My Humble Escapade To The Mountains - Jammu to Keylong

by Raghavendira B M (India)

A leap into the unknown India

Our travel plan was simple- To have a short trip from Jammu to Keylong, a village hidden in the Himalayan mountains. Hitching ourselves onto a tattered bus, we headed towards Manali, the land dotted with shrines and forests. The overnight journey was a breeze. An early morning tea break was announced by the driver when we were just an hour from the city center. He parked at a roadside cafe akin to a shepherd's shelter. Yet, that was an opportunity to admire the magnificent valleys and gorges that embraced the mountains. After a ten-minute photoshoot opportunity and a sip of ginger-infused tea soothing our body and mind, we boarded the bus again to reach the bus depot. A quick ride in the tuk-tuk which was seemingly plentiful in the depot, we reached the hotel that we booked for the stay. We were quick to fresh up and started on foot to explore the locality. Old buildings in pristine condition adorned the old marketplace. The marketplace was awash with a multitude of goods made by the local tribal groups. The Museum of Himachal Culture & Folk Art located at the heart of the city gave us an insight into the history and culture of the region. A satisfying lunch at a local Dhaba serving red rice which is a local delicacy gave us the strength to navigate through the intricate maze of a place the market area was and we finally made it to the Hidimba Devi Temple. Built by Maharaja Bahadur Singh in the 1553 AD dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, the wife of Bhima, the temple stands as a testimony of time. We then disembarked to scout for a vehicle rental to hire bikes for the onward journey. We were careful about our choice and hence took some time and effort to zero in on the deal. We then had a plentiful dinner and rode back to our stay before dusk. With a delightful breakfast early in the morning, we set off towards the mountains. We knew that the actual journey had just started. Our bikes brimmed with fuel, we set course towards Rohtang Pass. The scenic route crisscrossed with beautiful formations at every viewpoint, it was imperative that the beauty ought to be embraced. The green pass issuing authorities were kind enough to let us cut the queue and we thus slid past with relative ease. We reached the Rohtang Pass. Situated at an elevation of 3978 Metres, was a wonderful sight to behold. Dark clouds carefully caressed the white snow that was scattered all across the majestic peaks. With a heavy heart, we pressed onwards to reach our final destination, Keylong. But the escapade took a downturn with the roads getting worse and our bikes nearly uncontrollable, we managed to cover a mear 20 km in the next 3 hours. But we were worried about it was late afternoon by then and we still had half of the distance to cover. We were unsure about the path that lied ahead for if the same state continues, we were sure of one thing – we would be driving in pitch black darkness as past 6, the sun would set. But thank the lords! The path opened up to a pristine, freshly laid tarmac and we were overjoyed at an instant. With the last of light just setting across the horizon we reached the village of Keylong. Our overnight stay was at the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Guesthouses which were old renovated mansions. The feel of the 20th Century wooden flooring and the thick carpeting, though soothing to the body, gave an unsettling tone in the night which instilled fear in my heart. The bygone fears began to haunt me again as I rushed to bed as soon as I finished supper. We woke up to the early mooring sky. Blue as a freshly polished sapphire the sky glistened to the morning sun. The unpolluted sky seemed so mythical. The snow-peaked mountains shined in the unadulterated sunlight. It was a visual treat overall. With the final cup of chai pegging the end of the forward journey, we settled down to admire nature’s everlasting beauty that stretched into the abyss.