August 2009

Travelogue - Delhi - Manali - Road trip & Road map.

A long weekend and it was time for a hillstation tour as the heat and humidity in Delhi was unbearable this August 2009. As to all hillstations nearby were ventured many a time we had to check out a new place, yes this time it was Manali. Club Mahindra gave us the facility for a 3 day halt at Club Mahindra Snow Peaks with the necessary guidance.

HimachalPradesh, the state with a lot to explore. Lakes, rivers, forests, valleys and towering mountains, all abound here. The state has thoroughly been blessed by nature. And it has all the means to satisfy a tourist's wandering soul. Be it adventure sports, bird watching or just admiring nature's bounty. You'll find it all here in Himachal Pradesh.

Kangra Valley is between the Dhauladhar range and the Shiwalik foothills. It spreads from the northwest near Mandi to Jassur. The valley is famous for the Kangra School of Miniature Paintings. Kangra Valley is also said to have the second highest rainfall in India.

It has important temples like Jwalamukhi, Baijnath, Brijeshwari Devi, Chamunda Devi to name a few. There are vast tea gardens here especially around Palampur. Sericulture Is also an important agro industry here. Summers are mild but winters the temperature dips below freezing points.

Fishing in the Kangra Valley (Adventure Sports)

Kangra Valley has abundant water resources and is suited for the sport of angling. There are many streams, reservoirs which allow sport enthusiasts to indulge in sporting activities year round. The fish varities found here are trout, mahsheer, carp, silver carp, singhara etc. Mahseer and trout and especially favoured here.

Suitable waters for Mahsheer are spread throughout the valley. It also extends to the lower regions of the Shivalik range bordering plains of the Punjab. On the lake of the Maharana Pratap Sagar dam spread over 91 sq. miles a single catch of 3-15 kg is just normal. Dada Siba on the left bank and Daweta and Khadiad on the right bank are good places to start one's excursion. Boats can be hired for deep waters.

Amongst the river and streams Baner Khand below Ranital the confluence of Baner and Bathu khands near Ranital, Pun Khad near Paprola, Chamba Patan upstream from dehra Gopipur Baleth (5 kms from Sujanpur) and the stretch below Nadaun (all on the Beas) and Sari Molag, 60 kms downstream of Lambagraon are known for good catches.

Closed period for Mahsheer is from 16th June to 15th August and for trout from November to 29th Feb. While for Mahseer angling all kinds of baits (live and artificial) are permitted, only spinners and fly artificial baits are allowed for trout. Licences for fishing sport has to be taken.