In the end of May month sky was hazy, land somewhat slippery, shadow of clouds with a tinch of sunshine! One of my days in chandranahan trek. So in late May month, I was sitting and casually scrolling Instagram when I came across some magnificent shots of chandranahan taken by a friend of mine. I was stuck with those photos so much so that I decided to explore the journey myself.Usually I love to travel solo but this time I thought some company would be fine. So I asked a school friend of mine if he wants to join and he agreed. But then permission from home was not granted,but chandranahan was calling me. We made some crooked story about my friend's sister wedding and eloped away.
In the end of May month sky was hazy, land somewhat slippery, shadow of clouds with a tinch of sunshine! One of my days in chandranahan trek. So in late May month, I was sitting and casually scrolling Instagram when I came across some magnificent shots of chandranahan taken by a friend of mine. I was stuck with those photos so much so that I decided to explore the journey myself.Usually I love to travel solo but this time I thought some company would be fine. So I asked a school friend of mine if he wants to join and he agreed. But then permission from home was not granted,but chandranahan was calling me. We made some crooked story about my friend's sister wedding and eloped away.
The very next day we took a HRTC bus from ISBT Shimla to Rohru at around 1 pm. The road condition was not really good to Rohru as some parts of road was under construction that time, and so we reached Rohru at around 6pm. I was all excited for my upcoming journey.
Then we called a friend residing in rohru only to ask him about some good place where we can camp and he insisted us stay at his place and we decided to stay at his home as his parents were not there. After dinner we asked him if he knows about chandranahan trek but he didn't had much knowledge of that place. We asked him and his brother to join us which he willingly did.
Next morning in rohru we inquired about chandranahan trek from some locals who were too polite to talk with. We started little late.
First we took a bus to Chirgaon village as told by a local shopkeeper.It was just 14 KM's but as the road was single lane it took us an hour to reach.
After that we did our lunch and started looking for a bus to Tagnu village. Buses to tagnu were limited,4 buses a day.We covered those 22kms in 2 and a half hours. The amazing views compensated the pathetic road.
Finally after reaching Tagnu at 3:30pm we walked all the way to Janglikh. There was a bridge connecting Tagnu and Janglikh ,not in an appropriate position as a year ago because of heavy landslide it was destructed. While crossing the bridge it started raining and we only had one raincoat, so we took shelter under a tree and four of us were under one raincoat.
Rain stopped at around 5:15pm. Then we asked the locals about further route and they forced us to stay for a night but as enthusiasm was high and blood was warm we started our trek then and there.
And then there was the sky
Up above so high
No one could touch or hide
But possesed by all
While they ride.
It changed in a fraction, from hazy blurr to opaque white. little rain drops to clean waves of fresh air and tinch of sunshine giving hope to people beneath.
The land was all green with independently evolving trunks and branches as a way to tower upon one another.
Mountains all around covered with snow , shimmering under the Sun. With a rhythmic splash, everytime time water hit a stone.
Then we came into a forest with mostly deodar trees around. As it was getting darker, we increased our pace and Crossed the jungle at around 7pm intact!
We decided to set our camp there only. But before doing that we spotted a guy, asked him about the place we all were in. He informed us that it's Dyara Thach and helped us to set our tent.
After all this hardwork our hunger hormones were on peak. We had 10 packed pranthas as our dinner.We collected some firewood and lighted a bonfire to warm our pranthas. I was very tired but still tried to capture the night sky.All black with some twinklings of hope for more. Spotting the Orion.
Always this disciplined. Always a constant!
Next day we woke up early and made some maggi on little stove we had and decided to carry just one bag with some biscuit packets and camera.
We started early in the morning at 7 am from Dyara.
The location reminded me of game of thrones and lord of the rings.The resemblance was serene.
It was an easy trek can be done by a beginner.
First you are in a jungle with big trees and shady areas then you come across plains so much so that you could play cricket over there. Then you have to climb uphill to get the best of view. Wait, Sit, Drink water and repeat.
We reached Litham in just 2 hours. The sky was drowning in the tides of my clouded speculations. With each step I took I got into my bubble away from the idea of connecting! More higher I went more precise I was able to see. Away from people I realised some things which i casually am not aware of, which I pass as something not-so-great to observe. But the air over there was different.
I met a shepherd there with his goats and I started singing a pahadi folk song.He spotted me and asked my whereabouts which was answered by me in pahadi (Aara bhaiji Shimla se re). We bonded over our common pahadi community and started chit-chatting over a cup of tea which was prepared by him. From litham one way goes to chandranahan and other to Buran Pass.
Litham to chandranahan is just 2 KM's but those 2 KM's were more than our whole journey. It was steep uptil the top. Trek trail was an adventure package. With our lives at stake(being bit dramatic) we started to walk towards the top. With every slip, my thrust to climb was rising. The quest I possess was not in a mood to rest.The see within wouldn't let me win. Soo I decided to climb a cliff and to roar like a thunder. No matter wrecked or knocked but will stand taller with every fall!
We finally reached the end point of our trek chandranahan. The view was serene. The white all around , with haze above, snow over the mountains , the icy cold branches, with us all enthusiastic and silence all around.
The Sun was mine, brighter and higher. The Stars were in constellation of my thoughts. I was rambling around in my own orbit with no bondage or paradoxically bounded in my own orbit. I gave me time to evolve into something I could adore. We were spellbound to see so much of snow in end of May month at a height 4000mts and river was flowing in complete isolation.
There are 7 lakes in chandranahan. People over there believe the origin of their Gods from there 7 lakes. For them it is a holy place so they walk barefoot over those frozen lakes. We were not in any compulsion to do as told but we thought to respect their spirituality. Now we four were walking and running and tripping barefoot on the glacier. With every fall we shouted not with pain but ecstasy! It was way too fun and adventurous. We explored 3 lakes as 3rd lake was frozen and shephard has advised us not to go up after the 3rd lake and there was so much snow so we decided to turn back. At 12pm we started our journey back to pavilion.
We were exhausted as we were hungry and our stalk was almost over except for some raw rice. So we decided to trek back till Dyara Tharch in 2 hours after that we cooked some Khichdi over there and filled out hungry stomachs. We rested there for a while and packed our gear to leave for Rohru at around 4pm. It took us 1 and a half hour to reach Tangnu village. It was raining the whole time after Dyara and we were all shivering. Worst thing was the last bus for rohru was gone at 4pm. We started to look for any available taxi service.We asked every shopkeeper and every localite we spotted. We tried to do hitch-hiking but alas!
At last we comvinced a Mahindra pick up driver to take us to rohru in ₹1200 We reached rohru at around 11:00pm and stayed at friend's place.
Next day we took a HRTC back to shimla at 11am and reached Shimla at 4:30pm in evening with empty pockets and filled souls!
