Travelogue: Lahaul and Spiti Valley -- Total distance: 849 km

Overview
Spiti means "middle land" -- the land between India and Tibet. While Lahaul is more habituated with villages along the way and roads in good shape (mostly metalled) and some places gravel, Spiti is a vastly different beast -- less habitation, one of the most difficult terrains, harsh climate, no cell phone connectivity and the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere (no immediate relief visible on the way forward or backward) which acts as a determinant for the mettle to push oneself beyond physical limits to power-through the terrain and acquire the satisfaction of being able to traverse one of the highest motor-able lands in the world.
For more information: http://hplahaulspiti.nic.in/Spiti.htm

The Trip
As a precursor, most enthusiasts choose the route: Manali - Kaza - Tabo - Nako - Chitkul - Manali or rather many return the same route from Kaza covering the Spiti valley twice. However, having heard stories of people returning halfway from the Spiti valley due to the terrain, we wanted to accomplish the entire circle and hence, chose the opposite route than most -- Lahaul first and then Spiti valley.

After much efforts in coordinating among interested individuals, we ended up with 3 enthusiasts at the ISBT, Kashmere Gate on 4^th Sept evening to board the bus for Manali.

Day 1: We arrived in Manali around 10 AM and after freshening up, we went on the hunt for bike rentals. Based on comfort and desire for a particular bike, we settled on 2 avengers (220 cc, oil cooled) and Royal Enfield Bullet 350cc. Purchasing essentials to start the journey, we ultimately left Manali around 1 PM. Our initial start was filled with excitement, energy and zeal to drive bikes (we were on bikes after ages). We stopped at Bhuntar for a late lunch. We made the stop for the day at Shoja.

Highlights for the day: The roads were metalled and the drive was very pleasant alongside the Beas river. The metalled road continued till Jibhi. The last stretch of 5 km from Jibhi to Shoja was unmetalled gravel road and the after-dark driving added to our discomfort leading us to think that this was the worst kind of drive we could face.

Distance: 108 km
Altitude: Manali - 2050 meters, Shoja - 2590 meters

Day 2: We started from Shoja around 9:30 AM (yes, we had very lazy starts – discipline of getting out early was non-existent). After Naggar, near a village named Jalori, the highway was closed and hence, we had to take a detour into the wilderness to cover the distance till we got back onto the main highway near Nagan. We took lunch somewhere around Luan and Bithal. After a quick shut eye, we were on the road by 3:30 PM and made an early stop at Rampur at 5:30 PM. Other than the detour, the rest of the road was good for driving.

Highlights for the day: The off-road from Jalori till Nagan was a challenging terrain to say the least. Unmetalled, gravel road, steep inclines and muddy as well as stony roads at most places leading to a speed more than 5-10 kmph impossible. One avenger got stuck in the mud in this course while the bullet tasted dirt twice requiring help from nearby people to be helped up. The positive to this route was we got some tasty apples plucked from the trees directly as a gift from the locals. A mad-man from a local general store suggested that going forward, you can hit a speed of 100 kmph for the remaining stretch (!!!).

Distance: 120 Km
Altitude: Rampur - 1350 meters

Day 3: We started at 8:30 AM with the target to reach Kalpa by sun-down. Gorging in the sights of power plants from Rampur to Jhakri and many more, we sped off in good spirit to break bread at Sangla. The roads had turned into gravel and sandy roads for most part. We made good progress and were 40 km off Sangla by 12 noon near Tapri. However, the remaining stretch took us surprisingly much time to cover and we stopped for lunch around 3 PM at Sangla. We explored the valley as well as the Kamru Fort. Putting our helmets back on, we started for Kalpa and reached Reckong Peo before sunset. However, due to some wrong information, we had to do a 3 km to and fro due to which we stayed at Reckong Peo and ditched the plan for Kalpa (further 10 km up).

Highlights for the day: There are no decent places to stay before Reckong Peo/Kalpa for at least 50 kms. A sun glass was lost in this razzle.

Distance: 140 Km
Altitude: Sangla - 2700 meters, Reckong Peo - 2290 meters

Day 4: We started at 8 AM with gusto and our target was lunch at Nako and stay at Tabo. The road was gravelled till Akpa (16 km from Reckong Peo) which substantially slows the speed and break the physical being on a bike. Army territory starts after Akpa which means good metalled road which carried us at good speed to Nako. After lunch at Nako, we were able to reach Tabo by 7 PM.

Highlights for the day: The road to Nako as well as the scenic beauty during the climb is exceptional. Nako lake is beautiful. The village has decent supplies of regular items such as handkerchiefs, water, glasses etc.
Distance: 160 Km
Altitude: Nako - 3662 meters, Tabo - 3050 meters

Day 5: We started from Tabo at 11 AM and reached Kaza by 1:30 without much discomfort since the roads are reasonably good. After lunch at Kaza, we needed welding on the carrier (Only Kaza has this service since we had been looking for welding shop for a while). We ended the day at Kibber in the evening and stayed the night. We made a detour to visit Dhankar village as well and paid our homage to the centuries old monastery at Dhankar.

Distance: 80 Km
Altitude: Dhankar - 3894 meters, Kaza - 3600 meters

Day 6: We started at 8:30 with a tall order to decide whether we make the run for Manali or not at Losar. From Kibber, we made a stop at Key to explore the most revered monastery where a documentary was also being shot on the life of Dalai Lama (we met a few look-alikes of Dalai Lama). The road continued to be gravel and dirt road till Losar where we stopped for lunch at 12:30 PM. At 1:30 PM, we entered into the rally territory of 80 km till Gramphu which is termed as the toughest terrain. We slippery, rounded stones making the roads uncomfortable throughout, the route was spotted with deceivingly slippery black sand, freezing water crossing the roads multiple times (which led to us wearing wet socks and shoes for most of the distance). The most challenging stretch was between Batal to Chhatru however, the remaining was not easy by any means. The bullet fell a couple of times more on the rounded stones while the avenger suffered a big dent in the gearbox which rendered gear changing in itself a challenge. Not counting the innumerable hits on the silencers, we covered the stretch till Gramphu without any significant stops for breath by sunset (7 PM). Stay options are only available at Batal and Chhatru in this route. We should have made the stop at Chhatru (at 5:30 PM) but we decided for a run on Manali. We traversed Rohtang Pass in the depths of night, and due to lack of petrol, rolled bikes for much of the distance thenceforth, till Marhi. Bought some petrol in black at Marhi, had some tea and covered the remaining 34 km to Manali by 10:30 PM.

Distance: 230 km
Altitude: Kunzum Pass - 4590 meters, Gramphu - 3650 meters, Rohtang Pass: 3979 meters

Total Distance: 849 kms, Mileage: 34 kms per litre on Avenger and 30 kms per litre on bullet. Achievements:

Don't be a Gamma in the land of Lama :)

History repeats itself!!! Does it?

Its a time proven proverb of the elder times and with numerous occurences to prove the authenticity of the same. The same happened to my puny existence shaking it to the tip and being true to the T.
25 Dec, 2004, a truth well-hidden within the constraints of my heart was eventually glimpsed at by the eyes of scrupolous elements. This followed with sentimental torture, mental pressure, persistent abjuration. Tears dripped like rain drops, the outside pain was coherent with the unconscious struggle for retainment. Life seemed to be begging to borrow the pleasures from death. Words were rare, looks were glares, smiles were mere flicker of disgust or maybe just disapproval. The scene was of high intense, with communal engagements and comments being common, taunts deliberately aimed to maim me mentally. It was a hard time with reel-like mural. Clouded by the mist's of others concerns, the vows of humanity welfare being pelted at me, finally, the heart came out victorious with maybe many casualties, but who cares about such things in love and war.

The similar thing happened on 25 dec, 2006 with the other counterpart. The same truth got revealed in the same way as before in all the basic criteria being the same. I stand on the shore but i can feel the storm here and tears comes to my eyes thinking of the endurable my part undergoes. A similar situation has prevailed and it causing the similar panorama. The history has repeated. But i hope it completes with a slightly different flavour. Every ounce of me hangs in balance in this.

Let the heart be victorious in the true sense this time and let it prove its power to all. Let it be something i would cherish and be grateful all my for to Him.

Let the river stop now and be a peaceful ocean.

Immensely Enjoyable

Its a cool atmo here. and the problems are increasing day by day. Everyone is getting frustrated and ditching the last efforts. Its a real mess. Im out of it, so am enjoying while i can.

i dont have much to write. Just thought to punch in some chars.

The Frenzy

People are gonna move around now. Who will be where, its not certain. The enthusiasm has cooled off and the concentration is more on the frenzy. I am worried about the future of the endeavour undertaken. That's something very special to me.
I want to make it work. Lets see what it brings about in a couple of weeks. I suppose, it might require some indepth thoughts to it.
But one thing is certain, i am gonna be here, no matter what.

I am gonna make it thru without scratches :D

Its about time

Yes, its time .. Relaxation and merriment is over now. It should start now.
A good job is required now for some stability and longevity.
There is no point of being moving from the focus, else the bombay was only good enough. But, be focussed.
This post is intended for my use :D

The leap has been taken

It has finally been taken. That is what i sometimes love about myself, other than that, i am not always that happy with what i do. I needed a push, i got it today and took my leap. Lets see what the future holds but yet, confidence is what i have learned in my 4 years and that will see me through :D.

I like it. The feeling is unique. In fact, i enjoy it. A burden seems removed. Though, i know this kind of things are not feasible to my responsibilities.
But still what's wrong in experiencing it for sometime. I can worry later and surely, will :(.
I am only human :D

What are Beneficial Decisions?

Decisions are of 2 types: beneficial and normal ones.
They have two consequences: benefit and loss.
They are implemented in 2 ways: forced and conscious.
They provide 2 results: satisfaction and frustration.
Benefits are of 2 types: monetary and psychological.
Loss are of 2 types: monetary and psychological.
Though, all these also involve physical aspect, but that is undermined in presence of psychological aspect.

Monetary benefits are always short-lived, though being a very big driving factor and dominating most of the decisions.
Mostly, decisions are always in favour of benefits.
A forced decision leads to frustration while a conscious one leads to pure satisfaction.

Mostly, there are circumstances associated with forced decisions which lead to the conversion of forced decisions into conscious decisions. But the heart knows the difference and it won't leave you alone on this, though your mind will accept it.
Mostly, the circumstances which are considered in undergoing forced decisions are very abstract and hypothetical. There real-time occurence probability is very low, though it is anticipated to be very high. This mostly leads to a forced decision being taken which is later regretted or takes a sobbing corner in the heart's dark bracket.

Examples of such decisions are 2 guys:
One doesn't take up a high paying job in another city due to reasons related to heart, while another takes up a trip to USA under pressure of circumstances which are over-estimated. One is currently, quiet happy with the decision taken, while the other is on the verge of changing platforms on a day-to-day basis.
One is enjoying and satisfied with the days as they are passing, while the other is under constant frustration about what to do and what not and thinking of alternatives to fulfill a decision he desires.
Time surely will tell, what would be achieved by such endeavours.
One should be a little selfish in life to be happy:D, otherwise, it just becomes a prolonged period of endurance without happiness and lots of regrets in life.

If you have a single regret in life which you could have avoided, it should be avoided as it makes life a lot more merrier. :D This is a proven thing. Ask the gurus of such fundaes.