We spent two and a half days at Shringi Vatika in Himanchal Pradesh. Reaching there itself was a task. Both of us are not fond of driving and the motion sickness complicates the issue further. So, we reached ISBT (bus station in New Delhi) to take a bus to Manali (we would have to get off before Manali to reach Shringi). But by the time we reached ISBT, the last bus for Manali had left. In fact, outside ISBT we met at least four touts trying to tell us that at this hour (it was 9.30 in the night, not all that late) no buses apart from their’s was available. Once we managed to enter the bus station, we found that the best course was to take a bus to Chandigarh and that is what we did. It was a 2X2 decent bus, the only decent bus we took in this entire journey.
We reached Chandigarh at 4.00 in the morning (I was frozen for the part of the journey, it was cold) and then we took a local bus to Mandi. From there we headed towards Aut. We had to get down at that tunnel just before Aut to take a bus for Banjar (which does not go through the tunnel) which might go as far as Jibhi. We did all this and finally around 2.30 reached Jibhi. I was so sleepy for the entire way because of the Avomine that I took no tea anywhere (this is becoming a habit now, almost, bad really bad I must say). At some point, Sesha offered me a laddu (sweet) and that is all I ate for the entire day.
We walked the last two kilometers from Jibhi to Shringi, rather than wait for a bus that was available an hour later. It started raining lightly on the way. Finally, when we saw the board of Shringi Vatika, it was such a relief. It took us 17 hours to reach the place. How we attacked the aloo parathas (stuffed Indian bread) that were served to us a while later.
The weather was damn cold (after all, it snowed there lightly) and after freezing for two days it was time to turn back (the account of these two days will follow soon). We wanted to start really early on Monday, as I had a class to take on Tuesday morning. There were no buses from Shringi to anywhere before 8.45. So we hired a taxi up to the tunnel near Aut to come back. We left at 6.00 am. I took my Avomine really early. I reminded Sesha to do the same but he threw tantrums. On the way, he vomited once! I wonder why he does not learns his lessons soon enough. Thankfully, after that he had no problems.
We stopped at the tunnel and quickly got a bus to Mandi. Our taxi guy waved us off and as soon as the bus started I realized that I have dropped my cell phone somewhere (as my niece would say, gir gaya). I cursed myself like anything, then I thought better to drop the cell phone rather than my camera (colleagues at lunch today gave further insight, better to misplace machines rather than people! Trust them to put things in perspective). From Mandi we took a khatara (uncomfortable) bus to Chandigarh and from there another kharata mercifully directly to Gurgaon. We reached home 12.00 at night and by this time I had caught a good cold (Sesha acquired it Shringi itself). For the first time, I did not load my photos as soon as reaching back. Took the class the next day. Played TT too.
I called the folks at Shringi Vatika today and I indeed dropped my cell phone in the taxi itself. So, the phone is not lost. The cold persists. It was so damn cold at Shringi that I had to take rum like medicine again, neat, in small quantities. The onward journey was 17 hours and the return 18.
So, I just can’t imagine how could the trip had been any better. In other words, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip.
PS. If anyone is heading that way, please get my cell phone back. Sesha is just not saying yes to going back the next month.
Mridula your journeys sound so arduous, I admire your willingness to endure hardship to see fantastic places!
yes you enjoyed the trip after so much trouble, it is really incredible.
on another note, can u please enable RSS feed. it will be easy for people to track your new posts. thanks
Hats off to you to undertake this 34 hr journey for a 2 day stay. Looking forward to the photos. And yes, may another trip materialize in the same area, so you get back your phone and we get more dose of HP.
If journey itself is so much interesting?! Eagerly waiting for the real story :)and good that you found your cell and will getting it back 🙂
That must have been an interesting journey to get there. I love such off tracks were you need to relly upon public tranportation or your legs to lead you to the destination.:-) I miss traveling in the Northern part of the country….:-(
Seems like a real long journey!
Loved reading about your fine trip!
max, while traveling somehow they do not seem that arduous. It is only when I reflect that they do feel tiring.Nilesh, somehow now they feel part of our travel plans. About the feed the button on the side bar, just where my profile ends, there is a add feed button, does that help? I thought it might, that is why I added it.Arun, a long journey it was.Rajeev, looks like the mobile phone has to wait. We are still very tired and Sesha is not even discussing another trip 🙂 but let us see. When we started for the trip we did not know it will take so long 🙂 Prashanth, I will write soon about the stay too. I will get my cell phone back but the question is when :(Ajeya, plan one in North, particularly if you like the Himalayas.Next post, I do your tag Alka.Thanks, Sanjay.
I have tagged you. 🙂
No doubt amazing feat to take such an arduous journey. Kalka mail from delhi to chandigarh might have been a better option compared to a night bus.
if I happen to go there, around Holi.. I’ll pick that cellphone for myslef.. now that I know the whole story.. ;o)
When I interact with my counterparts in the US, all are so eager to visit the Himalayas. I should point them to ur blog. They may get inspired to just do it.
Anonymous, thanks a lot for your comment. I know, the train idea sounds so nice but then we would have to plan in advance, which we did not do. With buses, you can just hop into one. Manu, that sounds fantastic. If you really plan to go, please drop me a mail. The address is at my profile page.Thanai, thanks a lot for the comment. I enjoyed your Indian railway post.
i think you didn’t read me properly… i said i’d pick it for myself 😉
Hmm, Manu, it is the lowest price handset available in the country 🙂 and I guess it will at least need a phone call from my side to the couple to hand you the phone? Of course, I didn’t read you properly.
no you’re mistaken.. i’m the most innocent looking creature on this planet..:o) add to that sh.Manohar lal(the owner of the place) having a strong liking towards me, for me having made to that place on the lowest priced motorcyle in the country (a hero-honda 100cc)… 😉
Aaah, then I am doomed. So, as long as you are willing to pay the bill 🙂 But really if you are planning to go as soon as Holi, seriously please get my phone for me. IP address guesswork is that you are from Gurgaon (tell me if I am wrong) so both of us will give you a treat at any of the malls. Make up your mind and let me know.
3 things..am from south delhiam not visiting that place anytime soonprefer having my food -homedelivered – watching television in home clothes, at home..
Hey hope ur cold is better now…:) waiting fr the remaining account of ur trip…
Manu, maybe you were talking about next Holi then 🙂 absolutely no problems.Akira, the cold has vanished. Will try to come up with the account tomorrow sometime. Thanks for stopping by.
We are eagerly waiting for the complete trip report.
Karnail, I finally managed to update the full account today 🙂
Sounds so good – how do u get to hear of such places? And I empathize with the motion sickness bit – its so irritating – for myself and my co travellers….
Smita, this one a colleague recommende to me. Otherwise the lonely planet guide ‘Trekking in the Indian Himalayas too offers the name of very small villages that are visited mostly by trekkers or such.I use Avomine without fail to avoid nausea and more often than not, it works for me.
The Shringi Rishi temple is indeed a very picturesque temple in this region which I visited myself during an Cycling expedition in 2006http://www.gauravbiware.com/Adventure%20sports/cycling2.htmlfelt nostalgic after reading your postGaurav Biware
Gaurav, thanks for sharing the link. The picture is imposing. But where is this exactly. I seemed to have missed it.
Hey mridula, it’s me – Dilliwala. Yep, the same!So did u get your fone back?
Dilliwala, so good to see you on my blog. Yes, a month later I went to Shringi Vatika with my younger nephew and got it back! Since then at hill every destination I am tempted to leave my cell phone behind 😀
That’s great – in the plains it wud have been sold off long ago! Good to read about Shringi, which I’d never heard of till reading your blog (link from IM of course).Cheers.
Dilliwala, but around the same time my sis dropped her cell phone in NCR at a bus stop and that too was returned.
Hi mridula,
Request u to update our contact details:
Phones:09459106728, 08894834310, 09857293952, 01903227029 pummy
Hi mridula,
Our landline has been disconnected. Request u to kindly update our contact details as follows:
Phones:09459106728, 08894834310, 09857293952
Email: [email protected]
Pummy Manohar
Shringi Vatika
Shringpur Ghiyagi (around 35 km from Aut)