Travel is one of the most exciting ways to experience a new place, learn about its culture, and meet new people. One of the best ways to learn about a country is by exploring its roads, from the paved highways to the backcountry dirt tracks. Roads offer a unique opportunity to learn about a country’s history, architecture, and culture, and what is better than Himachal?

Anmol Katare is a 29-year-old Data Science professional living in Gwalior, who loves the thrilling adventures of road trips. The next on his list is the enthralling and gutsy road trip of 30 to 36 hours to Spiti Valley, Himachal.

Let’s travel with him into the wild!

Gwalior to Delhi Halt

A driving expedition of 12 hours that stops at Delhi. While travelling by road, it is strenuous and an eye for detail. Anmol’s first stop was in Delhi. You can take the Agra National Highway and NH19 or NH44 roads for a smooth ride.

Delhi to Narkanda

Anmol’s next stop was Narkanda. Situated amidst the beauty of Shimla, this tiny town found its name in the books with its winter sports and skiing. It is one of the most scenic and easy to access, with well-paved roads and plenty of accommodations for tourists who wish to travel beyond Shimla and Rampur. Anmol stayed the night in Narkanda and travelled for Tabo the next morning.

Narkanda to Tabo

Another long and mesmerizing journey of 12 hours from Narkanda to Tabo. Anmol says that the scenic views and landscapes will take your heart away, and you would want to spend the day at every viewpoint you see.

Tabo is another small town on the banks of the Spiti River. It surrounds a Buddhist Monastery that is said to have lived to the reign of time and is 1000 years old. The monastery is crafted with antique paintings and architecture. One can stay in the monastery for a surreal experience.

Tabo to Kaza

The next destination on the list was the largest township in the region. It is known to house the Sakya Tangyud Monastery and colourful festivals. Anmol enjoyed ice hockey and visited the highest fuel pump in the world.

You can even opt for the thrilling river rafting in Spiti River or escalate the danger meter with the treacherous road trips. However, the road is narrow, with a steep valley on one side and a mountainous region of Himachal with boulders falling. Keep your eyes and ears open at all times.

Kaza to Spiti

Anmol, an adventurer at heart, travelled through the dangerous off-roads and steep valleys. At a distance of just 6 km, you can’t miss Spiti valley and the luscious green scenic views. You can never take your eyes off the rich Buddhist culture to multiple vantage points.

It is an astounding retreat renowned for picturesque murals, ancient temples, and many stupas. Showered with white sheets of snow everywhere you see, it is advisable to wear sunglasses for eye protection, says Anmol.

Anmol visited Hikkim, Chicham bridge, and Dhankar monastery for local exploration. The Pin Valley was next on his list. It is populated with the last hamlet of the region called Mud Village. The Mud Village is a cluster of 17 small villages that brings out the true diversity of the region.

Back to Reality

After an enthralling Himachal expedition, Anmol returned to Gwalior via Tabo and Delhi. He chose to stay at Tabo for the night during the return journey. While further exploring the place he was left captivating by the undying beauty. 

He had hired local drivers for the commute and other excursions from Kaza to Spiti as localities have more expertise and knowledge of the trails. Anmol advises the same for those who travel by road.

An Intriguing Tale of Diesel

In high-altitude regions, the diesel gets frozen quickly. Since there is no network, no humans, and narrow roads to thread, you will have to keep your vehicle on ignition for at least 2 hours to be able to start your travel expedition. 

The highest fuel station in the world has found an intelligent solution and provides anti-freezing fuel to travellers. Unfortunately, fuel is not always available. This does not happen with petrol, and hence it is advisable to travel with a petrol run vehicle.

So this was Anmol’s adventure trip to Himachal. For more photos and videos, check out his Instagram page @
travellingwines.

And for more such unique and authentic stories stay tuned and follow us on our Instagram handle @indiachalk.