Shri Manimahesh Kailash Trekking || part.4 - Camping at Manimahesh Lake

Sun-Rays midway to the heart of the Manimahesh Kailash, Chamba 2016

The story of my Shri Manimahesh Kailash yatra 2016 is being covered in multiple parts. 

The first three parts have already been covered, and this one is the fourth and the last. 

In case you haven't read the first three, let me share the links quickly, and please note they are not lengthy to read, yet interesting for sure.  

Part 3 - covers the story of our trek up to Dunali and the night stay.

Part two -  holy bath at the Bharmani Devi temple.

Part One - night stay at Chamba Jot.  

Now let me continue the story... 

Morning at Dunali

The last night only sound that one could hear was that of a roaring rivulet called 'Dhancho khad,' which ran downwards parallel to the steep trek.  So we slept like the horse seller sleeps after selling all of his horses. 

When we woke up at around 7:30 AM, the air around us was vibrating with the sound waves of chants of lord Shiva. The hiking trail was already densely filled with the devotees of Shiva. 

Many climbed up to the Manimahesh lake while a few went down to Hadsar, as we prepared ourselves for our own climb upward. 

At Dhancho, the stream water was ice cold and clean, but it could be dangerous in case you slip, as the stream descends on a steep, rugged, boulder-filled bed and yet with a powerful current. I picked up my toothbrush and went near the spring water next to the shop. 

The free-flowing water was guided by a pipe and the force of nature, which we call gravity, from the stream to near the temporary shop. It was clean like distilled water, perhaps even more pure in a saintly sense, given that it flew near to the abode of Shiva - the Manimahesh Kailash.

The toilet facility was not available at Dunali. If it were there, perhaps I would've spotted the open human feces in the surrounding bushes.

At Dhancho

We decided to climb up to Dhancho and use the toilet facilities there. After climbing amidst the dense Deodar jungle that was on a ninety-degree slope, Dhancho was not farther than one kilometer from the last shop at Dunali. Gopal and I were ahead of Ashu bhai and Shankar, and as we were hungry, we stepped into one of the many Langars and ate some poori-channa. 

Soon we entered the second Langar and then we ate something else. Eating heavily is not advised, so we took small meals only and tea. Dhancho had a temporary settlement of the Langar Bhavans and other shops, but had permanent toilets. I spotted more than fifteen langar bhavans at Dhancho itself, as I remember.

A talk with the supervisor of Sulabh International 

While we rested and refreshed, Ashu bhai and Shankar started a discussion about the cleanliness of the place with a supervisor of the Sulabh International. The same NGO maintains the toilets and bathing facilities at various bus and railway stations throughout India. The supervisor told that they maintain the cleanliness every day till the end of the official yatra dates, i.e., 9th Sep 2016, for this year. 

Dhancho - a temporary market. Clicked from the steep mountain trek of Manimahesh lake, 2016

After that, the shopkeeper who leaves the place later does not carry the plastic and garbage with them, and that creates the problem. Soon, the snowfall occurs, and all the debris remains here itself. 

It was a real problem, and the government should keep an eye on this. From Dhancho, one can take the usual trek or a steeper one along the Bander-ghati. These two meet again after about two kilometers of climbing, near the Shiv-Gharats. 

From Dhancho to Sunderasi and Gauri Kund 

Dhancho Khad (stream) has to be crossed a few times after variable stretches along the trek. Crossings are mostly small temporary bridges, and police help in crossing them if its susceptible to danger.

 

The pilgrims are trying to find the footsteps along the Manimahesh trek, 2016.

Langars would also be available at Sunderasi and Gauri Kund, and would be available at the lake itself. Drizzling had started when we reached the Gauri-kund, and there we waited for Ashu Bhai and Shankar, who had taken another steep path along the Bhairo-ghati. 

At Gauri-Kund

The path for the Bhairo-ghati diverges from the main path after Sunderasi, and the two meet again at Gauri Kund. It looks like a shortcut, but it can be very tiresome due to the steepness and narrowness. Gauri-Kund is the place where ladies take the holy bath. Kailash Peak becomes visible from Gauri Kund. 

The Dhancho Khad looks in its infancy here. Another narrow diversion takes to the Kamal Kund, which lies at the base of the Kailash mountain. And another one-kilometer hike along the main trek takes us to the holy lake of Manimahesh.   

Camping at Manimahesh Lake - Once in a Lifetime Experience

After climbing the last stretch of the trek, we were welcomed by a gate on the northern side of the lake. Lake was surrounded by the temporary shops and pilgrims. On the opposite side of the lake, several tents of different colors were erected. 

 

Tents at the Manimahesh lake, 2016

It was a dream to sleep around the lake in one of those tents. Therefore, the first thing we did was to book a tent. After we inquired, the shopkeeper looked out of his head and pointed his finger towards three blue tents. He asked to choose any of them. The price was about 500 rupees per tent, in which we all four would accommodate comfortably.

Below the tents were the shops, which completed the circle of the shops around the lake. Between the shops and lakes, there was a two to three meters wide stone paved path, along which pilgrims were circling the lake. It was raining, yet few people were inside the lake, pouring buckets of holy water on their bodies.

We walked a half circle, and then we reached the tent and threw our bags inside it. In front of us was a cloudy sky, with nothing much visible other than the lake itself. Soon, Ashu bhai and Shankar joined us. Shankar had dared to take the bath in the lake, as he was hungry and wouldn't eat anything until he took the holy bath. 

Evening at Manimahesh lake, August 2016 - clicked by me. 

It is a pilgrimage of a difficult kind, as walking up this steep trek without anything in the stomach is not the job of the weak. Soon they went to eat something at the Langar while we stayed in the tents. Now and then, we would hear the chants of "Bham Bham Bhole" or "Har Har Har Mahadev," which did materialize the epic drama scenes from many TV serials. 

In those scenes, generally the Shiva-gan or the Indra-gan are shown coming to Kailash Parvat, where Shiva would be sitting in the meditation pose. These ganas would be either in pain or in need of protection from some kind of demon. 

Today was the time to see this scene in reality. Manimahesh Kailash Parvat was in front, and Ganas were standing near the lake, some praying for blessings, some chanting while walking, and some while bathing. 

The difference between the reel and the real scene is that Shiva is shown in human flesh in the TV serials, while not here. Yet it seemed as if he was there, everywhere, in every soil grain, cloud, or water particle. We could feel the aura. Later, while we all were seated with a local who called himself a Gaddi, basically from the Bharmour region, the air was still heavy, and those clouds had not left the peaks of the Kailash Parvat.

Our ears got punched by louder chants of 'Har Har Har Mahadev' or 'Bham Bham Bhole.' Without the delay of a single second, we stretched our heads out of the tent and saw that, miraculously, a beam of sunlight had touched the feet of the Kailash Parbat. It was exactly 6:42 PM, and soon the rays would disappear. 

Miraculous beam of Sunlight on the feet of Manimahesh, Chamba 2016.

I have seen the sun-rays falling on the Dhauladhar range after a cloudy or rainy day,visible from my home, but it looked different and divine. Sun-rays can not look more beautiful and divine at any other place than at the feet of the Kailash mountain. 

Slowly, rays ascended up the mount and touched the "Aum" symbol formed at the heart of the mount and then disappeared. Thankfully, I was able to get a selfie and become a part of this divine scene at the Manimahesh Kailash. 

That night, we talked about Shiva, shouted Shiva, chanted Shiva, and sang Shiva. There were other small gatherings that sang the devotional songs at night in the Chambyali, Kangri, and Mandyali regions. We slept inside the camp at midnight with five blankets and two sleeping bags. It might have rained at night, but we were safe and sound asleep.

Holy bath in the morning at Manimahesh Lake

Morning was cloudy, but energetic with the Shiv bhagats' chanting and roaring around the lake. Manimahesh Kailash was hidden behind the clouds. I couldn't dare to take the bath without the warmth of the Sun; moreover, it was drizzling.

We waited, and finally, at around 11am, the sun showed its shine. Till then, it hid behind the clouds along its path from the Manimahesh peak to the zenith. After packing the blankets and our bags, we rushed towards the lake. 

One by one, we took the bath. It was cold, and after taking two complete dips inside the lake, I was out of the lake. Shankar took a dip, and Ashu bhai managed with the bucket. I didn't notice Govinda, but he might have done the same. 

Holy bath at Manimahesh lake, August 2016

Anyway, I felt a rush of heat after coming out of the lake water. It happens that we don't feel colder after dipping in water which is already colder than the surrounding air. Soon, we were packed inside the clothes again. It was time to say goodbye to Kailasha Parvat. 

Way back down the Manimahesh Trek

I left with a heart deeply content and filled with new energy.

Roaring water of Dhancho Khad, Manimahesh trek 2016.

We covered the fifteen kilometers descent in less than four hours, including a few minutes' rests and lunch at one of the langars.

from left - Ashu bhai, Shankar, me, shopkeeper, and Govida - Inside a shop on Manimahesh trek, 2016

Thanks!!

Shri Manimahesh Kailash Yatra 2016 || part -3. Bharmour to Hadsar and Dhancho

Hi,

In the last two parts of my personal story of Shri Manimahesh Kailash yatra, that I understook in 2016, I covered the story of night halt at Chamba Jot and then the holy bath at the Bharmani Devi temple of Bharmour. 

Being young and full of energy, four of us decided to climb at-least half of the Manimahesh trek on the very next day after spending the night at the Chamba Jot. The plan was to first do a mandatory Bharmani Devi temple trek, and no even this one was not easy, but even that knowledgedidn't tire our plan to cover half of the Manimahesh trek on the same day. The Bharmani Devi trek has already been covered in the last post. Now I will narrate the story forward from there.. 

Back from Bharmani Devi temple to Bharmour

The last statement was testified when I saw Shankar walking down the Bharmani trek like a tyre of a bicycle. This path was paved and different from the one that we took while climbing. It was the common path, and therefore we could see more people climbing and descending in a number which we can see on a noon in the market street of Hamirpur town on monday or Tuesday.

 Along the trek to Bharmour from Bharmani Devi, Chamba, Manimahesh yatra 2016.

Soon we crossed two villages, and frequently saw small children with baskets of apples on either side of the path. Some offered "Dus ke teen"(three apples for INR 10)  and some "Dus ke chaar"(four apples for INR 10). Though apples were not ripened, still it was a big bargain for people who come from plains, because they will get four apples for about INR 100 at plains.

When we crossed these wooden, stone and concrete houses, our path ended near to the helipad, from where the helicopters take off to the helipad at the Parvati Kund, which is about 1 kilometer down from Manimahesh lake. This year price of the flight was near to INR 2000/- while last year in 2015 it was higher than INR 2500/-.

Chaurasi Temple of Bharmour

Just few meters below the helipad is the complex of the Chaurasi temples of Bharmour. We entered through a concrete gate and witnessed a huge gathering. It looked like small fair, and soon we would read a banner with "Jatar Mela 2016."  Someone was selling the ornaments while other offered the tattoo service. Some people were lined up behind the gate of the main temple at the center while others were seated at its back, watching a traditional dance of Chamba.

Jatar Mela 2016, Chaurasi Temple, Bharmour, Chamba

Behind the dancers were the musicians playing their traditional instruments so rhythmically and smoothly such that no Hard Rock Cafe or a MTV musician could match the calmness and purity of the aura that was created there. Though the dancers were not dressed in the traditional dresses, which indicated that they were not the professionals, but still their steps matched with each other.

Instead of lining up behind that big line in front of the main temple, we sat at the back of the temple, and watched this live dancing and music show. Sun was about to hide behind the mountain ridge, and we could have sit there, and watched the dance for whole of the evening, but then we could get another day behind from reaching the Manimahesh lake.

Chaurasi Temple, Jatar Mela 2016, Chamba, Manimahesh yatra 2016.

 We walked one kilometer back to the car, and then ran towards Hadsar. Hadsar is at a distance of 12 kilometers from Bharmour and along this lengthy stretch we could see the vehicles parked on the available corners along both sides of the road. Ravi flows parallely only few hundred meters down the road.

Some advised us not to go to Hadsar, else we would not find the parking space, but they didn't know our plan to climb the half trek on the same night.

Hadsar to Dhancho and the Night stay.

We reached Hadsar when it got completely dark. Parking space was available only after we went about one kilometer further from the main gate of the trek, for which we crossed two steel bridges, one on a rivulet called 'Dhancho Khad' whose origin is the Manimahesh lake itself, and the last one on the river Ravi itself. We took our bags, filled with nothing but few warm clothes, and with the torch in the hand, we walked back towards the main gate.

We ate the food at the langar service near to the main gate, and then walked towards the gate. We already had seen a number of young and beautiful lady police that day, and yet another one asked us to drop our bags for checking at the main gate. It was the drugs and alcohol that they were checking for. On the wall of the gate was pasted a notice with picture of a person from Bihar who had got lost somewhere along the Kugti pass four days earlier.

Crossing the Kugti pass is work of at least four to five days, and should not be risked alone by newbies. It connects Chamba with the Lahaul Spiti region of the Himachal Pradesh which is on the other side of the Pir Panjal range. It can be foolishness to go on this trek without experience. Four of us were enough experienced to tackle the steepness of the Manimahesh trek.

When we reached Dunali at three to four kilometers along the Manimahesh trek, we started asking for the sleeping facility. It already was midnight, but we were not afraid as we were sure to find the space for the night stay at Dhancho. Thankfully just at the end of the Dunali, while other shops had closed, we found a shop open which offered the space for INR 100. We were tired and as per the watch time, another date had started. We slept there with no conscience at all.

Note: No photos could be clicked, because it was already dark when we reached Hadsar and Dunali. But few were clicked while coming back, which I shall share in the part 4 of this Manimahesh Yatra 2016.

Thanks!

Manimahesh Kailash Yatra 2016 | part-2. Chamba Jot to Bharmani Devi temple

Hii again!

In the part 1 of the story of our Manimahesh Yatra 2016, we had reached at the Jot, where we slept at night. In the morning we clicked some photographs of the ridge, and the surrounding peaks at Chamba Jot. Sky was still dark with the clouds. At 8:00 AM, the tea shop was open, and even a green vegetable shop was open too. But, as we had not even brushed our teeth, so decided to first reach for a spot where we could refresh ourselves. 

Jot to Bharmour

Ashu bhai sat on the driver's seat and soon the car started running down the Jot towards Chamba. I picked up my Guitar and together we sang few of the Ashok Kumar's songs, such as 'O Mere Dil Ke Chain, chain aaye mere dil ko dua kijiye.' 

Road from Jot to Chamba mostly has a descending gradient, and steep curves. Still we enjoyed the road because of the beautiful mountains and the terraced green fields, on which corn plants were still standing. Deodar trees could easily be spotted on the slopes, though they were not clustered together to make the dense forests like those along Rajgundha to Bir-Biling trek or along the trek to Shringa Rishi temple and Chehni Kothi in Banjar. 

There was a rivulet that followed us tediously and finally would merge with Ravi in Chamba. We crossed the Ravi at Chamba at around 9:45 AM, and then the road ran parallel with Ravi up till Bharmour. 

The reservoirs' water of the Chamera stage I and Chamera stage II almost touched the road. I couldn't understand why these river projects were named in reverse order. The project at the downstream is given stage I, while at the higher stages its III and II. 

Generally stage projects with the same name are numbered as stage I, II and III, starting from the upstream. Such as the river projects Uhl stage I, II and III on river Uhl are numbered with stage I at the higher elevation of the river. The river water was silty, and roaring.  

Bharmour to Bharmani Devi temple

After reaching Bharmour, first task was to find the parking for the car, as the road up to the Bharmani Devi temple was slippery and police on duty suggested not to take car up there.
It is said that without taking the bath in the cold water at the Bharmari Devi temple the Manimahesh yatra remains incomplete. Due to the surge of the pilgrims in a large number, we couldn't find the place to park the car in one kilometer of the stretch along the road earlier to the Bharmour market. Then we first reached the market along the road, and then we started ascending uphill towards Bharmani Devi temple. 

Instead of taking the motor-able road which would be more than 5 kilometers of length, we took a left diversion along a steep path. We witnessed the apple trees loaded with the green and reddish apple fruits, though not completely ripe. They followed us along half of the trek.  When the apple orchards line finished, we spotted the motorable road on the upper reaches of the mountain face. We climbed the terraced uncultivated fields and spotted a woman near to a fresh water pipe. 

First obvious question we asked her was about the remaining distance up to Bharmani devi, which she told to be only about 1.5 kilometers. I and Ashu started to talk in Mandyali(local language of district Mandi), because its not much different from the Chambyali (local language of Chamba district). Along with her a very old woman and two others of mid fourtees joined us in the chit chat.

With Bharmani Devis of Bharmour, Manimahesh Yatra 2016

We sat on one of those grassy fields and within half an hour we were comfortable enough to sing the "Kunju and Chanchlo" - a very famous Chambyali song. We wanted to listen it from them, because lyrically we were weak, but they only helped us with the lyrics. 
It was a wonderful experience to have introduction with them, and being elders they advised us to remain away from drugs and alcohol. It is very common to spot the people coming from outside with smoke and drugs. They knew it very well. They offered one apple for each four of us, and if help was necessary invited us to their home. We felt as if we met the real Bharmani Devi. We touched their feet and started along the remaining trek. 

Last part of the trek is very steep, but we reached Bharmani Devi temple at around 3:00 PM. It was a small place with a large gathering of the pilgrims. Located on the grassy meadow at the base of the mountain peaks covered with the Deodar trees, it carried a spiritual aura. The other mountain peaks on that side of the river Ravi looked of higher elevations. 

Pilgrims ready to take the dip into the bath at Bharmani Devi Temple, Bharmour, Chamba, Manimahesh Yatra 2016

Though with limited space but separate bathing facilities were provided to the ladies. A pond of about 4 m * 2m* 1.5 m size looked small for the number of the gents crowded there. One by one we took dips into that ice cold water and then we tailed along a long line to take the blessings of the Bharmani Devi. 

It was a stone carved sculpture of Bharmani Devi put under the open sky, that people were lined up to touch. It took about half an hour for our turn. As nothing had entered our stomachs except the small apple that the women had offered us in the afternoon, we went to the Langar. It was organised by the Devbhumi Langar committee Samela, Hamirpur. Ashu's father was with this committee and soon we met him. 

Ashu with his Father and Govida, Bharmani Devi, Bharmour, Chamba, Manimahesh Yatra 2016

The meal was the average chawal, dal and curry, but we knew that  the efforts to organise such free food service for the pilgrims at such heights would be extra-ordinary. Along with his father, there were about five other persons who were involved in this Langar. There were 4-5 other Langars from different places with different dishes. At around 4:15 PM, we left Bharmani Devi and descended back to Bharmour. Plan was to reach Hadsar in car and then reach Dhancho on our feet.

to be contd in part 3... 

Manimahesh Kailash Story 2016 || part-1- Reaching Chamba Jot

Hi,

A cloudy morning at Chamba Jot, August 2016.

If you have been following my posts regularly, it might seem like a long time since my last I wrote post about my trekking/hiking experience. In the last post, I introduced a hidden trek -  trek from Maigal to Murah Mata temple, hidden within the lower Himalayan ranges of Himachal Pradesh.

Almost five months after I went on that Maigal to Murah Devi temple trek,  I finally went on to another. The latest one is definitely a very famous trek already, and I am sure you have heard about it - The Manimahesh Kailash trek in Chamba Bharmour. Yeaaaaaa! Personally, for me, this has been a very important trekking experience.  

Quick info about Manimahesh 

Kailash yatras to the five Kailash of lord Shiva are among the most famous pilgrimages, which are taken by the most daring and faithful people, mostly Hindus. Manimahesh lake, located at the base of the Manimahesh Kailash peak, is at an elevation of about 4115 m above mean sea level, while the peak itself is at 5775 m.

As per the locals and my overall knowledge, nobody has reached this peak due to the difficulty involved in climbing. It is said that this Kailash was discovered by the Gaddis, the shepherd tribe that is found mostly in the Chamba and Kangra region. The Peak remains covered with white ice for the whole of the year, and therefore, the yatra up to the lake is feasible in July and August each year. 

Though the trek gets open earlier for trekking, the official yatra dates are chosen on a religious as well as weather basis. This year it started on Janmashtmi(25 Aug) and is yet to end on the Radha Ashtmi(9th September). 

The advantages of following these dates: first is linked with the religious beliefs of maximum blessings from the lord, and second is the free food and accommodation facilities.

With the help of Khachar(mule), various rich people and committees, mostly from Himachal and Punjab, take all the necessary items for cooking and night stay to the different locations of this 15-kilometer-long trek. 

This facility is called 'Langar.'  Therefore, Langars are available at almost every 2 kilometers of a stretch along the trek. Others who don't get the spot at these heights set up their Langars along the road up to Hadsar. This way, Langars starts a long way back, from Nurpur or Chamba. 

Blessed with such facilities, a person doesn't need to spend a single penny to take the blessings from lord Shiva, all you need is, to reach Chamba and Hadsar and then the determination and strength to reach the Manimahesh lake. 

I even saw few physically handicapped people, with crippled legs or arms, but their hearts are stronger than gold. That is all you need. Few people ride on the mule's back, and few take the helicopter services, but that doesn't seem like a proper yatra to me. 

I think, if you really want the blessings and joy of the trek, then you should reach the lake on your own feet. I assure you that it will benefit you. 

Personal Story - Chamba Manimahesh Yatra 2016

It was twenty days earlier that I had left for my village. It rained for days and nights, and therefore, the plan got postponed. It was the trip to Manimahesh that Ghosh(Shankar Ghosh) and I had been planning for the past few weeks. The second obstacle was the final viva voce, which I would give as part of the completion of my master's at NIT Hamirpur, on August 26. 

On the evening of the 26th, a plan was made, and Ashu Bhai(as Shankar calls him ) might join us the next day. Ashu bhai would tell us that he already has the experience of trekking up to the Manimahesh lake. The second most important thing that he had was his Alto car, which would prove to be very comforting and necessary in the rainy season. 

Ashu Bhai, Shankar, and I are friends from our jobs at different times and locations. With few intermediary communication gaps in the last two or three years, this trip would be my only trip of its kind with all three of us. 

It was a pleasure to go together on such a blessed journey. Next day Govinda, a carpenter who worked at Ashu bhai's home, was seated in Ashu's car that approached the dedh gate(three gates of NIT Hamirpur are name as 1st gate(main gate), 1.5(dedh) gate and 2nd Gate)  in front of the Himgiri hostel at NIT Hamirpur. It had been about fifteen minutes since we stood there waiting for them. One Guitar and a sleeping bag were other things that I carried on this trip, though they were not absolute necessities.

Road Journey from Hamirpur to Jot at Chamba

Ashu bhai drove while Ghosh sat on the adjacent seat. The guitar was kept in the lap, while all other things were in the luggage box. Hamirpur to Jwala Mukhi temple was a quick ride, and was full of discussions about each other and the place we were going to visit. 

It was the first time for Govinda, so we showed him the gate to the Jwala Ji temple and told him the story of Akbar's gold umbrella. 

Mostly, stories are told to refresh our memories and learn more, so the bigger the number of people in a car, the better it is. Govinda shared his experience about Bol Bam Yatra(Kanvar yatra) that he had completed with a bare feet walk of 100 kilometers from Sultanganj in Bihar to Baidyanath temple at Deoghar in Jharkhand. 

The aim of this yatra is to fetch some holy Ganga water from Sultanganj and take it to the lord Shiva temple Baidyanath at Deogarh in Jharkhand. This was his main source of confidence, which showed itself while he tirelessly climbed the fifteen-kilometer Manimahesh trek. 

Shankar also had a few trekking experiences such as the Kheerganga, Kamrunaag, Bijli Mahadev, Sarahan(Bhima Kali), Sareolsar lake, and Murari Devi trek, etc. So he was confident, too. 

By the time we crossed Kangra and reached Shahpur, the sky had become overcast with darkness, and it was time to eat dinner in the dhaba. Shankar had switched to the driver's seat, and our next stop would be over the mountain ridge at Jot. It was already around midnight, so we thought to take a few hours' sleep in the car itself. 

Night at Chamba Jot

The road crosses the mountain ridge at Jot, leaving Kangra's plains and entering the more zig-zag and steep roads towards Chamba. At jot, it could be cold at night even in July and August. Our jackets and caps were of much help. On the right of the road, there was a two-storey concrete building that looked like a home, but the lights were already off. 

Another one was just a few meters down the ridge, but its lights were off too. Ground floors were shuttered, so not even a tea shop was open. While making the arrangements and turning the car to the right stable spot, we chatted loudly. The lights got on for a while, but again, everything went silent. 

Ashu bhai took the sleeping bags and spotted an empty carriage van, with an open roof, but under a rain shelter. He is the one with the longest legs and height among us, and it was not comfortable for him to sleep in the car in a single seat. The remaining three of us managed to close our eyes and get subconscious till the morning. 

Green Roof at Chamba Jot, Manimahesh Yatra August 2016

From right - Ashu Bhai, Govinda, Shankar and I.

A view of Kangra valley from Chamba Jot, Manimahesh Yatra, August 2016

to be continued in part 2......