Pip #4 | World’s Highest Post Office

Places in Pictures

Hikkim, Himachal Pradesh, India

                                 Hikkim a small settlement nestled deep inside eastern Himachal Pradesh in Spiti Valley, situated at the height of over four thousand four hundred meters above sea level this has to be one of my posted pips. Forget internet, this place has no mobile network coverage or for that matter doesn’t even have a traditional telephone line anywhere in town or around…

… Which is exactly why I like it, where one gets to taste a concentrated shot of life preserved in the past with experiences such as meeting the postmaster over a cup of hot local tea whilst posting the ‘oh so important postcard’ back home as memento. The world’s highest post office ladies and gentlemen :

But its not just this little settlement that captures one’s imagination; the views get exponentially engaging as you leave the river valley below to start ascending towards much rarer air. The road in many places would make you bet your arm that it wont hold up from crumbling down, but apparently it does, albeit barely.

Every turn of this dangerous road however, greets you with grand canyon like views of this massive mountain dessert, landscapes I have never experienced anywhere else in India. Funnily its also the only place in the country where one finds signboards indicating town populations as low as ‘thirty’.

There’s also a brilliant campsite for folks willing to brave this unforgiving yet utterly beautiful mountain-dessert scape. Walking up a gradual slope here can get you gasping for air, so I suggest acclimatization before heading up here in a hurry.

Overall, its an experience to be had in life as far as i’m concerned, hence this pip.

Happy travels guys like always and deep gratitude for people reading, liking and following the blog.

Cheers.

Places in Pictures | Pip #2 | Jalori Pass

Jalori Pass, Himachal Pradesh

This little known pass used to be something that people trekked to before, having inadequate access it hardly constituted to a decision of taking your vehicle to it, but things have changed and there seems to be a road now, albeit barely. Perched atop the ranges north of Shimla, the way to access it is either through Narkanda or via Shoja ( Map ).

 

The road to Jalori is what this thing is all about, especially if you happen to take the Shoja route. After Pandoh whilst heading onward to Aut and Manali, don’t enter the Aut tunnel with all its traffic, instead take the quieter road going straight to Shoja…

 

 

Bumpy as all hell, riders with adventure bikes will undoubtedly have the broadest smile among others along the way. However, whether you’re on a Hero Impulse or a Yamaha R3, the views are going to drive you mad regardless whilst assassinating the like button in your brain.

For staying options, I’d recommend Shoja nearby, a really quaint little town with just about a couple of basic accommodations. Don’t underestimate it though, it has this air of a typical pahadi* village and is utterly soul gratifying to say the least.

A reliable bike and an open mind are the solo riders two best friends among others. Happy travels ladies and gents, cheers and ride safe.

* Pahadi : is a wide term applied to social groups of Pahari speaking Indo-Aryan people of the Himalayas.

 

 

Places in Pictures | Pip #1 | Nako Village

Nako, Himachal Pradesh

When you step inside the zone of this little jewel of a town, you’ll instantly be swept off to a pre industrial era. Its as if the place is quarantined in the past, its rugged interface forms a particularly raw foreground to the magnificent and lofty Himalayas in the back. It would actually be an understatement to say that this place invokes the photographer in you, as I  was personally spellbound and completely shutterbugged.

Situated at a height of 12014 ft above sea level, it hardly has much vegetation going for it hence the starkness. It serves as a perfect prelude if you happen to be travelling on to Spiti Valley, a beautiful place to camp or spend a spare just relaxing. You can either camp beside the lake like some mountain bikers do or stay at a hotel with a room and restaurant.

Keep in mind this place isn’t for people trying to get piss drunk and party, that is what city pubs and discos are meant for. This is a place for tranquility though, where birdsong and livestock wake you up to the uniquely stark yet beautiful landscape of a mountain desert at 12000 ft.

Happy travels people!

PhotoLog – Bangalore to New Delhi Solo Ride.

This gallery contains 59 photos.

Different places, different tales. My intention here is to keep the post concise, just have an elaborate caption explaining moments of this photoLog experienced during my solo ride from Bangalore to New Delhi. The idea of the trip started with a feeling of … Continue reading →