My Journey from Chandigarh to Palampur ..
I was long planning out a trip to the Kangra Valley in the Western part of Himachal Pradesh. I planned to visit the region just before it gets covered under the snow cap, So choice was definitely end of Nov'....
The Drive Uphill to the Nainadevi Temple peak Base from Una City
Took the direct flight from Mumbai- Chandigarh & halted a night at Chandigarh City. Since prior , we had been around Chandigarh , So preferred to rest the night..... We stayed at Hotel Icon ,at sector 8( just next to sector 17,Chandigarh)....
Since we hired an Indigo car for 2 of us earlier, so after a hearty breakfast next morning,we were on the road by 8:40am.After MOHALI came ROPAR,which is 28kms drive ...& Kiratpur is 20kmsfrom Ropar. Roads r pretty good to drive but have to shell out good bucks for the tolls all the way thru'...Since we avail the army facility we need not pay any toll thru'..... After KIRATPUR- UNA city is 40kms drive.... Though , didn't had prior plans to visit Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara at Hosiarpur ( just before Una) ...but then changed our mind ,for a visit to this Shrine.
Next we were to drive thru' straightto Una City & Nangal thereafter , But our driver insisted us to visit the NAINADEVI SHRINE at UNA CITY....We drove upward thru' high hill roads to the base ofNainadevi peak .( NAINA DEVI SHRINE IS ONE AMONGST THE 51 DURGAMATA PITHS)..... Seeing the steps climb , I thought to give off the idea to climb to the main temple . Soon our driver told me about the ropeway facility available here though at a cost ...But , I don't mind to shell out 110 Rs/- each for the ropeway as the temple is quite at a height... It was quite chilled at the base of the Ropeway But we were more enthusiatic to capture the Govindsagar lake view from this height as the lights were proper for a good photo opt. After the climb on ropeway, there's a long line of shops selling the Puja items&prasads for devotees to the shrine. We soon came across steps ---- OMG!!!! still steps,was the thought in my mind .... My husband ,was busy capturing pic's of Govindsagar lake from different angles , just to forgo the thoughts that we r crossing over 200 steps( pretty big size steps)....No camera, bags R allowed inside the temple premise...... So, my husband sat on the steps to take care of our expensive cameras & other belonging...It was 11:20 am when I stood in the waiting line inside the temple & the line hardly moved forward ..............After almost an hour wait ,I was really losing patience to enter the main garbagraha....There were several lines formed( couldn't understand,how some people bypassed me ).... At last a darshan of Mata' ( only a second in front of her) & than again a downward climb upto the Ropeway site....Now found that the ropeway service is closed upto 2pm for lunch hour ...Was feeling crazy , & we need to visit Jwalamukhi Temple too on the way & since winter, It'll become dark soon ...After we came down to the base of Naina Devi peak , we wanted to see the Bhakra Dam site too ....
By the time we reached Bhakra Dam site ,it was 3pm....Never thought ,to see the dam reserviour, gates from so-o close; Since we took the route hardly frequented by tourists ,we got to capture some great photos.....Soon , my husband gave the idea to the driver ,not to go to NANGAL instead take on the THANAKALAN---BANGANA-NANDAUN---JWALAMUKHI route....
From BHAKRA DAM to THANAKALAN , one need to drive thru' ,over the gates of BhakraDam & enter a tunnel before crossing over to the other side of the GovindSagar lake....But, for that , there's a tough checking of the persons,belongings,& the vehicle before crossing over the gates of Bhakradam.... We didn't mind it ,as its once in a lifetime experience to drive across the gates of BhakraDam....But was bit sceptic to enter the tunnel ,as we were not sure of beingthru' correct route................ But, took a chance & off we go;
Thanakalan to Jwalamukhi temple is 50kms drive... It was almost 5:15pm when we stopped at the gate of Jwalaji; Its a long straight uphill climb...but we couldn't feel the pain of the long walk as our eyes were on the various stalls all along;There's lot of monkeys waiting to pounch on the devotees prasad's...We were in the hurry for the darshan ... Long heard to this Shrine & today we r here , The feeling was too strong as we entered the main scantum; The flame of Jwalaji is glowing for years & our soul bowed before HER strength as we stood in her praise. After that did a bit shopping of Red Chunri & photos of Mata & the famous Gatiya lasun ( Ayurvedic medicine for joint pains), before stating off for PALAMPUR.
It was almost 7pm & we found ourself lucky to finish off our darshan at Jwalamukhi temple by 7pm as its gates closes after that for an Hour+; Now We started off our drive across the hill mountains....Couldn't make out the places & its surroundings in the Dark ..except the name our the places ie. KANGRA TOWN, BATOR, NAOGRATA & then came PALAMPUR . It was around 8:30pm ,when we arrived at the Hotel at Palampur . It was quite chilling & we were eager to checkin at Hotel Vishal Residency ,which got a beautiful view of the Dhauladhar Range .But we need to wait for the day break to enjoy its beauty & now its a hot bowl of Soup & Biriyani to go off to sleep with lots of woolen wearson...
ROUTE: CHANDIGARH-MOHALI-ROPAR-KIRATPUR-UNA-BHAKRA DAM-THANAKALAN-_NANDAUN-JWALAMUKHI-KANGRA-BATOR-NAOGRATA-PALAMPUR.
Main Attraction of the region: Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara,NainaDevi shrine,BhakraDam,Jwalamukhi temple shrine...
I was long planning out a trip to the Kangra Valley in the Western part of Himachal Pradesh. I planned to visit the region just before it gets covered under the snow cap, So choice was definitely end of Nov'....
The Drive Uphill to the Nainadevi Temple peak Base from Una City |
| The View of the Una City from top of the Nainadevi temple peak. |
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| The View of Govindsagar Lake from Nainadevi temple Shrine. |
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| Nainadevi Shrine enterance. |
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| Govindsagar Lake view. |
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| Bhakra Dam lock gates. |
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| Sutlej river view from top of the Bhakra Dam gates. |
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| Anandapur sahib Gurudwara , Hosiapur. |
Next we were to drive thru' straightto Una City & Nangal thereafter , But our driver insisted us to visit the NAINADEVI SHRINE at UNA CITY....We drove upward thru' high hill roads to the base ofNainadevi peak .( NAINA DEVI SHRINE IS ONE AMONGST THE 51 DURGAMATA PITHS)..... Seeing the steps climb , I thought to give off the idea to climb to the main temple . Soon our driver told me about the ropeway facility available here though at a cost ...But , I don't mind to shell out 110 Rs/- each for the ropeway as the temple is quite at a height... It was quite chilled at the base of the Ropeway But we were more enthusiatic to capture the Govindsagar lake view from this height as the lights were proper for a good photo opt. After the climb on ropeway, there's a long line of shops selling the Puja items&prasads for devotees to the shrine. We soon came across steps ---- OMG!!!! still steps,was the thought in my mind .... My husband ,was busy capturing pic's of Govindsagar lake from different angles , just to forgo the thoughts that we r crossing over 200 steps( pretty big size steps)....No camera, bags R allowed inside the temple premise...... So, my husband sat on the steps to take care of our expensive cameras & other belonging...It was 11:20 am when I stood in the waiting line inside the temple & the line hardly moved forward ..............After almost an hour wait ,I was really losing patience to enter the main garbagraha....There were several lines formed( couldn't understand,how some people bypassed me ).... At last a darshan of Mata' ( only a second in front of her) & than again a downward climb upto the Ropeway site....Now found that the ropeway service is closed upto 2pm for lunch hour ...Was feeling crazy , & we need to visit Jwalamukhi Temple too on the way & since winter, It'll become dark soon ...After we came down to the base of Naina Devi peak , we wanted to see the Bhakra Dam site too ....
By the time we reached Bhakra Dam site ,it was 3pm....Never thought ,to see the dam reserviour, gates from so-o close; Since we took the route hardly frequented by tourists ,we got to capture some great photos.....Soon , my husband gave the idea to the driver ,not to go to NANGAL instead take on the THANAKALAN---BANGANA-NANDAUN---JWALAMUKHI route....
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| Myself , at Bhakra Dam. |
Thanakalan to Jwalamukhi temple is 50kms drive... It was almost 5:15pm when we stopped at the gate of Jwalaji; Its a long straight uphill climb...but we couldn't feel the pain of the long walk as our eyes were on the various stalls all along;There's lot of monkeys waiting to pounch on the devotees prasad's...We were in the hurry for the darshan ... Long heard to this Shrine & today we r here , The feeling was too strong as we entered the main scantum; The flame of Jwalaji is glowing for years & our soul bowed before HER strength as we stood in her praise. After that did a bit shopping of Red Chunri & photos of Mata & the famous Gatiya lasun ( Ayurvedic medicine for joint pains), before stating off for PALAMPUR.
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| The mighty Dhauladhar Range view from our hotel balcony.. |
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| The serene town of Palampur. |
ROUTE: CHANDIGARH-MOHALI-ROPAR-KIRATPUR-UNA-BHAKRA DAM-THANAKALAN-_NANDAUN-JWALAMUKHI-KANGRA-BATOR-NAOGRATA-PALAMPUR.
Main Attraction of the region: Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara,NainaDevi shrine,BhakraDam,Jwalamukhi temple shrine...
Nice images. In India, there are several tourists destinations such as manali, shimla, dharamshala and many more to explore. Himachal Pradesh in north India is one of them. Himachal is a wonderful place known for its natural and breathtaking views.Himachal Tourism is the best place for tourism in India."
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