up+of+Pang.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih271EVejxxZF7VWUmGCAeAvxLpzVh2po-41pWssX8PDJshyphenhyphendjAbD2arUChfQ6rc7dOxavu0EsTENeOL-DYklmL1SWW_UwLLNFYutE0m9QLXHhoiJ6L0H2aybr0LTJScvxb81_sjjo_GrE/s1600/Close+up+of+Pang.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A close-up of Pang</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMvrEQjXGfkZupWFILda4My3N-4jVfkRuUtwwXFOLJAiwS5aKReYEm5CHZuGTV6lIaytE1b5nAkPgXeBsy3rZBDKa9bYKI5dcPcxDEtgtfvON2clo0HQUSaUKkHXQkWGN8M9Fcp1a02Cl/s1600/Goelogical+formations+reminiscent+of+medeival+castles!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMvrEQjXGfkZupWFILda4My3N-4jVfkRuUtwwXFOLJAiwS5aKReYEm5CHZuGTV6lIaytE1b5nAkPgXeBsy3rZBDKa9bYKI5dcPcxDEtgtfvON2clo0HQUSaUKkHXQkWGN8M9Fcp1a02Cl/s1600/Goelogical+formations+reminiscent+of+medeival+castles!.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Goelogical formations reminiscent of medeival castles!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp-Et3SFE_zSa3UQ_E3U5BhJcLDkrHlfHVR8Y0IxeTJ-Y5g_Up2xrlHwHpIYY9KT_lSJtxIRWnxxKn-i1RdNAgaU2mmHljQmmjcr8WKfUbl8SwdiNjT0TszV7zJ-f8bk8-QOcOEbmLepy/s1600/Lachung+river+valley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp-Et3SFE_zSa3UQ_E3U5BhJcLDkrHlfHVR8Y0IxeTJ-Y5g_Up2xrlHwHpIYY9KT_lSJtxIRWnxxKn-i1RdNAgaU2mmHljQmmjcr8WKfUbl8SwdiNjT0TszV7zJ-f8bk8-QOcOEbmLepy/s1600/Lachung+river+valley.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lachung river valley</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moving ahead we come to the famed Morey Plains. A vast area of flat land surrounded by mountains... with Kiang (Wild Asses) grazing lazily in small probably family groups and loads of little birds foraging around the roadsides as well as the small clumps of grasses around. These plains are high altitude semi-desert plains at just under 4800 mtrs and part of the Tibetan plateau kind of habitat. The flora and fauna here also exemplifies this fact. Tibetan Larks, Horned Larks, Twite, Great Rosefinch, Tibetan Snowfinch...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Izcz_6CWaiWRWlZQMRFAFvezvd_nWEPHKORl1whnv8fI8PstRyZlDVN8XEEJ1X8WcoandnEJTmhKlEeQk3u6Liiq4aSm_aVP5-OS0zXHOPhAHeEs-7Ou9JCYT0P_UdbM7MsteKkpI8Q3/s1600/Driving+through+the+Morey+plains.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Izcz_6CWaiWRWlZQMRFAFvezvd_nWEPHKORl1whnv8fI8PstRyZlDVN8XEEJ1X8WcoandnEJTmhKlEeQk3u6Liiq4aSm_aVP5-OS0zXHOPhAHeEs-7Ou9JCYT0P_UdbM7MsteKkpI8Q3/s1600/Driving+through+the+Morey+plains.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Driving through the Morey plains</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf3gROp3ZgLhg10zylicMqNnyD3Kr-vCJFiHRBM2jKBSpgkjckY-7oj5NTEf-VdyiEm93j9GnZVXg54ypb4qF7wRvZKUePye2RfafJZsP06YmCEpiJsY0N6EUEq4nPJSBXV4zSPensoMx/s1600/Great+Rosefinch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf3gROp3ZgLhg10zylicMqNnyD3Kr-vCJFiHRBM2jKBSpgkjckY-7oj5NTEf-VdyiEm93j9GnZVXg54ypb4qF7wRvZKUePye2RfafJZsP06YmCEpiJsY0N6EUEq4nPJSBXV4zSPensoMx/s1600/Great+Rosefinch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Great Rosefinch</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6chz0A657JsajSnupsEmyT7YRgghxI2vVOHNbdOgLrtLBwXv2lgXeEss1BVAzFhOCgY-96sr1ZwCXw9lqTAeBjlyPrvmW76JFY6n1lrLjSiUU3MBcQX-334oPoaAayWLkwx7t8qgirqxE/s1600/Tibetan+Lark+...+alert!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6chz0A657JsajSnupsEmyT7YRgghxI2vVOHNbdOgLrtLBwXv2lgXeEss1BVAzFhOCgY-96sr1ZwCXw9lqTAeBjlyPrvmW76JFY6n1lrLjSiUU3MBcQX-334oPoaAayWLkwx7t8qgirqxE/s1600/Tibetan+Lark+...+alert!.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tibetan Lark</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdpQOAagrUeI8V_c8RQzfZZN7nJLnx2KQnsCMZPHmFvpw8q5x4xImhfYXas3u4TpNZ3Aws39SKDefY2QpohyphenhypheniPT0NOQOf0b1BdROBBgjO3pjZHKJHVxqhsRP_WlqvuiSnsdEeLtcj4iaM/s1600/The+Twite+(male).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdpQOAagrUeI8V_c8RQzfZZN7nJLnx2KQnsCMZPHmFvpw8q5x4xImhfYXas3u4TpNZ3Aws39SKDefY2QpohyphenhypheniPT0NOQOf0b1BdROBBgjO3pjZHKJHVxqhsRP_WlqvuiSnsdEeLtcj4iaM/s1600/The+Twite+(male).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Twite</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmxPr2HOdOsJ5g1pt8HlhX89VuC3Q980g-mEPNEr7aPxNHfTojoIKVWFC3bNjnD6I5r0nSryDEgpJ-mXna_t8fnZf6ma0ajCKFrOC0DbCQUMSekGWkIMn9XNgrl5WqsG4qdbKw-nXz2ey/s1600/Newly+hatched+Horned+Lark+Chicks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmxPr2HOdOsJ5g1pt8HlhX89VuC3Q980g-mEPNEr7aPxNHfTojoIKVWFC3bNjnD6I5r0nSryDEgpJ-mXna_t8fnZf6ma0ajCKFrOC0DbCQUMSekGWkIMn9XNgrl5WqsG4qdbKw-nXz2ey/s1600/Newly+hatched+Horned+Lark+Chicks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Horned Lark chicks</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5UzUZiherV96SnlxY-AXigAybosiNo5r4FLk79WKGfeo5_bU-xHFAQkjCPUwvAd81_bwmawQK5jvbM3o8QdN_ZUtU6On0qMElFsef3zft_W-3ZubUZF7xq0nX3Rv610-saFBw7Po0uNz/s1600/Kiang....+at+the+More+plains..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5UzUZiherV96SnlxY-AXigAybosiNo5r4FLk79WKGfeo5_bU-xHFAQkjCPUwvAd81_bwmawQK5jvbM3o8QdN_ZUtU6On0qMElFsef3zft_W-3ZubUZF7xq0nX3Rv610-saFBw7Po0uNz/s1600/Kiang....+at+the+More+plains..JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kiang</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNTfvGgRFM1wEnPO0pUEpIHwUyCWO59rxgocbqRNwD_U6mn29ra0chDNi9HgMBSNiy2Lkm6RzlHtuWcMFGVCeDlyuDOR-z5N2aSjEGpJHV1X68vyklxb2SxQIJmpifX7HFMbnhe8VvoVB/s1600/Tibetan+Lark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNTfvGgRFM1wEnPO0pUEpIHwUyCWO59rxgocbqRNwD_U6mn29ra0chDNi9HgMBSNiy2Lkm6RzlHtuWcMFGVCeDlyuDOR-z5N2aSjEGpJHV1X68vyklxb2SxQIJmpifX7HFMbnhe8VvoVB/s1600/Tibetan+Lark.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tibetan Lark</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fabulous road through the Morey
plains ends at a place just short of Debring. A minor road branches off to the
right taking us towards Tso Kar. Though a rough and narrow road, it is easy
going on it. A half hours worth of drive brings us within sight of the lake. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tso Kar is a salt water lake and salt
deposits are visible along the lake margins. This is one of the numerous lakes
dotting the south east part of Ladakh. It is a breeding ground for the Common
Redshank, Brahmany Shelduck, the Bar-headed Geese and the most sought after
avifauna here – the Black necked Crane. The latter is a critically endangered
species of which there are estimated to be just 200 to 300 left in the
world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are lucky to spot a Black necked
Crane right upon entering the lake area and even before the little settlement
of Thukje. There are marshes around the lake which are the favoured habitat of
these handsome birds. For me, this entire trip has been worth it just to see
these beautiful creatures... <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
sandy soil at the edge of the lake is very soft and the vehicles are sinking
appreciably driving on it. There are sand banks a little way inside the lake
where we spot some Common Redshanks and Lesser Sand Plovers in breeding
plumage. To the right, are a flock of Brahmany Shelducks. All around in the
small scrubby patches of grasses around are Tibetan Larks, Tibetan Snowfinches,
Twites and a lone Desert Wheatear. Near the settlement there is a stony
retaining wall on which we spot the Little Owl. Very cute! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHLQr0toEOKkXjo80KrojDDIWsenoLWcsXzHGcCgbPEnls5JmYb0-UUE23P4GCkzGAthCxkSuBt_5l5Lonq-5JQRjEnX-UdKnoyskasgJXf-i9GC8v7sGy7qiFrZfswkujaZLqnBjOBRr/s1600/Tso+Kar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHLQr0toEOKkXjo80KrojDDIWsenoLWcsXzHGcCgbPEnls5JmYb0-UUE23P4GCkzGAthCxkSuBt_5l5Lonq-5JQRjEnX-UdKnoyskasgJXf-i9GC8v7sGy7qiFrZfswkujaZLqnBjOBRr/s1600/Tso+Kar.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tso Kar</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1oHU88ZDSTNbYtt5OsT4yJZXJCgq4tf8e_DJfRAbCvxHMm5BZuD-zw92z85sFNvDlK-ONrutWyAsk7bhM2Z9XYgnsfEIaxzzadqZAwDSPkGIk3xtTjXcVBVIspFxvBOoHJwd8T9zNjMN/s1600/White+winged+Redstart+juvenile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1oHU88ZDSTNbYtt5OsT4yJZXJCgq4tf8e_DJfRAbCvxHMm5BZuD-zw92z85sFNvDlK-ONrutWyAsk7bhM2Z9XYgnsfEIaxzzadqZAwDSPkGIk3xtTjXcVBVIspFxvBOoHJwd8T9zNjMN/s1600/White+winged+Redstart+juvenile.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">White winged Redstart Juvenile</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-Uo-efekU6D4iurexqdyYfxNtIkGEWW2nBDXdSnnDCloHe9S16-_FhyphenhyphenVzbwhIl9eYGVGZ1vbShxr3AYjFc_en8Svnm3IRntnBw4LjyJQRSJYJVsVF3tSl6-E4r4JvBuTqQMpKT0FrBjH/s1600/Little+Owl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-Uo-efekU6D4iurexqdyYfxNtIkGEWW2nBDXdSnnDCloHe9S16-_FhyphenhyphenVzbwhIl9eYGVGZ1vbShxr3AYjFc_en8Svnm3IRntnBw4LjyJQRSJYJVsVF3tSl6-E4r4JvBuTqQMpKT0FrBjH/s1600/Little+Owl.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Little Owl</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQQWyrlvab0esRByPsGrZPz6NF6mp-YCkrDJ6WAONvbzSjKG_ySo3EMojH8h5_EoXkin_t5TaTjiuwfohw0GCXf-VJ3kWKYeIGwvUwNXxa2ZvmT1m2tVoO3xEgfuGGD8PM4B4-lnSgz-B/s1600/Common+Redshank+in+breeding+plumage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQQWyrlvab0esRByPsGrZPz6NF6mp-YCkrDJ6WAONvbzSjKG_ySo3EMojH8h5_EoXkin_t5TaTjiuwfohw0GCXf-VJ3kWKYeIGwvUwNXxa2ZvmT1m2tVoO3xEgfuGGD8PM4B4-lnSgz-B/s1600/Common+Redshank+in+breeding+plumage.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Redshank in breeding plumage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn2lHW8RFA_4874UWk79DewsSM0lqzyNh8Lg5G1J3_oQCQH_rIfq0YVTZcj-wekrSnU36QuODWPv1gFi78pebYD2RtjVwyMg5kEl3JTmL1kV0bOMd2jevKhdmtZBMTILW1w3LF5PnXo3D/s1600/The+critically+endangered+Black+necked+Crane.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn2lHW8RFA_4874UWk79DewsSM0lqzyNh8Lg5G1J3_oQCQH_rIfq0YVTZcj-wekrSnU36QuODWPv1gFi78pebYD2RtjVwyMg5kEl3JTmL1kV0bOMd2jevKhdmtZBMTILW1w3LF5PnXo3D/s1600/The+critically+endangered+Black+necked+Crane.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Black necked Crane</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is very little visible in the
way of accommodation here. There are a couple of tented camps near Pongunagu
right at the point one first sees the lake. Since it is a day trip for us, we
do not check out any stay options. After spending a half hour there, we head
back towards Debring and the main highway. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
roads are very good most of the way today except for the detour to the lake
though one can’t really call it bad. The area around Debring is dotted with the
tents of the nomads (the Changpas) spaced well apart though loosely congregated
within say shouting distance of each other with the sheared wool from their
livestock (sheep) lying outside all along in this region. Either they are doing well for themselves or
it is the monetary help extended from the government that enables the presence
of an SUV outside each tent we see! </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCdhiqMr30RqoABtWFDa2dNIf5wquFga-skCSwQBuoYR69kR_RurfMyCMS9ANBGw_zZ-o2aYvyb9mVhYr261VfKrr_at1x4i9y5pVXbWzSviKhvPmWNMSymByk5kIO9NImtUZMKR5K3AS/s1600/A+lone+tent+of+one+of+the+Changpas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCdhiqMr30RqoABtWFDa2dNIf5wquFga-skCSwQBuoYR69kR_RurfMyCMS9ANBGw_zZ-o2aYvyb9mVhYr261VfKrr_at1x4i9y5pVXbWzSviKhvPmWNMSymByk5kIO9NImtUZMKR5K3AS/s1600/A+lone+tent+of+one+of+the+Changpas.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A lone tent of one of the Changpas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
road slowly ascends in wide loops. Right at the very distant top, we cross the
famous Thanglangla, the second highest pass in the world at over 5300 mtrs. The
views from here are superlative...</span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuItvmCgM6DfapO6Ryy_PGVpoCHuJneh6k8txPzHXIHazORbssTIBUAvLtE4HSQWvttXCkPndNFbPFRO8ySMu9OfEozGS-YKNRYRyLh6ad2btZSajnIn2SQss-u-N2Tsvn9CDZsG_7VfWH/s1600/Thanglangla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuItvmCgM6DfapO6Ryy_PGVpoCHuJneh6k8txPzHXIHazORbssTIBUAvLtE4HSQWvttXCkPndNFbPFRO8ySMu9OfEozGS-YKNRYRyLh6ad2btZSajnIn2SQss-u-N2Tsvn9CDZsG_7VfWH/s1600/Thanglangla.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thanglangla</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJvkpwRx9bdt52az4kCxEGwIUlkpJz5QPxVsJtfynD_3Kd4u54h5nEthxBVnE9Rm89De2HseMBu9UyItYJaI4_7HEfV6B7eYTBRyGCiszXMdbFof4zQvK3PE87SH2msY6j66IPZh2Bl0t/s1600/View+from+almost+the+top+of+Tanglangla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJvkpwRx9bdt52az4kCxEGwIUlkpJz5QPxVsJtfynD_3Kd4u54h5nEthxBVnE9Rm89De2HseMBu9UyItYJaI4_7HEfV6B7eYTBRyGCiszXMdbFof4zQvK3PE87SH2msY6j66IPZh2Bl0t/s1600/View+from+almost+the+top+of+Tanglangla.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">View from almost the top of Tanglangla</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">As
we drive towards Upshi and Leh, we pass Rumtse with tiny fields all bright
yellow and vibrant green alongside the pristine blue of the river. There are
chortens on the wayside and the landscape changes colour at regular intervals. Right
about here there is a startling change as the mountains aroud take on a
vinaceous hue! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllmwYHIbIVp-1KBL6OkdEQap9Vcysy7y4w9fSGqqOsNOzBrnBAmT0OMkfB7RTmTCuLyxinrIBxfDpkTJD9dFKaw9QgRwFmXnYmwh561g5oKJeRVUkqw3J5IeNBpG0rx1pujbzMFEoYlCa/s1600/Vibrant+yellow+fields+along+the+way+at+Rumtse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllmwYHIbIVp-1KBL6OkdEQap9Vcysy7y4w9fSGqqOsNOzBrnBAmT0OMkfB7RTmTCuLyxinrIBxfDpkTJD9dFKaw9QgRwFmXnYmwh561g5oKJeRVUkqw3J5IeNBpG0rx1pujbzMFEoYlCa/s1600/Vibrant+yellow+fields+along+the+way+at+Rumtse.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vibrant yellow fields along the way at Rumtse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijD7N8EYyUYGW1yDoiNWh9lzDrGTx5SUZrkWxvecl5jyLAQBbItMGQaBm5bZPON8F8GHD_5KTcr4iAkXbYe_akF_1OCdGdSmGlf_3aiwPIyELHgCXyrPkY6yjVTZjlSWgnMSLIUVM4pgUi/s1600/Changing+colours+of+the+landscape.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijD7N8EYyUYGW1yDoiNWh9lzDrGTx5SUZrkWxvecl5jyLAQBbItMGQaBm5bZPON8F8GHD_5KTcr4iAkXbYe_akF_1OCdGdSmGlf_3aiwPIyELHgCXyrPkY6yjVTZjlSWgnMSLIUVM4pgUi/s1600/Changing+colours+of+the+landscape.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Changing colours of the landscape</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At
Karu we turn towards the Hemis Gompa for the benefit of our fellow passengers.
We have done this trip (to Leh) before and seen the monastery. We spend the
time birdwatching around the Gompa. A treat it is! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcQLMmDW8VVvwSQNR-hzEBXIt5JCcgX2w449HIyP87iJXcVxVWtNuiWpFZmTlXSFlmGoQQApyfgHUWNRj0j-laTUqqsQxA9EABQ88QqKkYviRG5PENvqqOQdBI1D9NDHFrLS5E1K9DTyI/s1600/Tibetan+Snowfinch+feeding+the+young.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcQLMmDW8VVvwSQNR-hzEBXIt5JCcgX2w449HIyP87iJXcVxVWtNuiWpFZmTlXSFlmGoQQApyfgHUWNRj0j-laTUqqsQxA9EABQ88QqKkYviRG5PENvqqOQdBI1D9NDHFrLS5E1K9DTyI/s1600/Tibetan+Snowfinch+feeding+the+young.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tibetan Snowfinch feeding its young</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCLBFe9r8qQ57y5I5LHX12asvl_ZzIjyTsnBbz8Y6Se3FuQ3j7lJ8XU0Dy5ADAY-drGoIzst3xOQRkQGuJkw4KWKjb1-v_GihI550tE1GKyLOWUNwuiS7PaHbLc31duijSWPeHJXfrceE/s1600/Mountain+Chiffchaff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCLBFe9r8qQ57y5I5LHX12asvl_ZzIjyTsnBbz8Y6Se3FuQ3j7lJ8XU0Dy5ADAY-drGoIzst3xOQRkQGuJkw4KWKjb1-v_GihI550tE1GKyLOWUNwuiS7PaHbLc31duijSWPeHJXfrceE/s1600/Mountain+Chiffchaff.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mountain Chiffchaff</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGswkJ2UVTpuBfRu-AB-n4vDCpnwi7gPSK-QjMuvUn4Rg6JdFQWO18Fkq8kJ9yDO1fyRy4ipK2OhqFfFCXDDJ_NRpMrlqOqZHJKJUpgdanIbEKKwIJMQcRJvmvtTIOZqpv-QTKZUvyYK4C/s1600/Chukar+(partridge).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGswkJ2UVTpuBfRu-AB-n4vDCpnwi7gPSK-QjMuvUn4Rg6JdFQWO18Fkq8kJ9yDO1fyRy4ipK2OhqFfFCXDDJ_NRpMrlqOqZHJKJUpgdanIbEKKwIJMQcRJvmvtTIOZqpv-QTKZUvyYK4C/s1600/Chukar+(partridge).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chukar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xwuhidKR1ho1ut7x-HlO0pahh8ky2GgXPmA1goFeYHxhmZNvED0kQdACc7LVi-n5QTWDw3ab_xQBVqaVF9oDGpqXr_WHLxAJFBPJvx4HCYS3V0tEAJAhF4vDtT_yD7F_wdjaa3c8JFyV/s1600/Black+billed+Magpie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xwuhidKR1ho1ut7x-HlO0pahh8ky2GgXPmA1goFeYHxhmZNvED0kQdACc7LVi-n5QTWDw3ab_xQBVqaVF9oDGpqXr_WHLxAJFBPJvx4HCYS3V0tEAJAhF4vDtT_yD7F_wdjaa3c8JFyV/s1600/Black+billed+Magpie.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Black billed Magpie</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It
is getting dark and we move out towards Leh. I look forward to seeing the
Stakna Gompa even from a distance since I totally love the setting it is at.
Much photographed, it looks mysterious, enticing, austere yet vibrant all at
the same time! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTd0inTpSdIr6NBAdIiqjDwXYxcxiLhunsLAjvGc3lc8HLLEaKZBUPFUO11yXBj1XcC3C5UsYkVSI1W6pE0ciODWVNZ51jCBUeb1Upu93NIhNzAtks7elQz2q_h7vkytL3gC8pQ_1N3JV/s1600/The+much+photographed+Stakna+Gompa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTd0inTpSdIr6NBAdIiqjDwXYxcxiLhunsLAjvGc3lc8HLLEaKZBUPFUO11yXBj1XcC3C5UsYkVSI1W6pE0ciODWVNZ51jCBUeb1Upu93NIhNzAtks7elQz2q_h7vkytL3gC8pQ_1N3JV/s1600/The+much+photographed+Stakna+Gompa.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The much photographed Stakna Gompa</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is definitely one of the most
scenic routes I have ever driven on... all the way from Shimla, through
Kinnaur, Spiti, Lahaul and now Ladakh! I feel blessed to witness such beauty
firsthand!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We drive through the outskirts of Leh
and go towards Nimmu on the other side. Enroute we stop at the Gurudwara
Patthar Sahib and the Magnetic Hill, regroup with one of our other vehicles and
then proceed to our campsite. It is after dark by the time we reach our camp.
The gush of the Indus is heard in our tents since we are right at the river’s
edge. A campfire set up at the riverside is beckoning. A sumptuous dinner later
we hit the sack!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The journey continuous... <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-47900897303664427762014-10-09T23:06:00.000+05:302019-08-16T10:58:13.624+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
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Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Goa - Delhi.... the journey begins in the plains</a></b></span></div>
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<b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal</span></a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank">Chhitkul... The emerald green Valley!</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank">Destination Pooh...</a></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spiti.... journey through ‘The middle land’</span></a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Road to Chandratal</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank">Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></u></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/white-water-rafting-leh-and-khardungla.html" target="_blank">White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lahaul and Spiti are some of India’s
remotest regions. Spiti is characterised by completely barren, snow capped
mountains in a high altitude cold desert. Sparsely interspersed by small
patches of greenery, it has picturesque villages of whitewashed mud and brick
houses clinging to snow fed streams and rivers. <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Spiti valley ends at Kunzumla
where Lahaul starts and together, they form the district of Lahaul and Spiti. Lahaul
is greener, though it becomes arid and a cold desert as one drives away from
Keylong and towards Leh on the Manali-Leh highway. Our exploration of Lahaul
started with Chandratal yesterday. We look forward to traversing through to the
northern most point of Lahaul with Sarchu being our destination today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yesterday, we entered Lahaul via the
Kunzumla and saw the beautiful Chandratal. This morning our aim is to make it
from Chandratal to Gramphoo before the water crossings become even more
hazardous due to swelling waters closer to mid-day. Our tight schedule puts
paid to any idea of visiting Chandratal once more in the morning! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">19
Jul 2014. We leave after a quick breakfast by 0630 hrs. Monsoon is making its
presence felt in this rain shadow region with the slow drizzle refusing to
stop. The fog hugs the mountainsides and progress is correspondingly slower. We
cross the bridge across the Chandra and reach Batal. Batal is a two shop and a
HPPWD guesthouse place with nothing else around. A couple of bikers are sipping
steaming tea in the chill of the morning.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaoheRmzTgx8Z-ERY7OwwEyd8Yy3L0yCMctCtlUBTZHJOcCWH-Bl61cTqrx7hFBs_HO8659TYY7oIZtwxE9slEI6wWY51eM62TY1CcMydxlhoFDzJknHFU_uWEn_F3S9kyyU9hZIAxFaN/s1600/Motorable+road+for+Chandratal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaoheRmzTgx8Z-ERY7OwwEyd8Yy3L0yCMctCtlUBTZHJOcCWH-Bl61cTqrx7hFBs_HO8659TYY7oIZtwxE9slEI6wWY51eM62TY1CcMydxlhoFDzJknHFU_uWEn_F3S9kyyU9hZIAxFaN/s1600/Motorable+road+for+Chandratal.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">R</span>oad from Chandratal</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUboo6Y5TP1uK2Z_PJEzI5UgWv_iS6kQg-ElUTJeDKOrVuUzZjsACRh6TaVBB-cM80tUyeKFZ6Jty_HoXXdzPtZPfJ0Ksg4fy4ZFlYaPTW95nE-Uv6lvfvKAU-cTDcwE5xC1lFPTvv_qS5/s1600/Chandra+valley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUboo6Y5TP1uK2Z_PJEzI5UgWv_iS6kQg-ElUTJeDKOrVuUzZjsACRh6TaVBB-cM80tUyeKFZ6Jty_HoXXdzPtZPfJ0Ksg4fy4ZFlYaPTW95nE-Uv6lvfvKAU-cTDcwE5xC1lFPTvv_qS5/s1600/Chandra+valley.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the banks of the Chandra</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
(dirt) road winds along at the river level and what a road it is! The track is
filled with jagged rock fragments from weathering like scree and the smooth water
worn pebbles and stones. Huge boulders intrude on it arbitrarily. There are
uneven overhangs and blind foggy corners when the river is running close and
the road rises up the cliffs. Streams take possession of it whenever it is
convenient...! There are still snow drifts along the path and at times, the
road has been cleared through them or around them. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9MHP6hqKyttgA37743HYoAWAsahfCPVxClykJqsQk9VS32Li2pT9gO3GttY7c_SVXG0JNHd6jfPHTFSZWsatxUrGnWcxSGzWFrE2pQ6PZifOMAzVdFUc10H4jJwHiz7OBQRxE0z4aEgV/s1600/Road+to+Gramphoo+just+after+Batal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9MHP6hqKyttgA37743HYoAWAsahfCPVxClykJqsQk9VS32Li2pT9gO3GttY7c_SVXG0JNHd6jfPHTFSZWsatxUrGnWcxSGzWFrE2pQ6PZifOMAzVdFUc10H4jJwHiz7OBQRxE0z4aEgV/s1600/Road+to+Gramphoo+just+after+Batal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Road from Batal to Chota Dhara</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzATnMebt68SRZNG1DsTjQn_RjzMRDjpYBlsg3uo1C2w-Bs_VUgXoXOZYzbP1jgrrGSq-2uDVAtXzwCliYKhaJXRwNkISpBX_JYNfq-J3sf20Aa4W8Ja4wM6Nm8eg44-m94OOvg0DTz6-x/s1600/Rock+scape.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzATnMebt68SRZNG1DsTjQn_RjzMRDjpYBlsg3uo1C2w-Bs_VUgXoXOZYzbP1jgrrGSq-2uDVAtXzwCliYKhaJXRwNkISpBX_JYNfq-J3sf20Aa4W8Ja4wM6Nm8eg44-m94OOvg0DTz6-x/s1600/Rock+scape.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rock scape</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin44lCRYSM7r-Ynu8iRFBExTTFozaquG9hhA1j7Dsace8RtgbJ_6_KUtVQgCDLw2CsfeZ-LZr2bhmiEiVfmILYULf3zTgpgubdBD6vHxzhRG3SGsXyiF-grc21dy9VlujTjE4yd181oWwW/s1600/Between+Batal+and+Chota+Dhara.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin44lCRYSM7r-Ynu8iRFBExTTFozaquG9hhA1j7Dsace8RtgbJ_6_KUtVQgCDLw2CsfeZ-LZr2bhmiEiVfmILYULf3zTgpgubdBD6vHxzhRG3SGsXyiF-grc21dy9VlujTjE4yd181oWwW/s1600/Between+Batal+and+Chota+Dhara.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Between Batal and Chota Dhara</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We
cross Chota Dhara and the not so ‘chota’ water crossings thereafter! Driving
through the water is rough because the mud and finer gravel has been washed off
leaving the larger stones and sharp rock fragments. At one point I see an i20
being driven ahead of us. It stops at one of the large water (almost river!)
crossings and the passengers all get out. They wade through the rushing waters
and the car is laboriously and precariously driven over with much stopping and
pushing. Only after it crests the incline on the other side are the passengers
allowed back in. In fact this continues in the next big crossing too but we
find some space and overtake this adventurous bunch! The pictures below will
give a better idea of the nature of the roads... </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw679scHqiJvt9d0FpHssJ2dWUa6Zky_Wtnw5l_2iTyqeWIP4T7PTBYkDiPU9q_u2uWPJs5IceD-XjzcQ2SchlkymGDSBERrWa4fnApQJp4VPzIVLXklpEEkEL-ABfWYCsSsRYh3x6q7-6/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw679scHqiJvt9d0FpHssJ2dWUa6Zky_Wtnw5l_2iTyqeWIP4T7PTBYkDiPU9q_u2uWPJs5IceD-XjzcQ2SchlkymGDSBERrWa4fnApQJp4VPzIVLXklpEEkEL-ABfWYCsSsRYh3x6q7-6/s1600/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwER3ssDLBVNwBIPkd3cxs4q_L4EoJwHXxm8ZrUDXkc_DYOAuu35jQuTQOX8pwgRDvxCHgGVNA1DcCTgnA9keActQCagW29hSOyob59_5YXsqefgloG9WgkFGN_CgtiwlKpqsZyKoOg3o/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwER3ssDLBVNwBIPkd3cxs4q_L4EoJwHXxm8ZrUDXkc_DYOAuu35jQuTQOX8pwgRDvxCHgGVNA1DcCTgnA9keActQCagW29hSOyob59_5YXsqefgloG9WgkFGN_CgtiwlKpqsZyKoOg3o/s1600/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvZkyqmQujbktoX1zdWKad_2MMPx9Y-Pj5-8zm11GkwVjSuOysiDGqj8-ClWY2SD5PIs5xTzZnZ5Va1CS3FO974qWEEOlmnZu_NEsxjVn3vjt5OvxHgDtTBAybVz18RPTlLm06aVubJRa/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvZkyqmQujbktoX1zdWKad_2MMPx9Y-Pj5-8zm11GkwVjSuOysiDGqj8-ClWY2SD5PIs5xTzZnZ5Va1CS3FO974qWEEOlmnZu_NEsxjVn3vjt5OvxHgDtTBAybVz18RPTlLm06aVubJRa/s1600/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFcz6Ijy85XhEeDA6rcGAGjKiYvSbbQLwtTIn4xLoWHcNN5SovpAJxaePjYEfMUy8sg4q5jzDpVxO8gI_eX45RoqptElAEM4Uec9mKAsbsFuZQw7Rc_ngbWaIuJqqgX8KUkE1QPu0VKAf/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFcz6Ijy85XhEeDA6rcGAGjKiYvSbbQLwtTIn4xLoWHcNN5SovpAJxaePjYEfMUy8sg4q5jzDpVxO8gI_eX45RoqptElAEM4Uec9mKAsbsFuZQw7Rc_ngbWaIuJqqgX8KUkE1QPu0VKAf/s1600/4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlwD5NQt7z5ElrCTZDXI7GLIW37J_Fc8fXoWbd788Kh5zITKtHBkTDAIY6MMSw6LxPWuVjKTgsIhqurTJ3Uss_Bk3X5jAoG0YeBIpKk3c7v91MdhyphenhyphenDG5oWChr9F_nVNHYWvvO3tsYfChe/s1600/Almost+a+river+crossing...!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlwD5NQt7z5ElrCTZDXI7GLIW37J_Fc8fXoWbd788Kh5zITKtHBkTDAIY6MMSw6LxPWuVjKTgsIhqurTJ3Uss_Bk3X5jAoG0YeBIpKk3c7v91MdhyphenhyphenDG5oWChr9F_nVNHYWvvO3tsYfChe/s1600/Almost+a+river+crossing...!.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Almost a river crossing!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We
reach Chhatru which is the end point of the Hampta pass trek starting at Manali
and crossing over the Rohtang range to end here. We cross over to the left bank
of the Chandra and the ascent towards Gramphoo begins. The streams still cross
the roads with impunity but in between, the road improves. An abundance of tiny
colourful flowers in patches of lush green grasses signals the beginnings of a
wetter biome.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMMUONcmUJtN6uMcw7FxvHXLTCKsuaa-ypPDNGESKxLok9Ji1pEulvQxZaciuhCBXuzRfK6ugZhMO4f848tSRpXiSgFT52cY6vMn69VF-q8H6cfMFdHa5iBEte8-fvOVFP_9vbibCgdpi/s1600/Between+Chhatru+and+Gramphoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMMUONcmUJtN6uMcw7FxvHXLTCKsuaa-ypPDNGESKxLok9Ji1pEulvQxZaciuhCBXuzRfK6ugZhMO4f848tSRpXiSgFT52cY6vMn69VF-q8H6cfMFdHa5iBEte8-fvOVFP_9vbibCgdpi/s1600/Between+Chhatru+and+Gramphoo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ahead of Chhatru towards Gramphoo</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuG2Ez9msJlcqd5J4msk9u9Vw2Z94OJcEaGI-Acuh3EKzxeKiAwb6jphlBh1HKyUozdICeuqSYUDLGHKYIJR8BcZtzdTpiFWnK8i50pse_uCbh4ry108A4EIFDET7xxL8ECg0qQoQzKDe/s1600/Tiny+colourful+flowers....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuG2Ez9msJlcqd5J4msk9u9Vw2Z94OJcEaGI-Acuh3EKzxeKiAwb6jphlBh1HKyUozdICeuqSYUDLGHKYIJR8BcZtzdTpiFWnK8i50pse_uCbh4ry108A4EIFDET7xxL8ECg0qQoQzKDe/s1600/Tiny+colourful+flowers....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Colourful flowers in grassy patches</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7Uh9Svh_O00fsc1l4uokU3TjuvxRA1T_XFecZvT4tvUAw8WA2mNY1ALM19ISxTWYk96Ka3sDOyqtv7j6EfYwZMwwQsh0rQ5vnHx1ETd0cCshD5te-DNLWiOGYpkoCUfsaf9ndK-dMU84/s1600/White+capped+Redstart+with+nesting+material.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7Uh9Svh_O00fsc1l4uokU3TjuvxRA1T_XFecZvT4tvUAw8WA2mNY1ALM19ISxTWYk96Ka3sDOyqtv7j6EfYwZMwwQsh0rQ5vnHx1ETd0cCshD5te-DNLWiOGYpkoCUfsaf9ndK-dMU84/s1600/White+capped+Redstart+with+nesting+material.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White capped water redstart with nesting material</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPuPFDpjDWHIAPdtc0fDCZCnYaNq_g5IKNLNd0REaCOwY-VUl4K-i12co28S5zCkXsJ1bgbzD5nIH5v7r39GGM9fs9Y18SHXjph8ndqPrDMJ2IlcwwXuaCtnIXFRXPos3Tr9m37mqebvp/s1600/White+winged+Redstart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPuPFDpjDWHIAPdtc0fDCZCnYaNq_g5IKNLNd0REaCOwY-VUl4K-i12co28S5zCkXsJ1bgbzD5nIH5v7r39GGM9fs9Y18SHXjph8ndqPrDMJ2IlcwwXuaCtnIXFRXPos3Tr9m37mqebvp/s1600/White+winged+Redstart.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White winged water redstart</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On these roads, distances do not
count. Time taken for travel is hugely dependent on the condition of the roads,
the terrain one is traversing and the magnificence of the landscape which will
force numerous (photo) breaks. We take about 4 hours to drive the 50 odd Kms to
Gramphoo and we count 36 sizable water crossings on the way!<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gramphoo
welcomes us with very heavy traffic creeping through the thickest slush I have
ever seen on the roads. I can feel the vehicle slip and slide loosing traction
on the stretch. Very dicey with over laden trucks for company! </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3qOQMp0_gYqSmevTXX1zSwp5im_LmUgJckrfYP-Co3VTi6GaCdkkD_RSWu4SDLgeN-CQAaz5bFq4Cb8pTEvQMNnmywNh6VHwrJUBYtra7Oa6T6lGr6fQ1m5KrshjGPfYC8Fa7QYFPeCl/s1600/Gramphoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3qOQMp0_gYqSmevTXX1zSwp5im_LmUgJckrfYP-Co3VTi6GaCdkkD_RSWu4SDLgeN-CQAaz5bFq4Cb8pTEvQMNnmywNh6VHwrJUBYtra7Oa6T6lGr6fQ1m5KrshjGPfYC8Fa7QYFPeCl/s1600/Gramphoo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gramphoo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once
on the other side, it is smooth sailing. The water crossings are a breeze after
what we have just gone through and the well tarred road a luxury! The green all
around is a feast for deprived senses. Hypnotic though the charm of the spartan
Spiti Valley, Lahaul entices us with abundance... and we are captivated!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78ziZhBiFjHi5QtSmLDHzBih90H3eSKTGPmnuLYJiC1gt96VeyVVGcm9Vo64WkHSyTm4AKiJ7NPIqFNzXybwe7CwWFg3i9lfH-DBv2a1inZePUMXMDDyCr3FEOw85F6GmE75DKkxTMQ_R/s1600/Chandra+River+Valley+in+Lahaul+,+Himachal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78ziZhBiFjHi5QtSmLDHzBih90H3eSKTGPmnuLYJiC1gt96VeyVVGcm9Vo64WkHSyTm4AKiJ7NPIqFNzXybwe7CwWFg3i9lfH-DBv2a1inZePUMXMDDyCr3FEOw85F6GmE75DKkxTMQ_R/s1600/Chandra+River+Valley+in+Lahaul+,+Himachal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chandra Valley near Khoksar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Henceforth, it is a straightforward
route to Sarchu with mostly good roads and even better views. <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Chandra River originates at the
glaciers near Baralachla and heads south, flowing past Chandratal, Batal...
Chhatru to reach Tandi. Bhaga flows west from Baralachla and then southwest
through a series of gorges to emerge near Darcha in a wider valley finally
reaching Tandi. At Tandi we see the confluence of the Bhaga with the Chandra. Here
onwards, it is known as the Chandrabhaga which gets renamed as the Chenab once
it enters Jammu and Kashmir. This stretch through Khoksar, Tandi and Keylong is
quite verdant before the drier regions start after Jispa, Darcha and get really
bone dry around Zing zingbar and onwards to Sarchu. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spring,
summer and autumn are compressed into just a third of the year in these parts.
This time brings new life and it is bursting out with a vengeance. The trees are
all luxuriant with new leaves and laden with fruit. The birds are busy feeding
the young making sure they get strong enough to withstand the harsh winter to
follow. Lunch at Keylong at a roadside Hotel Padma and then off again. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cuIlfojd4mcnwADLaT6DA1zkt5Qfl6GD3Yr8jmsTr3JhhObxczmC8SYXCKv3T1yYDWvjAfbeO72ZWMg-BG_b_XJL63boWr0vVA98WGh6XGAeFRLmURPK7TNspnsrpI_7rNPPheDE7nxK/s1600/Bhaga+River+Valley+just+ahead+of+Keylong.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cuIlfojd4mcnwADLaT6DA1zkt5Qfl6GD3Yr8jmsTr3JhhObxczmC8SYXCKv3T1yYDWvjAfbeO72ZWMg-BG_b_XJL63boWr0vVA98WGh6XGAeFRLmURPK7TNspnsrpI_7rNPPheDE7nxK/s1600/Bhaga+River+Valley+just+ahead+of+Keylong.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bhaga valley just ahead of Keylong</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMX2Ozr53RsUEVVoHs9uheZwDJcufYxsD1PTy2nFk0rczlx8pv7e4MlEZQ_gq2Wm6jPxkorUzd9NoQOJf9mYEBJhk152VPJaQAzQnbH6RwBu4Zo8iMVRUqt1hwFVamQQeCvKQG7own3HY1/s1600/Black+Redstart+chicks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMX2Ozr53RsUEVVoHs9uheZwDJcufYxsD1PTy2nFk0rczlx8pv7e4MlEZQ_gq2Wm6jPxkorUzd9NoQOJf9mYEBJhk152VPJaQAzQnbH6RwBu4Zo8iMVRUqt1hwFVamQQeCvKQG7own3HY1/s1600/Black+Redstart+chicks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black redstart chicks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiL_StByJ4DzWlumIY6Zi0sSwt26IR-n40JkCqA16mCMkeY2qXScW7khnUpcPhnsf2-LAI05WazVBT8hYtNuPbu0jyAmkA9GQggQA1FG07X9Xhh4QiMIJiqy2DueKTAM4iozmP-0Efgis/s1600/Black+Redstart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiL_StByJ4DzWlumIY6Zi0sSwt26IR-n40JkCqA16mCMkeY2qXScW7khnUpcPhnsf2-LAI05WazVBT8hYtNuPbu0jyAmkA9GQggQA1FG07X9Xhh4QiMIJiqy2DueKTAM4iozmP-0Efgis/s1600/Black+Redstart.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black Redstart</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPLaJHYHDkrlvqwaqWyVf0S616OssCL4gJOBkPpK1lA0pDYn60W74xj16VnkY9tu7MFJIap2XcO1lWemJGGzk_RRX_4DzclEFJp790gGZyq6yeAhNyasETZ894TFXyNSlTum7hoV1zGaq/s1600/White+Wagtail+feeding+its+young.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPLaJHYHDkrlvqwaqWyVf0S616OssCL4gJOBkPpK1lA0pDYn60W74xj16VnkY9tu7MFJIap2XcO1lWemJGGzk_RRX_4DzclEFJp790gGZyq6yeAhNyasETZ894TFXyNSlTum7hoV1zGaq/s1600/White+Wagtail+feeding+its+young.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White wagtail feeding its young</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jispa
passes by followed by Darcha, all the while the flora declining to just stunted
bushes and then grasses as we head higher towards the mighty Baralachla pass. Deepak Tal is a glassy turquoise pond near
Patseo, a little before we start uphill for the pass. As the road ambles up, a
good smattering of snow patches gives a very dalmatiany look to the mountains
around. The snow patches get denser as we reach higher and many a times the
road has been carved out of the frozen slope. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVObBmvtxfDPvY3exS5_1q9ijk78SZQiMpOLHvilcgJ7C6U50z3kgJbZvUpOoEyH3Hm_qutJv-t7FH-yHCtWSYzW83rqx-foSPp5fZpwVRnmhHUl4MrVy6gQ6JSL9is6I2u5bZ57Omq5N/s1600/Somewhere+around+Darcha.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVObBmvtxfDPvY3exS5_1q9ijk78SZQiMpOLHvilcgJ7C6U50z3kgJbZvUpOoEyH3Hm_qutJv-t7FH-yHCtWSYzW83rqx-foSPp5fZpwVRnmhHUl4MrVy6gQ6JSL9is6I2u5bZ57Omq5N/s1600/Somewhere+around+Darcha.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Somewhere around Darcha</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZfBi92BjTttX2oZasoBOLxp8hmEDi-0JAUmdC56-D71PmWlYS8FYYIglHtx9Awld6tahhELiNCMputlBBlytDKKugzKMyR4g0vle_SV8Izx2mVEyM_N64UHII_I_O5KQz6WuvyLTM7m4/s1600/Ascending+the+Baralachla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZfBi92BjTttX2oZasoBOLxp8hmEDi-0JAUmdC56-D71PmWlYS8FYYIglHtx9Awld6tahhELiNCMputlBBlytDKKugzKMyR4g0vle_SV8Izx2mVEyM_N64UHII_I_O5KQz6WuvyLTM7m4/s1600/Ascending+the+Baralachla.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ascending the Baralachla</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-H__JqvVZn87xHdjHjiQTlAn_dhcXT7RPhiFAAbjrF16bQ2hcVlPCtlXVUEeyn9vrv-e2cVvHPkWuX_PlWoPncdNhUw5SajcnZNx5edZPr_Q2s0s30Kxlt7pPMr6Jey3tVxUxnNEb53f/s1600/Our+Scorpio+against+a+snowy+slope+at+Baralachla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-H__JqvVZn87xHdjHjiQTlAn_dhcXT7RPhiFAAbjrF16bQ2hcVlPCtlXVUEeyn9vrv-e2cVvHPkWuX_PlWoPncdNhUw5SajcnZNx5edZPr_Q2s0s30Kxlt7pPMr6Jey3tVxUxnNEb53f/s1600/Our+Scorpio+against+a+snowy+slope+at+Baralachla.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our Scorpio against the snowy slopes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAIHt4cRU0VlW0Gcxw0RKZ9DB1THvJEvkO2piOVvEl1dIao6P9GsFNmoF8hRdCeVJaGULsoNQoNuEiWc95J53g0HLfkQgsNGEn0vkfk8zaBN6tNG8ZUx15pwKwvHmumaa8hYg6JOQQrL6/s1600/Looking+south+from+Baralachla.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAIHt4cRU0VlW0Gcxw0RKZ9DB1THvJEvkO2piOVvEl1dIao6P9GsFNmoF8hRdCeVJaGULsoNQoNuEiWc95J53g0HLfkQgsNGEn0vkfk8zaBN6tNG8ZUx15pwKwvHmumaa8hYg6JOQQrL6/s1600/Looking+south+from+Baralachla.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suraj
Tal, literally the ‘Lake of the Sun God’, is an exquisite emerald green lake bounded
on its left bank by the Leh Manali Highway. The lake is fed by glacial melt and
its pristine waters form the source of the Bhaga River. Our attention is caught
by a little bird with a wavering gait on the snow near the road. It is a Horned
Lark juvenile, learning the ropes! We drive just three more kilometres. And we’re
at Baralachla (4883 m) ... an exhilarating feeling! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXM6hvxYjLDc2c2VNwV8lN9ZQTyzphoNQG9EvlpAWFZZixRduWWD6Rth5BR-bq6ykmpM-Ogo9TFqu0RBpTWb6CkewdFmayF2VKCxN3zc6pbvQfabw7UflYA8PV1t8gQ-Sc4nB9-8ZplK9/s1600/Horned+Lark+chick+on+the+snow+in+Baralachla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXM6hvxYjLDc2c2VNwV8lN9ZQTyzphoNQG9EvlpAWFZZixRduWWD6Rth5BR-bq6ykmpM-Ogo9TFqu0RBpTWb6CkewdFmayF2VKCxN3zc6pbvQfabw7UflYA8PV1t8gQ-Sc4nB9-8ZplK9/s1600/Horned+Lark+chick+on+the+snow+in+Baralachla.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Horned Lark chick</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp62_Vuh5IosUqjBjcT2t9_W7O-AXEH1RsPf_4lL5eVJ3klZx6cibWta5oyZpG0OjPO6YQCEi51YMylrVQx_rdCQwdYDLnSoPMYjdItuHNzuKvIvIa3Ea_580HMqaWWay0-QLkJswkTAT6/s1600/Suraj+Tal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp62_Vuh5IosUqjBjcT2t9_W7O-AXEH1RsPf_4lL5eVJ3klZx6cibWta5oyZpG0OjPO6YQCEi51YMylrVQx_rdCQwdYDLnSoPMYjdItuHNzuKvIvIa3Ea_580HMqaWWay0-QLkJswkTAT6/s1600/Suraj+Tal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Suraj Tal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_LToVQSmKNnV5zzY36aQnw2fcguBePDJFkxgyerVtgwVtZnSj7PB5TWtwSawRKEQBrFs8hyphenhyphenm3T-FER-xv5rkmKNPj1mhaRLEhy28sCItXg8ig40WlO_FrjWLUkipb4j2_ZJYCy25KGRd/s1600/View+from+Baralachla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_LToVQSmKNnV5zzY36aQnw2fcguBePDJFkxgyerVtgwVtZnSj7PB5TWtwSawRKEQBrFs8hyphenhyphenm3T-FER-xv5rkmKNPj1mhaRLEhy28sCItXg8ig40WlO_FrjWLUkipb4j2_ZJYCy25KGRd/s1600/View+from+Baralachla.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View from Baralachla</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI_LwfKqXy_9_j10u3mcacsehFEn5eyTKfe-QEUVEZ5AR57pFKpybft3UPBVgMk6gBEC2VaAm8h9CaWkOt7zc2O7KsQbadHFvPqjJNW7xG1thjbOXuh5raTPsQ3vn0vJ42kCFxI4dQvQB/s1600/Baralachla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI_LwfKqXy_9_j10u3mcacsehFEn5eyTKfe-QEUVEZ5AR57pFKpybft3UPBVgMk6gBEC2VaAm8h9CaWkOt7zc2O7KsQbadHFvPqjJNW7xG1thjbOXuh5raTPsQ3vn0vJ42kCFxI4dQvQB/s1600/Baralachla.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Baralachla Top</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
other side of Baralachla also has a river flowing down, the Yunam river, a
tributary of the Zanskar which in turn joins the Indus. In fact, the pass acts
as a boundary between the watershed areas of the Bhaga and the Yunam rivers. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pF5g1Xgv4kV1W5fZpEfXvrhwCnB9O14Y5VCAW4EQbUP156jFUR2HbY7Y_2OPp3kLOKJpZUlQCqutZXHucuFlRN4Qj9SJMRQijjv6XUGF0kslkpXfkIY3IxQF89ThOWG3QUi5bhe2yapV/s1600/Picture+in+picture....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pF5g1Xgv4kV1W5fZpEfXvrhwCnB9O14Y5VCAW4EQbUP156jFUR2HbY7Y_2OPp3kLOKJpZUlQCqutZXHucuFlRN4Qj9SJMRQijjv6XUGF0kslkpXfkIY3IxQF89ThOWG3QUi5bhe2yapV/s1600/Picture+in+picture....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Picture in picture</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Yunam is just a little sliver on the riverbed contrasting sharply with the dry,
rugged terrain around. For kilometres there is no road to speak of, just a dirt
track kept distinguishable from the rest of the debris dotted area by the
occasional vehicle plying on it. Right there, is a bright splash of red. Turns
out to be an elusive Crimson fronted Rosefinch. There are surprises in the most
unexpected places!! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PtuVlQv5KZewS_s61UIGhO7JnWyYQSnvwjZNmXQsFEy8Oab7IhDhdM9hJuuLeV57i8RqMDhS77fyRadpTcBRIKyheWB6q54ZeuWpmrnADBouL6vsAaKjt4jw0FHkCN1SaI7cAmbf6nKF/s1600/Crimson+fronted+Rosefinch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PtuVlQv5KZewS_s61UIGhO7JnWyYQSnvwjZNmXQsFEy8Oab7IhDhdM9hJuuLeV57i8RqMDhS77fyRadpTcBRIKyheWB6q54ZeuWpmrnADBouL6vsAaKjt4jw0FHkCN1SaI7cAmbf6nKF/s1600/Crimson+fronted+Rosefinch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crimson fronted rosefinch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just this morning I was overwhelmed to see the
abundance that water has bestowed in the southern part of Lahaul. I thought
that is glorious. And now I stand awestruck in this dry and desolate landscape where
soaring mountains surround a vast high altitude rolling plain through which is
a deep gorge and a river flowing through it... We are a little short of Sarchu
and these are the Lingti plains where there is virtually no precipitation even
in the winters...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And
finally, Sarchu! There is almost nothing in the place except a few tented
camps during the summer months and a small army detachment year round. The wind
howls making me burrow deeper into my jacket the minute I step out. We take a
walk around the place and soak in its unique charm. But nature has been kind in
all its adversity. Or maybe it is the stark unspoilt and unpolluted beauty that
I am so taken with. Such places need no adornment, no embellishment. Just this
raw, unadulterated nature is enough. This is a place one must travel to at
least once in this lifetime! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeqm_gLBH7e_M4-seAK-ekNz4WrU07bt3TSUo3X-ECp3IjLMp7BI27HXG1cUBLSfT-ihNJrCTGYCXwyKA_JueWjQ4QwABIzRpxLX48LXnqlaRujhhS5nUj2dn4eV7238Dcwfk3vGUNEln/s1600/Sarchu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="495" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeqm_gLBH7e_M4-seAK-ekNz4WrU07bt3TSUo3X-ECp3IjLMp7BI27HXG1cUBLSfT-ihNJrCTGYCXwyKA_JueWjQ4QwABIzRpxLX48LXnqlaRujhhS5nUj2dn4eV7238Dcwfk3vGUNEln/s1600/Sarchu.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sarchu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftYeSEVTGo9J7MYaOw_gCRd6SnAdGrvlxlDKsYTA0Amzbtrv0ryP3YspcGGaI8uj8Pd0bjO052a_HfG13xQp_PzDTdD5kyDIWT4bL8rTAcKc91zIAYiZhyphenhyphenjKnWhEeT_i4cpE0ZMiXlZJL/s1600/Snowfall+in+the+higher+reaches+at+Sarchu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftYeSEVTGo9J7MYaOw_gCRd6SnAdGrvlxlDKsYTA0Amzbtrv0ryP3YspcGGaI8uj8Pd0bjO052a_HfG13xQp_PzDTdD5kyDIWT4bL8rTAcKc91zIAYiZhyphenhyphenjKnWhEeT_i4cpE0ZMiXlZJL/s1600/Snowfall+in+the+higher+reaches+at+Sarchu.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snowfall in the higher reaches at Sarchu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This morning started with this grey
overhang of clouds accompanied by a drizzle which gives us company till
Gramphoo. On and off, it has been with us through the day and by now, the ominous
clouds are threatening to open up and the biting wind drives us indoors. In
minutes, it is snowing on the higher reaches of the surrounding mountains. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The team is happy to have come this
far mostly ticking off all the points on our agenda. The Docs’ have been
dishing out AIDS advice and awareness at every opportunity be it tea stalls or
remote camps. Tomorrow will be the last leg of our journey when we reach Leh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The journey continues...</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-77142278819440622422014-10-04T13:45:00.002+05:302019-08-14T13:30:10.921+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
Road to Chandratal</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Goa - Delhi.... the journey begins in the plains</a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal</span></a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank">Chhitkul... The emerald green Valley!</a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank">Destination Pooh...</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spiti.... journey through ‘The middle land’</span></a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Road to Chandratal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank">Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</span></a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/white-water-rafting-leh-and-khardungla.html" target="_blank">White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</a></span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h1>
<o:p></o:p></h1>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">18
Jul 2014. At the crack of dawn I am out trying to check if the weather has
turned for the better. It is still drizzling but there is a brightness about
the morning which is making me more optimistic. We are going to do Chandratal today
either on foot or hopefully, if the access is cleared, by road. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJjSHggmfWhYtt1RfWI0bb_VTFyOpV2gL62r9gOl-tfBNKFwJathIx3FLUi7DexgG21e9cfigXNZbk1xb4mpP73ULu6NjGtd5y56yj7HsshLwd2jrBe-nmuRgxZJEEZ5Fyk5O3N4g42mU/s1600/Picture+perfect...+Losar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJjSHggmfWhYtt1RfWI0bb_VTFyOpV2gL62r9gOl-tfBNKFwJathIx3FLUi7DexgG21e9cfigXNZbk1xb4mpP73ULu6NjGtd5y56yj7HsshLwd2jrBe-nmuRgxZJEEZ5Fyk5O3N4g42mU/s1600/Picture+perfect...+Losar.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Picture Perfect, Losar...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A
walk around the guesthouse produces a few very tame Hill Pigeons (with the
white band on their tails as opposed to our common Blue Rock Pigeons), some
Common Rosefinches and Eurasian Goldfinches. A surprising sighting is House
Sparrows! At an altitude of 4000 mtrs, I do not expect them but there they
are... and fairly abundant at that! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHCwfr0w6n0wLYIEFertqzHLrPIj8xRqK8z7ivvEm8Ub0-GNLJLXksg2tcpnkk2yOzBo6R4Egq5USJ2IWeovIih4CyVbEIJzHX7LatEUpK-OaMsIgycK1OBE7NxGbNtFwe6t5H5i8Qg2l/s1600/Hill+Pigeon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHCwfr0w6n0wLYIEFertqzHLrPIj8xRqK8z7ivvEm8Ub0-GNLJLXksg2tcpnkk2yOzBo6R4Egq5USJ2IWeovIih4CyVbEIJzHX7LatEUpK-OaMsIgycK1OBE7NxGbNtFwe6t5H5i8Qg2l/s1600/Hill+Pigeon.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hill Pigeon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUx4JSQYRbD7-3MlKviOzjPxw_wRHV64-nnhn5x40gtdM1u0IjatjWw_5q52nd47uN0Zuhq3Z3U-UFYVQr4EZUrunojA8LU841ICzzGJNkCc7ByC53xB_AeZzVJdyeEG38eB_Y4IOZaix/s1600/House+Sparrow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUx4JSQYRbD7-3MlKviOzjPxw_wRHV64-nnhn5x40gtdM1u0IjatjWw_5q52nd47uN0Zuhq3Z3U-UFYVQr4EZUrunojA8LU841ICzzGJNkCc7ByC53xB_AeZzVJdyeEG38eB_Y4IOZaix/s1600/House+Sparrow.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">House Sparrow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One
Scorpio has gone ahead at 0600 hrs on a recce trip of sorts and we are expected
to catch up at Kunzum top to go together from there. The roads are nothing to
write home about but the scenery changes soon as we start the ascent for
Kunzumla. The extremely dry and barren mountains give way to a slightly more
moist landscape. The Spiti basin narrows as we go closer to the river’s origin
at Kunzumla but the valley with shades of pink, beige, grey and dappled with
the white of the stones strewn randomly <span style="font-size: small;">around the grassy green mountainside makes a
striking picture! </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uSrRALqzpx50QCx4kXZXmIj5JOPjUBEhUl5TWqYIK0ZQPyCZVrn3ufGGrUjF32Bzw5IQVY1SqcaMTPmEslYOCYSvGWOxMY_RqFLlseycfI8aFgZbkSzR51dfYinpyEvK2pNGSTolN490/s1600/Ascending+Kunzumla...+source+of+the+Spiti+River.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uSrRALqzpx50QCx4kXZXmIj5JOPjUBEhUl5TWqYIK0ZQPyCZVrn3ufGGrUjF32Bzw5IQVY1SqcaMTPmEslYOCYSvGWOxMY_RqFLlseycfI8aFgZbkSzR51dfYinpyEvK2pNGSTolN490/s1600/Ascending+Kunzumla...+source+of+the+Spiti+River.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ascending Kunzumla... the Spiti river valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
reach Kunzum jot, slightly off the main road and where vehicles take a
customary loop to offer prayers. It is an overcast morning.... has continued to
be so since Losar. More clouds come rolling in and almost obscure the Stupas at
Kunzum Jot. Behind the Stupas and to their right, the track is clearly visible
going to Chandratal. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhgTwtACiUr6vVHnci9kIKBnUqkaJSMmi9kbaG7TNvl-bt8FvrPYqcMFP2bn_hbjv9j51EOHGtaUl0t65rsP4VLGSlpXDLC5uloNdvmoxjof5yPBNQtnEqGkXb2MV6b9pRqqOo7TiJs-C/s1600/Prayers+in+stone.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Prayers in stone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhgTwtACiUr6vVHnci9kIKBnUqkaJSMmi9kbaG7TNvl-bt8FvrPYqcMFP2bn_hbjv9j51EOHGtaUl0t65rsP4VLGSlpXDLC5uloNdvmoxjof5yPBNQtnEqGkXb2MV6b9pRqqOo7TiJs-C/s1600/Prayers+in+stone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lHCXFV0aoprbwH4ZKaaxvPoLlGfhFAkxy7BHEuGSRX4merXCo2MC5AyWeqn1ZI1zANw2t95wPnK8dU_q6P900zJC8itYtpfeLjDteDOFGntHmAeLaaRK2IzZmr5lFr5Y1Y2PwKpBXHh6/s1600/The+Stupas+at+Kunzumla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lHCXFV0aoprbwH4ZKaaxvPoLlGfhFAkxy7BHEuGSRX4merXCo2MC5AyWeqn1ZI1zANw2t95wPnK8dU_q6P900zJC8itYtpfeLjDteDOFGntHmAeLaaRK2IzZmr5lFr5Y1Y2PwKpBXHh6/s1600/The+Stupas+at+Kunzumla.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stupas at Kunzum Jot</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">As our three vehicles halt there, we see no sign of the advance party. After mulling our options, we decide that one vehicle will go down the Kunzumla towards Batal and check out the motorable road to Chandratal since that is the only other place the other Scorpio could be. Sure enough, in a while we get a message from a tourist vehicle coming from Batal that our two Scorpios are at the motorable road and for us to join them there. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By
then it is almost noon. The road down towards Batal is perilous with a steep
down slope and the clouds coming onto the roads reducing visibility
drastically. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIElgnhFzLoMwBxlJcIq-0KRUd2XMcIesskUUNUkBNlwpoX2yiwmWkqixCAQQPKcsRo3lhDxj1e7Jhgoz1E-nYpnuwTP4dgjLctIZcfQB5gL5gFTXWcqMAkDgEPZHiaYMge_UFQHLYszN/s1600/Descending+Kunzumla+towards+Batal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIElgnhFzLoMwBxlJcIq-0KRUd2XMcIesskUUNUkBNlwpoX2yiwmWkqixCAQQPKcsRo3lhDxj1e7Jhgoz1E-nYpnuwTP4dgjLctIZcfQB5gL5gFTXWcqMAkDgEPZHiaYMge_UFQHLYszN/s1600/Descending+Kunzumla+towards+Batal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Descending Kunzumla... towards Batal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In due
course, we come to the turnoff for Chandratal. Turning in we wonder if the road
has been cleared!!?? Yesterday’s news from some travellers on this route was
that they had seen clearance work on but not completed and therefore the road
was not open. This route hugs the scree clad mountainside with the Chandra
River for company on its left. No trees, no bushes and the tallest plant is not
more than 6 inches high. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBokiTUJ2WDtEUhlRvdR8deqbObN9cil91yYBwCr7mZcf0Z5fexwMiS-sDrY1r0ClGAw0pQ_aapSDY-oYHLGDyr7QudCuE7dIERTCOvMn9Zj8HPugsOHkoSlw0UCK1DhbjcIonwvnlQsZq/s1600/Life+blooms+even+in+these+barren+stretches!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBokiTUJ2WDtEUhlRvdR8deqbObN9cil91yYBwCr7mZcf0Z5fexwMiS-sDrY1r0ClGAw0pQ_aapSDY-oYHLGDyr7QudCuE7dIERTCOvMn9Zj8HPugsOHkoSlw0UCK1DhbjcIonwvnlQsZq/s1600/Life+blooms+even+in+these+barren+stretches!.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Life blooms... even in these barren surroundings!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With
a lot of optimism we crawl along the drivable but rough and bumpy road. Within
6-7 kms we come to a halt behind the advance vehicles parked at a point where
the road is wide enough. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLtRoMdy7EXnidfn9k0b8f4onvdiXAxRZzZ57etl456VWTFVGGxDbB7-UnrV52Hv5nuiYxeQS7TUBhTxeTMlnhA1jUQX0xfutMVfRRudkjL90ID1xQlWxIqglT073PZUUrUvs-90esNFW/s1600/Road+to+Chandratal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLtRoMdy7EXnidfn9k0b8f4onvdiXAxRZzZ57etl456VWTFVGGxDbB7-UnrV52Hv5nuiYxeQS7TUBhTxeTMlnhA1jUQX0xfutMVfRRudkjL90ID1xQlWxIqglT073PZUUrUvs-90esNFW/s1600/Road+to+Chandratal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Road to Chandratal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Up ahead in the distance we see a JCB
working to clear what seems like the last blocked patch and information is that
it would take a couple of hours at the most after which we could drive in. We
would be the first vehicles to drive in this season to Chandratal. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
parking spot seems to be a vantage point to capture the splendour of the
Chandra valley. The clouds obscure the mountains on the far side revealing only
their lower elevations with the tail end of glaciers tumbling into small
streams joining the Chandra. The wide riverbed with numerous glistening silver
streams snaking through presents a stunning picture. By and by, the sun comes
back out, though the cloud cover does not completely let go its territory. The
brilliance of the sun adds an indescribable vividness to the landscape.
Instantly, all is well with the world! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UDs1JNZLtnwC6SyNyd9kf76w964Qnu_u5m3LEkEAV0b00zo_jf6SyBBhoHH-AtgZqaASU8ykstdisSLPJgWnZy2oGQ57a-cMWXPG7qi9UznCx6jXl9gN6BmDrTMdH9hXmmO6OS8h6Uwe/s1600/Rally+vehicles....+the+three+Scorpios+and+the+Bolero.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UDs1JNZLtnwC6SyNyd9kf76w964Qnu_u5m3LEkEAV0b00zo_jf6SyBBhoHH-AtgZqaASU8ykstdisSLPJgWnZy2oGQ57a-cMWXPG7qi9UznCx6jXl9gN6BmDrTMdH9hXmmO6OS8h6Uwe/s1600/Rally+vehicles....+the+three+Scorpios+and+the+Bolero.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rally Vehicles waiting for the road to clear</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCgxOugZ1zRp82E21rnhVNiYvbsYlOKpjTvdArXHrwBuF0jFP6f9EZ9j6JkzevMZ3IkidUhSAJ0ko4bpuy7lPy_fWrzCj3t3U6sd-FVxId_aDkDAYBKnXUVVXfu79EBao1cFkZbxkJQ6U/s1600/Chandra+river+valley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCgxOugZ1zRp82E21rnhVNiYvbsYlOKpjTvdArXHrwBuF0jFP6f9EZ9j6JkzevMZ3IkidUhSAJ0ko4bpuy7lPy_fWrzCj3t3U6sd-FVxId_aDkDAYBKnXUVVXfu79EBao1cFkZbxkJQ6U/s1600/Chandra+river+valley.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chandra River Valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As
time wears on, some of us start a game of ‘pitthu’. I don’t think too many
people can claim to have played in such heavenly environs! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FGkVEwjj_QJZ4WRIFER-bBxcYZHg52ENHzwdOTYdku0LXiQ6IQGJ0qwhTDQKAutNQ8kBDBe1betTyYoKSwTo2fx_yib5ACr9egQA44YQCZBzgXPD_v__HVU8EeElRDm-MSPsJrX8voyY/s1600/A+game+of+Pitthu+while+the+road+gets+cleared.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FGkVEwjj_QJZ4WRIFER-bBxcYZHg52ENHzwdOTYdku0LXiQ6IQGJ0qwhTDQKAutNQ8kBDBe1betTyYoKSwTo2fx_yib5ACr9egQA44YQCZBzgXPD_v__HVU8EeElRDm-MSPsJrX8voyY/s1600/A+game+of+Pitthu+while+the+road+gets+cleared.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A game of 'Pitthu'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The road is cleared and everyone
piles into the vehicles. The last bit of road before we hit our camp is a drive
on a furrowed glacier/stream bed, the glacier long since melted leaving deep grooves
which we negotiate across with much heaving of vehicles and churning of the
gravel under. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
camp is a collection of multicoloured tents set in a square. Some of our party
who have walked into camp before the road was cleared has alerted the camp
hands of our imminent arrival and the requirement for lunch. A simple but
delicious lunch of dal, chawal and gobi aalu subji later, we are all ready to
hit Chandratal. It is still 3-4 Kms further away. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDwnyvcmfXB1Jo3pr0de66wBlPGd2HyZBDU4Q7bJjO2ktf3dUSkRgNJnG7XWRXxU6tWQLnoW0fup_l139QPoDMEmIVeh3xQ988j-4fj0ODisFM1bBsEihiP8BcX-MmIQ1GOwFv9OOEe6U/s1600/Our+campsite+at+Chandratal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDwnyvcmfXB1Jo3pr0de66wBlPGd2HyZBDU4Q7bJjO2ktf3dUSkRgNJnG7XWRXxU6tWQLnoW0fup_l139QPoDMEmIVeh3xQ988j-4fj0ODisFM1bBsEihiP8BcX-MmIQ1GOwFv9OOEe6U/s1600/Our+campsite+at+Chandratal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our campsite</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The drive over the last 2-3 Kms is a
nightmare! There IS no road. It is just a deeply grooved path with boulders
liberally scattered on it. At many bends, the vehicle comes up against the
hillside before completing the turn, has to be reversed before the wheezing
engine forces it forward. Even though the Scorpio is well capable of traversing
such terrain, it is a nail biting ride. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We reach the parking area from where
one has to walk about 500 mtrs on undulating land to reach the Lake. A biting
wind hits us as soon as we step out of the Scorpio. It is cold and I wrap
myself up in another layer leaving me feeling more than unwieldy! But I have to
if I hope to keep even reasonably comfortable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Trudging
up from the parking area, the lake is not yet visible. A few Brandt’s and
Common Mountainfinches with Horned Larks flit around. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n12pOwDFNN4uNQ6JMVvhrIKKHtbdamcb1-ijePiFF9409y1A5-3l1brR_RtKshydKlA_HTTuvoqbKyIKX7YR_qAs7tleVzJD-JqB9O6_AN1Aujgh21S0MdWRn79_vapHlgn4rA2geL4S/s1600/Brandt's%2BMountainfinch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n12pOwDFNN4uNQ6JMVvhrIKKHtbdamcb1-ijePiFF9409y1A5-3l1brR_RtKshydKlA_HTTuvoqbKyIKX7YR_qAs7tleVzJD-JqB9O6_AN1Aujgh21S0MdWRn79_vapHlgn4rA2geL4S/s1600/Brandt's%2BMountainfinch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Brandt's Mountainfinch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYZc_5dYVPZ-6pQ6eLamUQUiSJFjYh7E6hEvWl5zgzTDu_54WBqJMJuy3LmVDRMew-rRJjT1w-6zamGUD0NRcUFoHGPyFgaxLe6iXi_7sG-hcN8bEc5ADQK_Qxo4OUqFYXQwZuTjOO9AA/s1600/Horned+Lark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYZc_5dYVPZ-6pQ6eLamUQUiSJFjYh7E6hEvWl5zgzTDu_54WBqJMJuy3LmVDRMew-rRJjT1w-6zamGUD0NRcUFoHGPyFgaxLe6iXi_7sG-hcN8bEc5ADQK_Qxo4OUqFYXQwZuTjOO9AA/s1600/Horned+Lark.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Horned Lark</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Instead
of taking the well worn bridle path I make for the highest point to try and
catch a glimpse of the lake. It is still some distance away, not yet visible...
a few more undulations between us and the lake! Still further as I crest the
next hillock, I stand spellbound! It is a magical setting. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtr958MPu3Fjag2OBVKQ4R4nCzW9skSN9MShxY9tTgAfvagKZg8etbmZqon39Ncxy8pvGHXzGcNW0WcjN4xw2PSOtj5_aRbr7zUSVnxJIxxhDKie6JWfRd54-L5yWXZFlP85GDWYleUsFf/s1600/Spectacular+vistas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtr958MPu3Fjag2OBVKQ4R4nCzW9skSN9MShxY9tTgAfvagKZg8etbmZqon39Ncxy8pvGHXzGcNW0WcjN4xw2PSOtj5_aRbr7zUSVnxJIxxhDKie6JWfRd54-L5yWXZFlP85GDWYleUsFf/s1600/Spectacular+vistas.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spectacular vistas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvJfVtejX7eOj4YDjA0_scqoiSccofkrWXjiIZsuoonRe-g5M-eHHj9EmsajPfCfGBdVf5hrcJdi-N81w_ikDOocKsHGvK-E-ff_PUk3cQK_LgsDodzyFN8twx22ANYIA8uHYx3RuHDkr/s1600/The+glacier+visible+from+Chandratal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvJfVtejX7eOj4YDjA0_scqoiSccofkrWXjiIZsuoonRe-g5M-eHHj9EmsajPfCfGBdVf5hrcJdi-N81w_ikDOocKsHGvK-E-ff_PUk3cQK_LgsDodzyFN8twx22ANYIA8uHYx3RuHDkr/s1600/The+glacier+visible+from+Chandratal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The massive glacier visible from Chandratal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53Sey6K6W8j7rd4951mOyTi_JCCb96t7sFgcIcK_8Pscs29WoxPhCjpPGwt02wmw6tBUaD0smxa_4Lk1sIsFRCDzgd27RqJBH9pNyOpr7IBrgxXKcBiE42xy74bbUoxXjiNDO1Hqjl5vu/s1600/The+panorama+west+of+Chandratal+complete+with+a+small+lake+and+the+Chandra+River+beyond....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53Sey6K6W8j7rd4951mOyTi_JCCb96t7sFgcIcK_8Pscs29WoxPhCjpPGwt02wmw6tBUaD0smxa_4Lk1sIsFRCDzgd27RqJBH9pNyOpr7IBrgxXKcBiE42xy74bbUoxXjiNDO1Hqjl5vu/s1600/The+panorama+west+of+Chandratal+complete+with+a+small+lake+and+the+Chandra+River+beyond....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The panorama west of Chandratal complete with a small lake and the Chandra River beyond...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Menacing,
craggy mountains make the eastern boundary running towards the north like an
impenetrable guard. In the west is the Chandra valley bounded by looming
mountains most of which are veiled by clouds and a gargantuan glacier visible
easily even from where I stand! Closer towards the west is a tiny lake and
further north are high altitude marshes. And nestled amidst this splendour, are
the clear blue waters of Chandratal. No wonder legends abound that this is the
‘Lake of the Gods’. The lake is longish running north – south. The smooth
pinkish brown mountainsides on the eastern margin of the lake are unique. The
clear waters show the stones and pebbles underneath clearly. The mountains
around are still under a thick veil and there is a steady drizzle going but
seeing the intensity of the wind, I have hopes it will clear to some extent. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hA0ccU296EKk5h4ORjs-vn0wVLO_jyG2wrVGy_U4yxQwwKPuCXbesyWgMmJLbHatG-oEpBSLew7ngy6nQ_JehQhEC2UhW5CoEfRWmS0d4kW0UhNasU4LP35pnUdhqlg-OeNPwRKLUJwa/s1600/The+pink-brown+smooth+mountainsides....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hA0ccU296EKk5h4ORjs-vn0wVLO_jyG2wrVGy_U4yxQwwKPuCXbesyWgMmJLbHatG-oEpBSLew7ngy6nQ_JehQhEC2UhW5CoEfRWmS0d4kW0UhNasU4LP35pnUdhqlg-OeNPwRKLUJwa/s1600/The+pink-brown+smooth+mountainsides....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The pink-brown smooth mountainsides on the eastern boundary of Chandratal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There
are breeding pairs of Lesser Sand Plovers and Brahmany Shelducks and a distant
Tern which I am unable to Id. Some horses are gambolling around near the
marshes and the mini lake. The sun does come out yet again for just a bit and
the clouds recede somewhat to reveal a glorious picture. The light blue waters
have instantly taken on a much deeper hue and there are tantalising glimpses of
the snowy upper reaches of the mountains around while the ones bounding the
south are revealed in their radiant whites. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTcTefCClDoWXoGlV9gDoF9Dwhh5NwUw84CoMx-tdMPoc3oHYTl2cxvPNQzYSVgPLcTa332nZ0Dgr0u4pa9NtiePwBlnRDt7wx5rLsUgf2dU0agI5cyIGMSDM3TTtrebMt66TGixxyp-P/s1600/Chandratal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTcTefCClDoWXoGlV9gDoF9Dwhh5NwUw84CoMx-tdMPoc3oHYTl2cxvPNQzYSVgPLcTa332nZ0Dgr0u4pa9NtiePwBlnRDt7wx5rLsUgf2dU0agI5cyIGMSDM3TTtrebMt66TGixxyp-P/s1600/Chandratal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chandratal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqo5fezZXifnkv44ZsNNtzNXKPqab2uGCtIqhT0FMvZixmE8G0Byo4J88DrtS5LqTwyIbdfq8rEiZGpgkQ-URi3YLyJyiIIqKVcly9UjXBF7cOFZN4FPwB9_gIknNJULGoetpAXXkL3ao/s1600/Chandratal+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqo5fezZXifnkv44ZsNNtzNXKPqab2uGCtIqhT0FMvZixmE8G0Byo4J88DrtS5LqTwyIbdfq8rEiZGpgkQ-URi3YLyJyiIIqKVcly9UjXBF7cOFZN4FPwB9_gIknNJULGoetpAXXkL3ao/s1600/Chandratal+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chandratal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4K6Dlv_ZYJMS9Tu_QbT4BSeue-4XG-NFOZry5mx9jk00h5B9sDRb5Ge42MmpbUUmT_noD5OuzeYYgh85HV9yN7DhV2zq8h_kG4ReoEzEV8C7f64pA_zsB4p8GlCZsKql9VXCLDWaSBUr/s1600/Chandratal+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4K6Dlv_ZYJMS9Tu_QbT4BSeue-4XG-NFOZry5mx9jk00h5B9sDRb5Ge42MmpbUUmT_noD5OuzeYYgh85HV9yN7DhV2zq8h_kG4ReoEzEV8C7f64pA_zsB4p8GlCZsKql9VXCLDWaSBUr/s1600/Chandratal+3.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chandratal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
feel smitten by this place almost as if I have been lured here by unseen forces
and trapped by an expert magician... After the initial frenzy of click, click,
click I just s</span>it on a rock at a high vantage point and soak in the atmosphere
of the place. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Yesterday’s
disappointment is history in these subliminal surroundings.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">No words that I know and no pictures I can ever hope to capture
can truly encapsulate the essence of th</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">is place. My partner is busy taking
pictures. I just sit there in solitude... </span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7gcwxfCvF_JAA4EkcbTnCUogF4nlUmOzuqPgiqEoxEONbR-irp6yQtRCcqOGo7z8GQuw9TaEzQPHEZipdW6stIxDEl7ddb3RhIFUEw5WyU5R5_AKMGymgv62ZBjcMaTd-06ZOQiLG8OP/s1600/The+Southern+Guard!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7gcwxfCvF_JAA4EkcbTnCUogF4nlUmOzuqPgiqEoxEONbR-irp6yQtRCcqOGo7z8GQuw9TaEzQPHEZipdW6stIxDEl7ddb3RhIFUEw5WyU5R5_AKMGymgv62ZBjcMaTd-06ZOQiLG8OP/s1600/The+Southern+Guard!.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Southern Guard</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The light fading and the wind now
penetrating all my layered clothing making my teeth chatter drives me back to
the parking. The rest of the group has long gone and is probably wondering
where the two of us are. There is a camp right next to the parking where we
discover the entire group huddled into the small kitchen tent yakking and
generally having a whale of a time. We too join them. It has been decided that
we will have dinner here and then go back to our camp. The camp owner also
promises a campfire which is enthusiastically received by us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An enjoyable dinner and dancing round
the campfire later, we are ready to roll. Looking up at the sky, I am amazed to
see zillions of stars twinkling down at me. I make up my mind to try and
capture some star trails back at camp. Alas, it is not to be since the weather
being what it is in these regions, the clouds are back to reclaim their territory
leaving me crestfallen! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The night does not end without some
more drama. We are the second vehicle going down to camp and intermittently
keep sighting the headlights of the lead vehicle as it winds its way down the
hillside. It then overshoots the dark campsite and continues on the road to
Batal without realising it. We wonder where they are as we turn into camp
because they should have reached first. As the remaining two vehicles also
might overshoot, we switch on the blinkers to get their attention. Long story
short, one vehicle ends up going in search before the lead vehicle is found
returning (sheepishly)! How they turned around is miraculous because the road
is so very narrow....but all’s well that ends well!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After all this excitement, we hit the
sack!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The journey continues... <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-81228879207198733042014-09-26T10:31:00.001+05:302019-08-14T13:07:59.853+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spiti.... journey through
‘The middle land’</span></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Goa - Delhi.... the journey begins in the plains</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank">Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank">Chhitkul... The emerald green Valley!</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank">Destination Pooh...</a></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Spiti.... journey through ‘The middle land’</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Road to Chandratal</span></a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank">Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</span></a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a></u><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/white-water-rafting-leh-and-khardungla.html" target="_blank">White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</a></span></b></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">17 Jul 2014. Dawn breaks very early in the mountains. At 0500 hrs, it is
already light and by the time we all assemble at 0530 hrs, it is bright. News
reaches us that the Scorpio is still not ready and decision has been taken to
let two Scorpios go ahead with maximum members (5 each) leaving two vehicles
and 7 members behind. Hope is that the repairs will take not more than a couple
of hours more and then the rear guard will push hard to catch up with us and
reach Chandratal even if by night. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is how our 10 strong team (6 ladies and 4 guys) in two
Scorpios sets off at 0600 hrs with a very distant goal in mind; that of
reaching Chandratal tonight. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The
valley narrows further towards Khab which is just a dozen odd kilometres away
and the confluence of the Sutlej and the Spiti rivers. In between, the
mountains have a spectacular multitude of marbled patterns as if an artist has
decided to paint some modern art on them! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">
</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjBvxY31cg4M_eD76Uv1HhZ32DeXfgq3VAZXXwCl1oyAdwpGtqqq2r6lfJuuSztdBIxSpth3Htkar0RtCMRoS-OBLq8HqTbdgY-i9DIvB_E5Kzzf1wPL9S_H_-YaV_AAWAiZENBjaQlgc/s1600/Colours+and+patterns+in+the+mountains....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjBvxY31cg4M_eD76Uv1HhZ32DeXfgq3VAZXXwCl1oyAdwpGtqqq2r6lfJuuSztdBIxSpth3Htkar0RtCMRoS-OBLq8HqTbdgY-i9DIvB_E5Kzzf1wPL9S_H_-YaV_AAWAiZENBjaQlgc/s1600/Colours+and+patterns+in+the+mountains....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Colours and patterns in the mountains...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
Khab Bridge is sitting pretty over the Sutlej and gives a fabulous and close
view of the confluence. The churning brown waters of the Sutlej mingling with
the more sedate grey of the Spiti. Ahead of the bridge, the route along the
Spiti River is through a very narrow gorge with rocky overhangs which threaten
to spill over. Even the slender supports to these rocky ledges seem very flimsy
and the passage does not inspire confidence! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzPul5OlOvX_3m3cTck2ba-CyrqWjPnLeY9Miz_0VdU7U_UYBjC7ZVOr_8RmFcG-llHLgUUFzyCGwQMtJAMsTG_JmXK32Gk8VYrzhpdJ1sVWCVqvBAH-gom6aXAnwrv-3aKEolKAi-izI/s1600/Khab+bridge...+confluence+of+Sutlej+and+Spiti+rivers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzPul5OlOvX_3m3cTck2ba-CyrqWjPnLeY9Miz_0VdU7U_UYBjC7ZVOr_8RmFcG-llHLgUUFzyCGwQMtJAMsTG_JmXK32Gk8VYrzhpdJ1sVWCVqvBAH-gom6aXAnwrv-3aKEolKAi-izI/s1600/Khab+bridge...+confluence+of+Sutlej+and+Spiti+rivers.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Khab bridge... confluence of Sutlej and Spiti rivers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObaVqEMurIPpqFiB__9_YsmvT-M7PLCd93tvjnaSpJi1BmSJ-JW_RKTUp-vmxeesMHBsKVCsuMIWQjD0UST2_iNRgcWtiVGseeytHPyoxnSBPc0V5MRIBsOFIa9_BLNK_OCa3guabHVYD/s1600/The+grey+waters+of+the+Spiti+mingle+with+the+brown+of+the+Sutlej.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObaVqEMurIPpqFiB__9_YsmvT-M7PLCd93tvjnaSpJi1BmSJ-JW_RKTUp-vmxeesMHBsKVCsuMIWQjD0UST2_iNRgcWtiVGseeytHPyoxnSBPc0V5MRIBsOFIa9_BLNK_OCa3guabHVYD/s1600/The+grey+waters+of+the+Spiti+mingle+with+the+brown+of+the+Sutlej.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The grey waters of the Spiti mingle with the brown of the Sutlej</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jeKYEm6TqrwF60rtt-kkqtPO-_DKgrlcGZZWOrMPOL_Kso4r2fGbE-QjadJZM3mbzE9AfmRNrsFrGOl0HRlhjl6TuCDOA-ihyYkEEKxUbP53siJYKbe0KcBs6soDtRYnLtFzvnvMo-QW/s1600/Route+along+the+Spiti+river.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jeKYEm6TqrwF60rtt-kkqtPO-_DKgrlcGZZWOrMPOL_Kso4r2fGbE-QjadJZM3mbzE9AfmRNrsFrGOl0HRlhjl6TuCDOA-ihyYkEEKxUbP53siJYKbe0KcBs6soDtRYnLtFzvnvMo-QW/s1600/Route+along+the+Spiti+river.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Route along the Spiti river</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBBNMlDEKdXQR-P_5EpG92eqarSEE80LxC6fTeWYPHDtt0qy7d432ZsBNbyhebg6HF7Bm0ITDrRs9dSnb6xVf96kiC0q2I9xGbVNPcRVGVBsBgmvsMVB_Kmb6I896p_QB8T4GUlbd8wEm/s1600/Support+for+the+rocky+overhang+over+the+roads.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBBNMlDEKdXQR-P_5EpG92eqarSEE80LxC6fTeWYPHDtt0qy7d432ZsBNbyhebg6HF7Bm0ITDrRs9dSnb6xVf96kiC0q2I9xGbVNPcRVGVBsBgmvsMVB_Kmb6I896p_QB8T4GUlbd8wEm/s1600/Support+for+the+rocky+overhang+over+the+roads.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Support for the rocky overhang over the roads</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
have just entered the Spiti valley, though not yet the Spiti district. Spiti
literally translates as ‘the middle land’, the land between India and Tibet.
The change in scenery is very apparent. The road rises in a series of hairpin
bends called the Kazigs (Ka – for the village nearby and zigs – for zig zag
turns). It is so rocky that the word ‘rocky’ takes on a new meaning!</span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzbG7DI-ItViNhyphenhyphenD4_pBnKJ-COi7mOA-IlKM5M5Qg2ti_iqOAoHwi31QFS3yMVfoNYRjSG0oVS7UFsVGYN7ywbcZZ1Y3wa2M_lQc4SV4Y8Qbi4ewMTFgqRb40SVJhDDEkGeuWAgprnOO2/s1600/'Rocky'%2Btakes%2Bon%2Ba%2Bnew%2Bmeaning!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzbG7DI-ItViNhyphenhyphenD4_pBnKJ-COi7mOA-IlKM5M5Qg2ti_iqOAoHwi31QFS3yMVfoNYRjSG0oVS7UFsVGYN7ywbcZZ1Y3wa2M_lQc4SV4Y8Qbi4ewMTFgqRb40SVJhDDEkGeuWAgprnOO2/s1600/'Rocky'%2Btakes%2Bon%2Ba%2Bnew%2Bmeaning!.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">'Rocky' takes on a new meaning!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bypassing
such quaint villages as Yangthang, Chango and Leo, we press on for Nako. I have
great hope that the cloud cover will disperse enough for Reo Purgyal, the
highest peak in Himachal to be visible. Unfortunately, the peaks are all
shrouded in thick clouds. We have a very long way ahead and no time to tarry.
We do not even swing by Nako Lake consoling ourselves that we would see the
Chandratal anyway today and hurry ahead. Far, far below us is the meandering
Spiti and the beautiful Leo village is visible low down across the valley. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gpQDOTuPmt5sjPlOVXeVXj6ejHrMBoXHMVixtXKkWAKk1x0QNEGWDg1qewVacoqfyDyPKBxz-7RZi8H6Y48b0_zFXbbWRY-hUgmow-XhfxzFhuSBYC1kWUlLmEdXbgBDC2xV6Z0cWYa3/s1600/Leo+village+in+the+valley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gpQDOTuPmt5sjPlOVXeVXj6ejHrMBoXHMVixtXKkWAKk1x0QNEGWDg1qewVacoqfyDyPKBxz-7RZi8H6Y48b0_zFXbbWRY-hUgmow-XhfxzFhuSBYC1kWUlLmEdXbgBDC2xV6Z0cWYa3/s1600/Leo+village+in+the+valley.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leo village in the valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yWSeYHB78oEr0KFGzsQZIoIeCEhZNWMI8wafHt04Ur5GD3KNz7r2kM-UMKLzIHX_k3jCZ3AYYsX8yfudJb5HPVum4ZftC13lSFvMxqkL2dVKOh-54NwmTc1Zacb5mzov_A5kmEzlvszv/s1600/Nako...+the+main+Nako+lake+is+further+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yWSeYHB78oEr0KFGzsQZIoIeCEhZNWMI8wafHt04Ur5GD3KNz7r2kM-UMKLzIHX_k3jCZ3AYYsX8yfudJb5HPVum4ZftC13lSFvMxqkL2dVKOh-54NwmTc1Zacb5mzov_A5kmEzlvszv/s1600/Nako...+the+main+Nako+lake+is+further+up.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nako... the main Nako lake is further up</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
route takes us through barren, crumbling mountainsides and the presence of a
BRO detachment alerts us to the proximity of the Malling Nallah stretch which
is infamous for being a perpetual landslide zone. It does not disappoint. We
cross the Malling Nallah and come to a halt behind two other vehicles. A JCB is
busy clearing an enormous few ton boulder in the landslide while a steady rain
of shooting stones continues. It is scary, to say the least. I guess the BRO
knows how dangerous it is and has concluded that this is minor enough for the
work to continue. Hats off to these sentinels of the roads in these remote
areas! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKGuqVdu9eyvVaNug8LaXgBCb-fIrw2zeOxdBdHXTOkn2JHvz28l3V5VDRjcqZwoLcbMICo19cE8Rd2LG1u1cjKFIlACWhi6xfemzzg8S4MrgdLYCM2HB23SuXxUS6g2RY4bdRglYWIRy/s1600/Landslide+clearance+work+on+near+Malling+Nallah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKGuqVdu9eyvVaNug8LaXgBCb-fIrw2zeOxdBdHXTOkn2JHvz28l3V5VDRjcqZwoLcbMICo19cE8Rd2LG1u1cjKFIlACWhi6xfemzzg8S4MrgdLYCM2HB23SuXxUS6g2RY4bdRglYWIRy/s1600/Landslide+clearance+work+on+near+Malling+Nallah.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Landslide clearance work on near Malling Nallah</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One hour wasted here. Our destination is looking very distant
now. Trying to make up for the time lost, we speed up and reach Sumdo where
vehicle and passenger information has to be registered. This is the entry into
the Spiti district. Right ahead is the turn off for Giu village famous for the
‘Mummy’. Folk lore goes that it is of a middle aged Lama which still grows
nails and hair. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We bypass Tabo and its 1000 year old monastery famous for its
mud and clay construction housing an invaluable collection of scriptures,
thangkas and idols. It is one of the oldest in the region. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We give Dhankar a miss too along with another 1000 year old
monastery. The monastery was built to withstand snow and an otherwise dry
climate. A Tibetan legend says “the Dhankar monastery was the first to be built
and it would be the last to fall in Spiti region”. Weather remaining the same,
it may have been proved to be true, but in the recent few years due to changing
weather patterns, it has started raining in the Spiti valley much more than
before. The rain water seeping into the walls of the clay and mud structure is
damaging the priceless wall murals which are said to be akin to the Ajanta
ones. Concerted efforts need to be made to save this heritage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All
around, the stark beauty of the landscape has us enchanted. What is amazing is
that this place has so less.... less vegetation, less habitation, less water,
fewer amenities and yet so much more.... more beauty, more fresh air, more
humanity, more smiling faces, more peace! Less is certainly more! In these
inhospitable surroundings also there is life. We see a few pretty birds which
keep our spirits up. </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSzNIIXUsymyYBwji6xwKJkZaF8b6HWHFotLXnjCWeoq0i2WRE6-QX9r24GLBzrzxMm9sZoz7Skc_eUekcCGF167ucIhTlc-iHUPFMG7DZ3ntkuQ_0Z66LcYYeQnPCd2wR7dHtjgL_y0X/s1600/Black+Redstart+juvenile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSzNIIXUsymyYBwji6xwKJkZaF8b6HWHFotLXnjCWeoq0i2WRE6-QX9r24GLBzrzxMm9sZoz7Skc_eUekcCGF167ucIhTlc-iHUPFMG7DZ3ntkuQ_0Z66LcYYeQnPCd2wR7dHtjgL_y0X/s1600/Black+Redstart+juvenile.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black Redstart juvenile</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAo3M9k1XDLK5_M3We4KLD-OgRxtvGw7VbFL04uY4QgYoVHbNZx9TRqoF11Vfviuc6X9NeW4aYHDfXmkE6JBMCuuzyJhl7BLQTJ6TSPnMDVpFR2dAXjE98tzCPAdz6Cqm448f3xzmmARB/s1600/Blue+rock+Thrush.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAo3M9k1XDLK5_M3We4KLD-OgRxtvGw7VbFL04uY4QgYoVHbNZx9TRqoF11Vfviuc6X9NeW4aYHDfXmkE6JBMCuuzyJhl7BLQTJ6TSPnMDVpFR2dAXjE98tzCPAdz6Cqm448f3xzmmARB/s1600/Blue+rock+Thrush.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blue rock Thrush</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvSMlyRqJt29tJR1wAlTsRwmgakshkZSuuhN-ef_FD4z0ts48POWykb5Q45X2zK8TrZgW5_zw9T5fI45PxYA359A4jG-eU9SO4lQiPLwrRu9Y6EgxQ3f4PdpnO4BiUJoZ2VbfvC09bQ7G/s1600/Eurasian+Goldfinch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvSMlyRqJt29tJR1wAlTsRwmgakshkZSuuhN-ef_FD4z0ts48POWykb5Q45X2zK8TrZgW5_zw9T5fI45PxYA359A4jG-eU9SO4lQiPLwrRu9Y6EgxQ3f4PdpnO4BiUJoZ2VbfvC09bQ7G/s1600/Eurasian+Goldfinch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eurasian Goldfinch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66QB2WYVDXm6LpJRcS6MjOUtstwayZjfkXRvV54a0usgFFIzBxjpXg67UzlvQj9QvdBz0dF-gMsabGNi24r5CeFFhbazTz7JW4OQioZSNic2nmXWuvIC1dbHHZ723_shTBH0hed7X050a/s1600/Rock+Bunting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66QB2WYVDXm6LpJRcS6MjOUtstwayZjfkXRvV54a0usgFFIzBxjpXg67UzlvQj9QvdBz0dF-gMsabGNi24r5CeFFhbazTz7JW4OQioZSNic2nmXWuvIC1dbHHZ723_shTBH0hed7X050a/s1600/Rock+Bunting.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rock Bunting</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
have descended enough to be almost level with the river. At this point, we spot
a little path going down to the river bed and taking advantage, we drive down
to the river. It is a lesson in geography to be standing here and seeing the variety
of geological formations... fold mountains, patterns in the mountainsides from
multiple causes of weathering and a wide river bed full of water shaped pebbles
and stones of various hues. I’m sure I’ve missed out many things as a lay
person but this place is certainly a geologist’s paradise! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS7_GIh-JAMEa3m5r50l2Krn7BliGMWoINcfRD4g4vyNh9RWYDg5L-bwqhCCQxBN1BRfaxgKKJ0lRAivxUlUkTaQ1toy90N3uiQo-kYeZSIYmqzOrCfWwwnLNYeeGmQDyMHqkEkLmsF8p/s1600/Geological+formations+from+erosion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS7_GIh-JAMEa3m5r50l2Krn7BliGMWoINcfRD4g4vyNh9RWYDg5L-bwqhCCQxBN1BRfaxgKKJ0lRAivxUlUkTaQ1toy90N3uiQo-kYeZSIYmqzOrCfWwwnLNYeeGmQDyMHqkEkLmsF8p/s1600/Geological+formations+from+erosion.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Geological formations from erosion</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgDOPQFaxI6NAUE1knm-ikImDDdnYWH6mhMniKa4XJQNA96X4YtokBZvBPvSSe6SbAphbJzOer5KYKT_5kRYpXL748K1UG-cyX8ao8w-we5zxJ9R6ZuceF6dsX3mI3F5pyuQ75H1eDm5j/s1600/Another+example+of+'fold%2Bmountains'.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgDOPQFaxI6NAUE1knm-ikImDDdnYWH6mhMniKa4XJQNA96X4YtokBZvBPvSSe6SbAphbJzOer5KYKT_5kRYpXL748K1UG-cyX8ao8w-we5zxJ9R6ZuceF6dsX3mI3F5pyuQ75H1eDm5j/s1600/Another+example+of+'fold%2Bmountains'.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another example of 'fold mountains'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TYf_luwKnaA1Mz0WRBaWNSbWIVQElMiejc0WMpQ4yQXv2uPI1braFVizlZk1tGr4luCbvrwQJnH7kMLaJ9H_NwZfTowEAS_ygB_-xNYdciXJDYKN5VA6Dt2CXNSSdUgzqJd_0LtnALXe/s1600/Idyllic+Spiti+Valley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TYf_luwKnaA1Mz0WRBaWNSbWIVQElMiejc0WMpQ4yQXv2uPI1braFVizlZk1tGr4luCbvrwQJnH7kMLaJ9H_NwZfTowEAS_ygB_-xNYdciXJDYKN5VA6Dt2CXNSSdUgzqJd_0LtnALXe/s1600/Idyllic+Spiti+Valley.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Idyllic Spiti Valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We do not spend much time there and arrive at Kaza around
1400 hrs. The Spiti Holiday Adventure owned by Mr Ramesh Lotey is in the heart
of town and we find it easily. We have a quick lunch at a little restaurant
nearby. I have managed all our bookings for Rangrik (7 Kms away from Kaza) and
Chandratal through him. As things stand, we cannot stay at Rangrik and plan to
go straight to Kaza. Seeing the time frame and the weather, Mr Lotey repeatedly
tries to caution us against heading for Chandratal today since there are
ominously dark clouds visible towards the North; towards Chandratal. This does
not augur well for us since not only is it dicey driving in such conditions,
but we also have an arduous 8 km trek ahead from Kunzumla to Chandratal given
the altitude of 15000 feet which we are not acclimatised to. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes one has to buckle down to peer pressure and accept
what the group decides in spite of any misgivings one may have. This is exactly
what happens and the majority of the group (minus the two of us) is for going
ahead and taking our chances. The other two vehicles have been contacted and
are found to be about 1 ¾ hour behind us insisting that we press on ahead and
that they will catch up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Very reluctantly we set off. It is 1545 hrs. The road
conditions are not particularly good and only get worse as we move further away
from Kaza. Kye Monastery is visible from the main road though one has to take a
detour of 10 odd kms inside to reach it. The largest of all the monasteries in
Spiti, it seems precariously perched on a high mountainside cliff commanding a
bird’s eye view of the entire valley in both directions. Further along the same
road is the village of Kibber famous as the highest permanently inhabited
village in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
pass the village of Hansa with a pretty Chorten on the roadside. The road nips
and turns round sharply over culverts or through gorges making driving
hazardous in the deteriorating visibility. There seems to be a permanent
drizzle since Kaza. Even the desolate countryside wears a forlorn look as
though feeling abandoned by its best friend, the mighty Sun God himself! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvtfDnWLNzNDLz1Kh6vhvFSL0oarh0LosY0upFKz5zGg-Cwz3qRuAgZQVJDY4HZgs26G-vYM-_D_qd1b2xIIJlpjpYr_PV774O6jd17_ciUEbCPo8kWgjAsZ9BRLwOwwcL5FMxp9swqHb/s1600/To+Losar....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvtfDnWLNzNDLz1Kh6vhvFSL0oarh0LosY0upFKz5zGg-Cwz3qRuAgZQVJDY4HZgs26G-vYM-_D_qd1b2xIIJlpjpYr_PV774O6jd17_ciUEbCPo8kWgjAsZ9BRLwOwwcL5FMxp9swqHb/s1600/To+Losar....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To Losar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5X52sMZdJFbIQjQ-XbIuewM0Fb28z7wiCHcyG0b1dnT41r2hb5G9kh32hk2sOFdse09KlHiRV1KOY8oFQumAg6Ab2uon6BYnSAPK8-GWa5jcJvgPn1gpmVgycAAAeUm2mLcyJpem84a3H/s1600/Chorten+at+Hansa+village.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5X52sMZdJFbIQjQ-XbIuewM0Fb28z7wiCHcyG0b1dnT41r2hb5G9kh32hk2sOFdse09KlHiRV1KOY8oFQumAg6Ab2uon6BYnSAPK8-GWa5jcJvgPn1gpmVgycAAAeUm2mLcyJpem84a3H/s1600/Chorten+at+Hansa+village.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chorten at Hansa village</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As
we proceed ahead towards Losar and Kunzumla, the valley is rising and the
altitude at Losar is roughly 4000 mtrs. It is about 1800hrs and by now the
weather is looking grim. Locals tell us that it is at least 2 hrs from here to
Kunzum top and then the 8 Km trek! A
decision is taken to halt here, this being the last settlement before Kunzumla and
look for somewhere to spend the night. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvp6g2ViPZCpFATXfehUeozdp22xm-wa6aaIFr0Bv7cc8lUK8Bnv0L-xW9AZ5CE5pRIAXFUL8KHY4YyZU98NE2EFOzKW9BctQhOBBhGz8Y2A5H4wEf9gQKA7RrdzLUHLOKZllp8oqlEmjR/s1600/Mountains+around+Losar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvp6g2ViPZCpFATXfehUeozdp22xm-wa6aaIFr0Bv7cc8lUK8Bnv0L-xW9AZ5CE5pRIAXFUL8KHY4YyZU98NE2EFOzKW9BctQhOBBhGz8Y2A5H4wEf9gQKA7RrdzLUHLOKZllp8oqlEmjR/s1600/Mountains+around+Losar.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mountains around Losar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just
before one enters Losar is the new HPPWD Guesthouse visible from the road as
the largest building around. After much requesting we are allowed to hang out
here with the caveat that we have to leave if someone turns up with any
reservations. About 2100 hrs the caretaker confirms that we can stay since he
does not expect anyone to come after this time and in such inclement weather.
The three rooms are not enough for us and some other guesthouses have also been
booked in Losar and we are set for the night. The remaining vehicles finally
reach at 2130 hrs after having gone to Kye and Kibber....! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-mvBPoOGIOq5PFz8NU3a-fHYjSZspEfWRT33j-A_H93rlNsGCLJxhcq1hLrt6ZDO3fd69RoA25jZxiikc5cS44dqMu1eciiqXhv3id8kPIBgdmeZS61JWEeATHo34XVFrs8bvgEkLlyu/s1600/New+Losar+HPPWD+Guesthouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-mvBPoOGIOq5PFz8NU3a-fHYjSZspEfWRT33j-A_H93rlNsGCLJxhcq1hLrt6ZDO3fd69RoA25jZxiikc5cS44dqMu1eciiqXhv3id8kPIBgdmeZS61JWEeATHo34XVFrs8bvgEkLlyu/s1600/New+Losar+HPPWD+Guesthouse.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">New Losar HPPWD Guesthouse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think this has been the most frustrating day of my life! It
has been a day of ‘I wish I could see this...’ and ‘I wish I could go there...’
Normally I am a very positive person but today is just plain wearisome! Dinner
and off to bed. I hope tomorrow is a much better day...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The journey continues...</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-8902900242389777812014-09-22T22:56:00.000+05:302019-08-14T13:29:17.460+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Destination Pooh...</span></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Goa - Delhi.... the journey begins in the plains</a> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><b>Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal</b></a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN"><b><br /></b></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank"><b>Chhitkul... The emerald green Valley!</b></a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Destination Pooh...</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://goabirder.blogspot.com/search/label/Spiti%20Valley" target="_blank">Spiti.... journey through ‘The middle land’</a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><b>Road to Chandratal</b></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank">Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</a></span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank">Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;"><u><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></u></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/white-water-rafting-leh-and-khardungla.html" target="_blank">White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</a></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;"><u><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></u></span></span></b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-IN">
</span>
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-IN">
</span>
</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Driving
on a road in bright daylight and driving at night is like chalk and cheese.
This time, the drive from camp through Sangla to reach the main highway near
Karcham doesn’t feel nearly as bad nor the roads quite as hazardous. Hitting
the highway, we turn right towards Pooh. The road is superb and we are
delighted! Doesn’t last for more than a couple of kilometres though. Yet again,
we find ourselves on rubble paths, the road having been swept away by the
slides or at places the river. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitheaTar87EM_TFhpX_zT1eyypeyHZb4M5CEslJBu2IuIQ22FTqtn6jug9jmzfaNCa4nmUClTT13n3J72wwK-DpROJxQNDEDwey8jzi5fPE3lxCyvBj8515sgTtZql01vRJ5GsmrxWZRht/s1600/Crumbling+roads.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitheaTar87EM_TFhpX_zT1eyypeyHZb4M5CEslJBu2IuIQ22FTqtn6jug9jmzfaNCa4nmUClTT13n3J72wwK-DpROJxQNDEDwey8jzi5fPE3lxCyvBj8515sgTtZql01vRJ5GsmrxWZRht/s1600/Crumbling+roads.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crumbling roads</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOxnAzM9d4TH-Qy8AXYsLkScNkrEEwk4oPvY1A9-uN9BlGFbRL0L8haG-wVZNJoJQeZAaRpDdblcblo99u9fg-ZzUTloZGE2PKwgsJDuStieckR8X_TAr46dCO3FcdGnnwmxZ0U-dnAvA/s1600/Landslide+prone+areas....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOxnAzM9d4TH-Qy8AXYsLkScNkrEEwk4oPvY1A9-uN9BlGFbRL0L8haG-wVZNJoJQeZAaRpDdblcblo99u9fg-ZzUTloZGE2PKwgsJDuStieckR8X_TAr46dCO3FcdGnnwmxZ0U-dnAvA/s1600/Landslide+prone+areas....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Landslide prone stretches</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The route winds along the Sutlej
going upstream along its left bank. Crossing the Sutlej over the Shongtong
brige, we reach Powari. Here, the road bifurcates left to Recong Peo, the
administrative headquarters of Kinnaur district, some way up the mountainside
and the highway (NH 22) continues along the river. Further up from Recong Peo
is Kalpa (earlier called the Chini village) and the highest village further up
is Roghi from where one can get stunning views of the venerated Kinner Kailash
peak. I’ve heard that the route to Roghi with narrow, cliff hugging roads is
one of the most amazing sights and rewarding places to visit. In fact Chini
village, now Kalpa, has some more significance in independent India. The people
of this village were the first to cast their votes in independent India on 25
October 1951 (since they get snowed in in winter) while the rest of India voted
in Dec-Jan. Further back in history, the old Hindustan Tibet highway used to
pass through this place on its way through Shipkila into Tibet.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is said that Kinner Kailash is the
abode of Lord Shiva and is thus considered sacred by the Hindus. Legend goes
that Bhasmasur, after getting a boon from Lord Shiva that anybody on whose head
he places his palm would be turned to ashes, tries it on the Lord himself. The
Lord hides from him and prays to Lord Vishnu at this place after which Lord
Vishnu comes to his aid and slays the demon. The Shivling is visible atop this
Kinner Kailash peak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time is short and I know we do not
have the luxury of taking the detour to Recong Peo from where one can see the Kinner
Kailash peak. I wonder whether it would be visible from the highway itself...
even if just a wee bit, without going to Recong Peo. I am finally resigned to
the fact that it’ll have to keep for another time...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A
JCB followed by a few vehicles in queue ahead probably means some sort of road
block. We see nothing. Wondering what the matter is, we wait and within seconds
it is apparent that the vehicles have been stopped due to shooting stones. Some
are pretty large and cause other debris to slide down as well. BRO is
everywhere and at work within minutes wherever required.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Scorpio has been an able companion through
this journey especially over the more undulating and bumpy stretches. It has
given me a lot of confidence that at least the vehicle is more than capable of
taking any kind of road in its stride.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yhf1UUkc94wQQxORv1wjIWc3R71BdDo2-74ZcGKL5Nq3FWmhcz42ysuA0_dNo_toUhcePlNSbEt2vXCC8QCWUDKu5JlIJ3qs2dUtw65z6sNzv13HwI1e7NmCvGey4XPj5IMYoyknAjkb/s1600/Shooting+stones+from+the+mountain+force+the+traffic+to+a+halt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yhf1UUkc94wQQxORv1wjIWc3R71BdDo2-74ZcGKL5Nq3FWmhcz42ysuA0_dNo_toUhcePlNSbEt2vXCC8QCWUDKu5JlIJ3qs2dUtw65z6sNzv13HwI1e7NmCvGey4XPj5IMYoyknAjkb/s1600/Shooting+stones+from+the+mountain+force+the+traffic+to+a+halt.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shooting stones</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pangi
Nallah turns out to be this enormous cascading torrent of water. Nothing could
have prepared me for this... I know that a much recommended ‘waterfall’ is
along this route (it turns out to be almost a river the water from which is
pitching and swelling across the enormous boulders in its steep path, not a
‘waterfall’) but the sheer size and scale of this nallah! Words fail me in
describing it. I’ll let the pictures do the talking! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkVRNOMwOzCAQBSphyphenhyphenrALbS52jAmyUo9knjpg9yt9mtbTVYtupPgi5ouhHFf0roAceztkjZMAl0lbsdQGbJINm0F3iWIil9Won8q7NadGF-BEw8T6iXJAvgqT6YsosYMqUPUNiAbgkw8I/s1600/Pangi+Nallah.+The+spray+from+it+reaches+well+over+10+metres!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkVRNOMwOzCAQBSphyphenhyphenrALbS52jAmyUo9knjpg9yt9mtbTVYtupPgi5ouhHFf0roAceztkjZMAl0lbsdQGbJINm0F3iWIil9Won8q7NadGF-BEw8T6iXJAvgqT6YsosYMqUPUNiAbgkw8I/s1600/Pangi+Nallah.+The+spray+from+it+reaches+well+over+10+metres!.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pangi Nallah. The spray from it reaches well over 10 metres!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6209hY4S6HOBThcGYerVQKMcvXOBH7-dE_gEiVtm6YuhXgSbRRPR73YjBET46h1cgKpEZsHSU_8K2ru0XKdfjXn61RNBwEWD_4c2Hfow19251YKuHiw8ancU3Ie6SrdYiLHIU5zlCUjUX/s1600/The+enormity+of+the+gushing+Pangi+Nallah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6209hY4S6HOBThcGYerVQKMcvXOBH7-dE_gEiVtm6YuhXgSbRRPR73YjBET46h1cgKpEZsHSU_8K2ru0XKdfjXn61RNBwEWD_4c2Hfow19251YKuHiw8ancU3Ie6SrdYiLHIU5zlCUjUX/s1600/The+enormity+of+the+gushing+Pangi+Nallah.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The enormity of the gushing Pangi Nallah</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our photo ops here come at a price...
we are almost wet from the spray off the cascade. We cross the Sutlej again to
now drive along the left bank and come upon the ‘Most treacherous road in the
world’ signboard. Pictures are taken for keepsakes and we are off again. <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The greenery from the Baspa valley
has all but disappeared. The vegetation is getting sparser and more stunted.
There are the famous Kinnauri orchards in some places where there is a water
source but otherwise it is just some scrub and Chilgoza trees. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
cross the Sutlej yet again over a quaint old wooden plank bridge near Akpa. On
this entire route from Sangla, we seem to have criss-crossed the river half a
dozen times.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdYetA6ZJHfh-UShtBi50rSul1NBB3dVZs2WNvfYvK2AHiU0ZfXW1PAktpS4-OB6o5AvqDLHZx5UOAIFKmWrk36RHMZJDOGEeDr-Nvz1aVLW1Scr1qy1q0C1vGuay_kk5P14x2lJYOM-z/s1600/The+old+wooden+plank+bridge+at+Akpa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdYetA6ZJHfh-UShtBi50rSul1NBB3dVZs2WNvfYvK2AHiU0ZfXW1PAktpS4-OB6o5AvqDLHZx5UOAIFKmWrk36RHMZJDOGEeDr-Nvz1aVLW1Scr1qy1q0C1vGuay_kk5P14x2lJYOM-z/s1600/The+old+wooden+plank+bridge+at+Akpa.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The old wooden plank bridge at Akpa</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
valley is often very narrow and there are plenty of places where it is just a
gorge with straight walls on either side. To top it, the soil is very loose and
quite unstable, prone to come crashing down without warning. No wonder this
stretch of the NH 22 is so vulnerable to landslides 24x7, 365 days a year! It
seems like a miracle that the BRO has managed to carve out a road alignment in
these steep and nearly vertical mountainsides and keep it open for vehicular
traffic virtually all year round. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu7szUpPe0qQg1Mzj_Tf3y523sAcywOYsUQKMsCtXHQHPELMfkwmk1tTUddmPX-KcOrTuaHtGHCNcVreNLYBDFR_mAdlaNlwXDKLdLKEV_mjPwiPLyU7mP0i1jzQBefAgUu3UQGtTKjXn/s1600/Roads+carved+out+of+the+mountainside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu7szUpPe0qQg1Mzj_Tf3y523sAcywOYsUQKMsCtXHQHPELMfkwmk1tTUddmPX-KcOrTuaHtGHCNcVreNLYBDFR_mAdlaNlwXDKLdLKEV_mjPwiPLyU7mP0i1jzQBefAgUu3UQGtTKjXn/s1600/Roads+carved+out+of+the+mountainside.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roads carved out of the mountainside</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
come upon a group of bicyclists after Akpa for the first time. There have been
a few motorcycle riders on and off. In fact even a large group of 32 from Pune
doing the Spiti, Leh, Srinagar and Jammu circuit. These are foreigners and
middle aged to senior citizens. Very motivating to see people do these routes
on ... a bicycle! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nglvPS5c9J9thSN2Dbl6o7mTJ_F_EgchPHLCaGOSe3s7sM9UHt8DiJqhetKr5o7xQqfeEb80EGnauHg9rStpwI3p_2NFfe-gwMJe72v0ZpDFR01CAuzlVHJcuRvqMyZ-gGo_Hk9e4U_B/s1600/A+group+of+German+cyclists+giving+way+to+the+vehicular+traffic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nglvPS5c9J9thSN2Dbl6o7mTJ_F_EgchPHLCaGOSe3s7sM9UHt8DiJqhetKr5o7xQqfeEb80EGnauHg9rStpwI3p_2NFfe-gwMJe72v0ZpDFR01CAuzlVHJcuRvqMyZ-gGo_Hk9e4U_B/s1600/A+group+of+German+cyclists+giving+way+to+the+vehicular+traffic.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A group of German cyclists giving way to the vehicular traffic</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Right
here while they are giving way to us, I notice the stratified rocks on the
mountain side of the road which seem as if someone has cut through a puff
pastry, folded and lifted it up at an angle and set it out for everyone to see.
This is a good place to see why ‘fold mountains’ are called that.</span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhZga4b_XRkeV0J-0pUtfLQD0t9cm9p7gClqEbNlh8cFbDr1HUBO01DS9-YC-mn4p8JbBHYC-Jq2FTc5tO5oaCGvcniEWIdXnsLJD44gD8PrxJdL7VMIyBylGZlaRigHauH9hQdIA_nBw/s1600/Stratified+rocks+exposed+on+the+NH+22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhZga4b_XRkeV0J-0pUtfLQD0t9cm9p7gClqEbNlh8cFbDr1HUBO01DS9-YC-mn4p8JbBHYC-Jq2FTc5tO5oaCGvcniEWIdXnsLJD44gD8PrxJdL7VMIyBylGZlaRigHauH9hQdIA_nBw/s1600/Stratified+rocks+exposed+on+the+NH+22.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stratified rocks exposed on the NH 22</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The milestone says Pooh 3 Km yet
there is absolutely no sight nor sign of any habitation. And then suddenly
round the corner is Pooh. A small settlement with pretty multicoloured houses
halfway up the mountainsides. We take the road leading up and finally reach our
destination just before dusk. Two vehicles have reached and we await the other
two. The third one also comes along and I wonder why the fourth one is so
behind since this group is one of the quickest on road. When they land up we
come to know there has been a breakdown. It is fortuitous that the breakdown
happens right at the gates of the guest house... <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It
is a major breakdown. The next morning one vehicle has to be despatched to
Recong Peo to get the mechanics from the Mahindra service centre (also to
ensure that they come without any delay). This means we have an unscheduled
extra day here. No problem at all! I welcome the break since we have been
travelling every single day from Goa till Pooh and most days have been very
long. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJd1B21HS2_zgIOB7quvDDH2v_HE2TSvfj_kgPmlahDk22e-8C3BL6jBmVqn4v0jlhXSs1fbDz4mG4Lit4nLOcWHslaC8ErMVL2GBj2-_kZGZRdBNlDnL6Zn4I95ENU8jLwgMxU2OFdWD/s1600/Pooh+town.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJd1B21HS2_zgIOB7quvDDH2v_HE2TSvfj_kgPmlahDk22e-8C3BL6jBmVqn4v0jlhXSs1fbDz4mG4Lit4nLOcWHslaC8ErMVL2GBj2-_kZGZRdBNlDnL6Zn4I95ENU8jLwgMxU2OFdWD/s1600/Pooh+town.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pooh town</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlJ6Jdc3GcHCytxcZwwtdRgrvzVl7Vl_UsHIUawyrmtcGTdpVqkZbAm3dmcUeGN9P2CZJRPOTya3A8Lz9HzljOE3qn9HW5ZHQuK5MKMwZFmb-x0NVvRRMIUtLn7ef5Uxz9iR-ReARHWk-/s1600/Ganchua+Peak.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlJ6Jdc3GcHCytxcZwwtdRgrvzVl7Vl_UsHIUawyrmtcGTdpVqkZbAm3dmcUeGN9P2CZJRPOTya3A8Lz9HzljOE3qn9HW5ZHQuK5MKMwZFmb-x0NVvRRMIUtLn7ef5Uxz9iR-ReARHWk-/s1600/Ganchua+Peak.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ganchua Peak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7HhxFje0vICa_-mklSTXjFpGvmGQtagsZNrKQ6qR0DrM5FpukSCQPElh-qoENkrIshFwzZgsuygLKCJrBp8ptkGaCdVqGd4oFSZMLhZU7rhEmneZ8yfQFYv4XCSMeGzob-iVEgkBULDL/s1600/Pooh+Panorama...+the+tiny+green+spots+on+the+largest+mountain+across+are+Chilgoza+trees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7HhxFje0vICa_-mklSTXjFpGvmGQtagsZNrKQ6qR0DrM5FpukSCQPElh-qoENkrIshFwzZgsuygLKCJrBp8ptkGaCdVqGd4oFSZMLhZU7rhEmneZ8yfQFYv4XCSMeGzob-iVEgkBULDL/s1600/Pooh+Panorama...+the+tiny+green+spots+on+the+largest+mountain+across+are+Chilgoza+trees.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pooh Panorama... the tiny green spots on the largest mountain across are Chilgoza trees</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06YWIzF6ywM_p6ceBag882xVTEQwphlaMVeMw2ZEQ39B1RmN0phzrhxzIw8gUliiKkzsEk7DoxuHnWgv6E8LjzI4hr3u_w20dLIyRli8yS3w-lSSeVr_KM9kACB1-YQ-f4yfhsuYBSfCO/s1600/Almonds.....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06YWIzF6ywM_p6ceBag882xVTEQwphlaMVeMw2ZEQ39B1RmN0phzrhxzIw8gUliiKkzsEk7DoxuHnWgv6E8LjzI4hr3u_w20dLIyRli8yS3w-lSSeVr_KM9kACB1-YQ-f4yfhsuYBSfCO/s1600/Almonds.....JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Almonds...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">16 Jul 2014. The
enforced break is utilised in taking long walks around the place. It was clear
last evening when we drove in but this morning it is very overcast. Clouds have
veiled the top half of the mountains and the sky making the day very gloomy.
All round our guest rooms are apple, almond and apricot trees. In fact, the
only fruit that is ripe is apricot with the others still quite small. Never in
my entire life have I had such juicy and sweet Apricots and Chulis (another
variety of apricots)! It is a veritable feast for the senses! Wish I could
bottle this sweetness and freshness and juiciness.... I wish!!</span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBV471AH-GwWWockOu3Spdg0ULJMLF5Hnd6kh4RAQTyVqAmE3LBy4P9HJpfdhhb8dNfiAsNHlMrZLyYL0lLvmDEeiYrzlBdpbSI0Sear-pmWvvozJocelfsYR5sm8I2CFr0u_QFDzy-e9E/s1600/Chulli...+a+kind+of+Apricot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBV471AH-GwWWockOu3Spdg0ULJMLF5Hnd6kh4RAQTyVqAmE3LBy4P9HJpfdhhb8dNfiAsNHlMrZLyYL0lLvmDEeiYrzlBdpbSI0Sear-pmWvvozJocelfsYR5sm8I2CFr0u_QFDzy-e9E/s1600/Chulli...+a+kind+of+Apricot.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chulis... a kind of Apricot</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIYSI5MI2UE8AeMhM6ltsiK_Hsp7o0E7hyphenhyphen4F-8RIQBtFXE7aCvgJTZ-VKeLXbd1SwLnLD6Sa13wH52dYW8JgT5jvdGyPh8-RpLP5bVeYf9TvgriZM4ujIqZlKuGTR8HPGD5hWwt9X2u8k/s1600/Leh+Berry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIYSI5MI2UE8AeMhM6ltsiK_Hsp7o0E7hyphenhyphen4F-8RIQBtFXE7aCvgJTZ-VKeLXbd1SwLnLD6Sa13wH52dYW8JgT5jvdGyPh8-RpLP5bVeYf9TvgriZM4ujIqZlKuGTR8HPGD5hWwt9X2u8k/s1600/Leh+Berry.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leh Berries</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xULdMat88H5j36OfmjFCwsmzXeI-SMckRPJZxWOELoswGS82WhYphVZR4RFoNVa09DAFQ9aNKmqj-wC8cxt9Qwy1old2XhWEeWvbWLhJwOLuUDCq03T0sEMOVbbzkJpw5J6M_wU6eHQ_/s1600/The+profusion+of+apples+on+the+tree....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xULdMat88H5j36OfmjFCwsmzXeI-SMckRPJZxWOELoswGS82WhYphVZR4RFoNVa09DAFQ9aNKmqj-wC8cxt9Qwy1old2XhWEeWvbWLhJwOLuUDCq03T0sEMOVbbzkJpw5J6M_wU6eHQ_/s1600/The+profusion+of+apples+on+the+tree....jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The profusion of apples on the tree...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Late
afternoon, the sun starts peeking through and we are out with our cameras in
the hope of seeing some birds. We are not disappointed. A lifer for me, we see
the White capped Buntings and the regular Streaked Laughingthrushes and
Sparrows and the Long tailed Shrike. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO8yRkcES-SOM6GS9ZZgt4D0F-mX04OsIGyb3zZ8UnZuya4gerkSaXHloHIRKWZn2-A4Ic3iCPf2a9uyNiVwkdDk6cMCgKyucON0nh89b5NAeEsQV4ueE-JIGvj1FWdre2tMlj8OmJ7md/s1600/Long+tailed+Shrike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO8yRkcES-SOM6GS9ZZgt4D0F-mX04OsIGyb3zZ8UnZuya4gerkSaXHloHIRKWZn2-A4Ic3iCPf2a9uyNiVwkdDk6cMCgKyucON0nh89b5NAeEsQV4ueE-JIGvj1FWdre2tMlj8OmJ7md/s1600/Long+tailed+Shrike.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Long tailed Shrike</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4MsQGnvwhR1iLEM5i2l7lz00KCLEWM_T8kFz0tvnSB0LP7IzMcNCkdBKC_uIwTVIY9RBLLH9Rt2Et5iJ5iJ16JDwnOJfsEA4ikLwOLBb6GOlMA172EXzM5PisS6x5GNaE8lR_kUs3t_l/s1600/Streaked+Laughingthrush.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4MsQGnvwhR1iLEM5i2l7lz00KCLEWM_T8kFz0tvnSB0LP7IzMcNCkdBKC_uIwTVIY9RBLLH9Rt2Et5iJ5iJ16JDwnOJfsEA4ikLwOLBb6GOlMA172EXzM5PisS6x5GNaE8lR_kUs3t_l/s1600/Streaked+Laughingthrush.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Streaked Laughingthrush</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GbtzFYYbFtDWPLshI1qOp4jQHP0Y0tbH_IafYRE2LmryNs8nQV27s_5PAXxY3cDwX_tK3q1fzIpoCdf0iX1hMliKtpjyvprQWe3USBlPCODaIAcRTlzoDWA7TRmHZ9JAMF-LwW8p289S/s1600/White+capped+Bunting+(f).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GbtzFYYbFtDWPLshI1qOp4jQHP0Y0tbH_IafYRE2LmryNs8nQV27s_5PAXxY3cDwX_tK3q1fzIpoCdf0iX1hMliKtpjyvprQWe3USBlPCODaIAcRTlzoDWA7TRmHZ9JAMF-LwW8p289S/s1600/White+capped+Bunting+(f).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White capped Bunting (f)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KRWhXu2nD_bzCdqopo_vGU7aeychRKt6WtYwhWqIo58e1G6AT-hELVpb40OgjvAf3AvWw18Elfi0Mzk9kPIO1L2QsYUGV66vMtrJjcfsbWyXpGFKQb0sxSbIaV76FNGu7oLPIvsv502F/s1600/White+capped+Bunting+(m).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KRWhXu2nD_bzCdqopo_vGU7aeychRKt6WtYwhWqIo58e1G6AT-hELVpb40OgjvAf3AvWw18Elfi0Mzk9kPIO1L2QsYUGV66vMtrJjcfsbWyXpGFKQb0sxSbIaV76FNGu7oLPIvsv502F/s1600/White+capped+Bunting+(m).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White capped Bunting (m)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: justify;">In our wanderings, we trample some grasses which let out an amazing fragrance. We wonder what the smell is since it is familiar but elusive. This makes my partner start smelling every grass and bush and plant we cross. The place is a treasure... we realise that the grass is the Shahi Jeera and a lot of the other weed-like plants are Dhoop. Almost every bit of the naturally occurring flora there is aromatic. How very amazing, a place where very little grows and is considered barren but for the orchards which are irrigated from the Tinku nallah and the Chilgoza which grow on the steep inaccessible hillsides, there is so much wealth in the plant life... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rBgGSSqzk-bdCwE-MI6NzV2XPoal6QotQs4Bf5MhI1pXfssG50qDxoQNH5Xt2OW0QDVE2U4WwopBCokOaNUZqZnGhpb6-5fTwtxRG70FrjJxtVgUpqN5V7_yvEh4svGaBnghoCgEDu8H/s1600/Shahi+Jeera.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rBgGSSqzk-bdCwE-MI6NzV2XPoal6QotQs4Bf5MhI1pXfssG50qDxoQNH5Xt2OW0QDVE2U4WwopBCokOaNUZqZnGhpb6-5fTwtxRG70FrjJxtVgUpqN5V7_yvEh4svGaBnghoCgEDu8H/s1600/Shahi+Jeera.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shahi Jeera</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The mechanics have started work by
late afternoon and will hopefully manage to repair the Scorpio before
morning. We are hoping that we can set
off really early tomorrow for Chandratal. We have had to cut out Kaza and head
straight for Chandratal to make up for the lost day. This means a marathon day
of driving and an 8 Km trek at the end starting at 4550 m and ending at 4200m to
the lake since the motorable route is still closed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The journey continues... </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-52228379465171799642014-09-21T07:38:00.001+05:302019-08-14T13:23:29.437+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chhitkul... The emerald green Valley!</span></span></h4>
<div>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Goa - Delhi.... the journey begins in the plains</a> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank">Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal</a></span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN">Chhitkul... The emerald green Valley!</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank">Destination Pooh...</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-IN"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank">Spiti.... journey through ‘The middle land’</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Road to Chandratal</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank">Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</span></a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a></u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/white-water-rafting-leh-and-khardungla.html" target="_blank">White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</a></span></b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN">
</span>
</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
</h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
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<span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN">
</span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">15
Jul 2014. Early morning... the place looks divine! The mountains look down at
us from their imperious heights cloaked in wisps of ephemeral clouds as if
wondering what new creatures have wandered in?? The rush of the river is heard
right in the tents, so furious is the current... </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincGjZPyc-lxPm0r207H0MNRlb6bFAJaOMatSFskNkD25T6a3kMm8k0RnnbmGmWRJoum0p-Cc_7z6kmDVB3dyRXXKZy8bxG8ZW9oUZvL8cEhQVoGNzn1CxNVf5YrNToyOQjjQgUuIQgPZb/s1600/The+mountains+behind+the+camp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincGjZPyc-lxPm0r207H0MNRlb6bFAJaOMatSFskNkD25T6a3kMm8k0RnnbmGmWRJoum0p-Cc_7z6kmDVB3dyRXXKZy8bxG8ZW9oUZvL8cEhQVoGNzn1CxNVf5YrNToyOQjjQgUuIQgPZb/s1600/The+mountains+behind+the+camp.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Mountains behind the camp</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQ9NGaNWNZs3lpWWdmhsaLOeXQ9vp1WE0bim6AK-q73fiAt4vLFD62IEwbJ2wzr88OF0EjbZ3KLnMSH1e4TIhkTge8La3czF9a1ljWTtW4WVzho9YH5pYbkP2FVBKX0CYCulAjV80tE9x/s1600/The+Baspa+river.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQ9NGaNWNZs3lpWWdmhsaLOeXQ9vp1WE0bim6AK-q73fiAt4vLFD62IEwbJ2wzr88OF0EjbZ3KLnMSH1e4TIhkTge8La3czF9a1ljWTtW4WVzho9YH5pYbkP2FVBKX0CYCulAjV80tE9x/s1600/The+Baspa+river.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Baspa River</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There
are flowers blooming everywhere. There are huge swathes of beautiful yellow
blooms, more captivating as they seem to be haphazardly flourishing without the
predictability of a manicured garden. These are Evening Primrose I am told.
They have a lovely mild fragrance... also known for their therapeutic
properties. There are profusely flowering wild rose bowers and daisies and many
other flowers I know not the names for! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIXPrg9pCzaHFCBOZZF9LoqAM9vdqjj_3SYe1C6bdtvHR9ASdavJzTTftzKuI8dg7lZZYVkFsYhONjLcjEul9ClA405_Rq82cGlPus-Fe2MeXXEOQEQpuPM-0a91LkCTHhZnyspTGXkHP/s1600/Our+tent+at+the+camp+with+the+Evening+Primroses+and+an+Apple+tree+in+the+foreground.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIXPrg9pCzaHFCBOZZF9LoqAM9vdqjj_3SYe1C6bdtvHR9ASdavJzTTftzKuI8dg7lZZYVkFsYhONjLcjEul9ClA405_Rq82cGlPus-Fe2MeXXEOQEQpuPM-0a91LkCTHhZnyspTGXkHP/s1600/Our+tent+at+the+camp+with+the+Evening+Primroses+and+an+Apple+tree+in+the+foreground.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our tent with the Primroses and the Apple tree in the foreground</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyNStc0eoDcRw5SYZ8PhOITUhoCcGFsoPsqbnu_dxz9H86cl-nCX6H7kpP9mtwWJJReWYlD0td5JJV7VyRW74l6A0j3lbpSUBPL6QmOJF8il8x5S2D3Lqd02h-Ll7DPynyELOCJMGnC8z/s1600/Wild+Roses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyNStc0eoDcRw5SYZ8PhOITUhoCcGFsoPsqbnu_dxz9H86cl-nCX6H7kpP9mtwWJJReWYlD0td5JJV7VyRW74l6A0j3lbpSUBPL6QmOJF8il8x5S2D3Lqd02h-Ll7DPynyELOCJMGnC8z/s1600/Wild+Roses.JPG" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wild Roses</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamFMOkAUevXuJBx7TWrDY0PmsQMVtFcxJZVsoP9URfB5KrARf1qXj0KFLlMh658ttlCpybTnKq5Ymov7zIIw4guJhaCHzxyMcWtYtR_7Iv9qb3IVaiV6PJRTdAOeUH63CC8ad_lth7eHW/s1600/IMG_2963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamFMOkAUevXuJBx7TWrDY0PmsQMVtFcxJZVsoP9URfB5KrARf1qXj0KFLlMh658ttlCpybTnKq5Ymov7zIIw4guJhaCHzxyMcWtYtR_7Iv9qb3IVaiV6PJRTdAOeUH63CC8ad_lth7eHW/s1600/IMG_2963.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Primroses</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr7D-ycSBzhJ457_E7yknsy-6aNb8xncUVQSgJXrUcqQ6SbCkEuOMvF2_5zAZuuRD9J31NWS-S5aqhyphenhyphen4xYvee5kX5OX7YjUtK6xSxNrbmVG2gLH7XYH_BzRmxijDQOdhe7vP9yYjMeRT7/s1600/IMG_2968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr7D-ycSBzhJ457_E7yknsy-6aNb8xncUVQSgJXrUcqQ6SbCkEuOMvF2_5zAZuuRD9J31NWS-S5aqhyphenhyphen4xYvee5kX5OX7YjUtK6xSxNrbmVG2gLH7XYH_BzRmxijDQOdhe7vP9yYjMeRT7/s1600/IMG_2968.JPG" width="376" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
camp is surrounded by orchards of apples, pears and apricots. In fact, the
entire valley seems to be one big orchard. In these idyllic surroundings I
wander down to the river to find most of the group already there taking delight
in the splendorous sights!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A
delicious breakfast complete with a variety of homemade preserves and relishes
later, we are all off to Chhitkul, the last village in this valley towards
China border. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-p_NJodtMGYi1sT_VehINlVSAn01bbwu_6Q9BBQals8SBBStgeHHH-qIQ_U6mS1ZgeWA88Ag03LtlazC89wap3E3LHQ45TNKb_NHhpRYc8FAXROTRupt1mdn8ly6zLpwkClSHepqo1seR/s1600/Banjara+Camps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-p_NJodtMGYi1sT_VehINlVSAn01bbwu_6Q9BBQals8SBBStgeHHH-qIQ_U6mS1ZgeWA88Ag03LtlazC89wap3E3LHQ45TNKb_NHhpRYc8FAXROTRupt1mdn8ly6zLpwkClSHepqo1seR/s1600/Banjara+Camps.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Banjara Camps</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FIvsi3kOH0dyzthrQyTW1aeTBifKc3-Ck8qRfczLS_P5MjnnzHNiD1LZrY2XxU98sAiD_kVZfwDES20epRUvZwFOJCGbD95FrZYZvW75dProyuvYJLIWRfiszeaueSQqRUEBZdFRFlng/s1600/Diners+delight+at+the+Banjara+Camps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FIvsi3kOH0dyzthrQyTW1aeTBifKc3-Ck8qRfczLS_P5MjnnzHNiD1LZrY2XxU98sAiD_kVZfwDES20epRUvZwFOJCGbD95FrZYZvW75dProyuvYJLIWRfiszeaueSQqRUEBZdFRFlng/s1600/Diners+delight+at+the+Banjara+Camps.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Diners delight!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
route to this village through the Mastrang Valley is mesmeric to put it mildly! Every few yards, we stop to
marvel at a gurgling brook, some picturesque bridge, a quaint hamlet tucked
away round the corner or just the unfolding panorama of snow clad peaks with
lush green terraced fields in the foreground and the beautiful Baspa flowing
beside it. Heaven! </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9BL2qIlV9M6oMe0aNIUVB7NwEz88lvg6H_J1u1zG7WWOxZ9rYGmoC3QrEpuX5UYXvF-DZAw99hi9APDCUhkm6ZMNzpQMBNWSB75p-hvgS7AoEJxHOs0n_T79CzDpYiyhzPFvf5lzsM4q/s1600/Panoramic+vistas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9BL2qIlV9M6oMe0aNIUVB7NwEz88lvg6H_J1u1zG7WWOxZ9rYGmoC3QrEpuX5UYXvF-DZAw99hi9APDCUhkm6ZMNzpQMBNWSB75p-hvgS7AoEJxHOs0n_T79CzDpYiyhzPFvf5lzsM4q/s1600/Panoramic+vistas.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panoramic Vistas of the Mastrang Valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There
are streams crossing the road many times and the vehicle splashes through those
freezing waters. We stop at one such crossing and spend time just enjoying the
gentle murmur of the crystal clear waters and the predominantly rocky landscape
with a carpet of fresh green grass under it. The serenity of the place is a
balm to the harried urban soul. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwkH2F8CBmiwWthS_aSl9Xvl4cH2oM8PQ6tP2n-LvKIzdWk6yy_NXgakcJy6b71mm8U7oDJh3tXxPTwjR_0aghMHzr2gvBppXdJb1t6t7d0q2sOT0XZ6iF5QqkLtH9Y_1hV4EuRQ3XiuU/s1600/A+stream+running+across+the+road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwkH2F8CBmiwWthS_aSl9Xvl4cH2oM8PQ6tP2n-LvKIzdWk6yy_NXgakcJy6b71mm8U7oDJh3tXxPTwjR_0aghMHzr2gvBppXdJb1t6t7d0q2sOT0XZ6iF5QqkLtH9Y_1hV4EuRQ3XiuU/s1600/A+stream+running+across+the+road.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The stream running across the road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsdkXmtqljHFdeQFoanjwAGL2da6C4nvHeHPnRCnEQvUUP9edJl1E8lWQ_CjDezZXtBICqeBvE9zfCiG1kBZF1yMCe2ztBM2skyPexf8BSyqymXXFtbiwWIzG8LCfNl7NoMP-sffuXCph/s1600/Road+to+Chhitkul.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsdkXmtqljHFdeQFoanjwAGL2da6C4nvHeHPnRCnEQvUUP9edJl1E8lWQ_CjDezZXtBICqeBvE9zfCiG1kBZF1yMCe2ztBM2skyPexf8BSyqymXXFtbiwWIzG8LCfNl7NoMP-sffuXCph/s1600/Road+to+Chhitkul.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Road to Chhitkul</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi213UtcrkiZko2YyFzxcM0LSHq5HZ4LbY6QqlmCt4JZkkEBdrQEIC6G-8fPF8X1BFqU-YrQxu3Lx-9Z_CVBH8M22My1-X3jcoeSBdAzaVfo5RAeoryRk3Aixemef_rnB9HgeeJ4C3kynPb/s1600/Rocky+Terrain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi213UtcrkiZko2YyFzxcM0LSHq5HZ4LbY6QqlmCt4JZkkEBdrQEIC6G-8fPF8X1BFqU-YrQxu3Lx-9Z_CVBH8M22My1-X3jcoeSBdAzaVfo5RAeoryRk3Aixemef_rnB9HgeeJ4C3kynPb/s1600/Rocky+Terrain.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rocky terrain</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As
we near a hamlet, two women hail us for a lift. We oblige them. They are a
Grandmother – granddaughter pair off to the fields. They grow Ogla which is
buckwheat which will be harvested in early September. These areas have only one
four month growing season in the year. Rest of the time it is too cold and snow
bound. At this time, there is frenzied activity of sowing, growing and
harvesting before the quiet of the cold months sets in. The women alight near
their fields and we move on. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG3aAZ_d22iOG5JliWO8904yWj5poZv4h17xDnBCcAT2UuzQgc_zn68x0Pq6zMe7kZDM-tm4O5MedjTCEpLZT35vCg9dN0-4nEHDa38GCnHg49N1kjoAxHNyP_gILR_C_QK15xwyH3ZDZ/s1600/Green+terraced+fields+with+a+backdrop+of+snowy+peaks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG3aAZ_d22iOG5JliWO8904yWj5poZv4h17xDnBCcAT2UuzQgc_zn68x0Pq6zMe7kZDM-tm4O5MedjTCEpLZT35vCg9dN0-4nEHDa38GCnHg49N1kjoAxHNyP_gILR_C_QK15xwyH3ZDZ/s1600/Green+terraced+fields+with+a+backdrop+of+snowy+peaks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Green terraced fields with Snowy peaks in the background</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
HPPWD Guest house is on the outskirts of Chhitkul. The road meanders through
the village of a few houses and some new guest houses which have come up for
tourists and then into the fields beyond. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb0stLwFxrKWOEHHOLqXl5Z51oMqUnL-WhzXmjEaFCMgOT0-_KxJ0_gq0RycInbjjwshMEZvHI8m8trBiqyXR0re9xlCcJ_nJClg-ke5ogf7GWLOpFYOwOyxgaljm-L1v8JCNVmoH6zG_/s1600/Outside+the+HPPWD+Guesthouse,+Chhitkul.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb0stLwFxrKWOEHHOLqXl5Z51oMqUnL-WhzXmjEaFCMgOT0-_KxJ0_gq0RycInbjjwshMEZvHI8m8trBiqyXR0re9xlCcJ_nJClg-ke5ogf7GWLOpFYOwOyxgaljm-L1v8JCNVmoH6zG_/s1600/Outside+the+HPPWD+Guesthouse,+Chhitkul.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">HPPWD Guesthouse, Chhitkul</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Birds
are hyperactive all around. A cacophony of birdcalls is heard, each individual vying
for a higher perch to call from and a louder decibel level than its rival. A
vast flock of Fire fronted Serins alights at the field nearest the car. We are
mesmerized! I have dreamt of seeing this beautiful bird and always dipped on
it. Not only are they found in this place, they are locally very common, in
their scores at any given time! But this is only near Chhitkul, not lower in
the valley near say Raksham or Sangla. I guess altitude has a lot to do with
it. Chhitkul is at 3450 meters and Sangla at 2680 metres though only 24 kms
away. A big difference! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirD2-UgUBF3oKBF7pTYO9XilNwVDKWQZ4L1zu4-z7pN5-uhAFMx7fmLonLPGsT8bFVdoS4MvPdud-xmC9ai_92XQ90AeUe-7HBrzJRYDq2rIbF-qdKSsUuYz6JATc7VIg_Gqx3eVUVyV7F/s1600/Fire+fronted+Serin+feasting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirD2-UgUBF3oKBF7pTYO9XilNwVDKWQZ4L1zu4-z7pN5-uhAFMx7fmLonLPGsT8bFVdoS4MvPdud-xmC9ai_92XQ90AeUe-7HBrzJRYDq2rIbF-qdKSsUuYz6JATc7VIg_Gqx3eVUVyV7F/s1600/Fire+fronted+Serin+feasting.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fire fronted Serin foraging</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz10ua4bHoSdaTkNFT-g9MyrdhU28xji1uBmI8drkRLzjJybnrrQzGOgc5s4Kg6L2xlCpk0Ygphhm4sYRkxgrjzjMZqktQWsubDwOJ3Ay8r_ex_15p2eG2CV-0lmsGmZj25iPeYJ5Y7HdD/s1600/Fire+fronted+Serin+gathering+nesting+material.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz10ua4bHoSdaTkNFT-g9MyrdhU28xji1uBmI8drkRLzjJybnrrQzGOgc5s4Kg6L2xlCpk0Ygphhm4sYRkxgrjzjMZqktQWsubDwOJ3Ay8r_ex_15p2eG2CV-0lmsGmZj25iPeYJ5Y7HdD/s1600/Fire+fronted+Serin+gathering+nesting+material.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fire fronted Serin in nest building mode</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There
are the ubiquitous Rosefinches calling from the tree tops with nothing but
procreation on their minds! The Yellow billed Choughs are gliding and catching
the wind currents to circle the fields from high up. The White Wagtails are
numerous. A Vareigated Laughingthrush peeps out of an apricot tree and there
are Rock Buntings everywhere. And all this without moving an inch! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqUMzZo5y3OMn_wF84J0WDEqEpYRbjBIr6rKDZXb1rGz_ZoNnzbmuxoxsK_Q3ZeogmKrTmiaXNVWU6Jq8aNa3VetPFB0RUiTtwPBmR3jviudIjDVbGhasmzUEMAjn1yvUIsbFd_RqiP48/s1600/Common+Rosefinch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqUMzZo5y3OMn_wF84J0WDEqEpYRbjBIr6rKDZXb1rGz_ZoNnzbmuxoxsK_Q3ZeogmKrTmiaXNVWU6Jq8aNa3VetPFB0RUiTtwPBmR3jviudIjDVbGhasmzUEMAjn1yvUIsbFd_RqiP48/s1600/Common+Rosefinch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Common Rosefinch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ__3ti_vXVzNcPzk3j6w1vvuglTOHiI_flFh1BRZWfxEC9RmBHOsodWWo9LVrL384sHBS5QKKfYkSe0B0TX2mPC-wEQ0t7toyYnrl4_jvrTDn5FBIaIjIIczugHNSo1LugEWQbZt6DmP/s1600/Rock+Bunting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ__3ti_vXVzNcPzk3j6w1vvuglTOHiI_flFh1BRZWfxEC9RmBHOsodWWo9LVrL384sHBS5QKKfYkSe0B0TX2mPC-wEQ0t7toyYnrl4_jvrTDn5FBIaIjIIczugHNSo1LugEWQbZt6DmP/s1600/Rock+Bunting.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rock Bunting</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifw8K7YbTLuxEmbFkghU-Kucoh4LJv7NFreR5ZK2dINwZ-V_C_nY5SdEecM5wQ2s-_tqzr6nJrgSBcRvNRDUkTDgUApk9QEDo2cmixyH-pMjXRM6wdssqbAyyPR9H94gDqtTKhVHCF4CKb/s1600/Vareigated+Laughingthrush.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifw8K7YbTLuxEmbFkghU-Kucoh4LJv7NFreR5ZK2dINwZ-V_C_nY5SdEecM5wQ2s-_tqzr6nJrgSBcRvNRDUkTDgUApk9QEDo2cmixyH-pMjXRM6wdssqbAyyPR9H94gDqtTKhVHCF4CKb/s1600/Vareigated+Laughingthrush.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vareigated Laughingthrush</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A7Se9Q42A09Nr_x-kemkkH7JiN0uvIqITwKwGU-cUpdWRT-ShgSYz1oyHS9SQN77BFYUp40ApSisxVxJPkdT5AHFqqBeVUaFpIBuFYB7uFjgaVhLkv0NxhP2rLXCkC1-MSr7GLnSclRr/s1600/White+Wagtail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A7Se9Q42A09Nr_x-kemkkH7JiN0uvIqITwKwGU-cUpdWRT-ShgSYz1oyHS9SQN77BFYUp40ApSisxVxJPkdT5AHFqqBeVUaFpIBuFYB7uFjgaVhLkv0NxhP2rLXCkC1-MSr7GLnSclRr/s1600/White+Wagtail.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White Wagtail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tkZnsChub4pxBuBtUMSvUYTmBtqec-cV9zU3ub-J2wGl9a0b5qWF40gcZjZzvkwdP6sUPIksMI_ISBxigfYSiAcxhWV9RQL0d-NIlNw9utrcraLIg2EGjOtv8wnN1ZyPVTiS1MzHwEeo/s1600/Yellow+Billed+Chough.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tkZnsChub4pxBuBtUMSvUYTmBtqec-cV9zU3ub-J2wGl9a0b5qWF40gcZjZzvkwdP6sUPIksMI_ISBxigfYSiAcxhWV9RQL0d-NIlNw9utrcraLIg2EGjOtv8wnN1ZyPVTiS1MzHwEeo/s1600/Yellow+Billed+Chough.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yellow billed Chough</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
drive down to the river is a very steep path full of loose stones making
driving difficult. The breathtaking vistas though make up for any other
inconveniences many times over! </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIX3PtUX9f1qAnq5qxE4c3JIeOhAFOhOZbu9Gs3TdPznOJC4RZcr45ovW_Ju60flq12Znh4734kGW3qj0Gkun97kMPb36520ICU3FkTMjjLAyF7Rp741SIEwEJbzl9-Qs3CbV1O2mhbvA/s1600/Driving+down+to+the+river+at+Chhitkul.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIX3PtUX9f1qAnq5qxE4c3JIeOhAFOhOZbu9Gs3TdPznOJC4RZcr45ovW_Ju60flq12Znh4734kGW3qj0Gkun97kMPb36520ICU3FkTMjjLAyF7Rp741SIEwEJbzl9-Qs3CbV1O2mhbvA/s1600/Driving+down+to+the+river+at+Chhitkul.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The steep path running down towards the river bed at Chhitkul</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnLcRbu6zpGfx_MHClpsn3UqH45k0Q7gnp5v8jFOZ2TAr7f_Wn9z092JfgBG2nKUqBguAGfNlH8I7PUgf950Z2SasHt7ABOuMPM6anVo3VytGoReWsE1rrSmsr6QdlUIydv8L8R0mtGq4/s1600/Near+the+riverbed+at+Chhitkul.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnLcRbu6zpGfx_MHClpsn3UqH45k0Q7gnp5v8jFOZ2TAr7f_Wn9z092JfgBG2nKUqBguAGfNlH8I7PUgf950Z2SasHt7ABOuMPM6anVo3VytGoReWsE1rrSmsr6QdlUIydv8L8R0mtGq4/s1600/Near+the+riverbed+at+Chhitkul.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Near the Baspa at Chhitkul</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
realise that time is flying and we need to head back. Pooh is our destination
for today. We have to leave Banjara camps post an early lunch so we can enjoy
the ride to Pooh without having to go tearing round corners and zipping all the
way there. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
turn back but not before I promise to come back to Kinnaur and Sangla - Chhitkul with definite time for bird
watching too. This is just a recce trip and we’ll be back for a more leisurely
stay sometime soon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
drive back is quick. The valley widens out substantially as we cross Raksham
and towards Sangla. The Baspa snaking along surrounded by orchards and small
dwellings is one charming picture. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J0B0N4bY1JMdKyc2hqqAecwmovCZNWPXaJ8jkxu3U5zEe34_o17Pnj0kejZ3VxgtFzoFw4yDy_XPMp9WMcoohMzXpPOqvUh_a0p_dpy8_2jaQRQbKqiYsxYSo3en4gkm0QfkhoqstZcG/s1600/The+valley+widens+towards+Sangla+and+is+full+of+Orchards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J0B0N4bY1JMdKyc2hqqAecwmovCZNWPXaJ8jkxu3U5zEe34_o17Pnj0kejZ3VxgtFzoFw4yDy_XPMp9WMcoohMzXpPOqvUh_a0p_dpy8_2jaQRQbKqiYsxYSo3en4gkm0QfkhoqstZcG/s1600/The+valley+widens+towards+Sangla+and+is+full+of+Orchards.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The valley widens towards Sangla and is full of Orchards</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back
at the camp, lunch is served. The cool fresh mountain air and the jaunts of the
morning have whetted our appetites and everybody tucks in with gusto. Not only
has the location of this setup been fabulous, but the food has been marvellous.
A place one can just relax in without any requirement for stepping out of the
premises. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
wheel barrows are out and the staff comes around collecting the larger pieces
of luggage. We troop out to the parking and settle into the designated
vehicles. Before departure, Doc calls all the help and some from the other camp
nearby and does a proper half hour presentation of the dos and don’ts for AIDS
prevention. Hopefully it is of some value to them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And
then we are off... destination Pooh!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
journey continues... </span></div>
</div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-87372783625515241852014-09-20T15:14:00.000+05:302019-08-14T12:58:48.324+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of
Himachal</span></h4>
<div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/journey-to-top-of-world-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Goa - Delhi.... the journey begins in the plains </a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal</span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank">Chhitkul... The emerald green valley!</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Destination Pooh...</span></a></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank">Spiti.... journey through ‘The middle land’</a></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Road to Chandratal</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank">Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank">Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/white-water-rafting-leh-and-khardungla.html" target="_blank">White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</a></span></span></b></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 115%;">13 Jul 2014. Three members of the team have
joined us in Delhi as has the fourth vehicle. They have driven in from Jaipur
to rendezvous with us here before setting off for the next leg of the trip.
Post a sumptuous and elaborate breakfast and reorganising the vehicles with the
additional members, we’re off to Kasauli. The journey is pretty much uneventful
on the Delhi Chandigarh highway. The last tranche of members is picked up in
Zirakpur, short of Chandigarh which enables us to bypass Chandigarh and head
straight for Kasauli. The roads are very good though the traffic is fairly
heavy. Progress is pretty quick till Kalka. After Kalka and all the way till we
turn off the main highway to Kasauli, it is chock-o-block traffic...! Seems
like Shimla and/or the other destinations nearby are super popular with the
plains folks! We finally reach Kasauli Resorts at dusk after a short ‘chai’
break enroute. Needless to say, all the cameras have come out soon as we hit
the hills.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-IN"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvO6qhZ_huvuDqiDPqrCHAGHf_JpskMxpKkezDRWg7_xjHnI6AHF39RkgLNk5CefCgZNr7CyHEbLzlJ1nrsZfmI7xPxYW5OUbOuUJea-Zj8rqEclH7C7UWZ92zsMXVCz3iVjeq6nxyE8-f/s1600/Chai+break+short+of+Kasauli.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvO6qhZ_huvuDqiDPqrCHAGHf_JpskMxpKkezDRWg7_xjHnI6AHF39RkgLNk5CefCgZNr7CyHEbLzlJ1nrsZfmI7xPxYW5OUbOuUJea-Zj8rqEclH7C7UWZ92zsMXVCz3iVjeq6nxyE8-f/s1600/Chai+break+short+of+Kasauli.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chai break</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Kasauli Resorts is a fairly well kept property
with nice views. Flowering trees, bushes and creepers and the general greenery
are a sight for sore eyes in the middle of a hot and dry July in the plains.
The first real get together for the team is organised here. The evening is fun
and the dinner delicious! </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQY_cuZDe8_KDl46SrU_vbKmN-qVbe3QdfzVPzBtxRpvkODnVmpVO9glDyns7SeNGVcFtAX97-dXq69HD1KMxLyUsdADc3JQEVypa6W85o2cJ7AFHo6H6Rbf7_BDRxhHLeYGPVf9D-nrK/s1600/Kasauli+resorts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQY_cuZDe8_KDl46SrU_vbKmN-qVbe3QdfzVPzBtxRpvkODnVmpVO9glDyns7SeNGVcFtAX97-dXq69HD1KMxLyUsdADc3JQEVypa6W85o2cJ7AFHo6H6Rbf7_BDRxhHLeYGPVf9D-nrK/s1600/Kasauli+resorts.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kasauli Resorts</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm7reGvXEV2HpVgzZIdb20TsJEOdiy5JNWnb5HSG_m7LuadKWla0FI6xXBad2doPGgG0445gGOMiaOLOK6NgZndo6cKp4FeJ07BLhWhkgZXfDUUtNBgZBd6srX2MQU5Z2pvkeKrKckLyL/s1600/Shrouded+in+fog...+Kasauli.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm7reGvXEV2HpVgzZIdb20TsJEOdiy5JNWnb5HSG_m7LuadKWla0FI6xXBad2doPGgG0445gGOMiaOLOK6NgZndo6cKp4FeJ07BLhWhkgZXfDUUtNBgZBd6srX2MQU5Z2pvkeKrKckLyL/s1600/Shrouded+in+fog...+Kasauli.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kasauli, shrouded in fog!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="line-height: 115%;">14 Jul 2014. The morning dawns foggy and the
visibility is down to just 7-8 mtrs or so. We leave rather later than we want
to. Positive... the weather clears somewhat making for slightly easier driving.
Negative... we waste valuable time which we regret later. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITb_07kJnMb_nxnPQ8R6rQavn4peTOsfO2FoloRazqYhPkFz0a2Ali9tqxENtFOTR7jfSkX69X436lV28dH23kX2hoAtnS5-uZ2WSAfDs4F0dtkM1amHXE0uCsEuetAHqjJiPEDccJ1G0/s1600/Enroute+Shimla.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITb_07kJnMb_nxnPQ8R6rQavn4peTOsfO2FoloRazqYhPkFz0a2Ali9tqxENtFOTR7jfSkX69X436lV28dH23kX2hoAtnS5-uZ2WSAfDs4F0dtkM1amHXE0uCsEuetAHqjJiPEDccJ1G0/s1600/Enroute+Shimla.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enroute Shimla</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The route
through the hills offers beautiful views of clouds drifting through the valleys
and orchards laden with apples and pears, plums and apricots though most of
them under ripe. It is still just the beginning of the season and most of the
fruit is at least a couple of weeks away from picking.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shimla is
crowded but eventually we are on our way towards Narkanda and onwards to
Rampur. Ahead of Narkanda, we stop at a roadside cafe so all of us can come
together for the packed breakfast we are carrying. It is a feast! This is where
our Doc decides to start on the AIDS awareness programme. The cafe staff as
well as a few others are given a small awareness talk and some material and
requested to spread the message along.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Shortly
hereafter we have our first view of the Sutlej. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH70kdNZGyIixcP9K9K4Ku351BH3cK2Vhd1BYPoMfW4hjTK-s_hG2TVr8qk3t-p28SdOn110GYiFbiaTBiQdxKExLWkKm9ca2A5XdxO3EnD6YlCpIeYeemY9h1oVyj9hd9Dj66p6-sQBmv/s1600/First+view+of+the+Sutlej.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">First view of the Sutlej</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH70kdNZGyIixcP9K9K4Ku351BH3cK2Vhd1BYPoMfW4hjTK-s_hG2TVr8qk3t-p28SdOn110GYiFbiaTBiQdxKExLWkKm9ca2A5XdxO3EnD6YlCpIeYeemY9h1oVyj9hd9Dj66p6-sQBmv/s1600/First+view+of+the+Sutlej.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A distant muddy
meandering torrent with terraced fields near the numerous settlements along its
banks, the Sutlej is a mighty river and the lifeline in these parts. Here and
there are glimpses of the road snaking its way down to the river. At this point,
the highway descends to the river and goes alongside for a long while. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Driving
along these surging waters, one feels a healthy respect for nature and its
forces which are so wild and untamed. They are life givers when valued and
respected; abuse or disrespect them long enough and we do it at our own peril
for it takes just a moment for complete obliteration! We’ve seen the Himalayan
Tsunami last year and the Kashmir floods now... </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeR48e5a1lcMbMPIjK7Q5fUWZwIWEyxuUEtQCqiQtPAChyphenhyphenbE8q8JMc6uFOqj3zqovNsqVasCfHKAhTzafN8penTFQMS80gHQdWkTThLVtHhse5yyUeBHXbziYxrhAsGeXUm8qKPKNjVkT7/s1600/Surging+Sutlej.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Surging Sutlej</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeR48e5a1lcMbMPIjK7Q5fUWZwIWEyxuUEtQCqiQtPAChyphenhyphenbE8q8JMc6uFOqj3zqovNsqVasCfHKAhTzafN8penTFQMS80gHQdWkTThLVtHhse5yyUeBHXbziYxrhAsGeXUm8qKPKNjVkT7/s1600/Surging+Sutlej.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fact that we
are travelling on the old 'Hindustan Tibet highway' keeps drifting through my
consciousness. The present highway runs along the old alignment for a fair way.
The old route hugs the higher reaches and almost does not descend down to the
valley. Many a man and beast have tumbled down to their deaths from those perilous
heights. Even today this route is counted amongst the most treacherous roads in
the world to travel on. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">A
little farther up, we come to a small waterfall with access for the Scorpio to
go near it. No time is lost in utilizing the opportunity to wash the dusty car. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZctY6DnnlP8bnlW-RSbpu9TMzMM4KoE6fvlG0LE2Z7MjoeEQq2JZKDwIhkwXeTXLjjmfS7RWE9KIFwTY3vDrvKMghWf5FOXDVKuBz0rIYSgN3FoCRNoIRROs4nU8bF8mFLAsm9YwV7SL/s1600/Car+wash+time!.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Car wash time!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZctY6DnnlP8bnlW-RSbpu9TMzMM4KoE6fvlG0LE2Z7MjoeEQq2JZKDwIhkwXeTXLjjmfS7RWE9KIFwTY3vDrvKMghWf5FOXDVKuBz0rIYSgN3FoCRNoIRROs4nU8bF8mFLAsm9YwV7SL/s1600/Car+wash+time!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As we go
further, this road climbs higher till it reaches sheer cliffs of stark,
unadorned rock where the road is but a scooped out C-shaped tunnel embedded in the
vertical cliff side. While we enjoy the drive along the banks of the Sutlej in
all its moods, I am almost willing the road to start climbing to this, one of
the most celebrated and recognised sections of this route. And when we do hit
that stretch, we are all spellbound! Such is the precarious nature of the road
that there are precipitous drops on the only open side and encased in solid
rock on the other three sides.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">A
much awaited and protracted photo session later, we are off.... </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bnchjqPLQFaNxk4Jj9JXYB3I2dpSpwQsBIUy8eIG9jtQaxs-fhRvW3PSYDFxvqrFBg6tlanFc0pfRZKRrIsrW1GOfeCrFu060HdBjL3-YP58rpcEYHBe3lBKvxkyUxE6rZPpNRDUxqSt/s1600/Hindustan+Tibet+road+1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hindustan Tibet highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bnchjqPLQFaNxk4Jj9JXYB3I2dpSpwQsBIUy8eIG9jtQaxs-fhRvW3PSYDFxvqrFBg6tlanFc0pfRZKRrIsrW1GOfeCrFu060HdBjL3-YP58rpcEYHBe3lBKvxkyUxE6rZPpNRDUxqSt/s1600/Hindustan+Tibet+road+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJpUBaat2vtVg5xeLTeAKgZsQVpo6-0ok0Qf2nrT0jjPT9xhtsDHvfWP3o-QZTiSu9IR-8UeQ_E-v-wT8k5hF0QYweuOnwUN9CMJIhcdeMs_0A6b44cintwYkUvxq7W3TsM9Hzm3eBFsX/s1600/Hindustan+Tibet+road+2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hindustan Tibet highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJpUBaat2vtVg5xeLTeAKgZsQVpo6-0ok0Qf2nrT0jjPT9xhtsDHvfWP3o-QZTiSu9IR-8UeQ_E-v-wT8k5hF0QYweuOnwUN9CMJIhcdeMs_0A6b44cintwYkUvxq7W3TsM9Hzm3eBFsX/s1600/Hindustan+Tibet+road+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JbO1Ke2q4z22l0-gkdUZKdqzF16DkWxeqFUax3mK_himQpiEzNpdmVYSNBjsMYrQJE28t4bA0EwpfWBpn_e4HEL2ZBVufVLz_qOG7_Q4MhZddn24r0w8SZjECFPphrAEGxozZHB_vTc7/s1600/Hindustan+Tibet+road+3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hindustan Tibet highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JbO1Ke2q4z22l0-gkdUZKdqzF16DkWxeqFUax3mK_himQpiEzNpdmVYSNBjsMYrQJE28t4bA0EwpfWBpn_e4HEL2ZBVufVLz_qOG7_Q4MhZddn24r0w8SZjECFPphrAEGxozZHB_vTc7/s1600/Hindustan+Tibet+road+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1fr5C7YbKBmoEiBfzPulZoPuRqTiazMridNzfIbJZgls9wLv2y1sTfvkga435gge_a46bgf_lQw75-1e-Uf8s2f3Pvdfk78ZAxioN4VRssjPyb_W3pxlbxO-py70Cfb98EfxCaNsTxjI/s1600/Hindustan+Tibet+road+4.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hindustan Tibet highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1fr5C7YbKBmoEiBfzPulZoPuRqTiazMridNzfIbJZgls9wLv2y1sTfvkga435gge_a46bgf_lQw75-1e-Uf8s2f3Pvdfk78ZAxioN4VRssjPyb_W3pxlbxO-py70Cfb98EfxCaNsTxjI/s1600/Hindustan+Tibet+road+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just two odd
hours away from Sangla is what I calculate and it is about 1530, so plenty of
time to reach and enjoy the campsite along the Baspa River before sundown. I
look forward to seeing the celebrated Baspa Valley and the famed birding that
the area has to offer. We cross Wangtoo and reach Tapri. Across the river we see a large township proclaiming JP
Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project and we come to a halt behind a long queue
of vehicles all seemingly waiting for a barrier across the road to open. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">On
enquiry, we learn that due to landslides ahead, this road is closed and an
alternative route through a place called Urni is being used which is a one way
gate system owing to a very steep and extremely narrow passage. The gate opens
at 1700 hrs and that 29 km detour for those 2 kms lost in landslides is a
nightmare! In fact, the GPS is all at sea while we are on this route and
initially keeps telling us to turn back, and go via Manali and Kaza to reach
Karcham! Finally it gives up and shows us out to pasture...:-) </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmAWQgLZSOwM8F4zFTxHMPA9AZ18eYHU5yIcEV0Yy7OKa7qPaWlXGVY3X-e9-8mrDxjFfQqnUbCO2UTlBsX4xIDuxv3FVN9sQqAnnmc0kvnjCEiH9Kzl77ZLIIHbbvbQZAhjn9AFPbwKo/s1600/JP+Hydro+project+just+before+the+landslip+zone.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">JP Hydro Project township</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmAWQgLZSOwM8F4zFTxHMPA9AZ18eYHU5yIcEV0Yy7OKa7qPaWlXGVY3X-e9-8mrDxjFfQqnUbCO2UTlBsX4xIDuxv3FVN9sQqAnnmc0kvnjCEiH9Kzl77ZLIIHbbvbQZAhjn9AFPbwKo/s1600/JP+Hydro+project+just+before+the+landslip+zone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Urni detour</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaWBtSywEqAofMjPRgDuLNpyqerRjzqI5vIdr_Rz4gWwL8jJFugapa8qqZ93jiQ6ZekEvojZsl-mxwhcmttWVzdFXgSv5Lll7uTwG0nPXGCFHAIATkMiLGScyzmcWeUU0_d4L4zc4b5Gn/s1600/Urni+Detour+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Urni detour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGda-jeJUSx6TIO9_URy0PZIdYQ5u0PKKRgE6CCt8SwH3C_A-AMoF490ccDpzwm_jYaFjpmtqiMxZ804A2BnS5kjqUzw1Wq4c0_p9jqQ8JPjzV_ojrEZPsuK-9G-nCtPwZec3rtMoys4M1/s1600/Urni+detour.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx0JVgouIlRzNOQ4_LZMCo8QOzs90nCe-uxkeHAHGbMR7-EMlP42zWNAkC7rSoXTLOx9Y7TMlkjYzQt1bNLNXVmsYYQqlLSMBB3j6PS9jfw3gnQ67ZcWuzKimJwQa7hEYvRQHdr7f6Px9/s1600/The+GPS+all+at+sea+!!.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The GPS... all at sea!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx0JVgouIlRzNOQ4_LZMCo8QOzs90nCe-uxkeHAHGbMR7-EMlP42zWNAkC7rSoXTLOx9Y7TMlkjYzQt1bNLNXVmsYYQqlLSMBB3j6PS9jfw3gnQ67ZcWuzKimJwQa7hEYvRQHdr7f6Px9/s1600/The+GPS+all+at+sea+!!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Over an hour
later we hit the original route having lost many hours in the process! Passing
Karcham, we turn right across the Sutlej and enter the Baspa valley. The very
first sight is the sprawling JP Baspa hydroelectric project. By the time we
reach Banjara Camps (which is 8 kms ahead of Sangla) over bouncy, dusty and
almost nonexistent roads with plenty of short and sharp switchbacks and blind
turns, it is 2130 hrs and completely dark! The camp has a parking about 6-700
mtr away from the main site. An army of helpers with wheelbarrows is waiting to
help us get our luggage in. A bonfire has been arranged for us and the staff is
very hospitable. Dinner seems to be a rather lavish affair but we are
exhausted. The two of us haul our weary selves in, have dinner and crash out.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The journey
continues...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
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</div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737942235341936341.post-82584030137692893302014-09-20T14:59:00.003+05:302019-08-14T13:25:14.002+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 4.0pt 0cm;">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Journey to the top of the world</span></span></h2>
</div>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Goa - Delhi.... the journey begins in the plains</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/delhi-sangla.html">Delhi – Sangla ... journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/chhitkul.html" target="_blank">Chhitkul... the emerald green valley!</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html">Destination Pooh...</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/destination-pooh.html"><br /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank">Spiti.... journey through ‘The middle land’</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/09/spiti.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank">Road to Chandratal</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/road-to-chandratal-goa-delhi.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank">Chandratal to Sarchu... a picturesque drive through Lahaul</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/10/chandratal-to-sarchu.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/sarchu-to-nimmu-via-tso-kar.html" target="_blank">Sarchu to Nimmu.... via Tso Kar</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://goabirder.blogspot.in/2014/11/white-water-rafting-leh-and-khardungla.html" target="_blank"><b>White water rafting, Leh and Khardungla... Top of the World!</b></a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<h3 style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-IN"></span><br /></span>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having
done our fair share of road trips as a family, we are now intrigued by the
possibility of doing a ‘Rally’ as a group. After much planning and preparation
the itinerary is finalised and the nitty gritties sorted out. We are going to
be a group of 17 in 3 Scorpios and one Bolero starting from Goa and going all
the way to Leh via the Spiti Valley. Of this, 12 will start from Goa with 3
joining in Delhi and 2 in Chandigarh. The second team would take over in Leh
and drive back via Kargil, Srinagar, Amritsar and Delhi to Goa. Apart from this
being an adventure trip, we are also going out with an AIDS awareness message.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">10
Jul 2014. The earth seems enveloped in a grey blanket of fog at 0530 hrs as we
set out and this follows us all the way through to Amboli where the clouds
almost kiss the road and the valleys play hide ‘n seek with the awestruck
traveller. Waterfalls small and big, entice the passersby to tarry a while and
take in the splendours of the monsoon in the Western Ghats. We bow to these
temptations and take the much awaited breakfast break satiating more than just
the appetite for food! </span></span></div>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnFNJ44f7zCWskeC-xpnVl2xint9rpXT-tifvR6sej7olNg7QtOSsvjZ_hI22i3eWRC9PRvMG6wbrGfFn77Kh814wTU6Y7V2iLUTB07HfjXEHA0jNKr6brpcOUpXO_jd5tchBLGq-HxvC/s1600/The+obsured+valley+at+Amboli.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnFNJ44f7zCWskeC-xpnVl2xint9rpXT-tifvR6sej7olNg7QtOSsvjZ_hI22i3eWRC9PRvMG6wbrGfFn77Kh814wTU6Y7V2iLUTB07HfjXEHA0jNKr6brpcOUpXO_jd5tchBLGq-HxvC/s1600/The+obsured+valley+at+Amboli.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Valley at Amboli obscured by clouds</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqEx91N2rfon8FpxSoTQnXx2ZxI0cU3GMjfT5FmAIm5KCVoQla0qgdXkisKqK5n618IUI579WqNKnwg3xtW0vvNM6orB_KUXeJUaO7z-G8pkvoPXWgYx7LGiAbwtEtXkQQooNYHMR8PF-/s1600/Pune+Mumbai+Expressway....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqEx91N2rfon8FpxSoTQnXx2ZxI0cU3GMjfT5FmAIm5KCVoQla0qgdXkisKqK5n618IUI579WqNKnwg3xtW0vvNM6orB_KUXeJUaO7z-G8pkvoPXWgYx7LGiAbwtEtXkQQooNYHMR8PF-/s1600/Pune+Mumbai+Expressway....JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A tunnel on the Mumbai Pune Expressway </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamYr-_zAwtih-KrbDYqs9d1UkxdWcyUlBnOdcorEbaKxSzDi4aWMt0StjJ-ijsIG8FUD8QRgRRaAMleC_HJID_m6x45_W8ASeBWhSi36at7Ef-ec3RsGbATGzk_NroKBgddB8Q-a5LnzB/s1600/Pune+Mumbai+Expressway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamYr-_zAwtih-KrbDYqs9d1UkxdWcyUlBnOdcorEbaKxSzDi4aWMt0StjJ-ijsIG8FUD8QRgRRaAMleC_HJID_m6x45_W8ASeBWhSi36at7Ef-ec3RsGbATGzk_NroKBgddB8Q-a5LnzB/s1600/Pune+Mumbai+Expressway.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mumbai Pune Expressway</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
rest of the journey till Mumbai is just another highway with nothing to
recommend it but a means to an end.
After the mandatory getting-lost-and-going-round-in-circles-before-finding-the-destination
that we seem to do in most new cities, we reach our destination after 2 solid
hours of wandering the drowning streets of Ghatkopar in a downpour worthy of
.... Mumbai! The thing to note is that
more time was spent in negotiating the traffic (read: stuck in traffic) than
driving! We finally reach and after a round of socialising with some local
friends, we retire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">11
Jul 2014. Another 0530 hrs start ensures that we exit Mumbai without a sweat. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemPOMl72i_AsrIJk9WQkacEq7XNmAoN-61ctvZfdIEAcXaaATH1EmwNTVSG2zIpoxbzhopDF2wm-k3E_OqtylgVVdO-R4UuJT2-yW0b12uYUfGal7g_NFWoPdslxQCXWyU2YXzmklqFOr/s1600/Exiting+Mumbai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemPOMl72i_AsrIJk9WQkacEq7XNmAoN-61ctvZfdIEAcXaaATH1EmwNTVSG2zIpoxbzhopDF2wm-k3E_OqtylgVVdO-R4UuJT2-yW0b12uYUfGal7g_NFWoPdslxQCXWyU2YXzmklqFOr/s1600/Exiting+Mumbai.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Exiting Mumbai</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0RrPAbIlBz64wobuwVAkINXvRPkQBggSQjYv0cbKM2yJ9Jvk1nH1693P1Zscl3LruKkfNQ0uac3dDybQFUsUcc2lgYxTMpyWII_lcYPNuOCDXRNsQc6viF6kBQVy_0i5hTvZ5s3x4M6_/s1600/Badoda+Highway+in+the+rains.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0RrPAbIlBz64wobuwVAkINXvRPkQBggSQjYv0cbKM2yJ9Jvk1nH1693P1Zscl3LruKkfNQ0uac3dDybQFUsUcc2lgYxTMpyWII_lcYPNuOCDXRNsQc6viF6kBQVy_0i5hTvZ5s3x4M6_/s1600/Badoda+Highway+in+the+rains.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Badoda Highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
Ahmedabad highway is a dream.... the only fly in the ointment is the enormous
truck traffic making driving on it akin to a formula 1 experience! The
incessant and torrential rains don’t help either! After Vapi, the showers
recede and a little bit later, disappear altogether. Lunch at Badoda after
which we decide to heed some advice from frequent commuters on this route to
Udaipur and take the inner route to Udaipur via Modasa bypassing Ahmedabad. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For
this we exit the highway at Nadiad and take the state highway. Within 10 kms of
the turnoff we have our first breakdown of the trip. Mahindra has sponsored the
vehicles for this rally and promised us technical support through this tour. We
call for help and are pleasantly surprised to have the recovery vehicle come by
in an hour. The service personnel check out the problem and decide that the
vehicle needs to go to Anand (back about 40 kms) since it is a larger service
centre. Decision is taken to leave the sick vehicle with 3 members and the
others to shuffle and move ahead to the designated halt at Udaipur. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We
pass a small village fair and then a small pond a few hundred metres ahead has
good bird life which we gleefully document....</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZda7i1_0yjduz-ODyD_EB1ecAwPalgMvmphYt7SSODFeK-qXT4JC2QDVyOqXCY2nVNQrIiLzUN2HmRzmK3oku2gZYCFJ9lrKprQp1EiSMWdBoB3aGzwq8wK3pVCrqfauFlrTvfAGOBUIu/s1600/A+small+village+Mela.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZda7i1_0yjduz-ODyD_EB1ecAwPalgMvmphYt7SSODFeK-qXT4JC2QDVyOqXCY2nVNQrIiLzUN2HmRzmK3oku2gZYCFJ9lrKprQp1EiSMWdBoB3aGzwq8wK3pVCrqfauFlrTvfAGOBUIu/s1600/A+small+village+Mela.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A small village Mela</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKQJOu3WTUDeuBQzu3ZZBLZi_0lce4zN3qFdX0X8TU_aUy2_CPGrEdEm4B0c4UYNLnJOIDZtW0O_wyp1O89IDPr36w0cbZZXhC-tpoJM3mlt3jU2LKVGEPTGUk-4hlcGm_RVHqzdqV9RT/s1600/Cattle+Egrets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKQJOu3WTUDeuBQzu3ZZBLZi_0lce4zN3qFdX0X8TU_aUy2_CPGrEdEm4B0c4UYNLnJOIDZtW0O_wyp1O89IDPr36w0cbZZXhC-tpoJM3mlt3jU2LKVGEPTGUk-4hlcGm_RVHqzdqV9RT/s1600/Cattle+Egrets.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaC08MeMJATFT3Ne4vFA2slMQJ-IY6vpQsuq6F9KIx4BjQX35ccwwpXSFrpN85091qT6JNhJ56jGMa3lWJUf8eWSBc99feT9Ox8p9HSZs1RsaAFebIktAMSa2RDD0lQ-P5XX2Gw0mYFMc/s1600/Pheasant+tailed+Jacana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaC08MeMJATFT3Ne4vFA2slMQJ-IY6vpQsuq6F9KIx4BjQX35ccwwpXSFrpN85091qT6JNhJ56jGMa3lWJUf8eWSBc99feT9Ox8p9HSZs1RsaAFebIktAMSa2RDD0lQ-P5XX2Gw0mYFMc/s1600/Pheasant+tailed+Jacana.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pheasant tailed Jacana</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKvHkD0ITh5dVkqfLWJzLvJdM28w0UovefeANeVmv3d3zdFqAGCgzRdQ4A9-OnTBk1rAF8y6Ca4KAHnkiWaaQh-4YVq5rZveNDaRPfWzISOSb-dTI0Xcd2LOVAbC5VBdCajXla-n_Lb6z/s1600/Pond+Heron.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKvHkD0ITh5dVkqfLWJzLvJdM28w0UovefeANeVmv3d3zdFqAGCgzRdQ4A9-OnTBk1rAF8y6Ca4KAHnkiWaaQh-4YVq5rZveNDaRPfWzISOSb-dTI0Xcd2LOVAbC5VBdCajXla-n_Lb6z/s1600/Pond+Heron.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pond Heron</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
a lot of time has been wasted and it is almost dark. Udaipur seems very far off... we finally make
it by 2345 hrs. In hindsight, the progress on the national highway may have
been faster given that we drove after dark! A very long tiring day indeed! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">It is said that a thing of beauty is a joy
forever. How true this is is brought out by the fact that in spite of the
exhausting journey of the day, we still find the time (and energy) to marvel at
the magnificent sight of the famed Pichola lake which is spread out below our
Guest rooms. The reflections of the lights from the palaces in and around the
lake make for a magical setting quite like sparkling jewels beckoning from
afar! The picture says it all!</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XDGVU7sIMbvjvVR7WWGsZTsj-S1B59emMH_plWs0dgBp83scAhyphenhyphenxcUFkXas0HFb669NkctP5OHHnFkkPIqtEZ9KP9Ufodi_IN_WTE0AfSsStdUsInWtLlNoQYJQWV3XeWFkLaELg66Ah/s1600/Jewels+twinkling+at+night.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XDGVU7sIMbvjvVR7WWGsZTsj-S1B59emMH_plWs0dgBp83scAhyphenhyphenxcUFkXas0HFb669NkctP5OHHnFkkPIqtEZ9KP9Ufodi_IN_WTE0AfSsStdUsInWtLlNoQYJQWV3XeWFkLaELg66Ah/s1600/Jewels+twinkling+at+night.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Reflections</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDyy1OXm6YZYgdWMZL93xJYFHm50ppyCtHFxxRzygxKlt0bRG-ZLTiFwb4RYxwut1fmg8NsCIGgw_sABvILvLnlgJnxIV9sAUCWaXNU6a7f41y-mpnZgLZQXC1YxzfJY3U5vFaLOgsyWq/s1600/Good+Night...zzz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDyy1OXm6YZYgdWMZL93xJYFHm50ppyCtHFxxRzygxKlt0bRG-ZLTiFwb4RYxwut1fmg8NsCIGgw_sABvILvLnlgJnxIV9sAUCWaXNU6a7f41y-mpnZgLZQXC1YxzfJY3U5vFaLOgsyWq/s1600/Good+Night...zzz.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Good night ... zzzz</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRNc3zoGSNtzHEe_MGCOizIcfR-DdGR0AiXjHjvS9vkT6JND5kLLAwkDJqwFl0Dj0XFWL8PPYrlgBW62Jx59OdRB7BTFoYJmgiGm9rIBPjV1VX6UMJj2ww5baAHUjzapIlXqNsuNJxNfe/s1600/Lake+Pichola,+Udaipur.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRNc3zoGSNtzHEe_MGCOizIcfR-DdGR0AiXjHjvS9vkT6JND5kLLAwkDJqwFl0Dj0XFWL8PPYrlgBW62Jx59OdRB7BTFoYJmgiGm9rIBPjV1VX6UMJj2ww5baAHUjzapIlXqNsuNJxNfe/s1600/Lake+Pichola,+Udaipur.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lake Pichola Udaipur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAELxIkUEd8FuAIJ_HqqrH-DTC2uuwpTMROoscgECZDjo9LNiK8lGpy8WBvWmBW9ugMorr-KNUC1sjiRqpT-j99wl-ePUeo7NnpCTezj-3_AIFJx-mdWluzOMJXm1YhO4dEI8gQQ4fHE7u/s1600/View+from+our+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAELxIkUEd8FuAIJ_HqqrH-DTC2uuwpTMROoscgECZDjo9LNiK8lGpy8WBvWmBW9ugMorr-KNUC1sjiRqpT-j99wl-ePUeo7NnpCTezj-3_AIFJx-mdWluzOMJXm1YhO4dEI8gQQ4fHE7u/s1600/View+from+our+room.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">View from our room....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">12
Jul 2014. We leave Udaipur at a more leisurely hour of 0700 hrs. A long drive
without incident sees us at the outskirts of Jaipur at about 1330 hrs. Taking a
detour to a goat farm on the other side of Jaipur sets us back by 2 whole
hours!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeGk1kuBIwf7z2HtruiHQijmBMDW1sfo7OvcZ8f1VyJFnkMdWPYij9uUI2Gr19-l-ZLxMUuVKeOiOaYShxqDqzm-r8WvH3_Vb7pjtWXhOdr8SxaX1gjjDEBSMnxpwy_rNI9B53GJS1LBM/s1600/DSC04519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeGk1kuBIwf7z2HtruiHQijmBMDW1sfo7OvcZ8f1VyJFnkMdWPYij9uUI2Gr19-l-ZLxMUuVKeOiOaYShxqDqzm-r8WvH3_Vb7pjtWXhOdr8SxaX1gjjDEBSMnxpwy_rNI9B53GJS1LBM/s1600/DSC04519.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goat farm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The farm is owned and run by the father of one of the team members. A
gastronomically satisfying break later, we are on our way to Delhi. The
nightmare begins.... the miserable road conditions and the extremely unruly
traffic crawling agonisingly forward is distressing! The quantum of traffic is
adding to the woes. Coming from a relatively calm place like Goa where sanity
prevails no matter the provocation this feels like alien country. I almost feel
timid in comparison to the fellow drivers! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Checking
into our hotel about 2300 hrs it takes us a while to freshen up, have dinner
and then hit the sack. Thankfully, it is a late start tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
entire journey from Goa till Delhi has been just driving, driving and then some
more driving. The rains have kept us company till Vapi or thereabouts. After
that it has been pretty much dry. In fact, Udaipur was just comfortable in the
morning but the day has been very hot and it is scorching in Delhi!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
vehicle left behind has been repaired (a choked fuel filter and lines which
needed replacement) and the team has brought it till Jaipur today. They will
catch up with us tomorrow morning. There is a sense of quiet excitement in the
team since the real rally starts tomorrow. This road trip can only loosely be
called a rally since there are 4 vehicles participating and going as a team
though without any competition. We hit the hills tomorrow. We are on the
threshold of the most exciting part of the trip. The journey to the top of the
world!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
journey continues.... </span></div>
</div>
goabirderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159984679191969773noreply@blogger.com0