I started my professional journey at a rather remote place, Keylong, a tiny town in the high altituted Western Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh province of India. I used to work on a project to conserve endangered medicinal plant species and culture in that tribal area. No doubt I visited numerous villages around and have an attachment for the place.
I recently viisted it after a gap of about 10 years and the place still is the same unlike many other places in the world where things have physically changed. The bazaar of Keylong boasts of some 20-30 shops selling day to day needs. The hotel Tashi Deleg belongs to a local gentleman Mr Tashi, who happens to be a good friend. Its a good option to stay if you want to stay close to human habitation as the HPTDC hotel Chandrabhaga is a little away from this town.
I reached the place within a fortnight of the Rohtang Pass opening and could get some amazing shots of the Rohtang Top. Being at Rohtang is always an excitement when you are in this area. Rohtang decides if you can cross it or not as you never know when it will snow and it will get closed. You can also get stuck on the pass if there is heavy rain or snow and then you will have an experience of a lifetime there - I have had one...but thats for another blog entry I guess.
Right now I just want to show you the video I captured with snow on the top.
Also I took the Himachal roadways bus while going and some pics of the bus on its way and at the Pass. Here you go:
The buses parked at Kothi (as they start the drive up towards Rohtang from Manali)(above)
Just after the pas opens the space available on the road is just enough for the bus to sneak through...which sometimes lead to jams especially on the top if their is traffic from the opposite side. Cops do try to manage it but it could take hours especially due to the tourist traffic. (Above the bus stuck in a micro jam at the top)
After you cross the pass, all buses stop at Khokhsar the first habitation on the other side of the pass and a police check post. Above the bus at Khokhsar.
I recently viisted it after a gap of about 10 years and the place still is the same unlike many other places in the world where things have physically changed. The bazaar of Keylong boasts of some 20-30 shops selling day to day needs. The hotel Tashi Deleg belongs to a local gentleman Mr Tashi, who happens to be a good friend. Its a good option to stay if you want to stay close to human habitation as the HPTDC hotel Chandrabhaga is a little away from this town.
I reached the place within a fortnight of the Rohtang Pass opening and could get some amazing shots of the Rohtang Top. Being at Rohtang is always an excitement when you are in this area. Rohtang decides if you can cross it or not as you never know when it will snow and it will get closed. You can also get stuck on the pass if there is heavy rain or snow and then you will have an experience of a lifetime there - I have had one...but thats for another blog entry I guess.
Right now I just want to show you the video I captured with snow on the top.
Also I took the Himachal roadways bus while going and some pics of the bus on its way and at the Pass. Here you go:
The buses parked at Kothi (as they start the drive up towards Rohtang from Manali)(above)
Just after the pas opens the space available on the road is just enough for the bus to sneak through...which sometimes lead to jams especially on the top if their is traffic from the opposite side. Cops do try to manage it but it could take hours especially due to the tourist traffic. (Above the bus stuck in a micro jam at the top)
After you cross the pass, all buses stop at Khokhsar the first habitation on the other side of the pass and a police check post. Above the bus at Khokhsar.
