Not like final time, being pushed from Gurgaon to Manali to Chicham, we drove from Sangla to Chicham. It was a brand new route that I had not seen beforehand and it was equally enjoyable to discover.
Tethys Himalayan Den was our third cease within the #NAINAxBanjaraExperiences circuit that we deliberate : Thanedar, Sangla, Chicham and Sojha.
The whole drive was suffering from roadside indicators saying, “Taking pictures Stones. Drive Fastidiously.” and it turned a working joke. How is one alleged to drive “fastidiously” when unpredictable stones might come pelting down at us any second! One can solely drive and hope for the very best. And it doesn’t even matter for those who drive quick or sluggish. We noticed quite a lot of autos with smashed windshields and facet home windows to be holding our breath every time was noticed one of many “taking pictures stones” indicators. the world is well-manned by the BRO and so they continuously had personnel with crimson and inexperienced flags to alert autos.
We stopped at Tabo for lunch – there are a number of locations that serve multi-cuisine fare. A lot of the drive is thru mountains that appear like they’re able to crumble at a lot as a sneeze.
It’s a pleasant panorama. All of a sudden a patch of inexperienced on an otherwsie completely naked mountainside. Columns of mud deposits weathered by the rain and excessive velocity winds. The whole area seems to be prefer it’s created from tectonic plates getting in all instructions.
Above, Kee / Key Monastery as seen on the street from Kaza to Chicham; Chicham village sighted with the Chicham Gorge within the entrance and the Tethys Himalayan Den signal board on the flip for Chicham and Kibber.
Beneath, Tethys Himlayan DEN images nicely doesn’t it? It felt like coming again house. Much more so this time as a result of we drove ourselves. The locations this Diesel Ertiga has been pushed to! We didn’t assume it could make the climb on the final flip towards the Den, however a fastidiously positioned stone behind the left rear tyre did the trick.
Above, the spot proper outdoors the second flooring rooms the place we drank our chais and coffees and typically beers. It’s chilly out, so it’s a fastidiously thought-about resolution. The widespread eating corridor is a much more sheltered spot to do such issues.
Beneath : The Widespread Eating Corridor. Giant glass panes make you are feeling that you simply’re probably not indoors however the wooden heater positively tells you that you’re. There’s board video games and breakfast, lunch and dinner and a hang around spot for all residents. Night video games and conversations with strangers are the norm.
There are a number of electrical plug factors, however I additionally suggest that you simply carry your personal energy strip and mortgage out a number of spots to your fellow vacationers.
There’s so much to do in and round Chicham. Although I’ve visited beforehand, we nonetheless had sufficient choices to select from. One of many issues we did was drive to Gete, which a really small village – no more than 5-6 properties maybe. The Key Monastery is seen from a spot close to the village and you may drive until there. I like photographing the identical location from totally different views, so I positively wished to go and test it out. And I’m glad we did! Pictures beneath. Thanks Ritushree and Faizu for the tip.
Additionally took a while out at Gete to have myself photographed carrying a stunning Pashmina Fur scarf by Janavi India.
One other spot that I had conveniently ignored the final time round is Chicham Bridge. Stopped over for a bit and was stunned to see meals vehicles! Not one thing I had ever anticipated to see in Chicham!
Chicham Bridge is a suspension bridge and is taken into account one of many highest bridges in Asia. It’s constructed over a 1000 ft deep, spectacular wanting gorge and the bridge connects Kibber to Chicham village. The bridge was solely accomplished in 2017, earlier than which you’d must drive an additional 40 kms to get to Chicham.
The final two pictures above : Crimson Fox and Blue Sheep specks. The Chicham Gorge can also be house to wildlife. Whereas we didn’t spot a Snow Leopard, we did spot a Crimson Fox that was selecting at rubbish. And we spent nearly an hour watching Blue Sheep head-butting on one of many slopes popping out of the gorge. This was nearer to sundown, so the sand they have been flinging about is what caught my eye – in any other case, at that distance, unattainable to identify these shy creatures.
Tethys Himlayan DEN commonly hosts Snow Leopard Expeditions within the winters BTW.
Again to one in all my favorite rooms, the place I’ve stayed each instances at Tethys. The loft room is GREAT. Regardless of being in direction of the again of the constructing, you’ve nonetheless acquired a view. It’s tremendous shiny tremendous early within the morning, so for those who’re a light-weight sleeper like me, carry an eye fixed masks. Ear plugs additionally won’t damage for those who’re touring throughout busy season. It’s a homestay and voices carry simply. You is perhaps executed with dinner at 9 pm however many of the others are actually not!
Water is photo voltaic heated but when there’s no sunshine, the employees will warmth water for you. Do do not forget that that is an especially distant place – so please set your expectations accordingly. Pretty home-cooked meals with some nice surprises, which I might positively not anticipate at Chicham. For instance, watermelon for breakfast! It was much more scrumptious as a result of it was at 4,270 meters above sea degree. NOTHING grows at Chicham – besides a number of new endeavours the place locals try to develop peas and mushrooms.
Additionally, electrical blankets for the win!
My accomplice had not seen the Manali Highway, so one of many days we have been at Chicham, we determined to simply go for a drive within the Manali course. I recalled that it had appeared way more picturesque than the route from the Shimla facet, and the sky seemed attention-grabbing to my photographer’s eye, so it was day to go for a drive.
We drove by way of the Ladarcha Meadows beneath.
The surroundings is unquestionably extra lovely that the opposite route. No surprise so many individuals choose the Manali route. We then drove on in direction of Kiyato however didn’t go all the best way. There was a bridge to our left, which might take us on a route that even I had not seen beforehand and we determined to attempt that out. It turned out to guide us proper again to Kaza!
I discover it SO TOUGH to pick out pictures from Spiti. All the things is fascinating and so gorgeous to take a look at and re-look at. No surprise this weblog submit has gone on and on. And there’s nonetheless a lot extra that I’ve not shared right here. I might be releasing a few of the images as prints too, someday quickly.
The Kiyato bridge to Kaza route turned out to be extra lovely than I had imagined.
We ended up again at Kaza, the place we picked up a number of provides, some garments and a few beer. Most outlets within the Kaza Market ( together with the ONLY fuel station on the town ) settle for solely money as type of cost. Most of them do settle for UPI funds however bank cards are an absolute no-go and money is most well-liked.
There’s a brand new property within the works at a spot known as Mane, which we stopped over at whereas driving from Chicham to our subsequent cease, Banjara Village Retreat at Sojha.
Mane is at a decrease top than Chicham and located near the valley flooring, proper subsequent to the Spiti River. A lot extra inexperienced. Can’t wait to see what these guys provide you with.
We have been additionally fortunate sufficient to identify a Himalayan Vulture up-close (also called the Himalayan Griffon Vulture). We had seen a number of of those at Tethys as nicely however they have been at all times too far-off to be photographed correctly on my 200mm lens.
And we noticed some extra Blue Sheep on our departure from Mane and Spiti Valley.
I’ll depart you with a number of extra panorama images beneath, all photographed from a window at Tethys. If there’s one 7 Star property at Chicham, it’s Tethys Himalayan. Huge hugs and gratitude to Faizu, who’s village Turtuk is on our radar subsequent.
You will get extra specifics about Tethys Himalayan DEN, Chicham, right here on the Banjara Experiences web site.
Tethys Himalayan DEN Chicham’s Instagram web page.
Banjara Experiences on Instagram.
Subsequent up, Banjara Village Retreat, Sojha! Coming quickly!
