A Visit to SITALAKHET--where only Tranquility prevails

The Hidden Treasure in Kumaon—Sitalakhet

 It was our 2^nd venture to Kumaon by our own car, the first being to Mukteswar and Naukuchiyatal. We always prefer to travel to serene places away from the tourist crowd and market places—hence the option was obvious-SITALAKHET.

 

 We took the route from Delhi to Ramnagar---Corbett—Ranikhet—Sitalakhet. The road from Ramnagar through Corbett is a dream path amidst the green forests with frequent visitors like monkeys and langoors all over the jungle road. We even spotted an alligator which made an excellent camouflage with the metallic road. It took around 9-10 hrs to reach Sitalakhet, as we were enjoying every bit of our journey specially the 10 kms stretch from Kathpuriya to Sitalakhet through thick forest area.

Our Route through Corbett national Park

The dry Ramganga river in Corbett

Mountains,forests and the river-wonderful vista at Corbett

Panoramic view of Corbett national Park

They are seen everywhere on the jungle road

The call of the Wild

The  jungle road that leads to the tourist rest house

KMVN Tourist Rest House-Sitalakhet

We had earlier booked one room in the KMVN Tourist Rest House, the only accommodation here. It is located amidst thick forests and is indeed very comfortable. We settled ourselves in the room, ordered our lunch and behold! As I opened the exit door of the room I found myself on a huge terrace facing the front side of the Rest House.  In front of us stood a 180 degree panoramic view of the snow clad peaks of the Himalayas. We never thought that Sitalakhet has such an enchanting beauty. The terrace was an awesome place and we decided to spend most of our time here in ultimate leisure, till then quite oblivious of the fact what is expecting us next.

Next day early morning before sunrise we were again on the terrace to get some view of the sunrise .It was chilling cold outside and my daughter rushed inside the room and plunged into the bed, and preferred to have her second round of nap. I and Subhransu were waiting with our heart panting –it was utter silence as there were no other boarders in the rest house. Gradually the sky turned orange, then red and lastly crimson---the first glimpse of the rays of the sun peeped through the distant mountains and fell on the trees,I was breathless, slowly the sun started rising—a hot glow of fire emerged from the distant mountains and filled the entire sky with its spectrum of hues—we were mesmerized and totally dumbstruck. It was a life long experience—Sitalakhet gave us all that we cherished for.

The Sun is rising

 There is a temple of Syahi Devi where the locals offer their prayers. One has to trek through the forested road to reach there. We opted to stay in the rest house and have our last glimpse of the Himalayas before we move to our next destination of Binsar.

Friends,

Sitalakhet is a bliss for nature lovers where one's soul will find peace within-miles away from the grandeur of city life and luxuries,this place is a paradise for the photographers.So next time you plan to rejuvenate yourself-there can be no other option than SITALAKHET-a nature's paradise-a hidden treasure on the lap of the Himalayas

Adieu  Sitalakhet

BAROG - A perfect Leisure Destination

It was our maiden venture to the mountains on our own car.We were a group of eight-Me,Subhransu and our daughter Suchetana along with Subhransu's office colleagues Alok,Shantanu,Daleep,his wife Shalini and their little son Saurya.We all planned to go to a place, with a pleasant weather,far from the madding crowd to beat the heat of Delhi in June 2011.After much research work,the place we opted was BAROG in Himachal Pradesh.

Very early morning at around 5 A.M we started from Delhi in our Santro and Shantanu's A Star.The drive was very smooth up to Pinjore as the road condition was excellent.The Himalayan driveway was under construction so we had to take the route through Kalka. Henceforth started our long wait as the road at Kalka was a bottleneck causing long stranding of traffic.After Kalka, the mountainous road began.We switched off our Ac and let the cool fresh air come in through our car windows.The meandering path through the hills,the dense vegetation of pine,oak,deodar,cedar,the little colorful dhabas beside the road all added to the charm of our journey.At around 1 P. M we reached Barog.The tranquil and solitary backdrop of Barog attracted us on its first sight.

We eight at Barog

Barog is a small hill station in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh on the  Kalka-Shimla route i.e NH-22 at an altitude of 5120 ft, 60kms away from Chandigarh. Shimla is just 55 kms from Barog.

We got accomodation in Hotel Corrins,just opposite to HPTDC Delux Hotel,The Pinewood.Our hotel was moderately comfortable ,but the best part of it was the huge terrace facing the green valley.Surrounded by pine and oak forests Barog has a commanding setting.The walk towards the Choordhar mountains leave one dumbstruck with the captivating view of the peak. Summers are pleasant and winters are chilly.There is a small market place with a handful of shops including local eateries at a stone's throw distance from the hotel where we enjoyed our meals at a very moderate price.There are a few  deluxe hotels in and around Barog of which Barog Heights needs mention.

In the evening, we drove through the picturesque road to Solan,just 8 kms from Barog. Solan is a big District Capital with all sorts of city amenities and luxuries.We spent the whole evening in a local fair at Solan and returned to our hotel,only to gossip in the terrace under the clear night sky and amidst total silence of the woods.

The Fair at Solan

Solan-Glittering at night

Next morning we drove to Dagshai cantonment, just 7 kms from Barog,at an altitude of 5968 ft.It is the oldest cantonment in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh built by the East India Company in 1847.Built by the British as a sanatorium for Tuberculosis patients, it has a British era graveyard overlooking the valley.It is also a short drive from Dharampur,which leads the road to the most picturesque Kasauli.At present there is a very small civilian town,an Army unit,one residential Army school, a private school and an old church in this hilltop place of Dagshai.We all were enthralled by the absolute silence of the nature.The dense pine trees,the green valley,the chirping of the birds in the distant trees and the cool breeze of Dagshai would remain in my memory for years to come.

Dagshai

Solace-Dagshai

The deserted road-Dagshai

Dagshai School

In the afternoon we went to see the most interesting and beautiful place of Barog-the railway station.It is located deep down the road almost hidden by thick forests at a distance of 3 kms from Barog on the Kalka-Shimla Highway.We parked our cars on the road itself  and trekked through the jungle path to reach there.Built in Scottish style, Barog railway station is the most beautiful of all the stations in the Kalka-Shimla  narrow guage line. It has the longest tunnel of 1143.61 m in the 103 operational tunnels in the route. Barog station is immediately after the tunnel,the straightest tunnel in the world.Trains take 2.5 minutes to cross this tunnel at 25 kms per hour.

The beautiful Barog Station

There is an interesting historical fact behind the construction of this famous Barog tunnel which I like to share.Colonel Barog,an engineer was responsible for designing a tunnel near the railway station. He started digging the tunnel from both the sides of the mountain,which is quite apt as it speeds up the construction. However, he made mistakes in the calculation and while constructing the tunnel it was found that the two ends of the tunnel did not meet. Col Barog was fined an amount of Rupee 1 by the British Government. Unable to withstand the humiliation,Col Barog committed suicide. He was buried near the incomplete tunnel. From then onwards the place came to be known as BAROG. Locals believe that the ghost of Barog still hovers around the place.

The  tunnel at Barog Railway station

Barog Tunnel-the straightest tunnel in the world

Barog Railway Station-Scottish architecture

Waiting for the Toy Train

View from the top-Barog Tunnel hidden by dense forests

View from Barog-Solan valley at night

Our visit to Barog came to an end.The mood all around was very poignant as we had to leave this beautiful small town but we promised to return again.

Friends,

You may have traveled many a times through the Kalka-Shimla route to distant places in Himachal Pradesh without giving much notice to this small town of Barog, but next time spend a day or  two in this densely forested hill station of Barog which will undoubtedly soothe your body,mind and soul.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”—KHARAPATHAR-A road less traveled by.

The long wait due to road construction-on our way to Kharapathar

The view from our balcony-HPTDC rest house at KharapatharThe Giriganga

The small market place at Kharapathar

The Giriganga Resort amidst apple orchards

The most comfortable stay at Kharapathar

Many of us wish to travel to secluded places which will offer us a captivating view of the nature along with a comfortable stay, but most of the times, options are not known to us.

We can suggest you to this picturesque hamlet with soaring mountains and fruit laden apple orchards, where time remains standstill and you can be with yourself---KHARAPATHAR in Himachal Pradesh- a breathtaking beauty in the Pabbar valley. After you pass through Shimla, take the NH-22 route and reach Theog, enroute Kufri and Fagu.From Theog, take the right hand road and after experiencing a very bumpy ride on the broken road you will reach the dream destination-Kharapathar (85 Kms from Shimla)—the land of utter silence—only the melody of the birds in the far and near conifers enraptures the entire atmosphere. Blended with myth and reality and charming architectural legendary temples, this tiny place has many more things to offer—only you need to be within yourself.

Kharapathar is uniquely a leisure destination with green valleys, lush forests, tall mountains, swift streams, apple orchards and a heavenly bliss. From here you can drive 29 Kms towards Rohru on the right bank of the Pabbar river to watch the classical temples of Hatkoti built in ancient nagara style—Hateshwari temple complex. One can also travel 7 Kms through thick Deodar forests either walking or by car to the Giriganga temple.

HPTDC provides an excellent stay in their GiriGanga Resort which may be the only option for accommodation here; the other may be a PWD bunglow which we haven’t seen. Within a stone’s throw from the Tourist resort there is a small market place with a handful of shops where the local people flock in the afternoon-the only mode of entertainment in the whole area.Inside the market place there is a temple where a stone stands erect which is worshipped by the people here –khara pathar—may be the name has been derived from there.

So Friends,

If you want a road less traveled by where you can re-discover your Soul and experience peace within, then Kharapathar is your only option.

The overcast sky in the Pabbar Valley

On our way to Hatkoti from Kharapathar

The bright colored roofs of the local cottages in the Valley

Very colorful,yet very soothing

We were the only tourists on the deserted road to Rohru

Himachali Beauty

The apples are in their nascent stage

The Pabbar river being utilised for generating Hydroelectricity
Rohru

hru

Tranquility prevails

The sighnage

The entrance to Hateswari Mata Temple-Hatkoti

God's abode on nature's lap

The Hateswari Temple in Hatkoti,29 kms from Kharapathar

Built in old Nagara style the temple is worth visiting

The road beside the temple leading to the river

Apple orchards

The Giriganga resort

Giriganga Temple complex

Dense pine forests surround the Giriganga temple complex

The view from the top

Eerie silence