Category Archives: India

Travel Guide to Kedarnath Temple

May 24, 2019 allgudthings 24 Comments

We always believe some things and trips are bound to happen and you can’t resist them. Yes, that was exactly the scene when we did a trip to Badrinath Dham in 2017 and now Kedarnath Temple road trip in 2019. Honestly, the thought of covering both these religious destinations never occurred to us, but it seems GOD himself, pull us to see his abode and the beauty around it.

Our Itinerary for a road trip to Kedarnath Temple from Delhi

We did the complete trip to Kedarnath from Delhi in 5 days. Our starting and ending point was Noida.

Day 1 – Started our journey at 7:00 am from Noida and took the first halt at Srinagar around 7:00 pm.

Day 2- Started at 9:00 am from Srinagar and reached Gaurikund around 7:00 pm.

Day 3: Trek (via Horses) started at 5:30 am and reached up at Gooda Phul by 10:00 am and further reached the temple by walking around 11:30 am

Day 4: Left from Kedarnath around 9:00 am, and reached Kedarnath base camp by 10:00 am. Took horses and reached Gaurikund around 2:30 pm. Further walked and took a shared cab till Sonprayag and reached there around 3:30 pm. We took our car and left ahead. Reached Rudarprayag at 8:00 pm.

Day 5: Drove from Rudraprayag to Noida via Lansdowne. We started our day at 9:00 am and ended at 11:00 pm.

How to reach Kedarnath

The journey to Kedarnath can be done via road, or by air. For Road, you can check the route we followed and for the helicopter services from Haridwar/ Rishikesh or Phata (15 km ahead of Guptakashi), check & register here. The helicopter service providers at Phata make you reach Kedarnath Temple within 15-20 minutes. So, the to & fro can be done in 2-3 hrs.

Roadtrip to Kedarnath Temple — Ahead Rishikesh – On way to Kedarnath

The nearest airport is at Dehradun whereas the nearest railway is at Haridwar or Rishikesh. Further, the journey to Sonprayag from Dehradun is 252 km, from Haridwar is 237 km and from Rishikesh is 212 Km.

Route from Delhi till Sonprayag:

Route 1 (Distance from Delhi to Kedarnath Temple Sonprayag, 491 Kms) Delhi – Noida – Modinagar – Khatauli – Muzaffarnagar- Rorkee- Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudarprayag – Agastmuni – Guptkashi – Phata – Sonprayag

Route 2 (516 kms) Delhi – Noida – Modinagar – Khatauli –Najibabad –Lansdowne- Pauri – Srinagar – Rudarprayag – Agastmuni – Guptkashi – Phata – Sonprayag

We went via Route 1 and came back via Route 2 i.e. Lansdowne. No doubt the route 2 is more picturesque but it is equally tiring too, especially via returning back.

Road Conditions till Sonprayag

Roads are good and there are many rough patches too. Expect few landslides on the way and at times you will be taking detours and driving just at the River bed. Char Dham Highway project, NH-58 i.e. four-lane roads for 900 kilometers, connecting 4 Dhams i.e. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri is on the go, so there are many roadblocks and traffic will be slow on the way.

Detours due to Landslides - on the way to Kedarnath — Detours due to Landslides – on the way to Kedarnath

Sonprayag to Gaurikund

Further, from Sonprayag; Gaurikund is around 6 Kilometers and can be reached via trek or shared cabs only. Trekking will add another distance of 5 Km to the trek, making the total trek of 22 to Kedarnath Temple. So, a better and most economical option is to go via a shared cab from Sonprayag to Gaurikund. Park your vehicle in the Sonprayag parking zone and move towards the registration counter. After registration, walk for around 500 meters and you will see cabs there. The driver charges Rs.20 per head in a shared cab and jump in.

Gaurikund serves as a base camp to Kedarnath Temple and once you debark here the real trek to Kedarnath Temple begins.

First look of Gaurikund and River Mandakini

Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple

Before Gaurikund to Kedarnath Trek distance was 14 kilometers via Rambara but North India floods in 2013 completely destroyed the older route between Rambara and Kedarnath. So, now the new route laid down from Gaurikund till Kedarnath Base camp distance is of 16-17 Kilometers. Gaurikund Base camp is the point where horses go and are also known as Ghoda Phul.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxe0rmnHDlY/

From Kedarnath Base camp, there is further a walk of 2-3 kilometers till Kedarnath Temple. Thee same can be done via, walking, Palki (Palanquin), or Pithu’s only.

Complete new Kedarnath Trek Route Map

Gaurikund – Rambara Bridge (7 Kms) – In between comes Jungal Chatti (4 kms from Gaurikund) and Bheembali (6 kms from Gaurikund)

Rambara – Linchauli (4 Kms) i.e. 11 kms from Gaurikund

Linchauli – Kedarnath Base Camp (3-4 Kms)

Kedarnath Base Camp – Kedarnath Temple (2-3 Kms)

Kedarnath Trek Route Picture- Road to Taste

Facilities on the way to Kedarnath Trek

The Kedarnath trekking route is paved and barricaded except at the few patches. In the midst of the trek, there are shelters, proper medical facilities, tented accommodations, drinking water, and small shops/ restaurants.

Horses/ Ponies/ Palki/ Kandi / Helicopter

Horses, Palki, Kandi and Kedarnath Pithu services are available at the base camp as an alternative to trekking. Remember you can get horses/ ponies easily at the base camps but the chances of getting them on the way are bleak; whereas Kandi and Palki service is available throughout. Rates for Horses/ Ponies is Rs.2500/- from Gaurikund base camp to Kedarnath base camp and Rs. 1500/- for vice versa. Whereas rates for Palki and Kandi varies with weight and you can refer the below chart for the same.

The Helicopter services to Kedarnath are available from Guptkashi (15 km before Phata), Phata, and village Sersi. A helicopter drops the pilgrims just behind the temple and for the revised rates, refer here.

Horses, Ponies, Palkis for Kedarnath Trek

Medical Services

Special arrangements for medical services have been made by the Health Department at all the main stops i.e. at Jungle Chatti, Bheembali, Linchauli, and Kedarnath. Doctors are available for 24 hours and there is an arrangement of medicines, oxygen cylinders, telemedicine, and even airlifting. There is also a 10 bedded hospital with ECG and other modern facilities at Kedarnath.

Accommodation

Accommodation on the way is available at Jungle Chatti, Bheembali, and Linchauli. At Bheembali there is GMVN Bheema Complex and at Linchauli, there are Shivlok Cottages. At Kedarnath, there are several accommodation options. We stayed at Agra Bhawan, which is just next to Kedarnath Temple.

Shops & Restaurants

There are several shacks and restaurants on the way of supplying cold drinks, buttermilk, biscuits, Maggi, and food. The pricing is higher than the regular pricing but it’s worth as it is tough to get and maintain regular supplies here.

Best time to visit Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath is cold during most of the year and weather too changes here drastically. So, the best time to visit Kedarnath Dham is May- June, and September – October. Avoid going during monsoons i.e. July – August as there are heavy rainfall and high chances of landslides.

Kedarnath Temple opens up on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya (which falls in April – May) and closes on Bhai Dooj i.e. after Diwali (October – November). In 2019, the temple opened up on 9^th May and probably will close on 29^th October.

Kedarnath Temple Timings

The Kedarnath temple timings are fixed from 4:00 am -9:00 pm.

Timings for Kedarnath Trek

Because of the unpredictable weather conditions, there are fixed timings for Kedarnath trekking too. One cannot go up from Gaurikund base camp after 1:00 pm and cannot trek back from Kedarnath base camp after 5:00 pm.

Trek Level: Steep and Tough

Registration for Kedarnath Trek

As soon as you park your vehicle in Sonprayag and move from the parking there is a Biometric Registration counter. There is a separate queue for men and women. The police personnel sitting behind the window will ask you for I- card verifies your details, take a picture and issue a Char Dham, Yatra Card. The whole process takes around 15-20 minutes.

Biometric Registration and Prepaid Pony or Horse Counter at Sonprayag

Just adjacent to this counter is a prepaid booking counter for horses/ ponies/ palkis and Dolis. One can book the same from here or from Gaurikund counter. We booked for ourselves from Gaurikund at the fixed government rates only.

Char Dham Yatra Card — Bio metric Registration Card

About Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath; is formed from two Sanskrit words where “Kedara” means field and “Natha” means Lord. So, it is known as a place where the “Crop of Liberation” grows.

The Kedarnath Temple is located at 11,755 feet in the Garhwal Himalayan range of Uttarakhand, on the banks of Mandakini River (a tributary of Ganga), near the Chorababari glacier. It is a Hindu Temple (Shrine) dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also one of the Jyotirlinga. The temple is 85 feet high, 187 feet in length and 80 feet wide. Its walls are 12 feet thick and are built from extremely strong stones.

Tokens for Kedarnath Temple

For a visit to Kedarnath Temple, one needs to collect the Tokens. They are available at the Kedarnath entry gate, near the market. Remember, the token is for one person only and the collected token is valid for the same day Darshan only. After getting your token, wait for your number to be displayed on the display board.

Note: For the next day you need to collect new tokens and the personnel’s are available form 5:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Kedarnath Temple Story

There are several stories of Kedarnath Temple. Some claim it to be built by Guru Adi Shankaracharya in the 8^th century whereas others claim it to be built by Raja Bhoj of Malwa in the 2^nd century.

Acc. to Hindu mythology, the temple was initially built by Pandavas. Pandav Brothers after killing their kin during the Kurukshetra war, wanted to seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva but Shiv was not interested in meeting and forgiving them. So, Lord Shiva left Kashi his abode and came to dwell in this Himalayan range at Guptkashi. However, Pandavas got to know about his presence and they reached here too. To further hide, Lord Shiva turned himself into a bull and got mixed with the grazing cattle. But the Pandavas especially Bhima being too smart tracked Lord Shiva, and on realizing this Lord Shiva tried to disappear by sinking himself head-first into the ground. One of the brothers grabbed his tail and hind limb, forcing him to appear and forgive them. So, the hump is found at Kedarnath whereas the rest body parts are found at four other locations and together these places are known as Panch Kedars.

There is another Hindu story, in which a Hindu Deity Nar Narayana performed a severe act of austerity and on getting pleased, Lord Shiva appeared in front of them to grant their wish. The Deity requested Lord Shiva to stay here in the original form i.e. Jyotilingam for the welfare of humanity. Shiva granted their wish and Kedarnath became his abode.

Now, the most interesting story is that Geologist believes that the Kedarnath temple remained hidden under the snow for 400 years during the Little Ice Age-era i.e. from 1300to 1900 AD. The yellow lines on the temple structure completely depict the glacial activity it had undergone.

Inside Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple is an ages-old stone temple. Its architecture truly looks quite stout and that has been proved, as it still stands magnificently even after all the natural calamities and catastrophes.

Climb 3-4 stairs and you enter the first hall of the Kedarnath Temple. The Temple is dark and gloomy form inside, It houses statues of the five Pandava brothers (Bhim, Nakula, Yudishitra, Arjun and Sahadeva) and their consort Drapudi, Lord Krishna, Nandi- the vehicle of Shiva in the center and Virabhadra (one of the guards of Shiva). Another beautiful silver door decorated with Om makes you enter the main hall. In the center of the main hall, is a conical or triangular-shaped stone considered to be the Dhad (Torso) of Lord Shiva. The stone was completely covered in ghee and butter by pilgrims. Earlier the pilgrims used to pour milk and water on Shivlinga but now the management has stopped it. The statue of Shiva and other deities are also installed in the main hall.

Outside Kedarnath Temple

As you step out the temple and start circumvallating around the temple; you will see the temple is surrounded by snow-covered peaks from all three sides. On the front, there is a huge statue of Nandi.

And rest on all the sides, dozens of Sadhus and Saints, half-dressed half-naked are sitting in various colorful attires. They are Lord Shiv devotees and live a hard tough life, like him.

On both sides there are beautiful colorful doors that resemble the ones from Badrinath Temple and at the back is an Amrit Kund. Some Pilgrims just wanted to just touch and taste this water whereas others wanted to fill the bottles and take back home.

Just Like Bheem Shila in Mana village near Badrinath temple, there is a huge Shri Divya Bhim Shila behind the Temple. This stone is believed to be the one that protected the temple from devastation during the 2013 North India flash floods. But the locals or priests have another story to it. They believe the Shila is just another stone that came down during natural calamity towards Kedarnath Temple and it is the pilgrims who have made a temple around it and now consider it to be sacred.

Accommodation at Kedarnath

At Kedarnath, there are several accommodation options from Hotels to guest houses to Bhawans. During our visit, only a few of them were operational whereas the others were closed or in bad shape due to the extreme snowfall in winters. The government claims to have made an arrangement of 3000 pilgrims but we really doubt that.

GMVN (Garhwal Vayu Mandal Nigam) the government authorized tents were also operational at Kedarnath but they were far from Kedarnath Temple and charges were Rs.900/- per bed for 6 Bedded huts, Rs. 750/- per bed for 10 Bedded huts and Rs. 300/- for tents, with common sharing washrooms.

GMVN Accommodation at Kedarnath Base Camp

We stayed at Agra Bhawan, just next to the Temple, where a four-bedroom with attached washroom costed us Rs. 3000/- and 1 bucket of hot water costs around Rs.80/-. Another good option we recommend to stay in Himachal Bhawan just opposite Agra Bhawan and near to Temple.

The view of Kedarnath Temple from Agra Bhawan

Food and Market at Kedarnath Dham

As you leave the Kedarnath Temple and move down the stairs, start the Kedarnath Haat Market. During our visit, there was lots of snow around the shops and the whole of the market looked closed only.

20-25 steps down from the Kedarnath Temple is a food shop that serves Indian food, Tea, snacks, etc. Just opposite to it there was another operational Dhabha.

Another option for getting food is the guest house or Bhawan, where you are staying at but we opted to have it in the market itself.

Weather at Kedarnath Dham

Kedarnath is really unpredictable in terms of weather. If one moment it is sunny, another moment the weather can take a twist and it will be snowing. You will find banners everywhere on the route quoting you to carry Warm Clothes, Raincoats, and Umbrellas with you, and they actually make a lot of sense. We experienced all types of weather in a single trip.

Here, the Day temperatures vary between 5- 10 degrees Celsius whereas the night temperatures can go low to -5 degree Celsius too.

Rains while coming back from Kedarnath Temple

What you need to wear for Kedarnath Trek

For the Kedarnath trip, one needs to pack and wear clothes in layers. While walking or at some places, you may feel hot and removing layers but be really cautious. The clothes you must wear are:

Inner Layer
T- Shirt
Fleece Layer
Jacket (Wind and water proof)
Gloves and Cap

Packing for Kedarnath Temple Trek

At Kedarnath Dham, you have limited options for everything from living to food, so just pack a small backpack. The must in the backpack should be a towel, toiletry kit, an extra pair of your clothes, medicines, and a small portion of energy food like nuts, chocolates, or energy bars.

Dressed in Multiple Layers for Kedarnath Trek

In case of emergency, there is a medicine shop and relief center at Kedarnath, from where one can make a purchase.

Facts about Kedarnath Temple

Just like Badrinath Temple, Kedarnath Temple is a part of Badrinath and Kedarnath Temple act
The head priest of Temple belongs to Karnataka and is known as a Raval
Raval does not perform the puja in the temple. The pujas are carried out on the instructions of the Raval by other priests.
The Raval moves with the deity to Ukimath during the winter season
About 6000 pilgrims visit Temple every day during the season
Temple opens for only 5-6 months and during rest months it is engulfed among the snow

Places around Kedarnath Temple

Bhairon/ Bhairav Nath Ji Temple

The Bhairo Nath Temple, located at a very short distance from Kedarnath Temple is known as a guardian of the Kedarnathji. It is believed that Bhaironathji guards the Kedarnath Temple by keeping away the evil while the temple remains closed. Therefore the Bhairon Nath Temple is visited ceremoniously at the opening and closing of Kedarnath.

During our visit, the Bhairav Nath Temple was yet not opened. So, the Aarti ceremony was not even performed at the Kedarnath Temple.

Kunds at Kedarnath

It is said that there are several Kund at Kedarnath but still many of them haven’t been revived after the 2013 Disaster. The one we could see clearly was Google Kund.

Google Kund

Around 0.5 Km from Kedarnath Temple, there is an interesting semi-frozen Kund known as Google Kund.

Chorabari Sarovar / Gandhi Sarovar

At a distance of 3 km from Kedarnath Temple, at 12,795 feet lies a beautiful lake known as Chorabari Sarovar or Gandhi Sarovar fed on Chorabari Glacier. The trek to Lake passes through green grasslands and it is advised to carry the trek during the morning only as temperature and weather changes here drastically.

The Sarovar was initially known as Kanti Sarovar and was renamed to Gandhi Sarovar in 1948 when the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed into the Sarovar. But now, no more the lake exists as the glacier has resided.

Vasuki Tal

Vasuki Tal lies at 13, 566 feet, and can be reached by trekking for 8 kms from Kedarnath Temple. The trek is said to be extremely steep, difficult and can be carried only under supervision. Vasuki Tal is surrounded by high mountain peaks and offers a view of Chaukhamba peak.

There are several beautiful, colorful flowers around the Vasuki Tal and one of the famous flowers is Brahma Kamal. During winter the lake is completely frozen.

Rudra Meditation Cave/ Modi meditation Cave

Around 1.5 kilometers from Kedarnath Temple, at GMVN, in isolation are available underground mediation caves known as Rudra or Modi Meditation caves. The caves have a window for the direct view of Shrine and can be booked at Rs.990/- per day, for a maximum period of 3 days. They are equipped with electricity, water, heater, attached toilet, and phone to call authorities in case of emergency.

Before dwelling into the cave, one needs to undergo a medical test at Guptakashi and only those found medically fit can stay here. And only one person can stay at a time inside the cave. For more details and bookings check here.

Shankaracharya Samidhi

The resting place of Adi Shankaracharya is an extremely renowned place in Kedarnath. The hot water spring present there is believed to remove all the suffering of the devotees.

Places to stay in Base Camp Gaurikund

There are several hotels, guest houses and Bhawans to stay in Gaurikund but if you have no prior bookings then availability will be completely on your LUCK. We went prior booking and trust me, we had a tough time finding one for ourselves. Finally, we got a room in the market at Subash Hotel, with the attached washroom. 4 of us (We and our parents) accommodated in a 3-bedroom which costed us Rs. 1500/. And a bucket of hot water cost us Rs. 60/- per head.

Note: Hotels, guest house people don’t take advance bookings in Gaurikund, even on giving advance and pricing changes every day. The maximum they can charge is Rs.3000/- per night.

Our Experience on Horses

Honestly, this was the first time we had covered the journey on a horse and it was not at all an easy task. If our horseman had not been so cooperative and good, we would have not been able to do this journey. The process of ascending is much easier than the process of descending.

The tip to remember here is to bend forward while climbing upward and bend backward while climbing down and hold the saddle tightly.

Things to Remember before taking up Kedarnath Trek

Check the weather forecast before planning the trip. Also, inquire about the weather at Sonprayag check post and then at Gaurikund check post. Further government has made special rules for the continuation and discontinuation of the trek.
Get a medical checkup done before going for a Kedarnath trek
People with respiratory disorders, cardiac disorders, and high blood pressure should take special care
Remember while trekking to Kedarnath doesn’t exert yourself too much. Do not lose your breath while walking and halt if you think that you are experiencing shortness of breath.
Hire a pony/ horse/ palki from the base camp itself, if you have made up your mind to trek with them. Also check, your horseman is not less than 18 years, as they are not allowed to ride passengers up and down
There are fixed trek timings. Also, if personnel’s stop you going further beyond one-point it’s for your safety and please abide by the rules
There are accommodations available on the way at Jungle Chatti, Bheembali and Linchauli
All mobile networks work well at Kedarnath. The best ones were Vodafone, Jio, and BSNL. Airtel was showing 4G but the signal was playing hide and seek
Be safe and cautious from falling stones especially during rain and snow. Recently one pilgrim from Punjab was hit by a shooting stone and she died on the spot.

Overall Experience

Trek to Kedarnath Temple is quite challenging and one actually needs a good fitness level to do it. The lofty snow-covered peaks, verdant grasslands, and River Mandakini makes the trek to Kedarnath unforgettable. The facilities and cleanliness on the way and at Kedarnath Temple are completely beyond expectations. Incredible India is definitely doing a great job to make Char Dham Yatra seamless.

Places of Interest on the way to Kedarnath

Devprayag – where Sangam of River Alaknanda and River Bhagirathi happens

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxcR5M8Huq3/

Rudraprayag – where Sangam of River Alaknanda and River Mandakini happens

Sonprayag – where Sangam of River Basuki and River Mandakini happens

Agastmuni / Augustyamuni – 20 km from Rudraprayag lies the Agastmuni Temple built in the name of famous Saint Agastya

Guptkashi – is believed to be a place where Lord Shiva hid from the Pandavas. The place has two temples. Viswanath temple has several incarnations of Lord Shiva. Ardhanareeshwar temple, on the other hand, depicts Lord Shiva in the form of half-man and half-woman. In addition, there are two streams of water located in the temple, which symbolize the two holy rivers, Ganges and Yamuna.

Gaurikund – Gaurikund the base camp to Kedarnath, houses an ancient temple of Goddess Paravati. It is said that Goddess Paravati meditated here for a long time to win Lord Shiva as her husband. There is also a common hot water spring here. For Ladies, there is a separate one too but currently, it was not operational.

Ukhimath- is the winter abode of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar

Triyuginarayan Temple – located at a distance of 5 Kilometers from Sonprayag, is a Temple where Lord Shiva tied the knot with Goddess Parvati. Tourists visiting this sightseeing place can also make a visit to other attractions such as Vishnu Kund, Rudra Kund, and Brahma Kund.

Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim, Tibet, Tourism, Travel, Uttarakhand

Caterpillar Fungus Yarsagumba- The Himalayan Viagra

April 27, 2019 allgudthings 19 Comments

Hey, stop the car and look over that mountain, he is my father and brother – said a local girl whom we gave lift while travelling in North Sikkim, India. Our driver immediately halted the car. We came out and saw not two but a caravan of people literally lying and crawling the high mountain slopes at an altitude about 13000 feet. I asked her in astonishment what are they doing there to which she replied, they are collecting Yarsagumba. That was the first time we heard the name Yartsa gunbu and there we made up our mind to find more about this Caterpillar Fungus Yarsagumba.

What is Caterpillar Fungus Yarsagumba?

As the name says, the caterpillar fungus Yarsagumba is a combination of Caterpillar and Fungus (mushroom). It is found at an altitude above 3500 meters i.e. above 11,500 feet in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, India, Nepal and Bhutan.

How is it formed?

Just prior to rainy season, the Himalayan Caterpillars which are found deep in moist soil, while feeding on plant roots, gets infected by the cordyceps fungus. During winter and fall, the fungus slowly and steadily buries itself completely in the caterpillar body, making its way out through the insect head. Insect almost dies during this period, as its whole energy gets used by the fungus.

With the arrival of spring, the overlying snow starts melting and the fungus forces its almost dead hosts towards the surface, before sending a dark brown spore filled stalk through their heads. So, the combination Yartsa Gumba is also known as “winter worm summer grass”

Why & How is Yartsa Gumba collected?

The caterpillar fungus Yarsagumba is the world’s most expensive fungus and has unbelievable medicinal benefits. Indeed, its price is much more than the precious gold, diamond, platinum and other metals. So, it is collected by locals as a source of income for their living and this helps them to pay for their food, clothes, medical bills, and education. The Himalayan Gold Rush allows them to eke out a living which otherwise they would have just imagined.

The medicinal herb collectors work in May – June months. Their work looks simple from down but it is quite laborious. They crawl on the steep slopes in cold and sometimes rain, wearing multiple layers, improper shoes, in low oxygen to spot the extruded dark stalks of herb separating it from the sedges. After spotting, digging them out is even trickier as turf in these areas is thick and it’s important to keep the two parts i.e. fungus and caterpillar intact as one piece. Even if one breaks off, the herb loses its value.

Apart from income, locals take this work as a social hangout time with their friends and that is what we say is the positive side of life.

History of Caterpillar Fungus

Yarsagumba and its medicinal value is not a new discovery. Tibetans discovered its value 1500 years ago. The Tibetan Sherpa’s used to leave animals into jungle for grazing. After somedays, they observed that the animals had gone more active, the ones not reproducing were reproducing and they were not even getting ill. The human curious nature, made them chase animals in the jungle and there they found the miraculous Yarsagumba.

Medicinal value of Caterpillar Fungus Yarsagumba

Yarsagumba, also known as Himalayan Viagra is an aphrodisiac and is used to treat hypo sexuality. Apart this it also acts as antitumor, antioxidant, antidepressant, ant arteriosclerotic, and anti-inflammatory. It can cure night sweats, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, asthenia, arrhythmias, diabetes, Jaundice and other heart, respiratory, renal, and liver diseases.

Boon, Bribe, Curse, Crime or Conflict

By now, we all know a brief about the caterpillar fungus Yarsagumba and the miraculous wonders it can do, but do you know the other effects it has brought with it. Its demand has already overpowered its supply.

Earlier the herb was only available to Elites but the trends started changing in 1993, when the three Chinese runner set a record of 1500 meter in 3 minutes 50 seconds at World Championship athletics and later their coach claimed that the success of her athletes is due to consumption of Yarsagumba and turtle soup. This incident raised the value of commodity and had put it on the world map.

During this time, Hong Kong, Singapore used to be the largest consumers but by 2004 China became the largest markets and its price increased by several folds. Chinese consume it every day in their meals and it also replaced Champagne as a gift. Indeed, people started using it as a bribe too. The larger the piece, the more value it has. Daniel Winkler the Yarsagumba expert says “that a businessman looking to impress in China wouldn’t pull out a fine pinot noir to flaunt his wealth; he’d cook up some nice goose or duck and fill it with $1,000 worth of caterpillar fungus”.

Note: In 2008, one kilogram of Caterpillar Fungus Yarsagumba was traded for US$3,000 (lowest quality) to over US$18,000 (best quality, largest larvae) whereas in 2013 its price surged to US $ 25000 -$75000.

Because of this surging demand and high pricing, the production brought every villager, including women and children for collection, which clearly meant every single piece of Yarsagumba was plucked and not even an inch of fertile land was spared. All this got detriment to the natural reproduction process and hence leading to sharp decrease in production. Apart this, other factors which are considered responsible for decline in production are change in climatic and soil conditions, grazing of cattle and other environmental changes.

The medicinal fusion Yarsagumba too has led to crimes and conflicts among villagers. In 2009, in Manang District, close to the Nepal-Tibet border, a large posse of local men and boys, upon hearing of interlopers picking Yarsagumba in their meadows, had beaten two of the suspected poachers to death, throwing their bodies down a deep crevasse and killed rest with sticks and stones.

Yarsagumba in India

The Caterpillar fungus Yarsagumba also known as Keeda Jadi is found in Uttarakhand (Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Munsiyari, Bhageshwar and Uttarkashi) and northeast India.

Also Read: Monal Tourist Home in Uttarkashi

Common names of Yarsagumba

There are several name for Caterpillar fungus. In Tibet it is known as Yarza Gunbu, Yarshagumba, Yarchagumba whereas in Bhutan it is called yartsa guenboob. In Nepal and India, it is known as keera jhar, keeda jadi, keeda ghas or ghaas fafoond. And in China, it is called as Summer Grass Winter Bug.

Conclusion

After talking to locals and on research we found that very human in the upper Himalayas during favorable season runs to collects Yarsagumba. Each collected piece is like a fate changer to them. It helps them to travel, buy good food and clothes. But with the recent trends, production is declining at a high grade and it can even extinct if the same trend continues.

Caterpillar Fungus Yarsagumba - The Himalayan Viagra

Haryana, India, Punjab, Tourism, Travel

10 Interesting facts about Chandigarh

April 6, 2019 allgudthings 16 Comments

Chandigarh the union territory and capital of 2 states Punjab and Haryana is the first planned city of India. The place is entirely unique as it has a rich history, bright future and extraordinary beauty and is controlled by the Union Government. The city overpowers other union territories of India in terms of every metric- be it the quality of life, living standards, planning, architecture or touristy spots. THE CITY BEAUTIFUL stands on the top in the list of well-known cities around the world and interestingly there are many interesting facts about Chandigarh. The city is also known as Pensioner’s Paradise, as mostly the retired officials and the politicians are seen residing in the posh areas here.

We feel, once you breathe in the air of this city, you won’t be able to settle anywhere else. Its air has something in its ambiance which embraces everyone who comes here either to visit or live. So in this post, lets quickly read the most surprising facts about Chandigarh, from its name to how it got created to its symbolic monument, etc. and we are sure these will make you surely plan a visit to the City Beautiful.

Facts about Chandigarh

1. Name

The city got its name Chandigarh from the Chandi Devi Mandir. Chandi means “Warrior version of Goddess Parvati” and Garh means “Fort.” The temple lies in Panchkula i.e 15 km away from the city Chandigarh. During Navratris, thousands of people gather here to do pooja and is considered as a must visit place for everyone who seeks to let their wishes come true.

Also Read: Experience Indian Festivals on a Holiday Trip

2. Location

Chandigarh lies in the foothills of the Shivalik range of Himalayas at 365 meters above sea level. The entire layout of the city is in sync with nature and you can find different varieties of flowering species and trees planted all around the city.

Note: the three nearby cities namely Panchkula, Mohali and Chandigarh together are known as Tricity here.

3. First Planned city & its architecture

The city was the dream of our honorable late Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru and his vision was brought into reality by French Architect Le Corbusier. Today it is spread over an area of 114 sq.mt and is known as the first planned city of modern India.

3D view of Chandigarh - The City Beautiful — 3D view of Chandigarh – The City Beautiful

Indeed, the city is known internationally too, for one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture.

4. Official Symbol – Open Hand Monument

The Openhand Monument, a symbolic structure of peace was the central idea of the architect Le Corbusier. The symbol represents “to give and to offer”, is 26 meters high, made of metal. Interestingly the Hand Structure rotates in the direction of wind flow.

Open Hand Monument - Official symbol of Chandigarh

5. Design analogous to the human body

The City is planned according to the structure of the human body where:

Sector 1 comprising of Capitol Complex is the HEAD
Sector 17, City Centre is the HEART
Leisure Valley which consists of various parks is the LUNGS
The cultural and educational institutions are the INTELLECTS
The network of the roads based on seven V’s (with the vertical roads called the Paths (running northeast/southwest) and horizontal roads called Margs (running northwest and southeast) are the CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Industrial Area is the VISCERA

6. Sectors & Unlucky Sector – 13

The whole city is divided into sectors and each one is well connected with market, shops, schools and other needed amenities via a network of small roads. The educational, cultural and medical facilities are spread all over the city, however, major institutions are located in Sectors 10, 11, 12, 14 and 26.

Sector 17, the city centre is the heart of Chandigarh. It comprises the Inter-State Bus Terminus, Parade Ground, District Courts etc. on one hand, and vast business, banks and office square and shopping center on the other.

There is NO sector 13 in Chandigarh City as Le’ Corbusier being a Christian believed to number 13 to be highly unlucky. Thus this idea prevails in the construction of the Chandigarh as well Panchkula.

The roads of the city are designed and oriented in such a way that most of the time during the day, they are under a shadow. There are huge parking areas for the commercial zones to avoid havoc on the main roads.

Also Read: Flag Retreat Ceremony at Hussainiwala Border, Firozpur

7. Roundabouts & No statues

The city is also known as city of roundabouts as after every few meters on the road, there are roundabouts decorated with plants and flowers, adding miles to the beauty. And none of the park or roundabout in Chandigarh has statue or sculpture of any kind as the condition laid down by Le Corbusier.

8. Historical Background

Early History

The medieval Chandigarh was said to be the home of Harappan Civilisation nearly 8000 years ago. So, this place has a rich history and also, from the nearby locations, some remnants have been found.

Also Read: Aamod Resort Shoghi near Shimla

Modern History

After Partition of India in 1947, Punjab was split to East Punjab (India) and West Punjab (Pakistan). The Indian Punjab required a new capital to replace Lahore, which had become part of Pakistan during Partition. So, in 1949 the work of designing a new city was designated to an American Planner and architect Albert Mayer. And there came the origin of Chandigarh. The Beautiful city got completed in 1960 and till then Shimla was the temporary capital.

Also read: Shimla Trip in style with Dhatu as a fashion accessory

9. Haunted & Mysterious Places:

The beautiful city too has many haunted places and abandoned homes. Most haunted stories lie in Sector 16, where there is a famous Haunted House and Haunted Bridge. The house has been lying vacant from several years now and its condition is enough to give you shivers. It is believed that an aspiring doctor girl, 20 years old was hit by a truck and her soul still resides in the area. People have all sorts of stories attached to it where some have even said that they were in a conversation with a girl and then she disappeared right in front of their eyes. Read some more haunted places of Chandigarh here.

Sukhna Lake

The man-made Sukhna Lake is one of the longest channel for rowing and yachting events in Asia. And it has some mystical elements attached to it. Just in the center, there is a tower, known as the suicide point which is closed for the public now, due to multiple suicides.

Then there is a belief, that those who wish for true love at the Lake, their wish can come true as the spirits take care of the lonely hearts.

Also Read: Haunted Bhangarh Fort

10. Why City Beautiful?

Chandigarh truly deserves the title of “THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.” Lush green surroundings, perfectly laid roads, walkways, disciplined people, flowering plants and trees on a roadside make it the best city to live.

Attractions of Chandigarh

There are many famous tourist spots like

Rose Garden
Rock garden
Government Museum and Art Gallery
Sector 17 market
Shanti Kunj
The Capitol
Terraced Garden, Bougainvillea Garden, Botanical Garden, Fragrance Garden, Hibiscus Garden
Topiary Park, Japanese Garden, Butterfly Park, Cactus Garden, Garden of Silence, Garden of Palms
Doll Museum
Leisure Valley
Le Corbusier Center etc.

So, the City beautiful Chandigarh is full of surprises with well-planned infrastructure and lush green surroundings. Indeed, it tops the list of Indian states and union territories in the Human Development Index too. And believe us, it has got loads of things on its platter to serve you and will never let you go without a gleamy smile.

We think we have given you enough reasons to visit this place. So start planning your trip soon. Explore the most famous locations and do let us know if you know any more facts about Chandigarh in the comments. Also, Don’t forget to share this post with your friends from Chandigarh or who are coming here.

Himachal, India, Tourism, Travel

Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar in winters- Road Trip to remember

February 27, 2019 allgudthings 11 Comments

“Mai ni meriye, Shimle Di Raahe, Chamba Kitni door”
“O Shimle ni vasna, Kasauli ni vasna, Chambe jaana zarur”
Oh Mother! How far is Chamba from Shimla Side,
I don’t want to settle in Shimla or Kasauli,
Have to go to Chamba only!

Have you heard this Himachali folk song? The first time, we heard it, we were absolutely in awe of it and since then; had made up our mind to visit Chamba. On little research, we further found that a trip to Chamba can be clubbed with Dalhousie and Khajjiar. So, on my birthday it was the perfect time to make a winter trip to Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar.

Dalhousie, a colonial hill station in Northern Himachal Pradesh lies at an altitude 6500 feet above sea level and is a famous tourist spot whereas Chamba lies on the banks of River Ravi at 3300 feet and is an ignored tourist destination. With the similar notions in our head, even we left with a thought of first visiting Dalhousie, then Khajjiar and Chamba. But at times things don’t work according to your plans and you have to choose the paths directed by nature and that is what happened with us.

Winter Trip to Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar

How to Reach Dalhousie & Khajjiar?

Dalhousie lies 560 Kilometers from Delhi and 313 Kilometers from Chandigarh. Further, Khajjiar lies 22 km from Dalhousie via Dalhousie Chamba road and 23 km from Chamba. From Delhi we took a halt at Chandigarh and started the next day early at 9:00 am to reach Dalhousie on time.

Route from Delhi Delhi – Panipat- Karnal – kurukshetra – Ambala – Rajpura- Sirhind- Ludhiana – Phagwara – Dasuya- Pathankot – Dalhuoise – Khajjiar

Route from Chandigarh – Chandigarh – Roopnagar – Garshankar – Dasuya –Pathankot – Dalhousie – Khajjiar

We reached Dalhousie around 4 pm. Roads were covered with slush and had walls of snow on sides whereas some trails were completely laid in white. Trees had specks of snow on them and few cars were covered by 2-3 feet of snow. It clearly seemed the area had received an adequate amount of snowfall this year. We went straight to our hotel JK Clarks Exotica, Dalhousie and after relaxing, left for a quick stroll. It was freaking cold, Sun was playing hide and seek behind the clouds. And as it started getting dark, the wind speed and chilliness increased. In minutes, the rain too joined the drama, and people started running to find the shelter wherever it was possible. We too joined the league and without much delay rushed back to our hotel. The whole night it continued raining and the temperature had fallen drastically (Probably -5 or even lesser than that).

Dalhousie in winters - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar — Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar in winters

The next morning, the sky was clear but had some hovering clouds. And within an hour, the weather took a drastic turn from sunny to cloudy. It started raining and locals predicted snowing in Khajjiar. Hearing this, we immediately packed and left for Khajjiar, which lies 23 kilometers ahead. But as soon we reached near Gandhi Chownk Market in Dalhousie, there was a big Que of vehicles apart snow and slush. Traffic was halted and was not allowed ahead to Khajjiar because of the roadblock due to snow. On further inquiry, we learned that it will probably take months or more to open this route.

Jk Clarks Exotica - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar

Also Read: Chanshal Pass- The road less traveled in Himachal Pradesh

We started looking for another route option in GPS and the only way was to go Khajjiar from Dalhousie was via Chamba. It too looked completely luck dependent, as the Chamba to Khajjiar road was also closed due to snow till yesterday.

Bit disappointed, we took a U-turn to Banikhet (6 Kilometers from Dalhousie) to refuel our car, and there we saw a diversion for Chamba, stating 44 kilometers ahead.

Note: There is no fuel station in Dalhousie. The last one is available only at Banikhet

Also Read: Walk to the Nako Village in Himachal Pradesh

Dalhuoise to Chamba

From Banikhet itself, we took the Dalhousie Chamba road. Landscapes changed immediately. Roads got wider as compared to the Dalhousie road, and we were driving at lesser altitude. There was greenery all around and the towns on the way looked thickly populated.

On the way to Chamba - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar — On the way to Chamba – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar

On the way, comes the turquoise green color Chamera Lake. It looks grand and was perfectly gelling with the surrounding. Indeed, with the backdrop of Himalayas, it made the perfect picture.

Chamera Lake - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar winter road trip — Chamera Lake – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar winter road trip

The weather was worsening, so we thought of booking the room at earliest before we don’t get a place to hide. The majority of the hotels were not operating. It looked people had gone to the hibernation zone and they will only come out once the sun warms up the place and summers come back.

Also Read: 5 Winter destinations to see snowfall in Himachal

First look of Chamba - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar Roadtrip. — First look of Chamba – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar Road trip

Somehow Goibibo came into help and we got a place to stay at Anantson resort in Chamba. Reaching the resort was another task, but once we reached and saw the views from the cottage, our whole day pain vanished away.

Our Cottage at Anantson Resort, Chamba - Dalhouise Chamba Khajjiar — Our Cottage at Anantson Resort, Chamba

Rains had washed away the dust, everything looked crystal clear and now we knew why the above Himachali Song quotes “Chamba Jana Zarur” (Must visit Chamba).

The town looked heavenly on the banks of River Ravi. There were shades of green everywhere, clouds were floating among the Himalayas and extreme winters looked like monsoons. The ancient town still looked unadulterated although modernity has begun to sneak into the lives of town people.

View of River Ravi and Chamba from our Balcony- Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar — View of River Ravi and Chamba from our Balcony

The beautiful Chambalis were happy to greet and meet us. We inquired about the Chamba – Khajjiar road from the manager and were happy to know that road had just been opened yesterday. For us the perfect day was still ahead; so, we spent rest day gazing and clicking the landscapes from various angles.

At Anantson Resort - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar — At Anantson Resort

Chamba to Khajjiar

The next day, after a good scrumptious local Chamba breakfast (Aloo cooked in Dahi and Puri), we left for the trip to a winter wonderland – Khajjiar, also known as Switzerland of India. It lies only 22 kilometers form Chamba. But just a kilometer ahead from the resort, there was a big landslide. Disappointment started building up again in our mind, but our heart was fighting back with positive thoughts. After an hour the road got cleared and we took a turn to Khajjiar.

Route for Chamba to Khajjiar

The single-lane road looked narrow, steep. We had to climb another 3300 feet in 22 Kms. Landscapes looked breathtaking. The great Himalayas in between were decorated with patches of terrace gardens, colorful houses and had adorned a beautiful white crown. Clouds were floating along with the scalps and it looked like rain on the mountain tops. We inquired from another crossing car about the way and were super delighted to hear Yes!

On the way to Khajjiar - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar — On the way to Khajjiar – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar

Also Read: Hike to Kheerganga

From there we took a deep ascent and the specks of snow increased to mounds and trails. The Dauladhar range of Himalayas started resembling black forest cake and there came the board of view of ManiMahesh Kailash Peak, also known as Chamba Kailash (One of the five abodes of Lord Shiva according to Hindu mythology). It was engulfed by the clouds while going but we got a crystal view while returning back.

Manimahesh view point on the way to Khajjiar- - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar — Manimahesh view point on the way to Khajjiar

We reached the entrance of the Kalatop – Khajjiar reserve. It was snowing inside and was dark. Roads were completely covered in white except the tire marks. There were no vehicles and people. The whole scene looked scary for driving but Tashi wanted to drive. 5 Kilometers distance felt like 50 kilometers here, as we were driving at speed of 10. The car was slipping, and there was no parapet. Literally my heart was pounding and in the next few minutes’ taxi crossed us giving assurance to go ahead. We followed them, kept moving, and there we saw the first view of meadows.

Entrance to Kalatop Khajjiar Reserve - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar — Entrance to Kalatop Khajjiar Reserve – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar

Note: Khajjiar is a part of Kalatop – Khajjiar wildlife sanctuary

OMG! Is this for real? It was a dreamy winter wonderland, with Dhauladhars on one side and pine forests on other. The road was not visible except the Tyre marks. Clouds were floating in the snowy meadows. There was silence all around, and looked shops, restaurants all were closed due to bad weather.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOTkxTnBVt/

Turning to Khajjiar meadows

Without stoppage, we directly moved to HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) Hotel Devdar Khajjiar. What a perfect location they have? The resort directly opens to meadows and our balcony room had a Khajjiar Lake view. It was still snowing and raining, looked 2 feet snow will soon turn to 3 feet.

Hotel Devdar, Khajjiar

We left our vehicle in between the road and climbed the stairs to check whether the hotel is operational or not. The manager came out and our fear came true. There was No water, No electricity from the past 7 days and it was too cold. Met Department had forecasted overnight snow and the roads might get closed for several days. Hotel Manager narrated this and asked us to stroll and play in the snow for an hour and go back to their Chamba guest house in the evening.

View of Khajjiar Meadows form Hotel Devdar - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar

But “we were we”. We reversed the talks by saying that, we don’t need electricity, we just need a bucket of hot water and give us the same food you will cook for yourself. We will be more than happy. He got convinced and allowed us to stay.

Also Read: Must know Challenges before taking a winter Spiti Trip

Honestly, it was one of the best decisions we took. If one moment the snow meadows were covered with moving clouds, another moment we could see the saucer-shaped Khajjair lake in between the Devdar forest with a backdrop of white Himalayas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuJMM3AHAfO/

Stairs leading to Khajjiar Meadows

Note: Other good locations to stay are Forest and PWD Guest House, but you need to have a prior booking with them.

Khajjiar Meadows

After having tea at hotel, we left for a quick walk. It was serene and magical beyond words. White powder was all we could see around. There we saw leading stairs to reach the Khajjiar meadows and we took them at once.

Our feet were sinking in the snow and looked only a few tourists had set their foot on it. Lake was completely frozen from one end and the other side looked semi-frozen. We wanted to walk along the circular meadow and visit the Khajjinag temple but it didn’t look like a perfect time. So, we retired back to our hotel early.

At Khajjiar Meadows - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar Roadtrip — At Khajjiar Meadows – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar Road Trip

At night, the moon was playing hide and seek with clouds and the snow in the meadows was glowing like a silver sheath. We wanted to take some good night shots but gave up in the freaking cold and started waiting for the next morning.

Also Read: Our love for Old Manali over New Manali

The next morning was a promising sunny morning. We got ready as active birds to roam in the circular meadows. The entire Dhauladhar range was clearly visible and it was painted in the shades of white and green.

Khajjiar Meadows in winter- Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar.

The Khajjiar meadows which looked all-white yesterday, now looked entirely different, colors were jutting out from white. Locals were out in the sun to bask their bodies whereas adventure organizers were hunting tourists for paragliding, tube Skiing, river crossing, snow skating, etc but all we wanted to do was see, feel, and click every inch of the circular meadows.

Khajjiar Meadows - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar

Khajjinag Temple, Khajjiar

In between the Khajjiar meadows stood an ancient, golden dome Khajjinag Temple, dedicated to Naga- the lord of serpents. The temple is also known as Golden Devi Temple. It was built by King of Chamba in 12^th century and was renovated in 16^th century. The temple has a lot of wooden work, which looks a perfect blend of Mughal and Indian architecture. The Temple is believed to have a mythological significance too. The circumambulatory path of the temple has the images of Pandavas defeating the Kauravas in the epic battle of Mahabharata.

Also Read: Tabo – National Historic Treasure of India

From the temple keep moving toward the Khajjair lake. There were water streams in between and spongy earth around the banks of the lake, due to the dense growth of weed called vacha.

Boat in the frozen Khajjiar Lake- Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar — Boat in the frozen Khajjiar Lake

From there walk towards the fairytale HPTDC cottage, smushed between green and white. We couldn’t stay here this time, but for sure during the next visit.

HPTDC cottage in Khajjiar Meadows- Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar Road Trip — HPTDC cottage in Khajjiar Meadows

After the complete round, it was time to head back to the civilization but our heart and mind were not ready to leave. We were still looking back at the mesmerizing scenery at each step. Khajjiar is a perfect combination of lakes, meadows, and mountains which resembles a fairyland of the stories.

Also Read: Padam Palace – The royal Palace in Rampur Bushahr

Why Khajjiar is known as Mini Switzerland?

Khajjiar is among the 160 locations in the world that bear topographical resemblance to Switzerland. On 7 July 1992, Mr. Willy T. Blazer, the Vice Counselor and Head of Chancery of Switzerland in India brought it on the world tourism map by calling it “Mini Switzerland”. He also installed a signboard showing Khajjiar’s distance from the Swiss capital Berne -6194 km.

Khajjiar Meadows - Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar Road Trip — Khajjiar Meadows – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar Road Trip

The counselor also took a stone from Khajjiar, which will form part of a stone collage around the Swiss Parliament to remind the visitors of Khajjiar as a Mini Switzerland of India.

Also Read: View of Chau Chau Kang Nilda from Langza

Points to Remember for Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar winter trip

Snow looks very fascinating but driving on it is really tough and risky. Don’t try to be a stunt man and drive as slow and cautiously as possible
There are high chances of vehicle slipping on applying brakes, so be really careful
Try driving 4* 4 and if you don’t have one, use snow chains to increase the traction
Do cover your bonnet at night to avoid freezing of fuel
Don’t drive in extreme snowfall as you can get struck too. Listen to the local’s instructions
Walk very carefully in the snow; as a severe fall can lead to fractures too
Fuel station is available at Chamba and Banikhet
Be prepared for NO electricity and No water at Kahjjiar in winters
There are plenty of ATM in Dalhousie as well Chamba

Also Read: Shimla After Snowfall

Must carry

Do carry multiple layers of clothes from warmers to fleece to feather jackets, wind cheaters, cap and gloves
Also keep rain coat, umbrella, sun glasses
Snow and water proof boots are must. If you don’t have one, you can get them on rent at Khajjiar meadows

Also Read: Spiti Valley in winters

Other Nearby Attractions

Kalatop Sanctuary
Chamera Dam
Dainkund Trek

Best Season to visit Dalhousie Khajjiar & Temperature

Dalhousie Khajjiar can be visited throughout the year. Summers lasts from March – July (temperature lies between 32 – 44 degrees Celsius), Monsoon is in July – August (Temperature 22 – 35 degrees Celsius) and winters step from November till February (Temperature 7 to -4 degree Celsius).

For snow lovers, the best time is January- February, and remember it is an off-season too.

You can find more pictures of Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar winter trip on our Facebook and Instagram accounts or find us by using #allgudthings.