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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.
Road travel, travelogue, Road trip
From Shimla one touches the places
- Jutogh - 9 kms
- Shallaghat 34 kms
- Darlaghat - 46 kms
- Chamkri Pul - 54 kms
- Bhararaighat 59 kms
- Namhol - 64 kms
- Bhrampukar - 73 kms
- Ghaggas Pul 88kms
From Shimla one can see the panoramic views of the pine trees all around till Tutu. As the road descends the vegetation changes from pine and cedar to chir forests and somewhat of a tropical greenery. The Sutlej flowing swiftly and the jacarands catches our eyes till the NH21 from Ropar which goes all the way to Leh.
The road is narrow and truck traffic is obvious. on either sides there are numerous dhabas with food but blind turns and hair pins ought to make the driver very cautious. HPTC has a hotel at Darlaghat. It is also good. From Ghaggas Pul 88 kms the road to Pandoh is through
- Barmana ie at 102 kms,
- Slapper at 105 kms,
- Sundernagar 121 kms,
- Ner Chowk 130 kms,
- Mandi at 146kms and Finally
- Pandoh at 165 kms
The Sutlej has a beautiful bridge at Slappar. At Barmana by the time we reach the cement factory its hot and the truck traffic increases. At Ner Chowk comes the diversion to Rewalsar lake 12 kms away. From Mandi the National Highway 20 takes off to Dharamshala 126 kms from here. and Pathankot 216 kms from here.
At Mandi the confluence of the rivers Suketi and Beas take place. The dam at Pandoh runs along side. Its a beautiful place. Now the route form Pandoh to Manali is
- Aut - 186kms
- Bajaura - 200kms
- Bhuntar - 205
- Kullu - 215kms
- Raison - 228 kms
- Katrian - 234kms
- Patlikuhl - 236kms
- & Manali - 260 kms
On the side of a massive gorge, the road gradually heads into higher altitudes with the Beas on the right side. We had halted at a few places to click a few pics and the beauty is picturesque. The Aut tunner nearly 3 kms long is truly breath taking.
After crossing Kullu the traffic flow is thick. One can avoid this jam by taking an alternate route - turn right over the bridge at Patlikuhl and approach the town from the left bank.
