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**sajalsheth** · 05-24-2020, 09:58 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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Chitkul is last village of India towards Tibet Border where you can reach without permit.

According to a recent study by Centre of Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi, Chitkul has the cleanest air in India.

At 1.15PM, I reached Chitkul. If you search for Chitkul in internet, famous Hindustan ka aakhri dhaba (“Last Dhaba of India”) is also shown.

It is always on the list of must-do things of visitors at Chitkul.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-25-2020, 09:25 AM

Re: Ride To KISS

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All tourists want to click a picture with this board.

It was lunch time and I just moved around this village. I saw this Hydro Flour Mill. This runs with water stream force. But now it is closed.

Mathi Devi Temple is the oldest in area. But no visitors allowed inside temple.

I saw many hotels and eateries there. But this board looked interesting.

This was a hotel Chitkul Heights.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-25-2020, 02:01 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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I went inside and had this for my lunch. View from restaurant was very good.

This hotel was towards end of village. There are lots of corn fields after this hotel.

Chitkul is mainly known for its mesmerizing beauty and bucolic nature

Famously known as the last inhabited village on the Indo-Tibet Border, Chitkul is also the most beautiful village.

I spent some time around & that’s me enjoying the panoramic views of the vistas.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-25-2020, 10:09 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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At 2.30PM, I started riding back towards Sangla.

Some scenic views captured on the way back.

Also came across this colorful patch of nature at 2.45PM.

This was last last picture of the day.

This was ride map of the day.

Next day is long ride for me as I plan to reach Rohru via Sungri route. I booked OYO Hotel United Regency via MMT App. The stay was booked for 2 days.

Coming up….NEXT…Sangla to Shiladesh via Sungri, Rohru, & Chirgaon.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-26-2020, 09:55 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

18.9.2019

Day 16 = Sangla to Shiladesh via Sungri, Rohru & Chirgaon.

Total 210 Kms
Ride time 6.30AM to 5:30 PM.

Today’s ride was going to be long one. I started my ride at 6.30AM. I started to like riding in morning in mountains. Rising sun and shadows of mountains was looking beautiful. There were fewer vehicles on road during early morning.

Baspa River along with cliff road was scenic.

I crossed Karcham, Chooling and Tapri. At around 7.50AM, I saw a solo cyclist near Wangtu.

He is Sunil Sapkal from Mumbai. I met yet another inspiring person in Spiti Valley route.

I appreciated him on riding solo, that to on cycle. We talked for around 10 minutes. I wished him best of luck for his onward journey.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-27-2020, 12:20 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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At 8.15AM, I reached famous Maa Tranda Temple.

This famous Temple is 44 kms near Rampur. Every person passing in a vehicle from here does not forget to bow the head in the temple. People believe that if a driver passes through this temple without bowing his head, mishaps happens to him. The history of Tranda Mata Temple is also interesting. After the India-China war in 1962, the army thought of constructing a road from here so that ammunition and logistics could be easily transported to the border.

In 1963, Graf Wing of the Army BRO started road construction here. While constructing a road, one or the other worker dies due to daily rocks falling. The army people got very upset with this.
Meanwhile the people of Tranda village asked him to go to the temple of Maa Chandralekha built in the village. Goddess Guru said that the place where you are taking out the road is inhabited by Shakti. Devi wants to be established there.

After this, the army people got the temple constructed and brought the idol of the mother from Tranda village and installed it here. After the construction of the mother's temple in 1965, the road work was also completed and there was no accident. After this, it was recognized that whoever goes to this temple, will be safe on those roads.

At 8.30AM, I reached to Tranda Dhank.

Tranda Dhank section of the Hindustan Tibet Road was constructed in 1956.

This stretch of road was constructed using half tunneling method.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-27-2020, 05:07 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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Due to almost vertical face of the stone wall, workers had to slither form with ropes from top and work to create the passage. At that point of time it was a remote location and construction teams had to face lot of hardships.

Many blasting holes still can be seen there. Many people lost there lives here during its construction.

One must stop here to enjoy the view as well as to understand the difficult terrain and dangerous conditions in which the road is constructed which was considered almost impossible by many in 1956.

During winters you can see snow on these roads.

This Rock Tunnel is also a Gateway to Kinnaur.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-27-2020, 10:46 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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Video

Just after crossing Tranda Dhank, there is a makeshift eatery. He sells fruits etc. He also makes very good Maggie.

View of Tranda Dhank Rock Tunnel from there.

That was my tasty breakfast for the day.

At 9.30AM, I crossed another famous landmark called Kinnaur Dwar.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-28-2020, 05:09 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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View of Sutlej River from there.

Then I crossed busy Rampur Town. I also topped petrol there.
I crossed Duttnagar. My next stop was Nirth. I wanted to ride uphill from there towards Sutlej view point. This was little unknown route and I had no idea about the road condition now onward. I had covered 110 kms by then.

At 11.15AM, I reached this road bifurcation. Rohru was just 63 kms from there.

There was almost no one on those hill roads. I could see only 1-2 vehicles coming down.

I reached Sutlej view point at 11.20AM.
The view from there was just great.

I could see part of Rampur, Duttnagar & Gadrej village. This is Himachal Pradesh State Milk Cooperative plant of Duttnagar.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-28-2020, 10:32 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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This is Koel Village.

But the water of Sutlej River was no so clear. Baspa River’s water is more clear and blue.

But the nearby mountains near Koel Village were completely green.

Even far mountains beyond Gadrej Village were looking great on that clear weather day.

And this is my bike on that Sutlej View Point.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-29-2020, 01:52 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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Till now the road was good and I thought of reaching Rohru by 12:30PM.

Scenic green mountains became to show, but those good roads became bad roads slowly.

It was 12.30PM already, but I had not reached Sungri yet. I was riding on bad roads, but there were lots of apple gardens on nearby mountains.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-29-2020, 06:29 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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They might be saving apples from sun or morning dew.

The forest cover was good there.

This was road ahead of me.

This was road behind me. The milestone shows that I had crossed Narain Village 5 kms before.

I stopped at 12.45PM, again for a break. Sungri Top was just 2 kms ahead. The forest before Sungri Village is very dense. And road is full of dust.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-30-2020, 08:55 AM

Re: Ride To KISS

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Just after riding for 5 minutes, I saw something on road. I just stopped to see those sharp objects.

These were sharp spines of PORCUPINE.

These were quills of Porcupine in those forest areas just before Sungri Village.

Some animal might have killed Porcupine or it might have been hunted by some human also.
I picked one quill but it might be illegal to carry forest substance. So I dropped it there and moved ahead towards Sungri Top. People say that keeping quill of Porcupine in home will result in quarrels between housemates.

I reached Sungri Village and had some snacks near bus stop. People there told me that road from there till Rohru Town is very good one. As there were no good hotels to eat at Sungri, I decided to ride toward Rohru and have my lunch there only.

Now the road was good tar road. I passed by many apple gardens. I then took next break at 1.40PM and clicked some pictures there.

I could see Devta Bonda Temple from that point.

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**sajalsheth** · 05-30-2020, 10:18 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

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Road was having lots of pine trees.

I reached Rohru Town, but the Google location of OYO 47317 United Regency is totally wrong. This hotel is on main road only and there is NIL parking. I managed to park my bike on main road.

Then a bad thing happened.

This OYO Associated Hotel did not honor my OYO Bookings for 2 days of 18-9-2018 to 20-9-2019. I had paid for two days in advance. They didn't honor this pre paid bookings. And insisted on staying there by paying double rent with them without OYO booking!!! Booking was done via MMT app.

And the behavior of staff of Hotel United Regency of Rohru was very unprofessional.

I thought to have lunch first then decide what to do. I started riding towards Chirgaon.

I saw a decent hotel named 3D Food Junction. I decided to have lunch there. It was 2.30PM then. I ordered food and called up my home. Then I called up MMT and OYO and wasted two important hours of my time. I could manage to get full refund from MMT.

But the staff and lady owner of 3D Food Junction Restaurant are very nice. They served me good food and allowed meet to sit there for an hour also. This was my tasty lunch.

I recommend all to have lunch and dinner here at 3D Food Junction Restaurant, if you are at Rohru or passing by. It was homely food served with love.
I thanked that Lady owner of this Restaurant and decided to stay at Chirgaon. It was just 17 kms from there.
Now I was riding along with beautiful Pabbar River with crystal clear water. Chirgaon was full of crowd and I could not locate any hotel near main road. So I decided to ride further towards Chanshal Pass. I reached Tikri Village and villagers told me that there are hotels at Larot Village.

But the road from Chirgaon onward was in very bad condition. There were lots of stones and pebbles on road. And the road is on ascending which makes riding difficult with the luggage. But there are apple gardens on both sides of road.

At 5.00PM, I saw a hotel on those bad roads. It was Khanan Homestay and Restaurant. I was at Shiladesh Village under Larot Tehsil.

I got one double bed room for Rs.700. It is better to stay here at this hotel, if you want to visit Chanshal Pass. Two wheelers can park inside hotel but four wheelers needs to park on road only. But you will be staying near apple gardens where you can see and touch apples.

Owner Mr Balawant Khanan is a very good person and owns majority of apple gardens in that area. He has an apple processing unit with lots of staffs. He has a big house nearby and few four wheelers also. This hotel has an essential shop also in hotel premises. The entire hotel and kitchen is managed by one person from Nepal only.

And important thing is that, Chanshal Pass is only 17 kms from this place.

This was my dinner for the day at 8.30PM.

This was my ride map of the Day.

Coming up… NEXT… Chanshal Pass (At 12303 feet, Highest Place of Shimla District).

**sajalsheth** · 05-31-2020, 06:30 PM

Re: Ride To KISS

19.9.2019

Day 17 = Shiladesh to Theog, morning visit to Chanshal Pass.

Total 140 Kms

Ride time 8.45AM to 5:45 PM.

I got up and washed my bike with chilled water and lubricated my chain. I ordered my breakfast. My plan was to visit Chanshal Pass in the morning and then have lunch at Rohru at yesterday’s 3D Food Junction Restaurant. I wanted to reach Theog or Shimla by the end of day. Today I was going to visit sixth and final mountain pass of current ride.

In this ride, till now, I had covered
1. Jot Pass
2. Padri Pass
3. Sinthan Pass
4. Sach Pass &
5. Kunzum Pass

Visiting Chanshal Pass in the morning means I will get very less crowd there.
During monsoon the off road to Chanshal Pass has lots of slush and during winter it is filled with snow. It is open from May to October.
Chanshal Pass is highest place of Shimla District.

There were apple gardens on both sides of road and next to hotel also. I could touch them also.

I asked my Hotel owner about road now onward till Chanshal Pass. He told me that as long as you have decent enough riding experience, you will easily be able to manage your motorcycles towards Chanshal.

See this video and see how near were apple trees from my hotel.

He also told me to pick some apples from his processing factory nearby on my way back to Rohru.

This was my breakfast.

I started my ride at 8.45AM and after crossing Shiladesh Village, this was the road condition.

Road now onward till top was very bad, but the view of nearby mountains was scenic.

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