Hey its long time I wrote anything but couldn't stop myself from telling this one :). As my husband is mariner so in three years this was the first time we were together. Me, hubby and my 18 months old daughter. As we believe in maza to 'sab' ke saath hi aata hai we planned to go to Himachal with everyone in family. It was an extensive task to do detailed packing as everyone was going. spent two nights without sleeping and the morning we were to move found that father in law is having fever! Hmmmmm... with lots of ifs and buts my dear husbands decided that he will go without his mom-dad. He asked me to be ready and guess what he went to sleep ;). Well I did micro-packing and made my daughter ready and myself ready to take off. When I woke my husband up he was like are you ready?????? He tried hard to find a reason not to go but couldn't. We started around 11'o clock to Shimla. As we have been to Shimla in past my husband was over confidant of reaching Shimla in time. As soon as we reached Himachal we found roads were full of pot holes as roads were getting converted into double lane. Thank god we were in SUV not in our hatchback, it helped us to save our spine. Vibrations were so high that my daughter made her bed near my feet. We reached Shimla around 7'o clock and finding out a hotel and checking in took another one hour. I asked hubby to stay in Obroi as it was our anniversary but he said he will dine there. When we reached Obroi it was full. And Shimla is the worst hill station as you can not drive your car to market and neither you get any public transport. All you can do is to walk or sit in Hotel room :( It was my anniversary and I was not sure of getting food. The hotel where we stayed specifically told us that they can take orders only up to 8.30 and it was nine. Well !!! as my daughter refused to be carried in arms so walking to mall road was out of question... We took our car and went in search of food. Finally we sneaked into buffet of a hotel tipped off a waiter and had dinner. It was one of the tastiest food I had in years :) Hmm... some pics to tell more stories.. Next morning, it was raining cats and dogs. We were not sure what to do? To move back or go ahead?? Well, I was having two days more in hand so asked hubby to go ahead! we moved towards Narkada. The roads were pathetic and it was raining continuously. It was cold outside When we reached Narkada rain stopped, we were not sure as to go ahead or stop there. I asked a police man and the way he replied about the locality ahead, we started immediately for roads ahead..
Believe me it is one of the most beautiful roads...
It was the most scenic place the river valley.. Then road became narrow and narrow.. just wide enough for one vehicle.. river was flowing alongside...
And soon adventure started. It started raining again and from Khanag steep road started. Slope was more that 30 degrees and slippery because of rains.
All I could see around was nothing. Only our vehicle was moving on road. As it was our first trip on SUV, my husband's confidence was low. At many places our vehicle stopped, even moved back but 4X4 really helped us. As we were climbing up, rains changed to hails.
We reached Jhalori pass in evening around 5 and it was full of snow and more were pouring from sky!
The information we had was that after two kilometers in Shoja, there was a guest house where we can spend the night. We reached the guest house and to our utter shock it was full! It was raining and almost dark. The adventure that I was enjoying till now started giving me worry lines. We were having 18 months old with us and she needed milk and place to sleep.
Well we went ahead and found 2-3 places to stay where only one gave room heater. As it was raining therefore chances of bone fire was zero. So we had no options but to check in to the five star retreat :) After an adventurous day we got cozy shelter. My daughter got space to run around freely. And food was great!.
Next morning, when were ready to check out and came another twist! The bill amount was the total cash we had in hand and they did not take credit cards ;) Now started the bargain time and finally we could settle down with discount of Rs 2K.
As soon as we left the place we discovered that one of the tyre was flat. And road ahead was typical hilly road and to add to our surprises locals told us that connecting road to Kullu is washed away by river :).
We went ahead as we had no other option. Taking route of Jhalori pass was out of question because of slope and slippery conditions. Now our priority was to search for puncture repair shop and we were not able to find a human being to ask!
After a drive of 2 kilometers we found some inhabitation and there an old couple asked us for lift.
We told them about the situation and as god is always there to help you, they gave us hand pump to inflate our tyre. As we had tubeless tyre so that helped us a lot. The couple was very informative and gave us lots of information about the place and locations. They were the owners of the famous 'Shringi Vatika'.
We dropped them in Banjar which was the market area for the locality but the puncture repair shop was closed!!!!!
And soon after that we found that commercial vehicles are waiting in line that means road ahead was still closed. As we had no other option than to go ahead we went ahead. This was the day I was supposed to be in office but considering my anniversary, my boss allowed me one more day. Soon we were at the spot in Bahli ki Chauki where the road was washed away by river. We saw two JCBs working to make temporary road. Although it was obvious that it was impossible to make that road but still as an optimist we waited and did site seeing around. Utilized that time to get refreshment and milk for my daughter. And then we came to know that in one of JCB diesel is over !
We had no other option than to rush back and find accommodation for our self. The only guesthouse in the village was crowded and thankfully we reached at right time as we got the last room available. We were asked to come after an hour so that they can clean and prepare the room.
We went in the village in search of lunch. It was two in afternoon and as per village timings we were late! After lot of search we found daal chawal in a shop. Food was too tasty and to our surprise it was only Rs 15 per plate. We went back to guest house and settled down in room. I was upset with the fact that I'll my office again for at least one day but soon the isolation and added holiday made me relax and enjoy.
I watched movies which were pending for long time on laptop, took a walk in beautiful village and believe me it was one of the most romantic evening in my life. Finally we got time to talk and it became anniversary celebration as we could do nothing else than to be close.
Next day when we woke up the only thing in our mind was to reach home. As we were almost out of cash with no ATM around, out of tetra packs of milk for our daughter. We were ready by 10'o clock but had to wait long as guest house was managed by family of four people. The guesthouse was crowded and they were not able to manage. We could finally leave the guest house around 12'o clock.
When we reached the spot where road was broken, we found road was still under repair. Again we waited , did chatting with strangers, had tea/cold drinks till the stock ended at the shop near site. My daughter had very good time near river playing with stones.
Finally road opened around 3'o clock. And then finally we found relief as we can get our tyre repaired and ATM in mandi. Once we got our tyre repaired in mandi we drove non stop to Dehradun and reached home at 3'o clock in morning.....
Believe me it is one of the most beautiful roads...
It was the most scenic place the river valley.. Then road became narrow and narrow.. just wide enough for one vehicle.. river was flowing alongside...
And soon adventure started. It started raining again and from Khanag steep road started. Slope was more that 30 degrees and slippery because of rains.
All I could see around was nothing. Only our vehicle was moving on road. As it was our first trip on SUV, my husband's confidence was low. At many places our vehicle stopped, even moved back but 4X4 really helped us. As we were climbing up, rains changed to hails.
We reached Jhalori pass in evening around 5 and it was full of snow and more were pouring from sky!
The information we had was that after two kilometers in Shoja, there was a guest house where we can spend the night. We reached the guest house and to our utter shock it was full! It was raining and almost dark. The adventure that I was enjoying till now started giving me worry lines. We were having 18 months old with us and she needed milk and place to sleep.
Well we went ahead and found 2-3 places to stay where only one gave room heater. As it was raining therefore chances of bone fire was zero. So we had no options but to check in to the five star retreat :) After an adventurous day we got cozy shelter. My daughter got space to run around freely. And food was great!.
Next morning, when were ready to check out and came another twist! The bill amount was the total cash we had in hand and they did not take credit cards ;) Now started the bargain time and finally we could settle down with discount of Rs 2K.
As soon as we left the place we discovered that one of the tyre was flat. And road ahead was typical hilly road and to add to our surprises locals told us that connecting road to Kullu is washed away by river :).
We went ahead as we had no other option. Taking route of Jhalori pass was out of question because of slope and slippery conditions. Now our priority was to search for puncture repair shop and we were not able to find a human being to ask!
After a drive of 2 kilometers we found some inhabitation and there an old couple asked us for lift.
We told them about the situation and as god is always there to help you, they gave us hand pump to inflate our tyre. As we had tubeless tyre so that helped us a lot. The couple was very informative and gave us lots of information about the place and locations. They were the owners of the famous 'Shringi Vatika'.
We dropped them in Banjar which was the market area for the locality but the puncture repair shop was closed!!!!!
And soon after that we found that commercial vehicles are waiting in line that means road ahead was still closed. As we had no other option than to go ahead we went ahead. This was the day I was supposed to be in office but considering my anniversary, my boss allowed me one more day. Soon we were at the spot in Bahli ki Chauki where the road was washed away by river. We saw two JCBs working to make temporary road. Although it was obvious that it was impossible to make that road but still as an optimist we waited and did site seeing around. Utilized that time to get refreshment and milk for my daughter. And then we came to know that in one of JCB diesel is over !
We had no other option than to rush back and find accommodation for our self. The only guesthouse in the village was crowded and thankfully we reached at right time as we got the last room available. We were asked to come after an hour so that they can clean and prepare the room.
We went in the village in search of lunch. It was two in afternoon and as per village timings we were late! After lot of search we found daal chawal in a shop. Food was too tasty and to our surprise it was only Rs 15 per plate. We went back to guest house and settled down in room. I was upset with the fact that I'll my office again for at least one day but soon the isolation and added holiday made me relax and enjoy.
I watched movies which were pending for long time on laptop, took a walk in beautiful village and believe me it was one of the most romantic evening in my life. Finally we got time to talk and it became anniversary celebration as we could do nothing else than to be close.
Next day when we woke up the only thing in our mind was to reach home. As we were almost out of cash with no ATM around, out of tetra packs of milk for our daughter. We were ready by 10'o clock but had to wait long as guest house was managed by family of four people. The guesthouse was crowded and they were not able to manage. We could finally leave the guest house around 12'o clock.
When we reached the spot where road was broken, we found road was still under repair. Again we waited , did chatting with strangers, had tea/cold drinks till the stock ended at the shop near site. My daughter had very good time near river playing with stones.
Finally road opened around 3'o clock. And then finally we found relief as we can get our tyre repaired and ATM in mandi. Once we got our tyre repaired in mandi we drove non stop to Dehradun and reached home at 3'o clock in morning.....
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