Ah! The more the reasons the merrier!!

I believe the towns you have mentioned would turn up from the delhi side, mine would be a separate route altogether.

kaake di jaan, explore more of chansal area no? Lansdowne, personally to me is little value. its nice but that's about it. Lot more on lot many routes.

Do munsyari given your caliber

Maharaaj, chanshal in rains is like foot pe kulhadi!! This time on I want to do a place which I havent done before ... mushiyari is too far a place for 2 days no ...

Himachal se thoda sa tiny winy break ...

Janjelhi .. untouched by tourists and commercialization ... Truly virgin himachal ...

Can be an ideal destination for people who are sick and tired of the maddening crowds which has overwhelmed places like shimla and manali.

3 days would suit just fine

Day 1: Chandigarh - Mandi - Janjelhii (~250 kms). From Mandi take a left from chail chowk and continue on the state highway. The wider NH-21 gives way to narrow roads and you start ascending. Janjehli is at around 2100m.

Day 2: Visit the shikari devi temple, which is famous for its roofless top. Situated at a height of 3300 m, the road to it is semi-kaccha making it a good offroading option. You can spend the rest of the day in isolation, with yourself.
There is an accomaodation problem as there are only few guesthouses. A FRH is setup, but you need to file an application to the D.F.O Mandi. I just happened to drop in, hence i coudnt get accomodation there. Had to look for other options. Only a few guest houses, majority of them where closed! Did manage to source one somehow!

Day 3: Janjelhi - mandi - Sundernagar - karsog - Naldehra - Shimla - Chandigarh.

The return is equally exciting via the enchanted karsog valley and swirling hot waters at tattapaani to the splendid golf-course at naldehra!

Folks from Delhi can add another 250 kms (4 hrs) one way

Note: Not a place for folks who prefer tourists spots, glittering malls and fancy shows. Also, huge groups would find it difficult to get accomodation unless booked in advanced with the DFO. Plus, its not a place to make base and go around for sightseeing, as it is just a valley, very beautiful nonetheless. Ideal if you are solo or just 2-3 bikers who are looking for some solace and are keen in exploring rural himachal, not so far away.

Also, kindly avoid if you are a first timer. Neither would the location excite you much, nor are the roads that suitable..

I had some fun time interacting with the locals there, eating the not-so-cooked meat and drinking the home-made rice beer after dinner.

Reminded me of the Pangi valley, which I highly recommend you pay a visit ..., it being the most rural part of himachal and the most under-developed/at par with doda-kwar.

Their gesture shows how pure-hearted these folks are. Are happy with in their own world, far from the urban way of life.

Thats about it from my side. Will be back with more weekend getaways, as soon as i discover them

Thanks Kurt: Have added your post as an edit on the first page.

Thanks Ken..

A nice/quiet little lake came to my mind, and i believe it will be a good place to hang out over the weekend.

The place is Rewalsar, some 15 kms from Mandi. Beautiful lake, great for the religiously inclined.

An itenerary could be:

Day1 : Delhi - mandi - rewalsar
Day2 : Rewalsar (can also visit prashar lake which is around 50 kms from mandi, small trek too)
Day3 : Rewalsar - Delhi

Or you can also return in 2 days, no sweat. Beacuse apart from the lake, nothing much to see there. Acoomodation not a problem, its a small hilly town.

Thanks Kurt for the updates!

Ok, so bike a little and then trek!

"Karole", the highest peak in Solan to which extends a dense forest trail trek from Chambaghat. Chambaghat is the place where there is a railway crossing ; Just after you cross Solan.

It is a beautiful trek with grassland plataue midway and dense forests the rest of the time. Takes around 2.5-3 hours to get to the top from Chambaghat.

Enroute is a cave that the "Pandavas" built when they were on their "Agyaatvaas". Now here comes the interesting part : The cave tunnels all the way till Pinjore! as per the locals, it was once tested by pouring gallons of coloured water, some of it eventually showing up in Pinjore..

Well, really? they rumors? true? I dont know..you have to go find out!

The view from the top is mesmerizing!

There is a temple up there and also a small little dingy room in case you plan to stay and have brought your own camps/sleeping bags. Otherwise too, there are other options where you may pitch your tent.

It snows at karole in winters so can get pretty interesting then!

Dont have pics, as didnt have a camera but they'll eventually come as Solan is nearby!

-Kurt

I was wondering how many of these rides are doable in the winter (without risking it too much on black ice/heavy snow) or am i overestimating the snow in Himachal/Uttarakhand.
Maybe we should also mention the best season for which the above time frames are valid and the roads doable. Specific winter rides would be great.
Veterans please enlighten us

Not much of an issue really at almost any time of the year these days. If there is heavy snowfall and black ice as low down as Dharampur, which is really rare, one would see it in the newspapers etc... so ride on!

Actually most of the rides mentioned here are doable throughout the year (barring Chanshal). You would find snow, but on the sides and clear off the roads. Passes like Jalori would be snow bound for like 15-20 days - 1 month at max. Other higher ones like Rohtang/Kunzum would be snow bound for like 6 months or so. Hence you can plan accordingly.

Just keep in mind that unless there is a high pass enroute, you can access locations 12 months a year! Perhaps thats the reason that the road to Kaza is an all weather route.

Kaza....here I come in January!

Rohit, I would say that instead of January, make you plans in March. Although the road will be open (unless there are landslides which takes a few days to clear up), it will tough for you to get accomodation there as most of the guest houses will be closed. Even HPTDC's "The Spiti" closes in winters. Plus January will most likely be the coldest, with tempretatures remaining below 0 for a good portion of the day. Chances of black ice are also good.

Alright, now for some good news to all you snow lovers out there:

It has snowed in Shimla, Chail (2 inches) and ... yes ... kasauli too! (Albeit little). It stopped around 10 am today, but expect more in the time to come.

As for me, I am giving office a pass for today and heading straight up till I hit gold, white gold!