Posted on behalf of Sakshar Ray Chowdhury with his due permission.
the original blog is here: http://onthewaywithsrc.blogspot.in/2016/04/away-from-mainstream-route-to-jungles.html
I have been away from blogging from last couple of years. I would not say it was due to lack of time, but due to lack of motivation. The website where I used to blog majorly has shifted their focus from all bikes to 'super'-bikes and super-likes. Meanwhile, my closest friend in motorcycling community has left all of us all on a sudden for heavenly abode. He has been motivating me to write my own blogs since last half a decade and I felt it to give a kick-start with no more lethargy. Thanks Suhail Bhai for the motivation. I am sure you are reading this up there. Miss you!
Well, off late, I was bored by the boring weekend in March end. If there is nothing to do, we (I) do facebooking. And off-late, the quality of the posts from the so-called travelers have reduced these days as most of the folks out there are selling something. Some selling leather boots, some sellingride to local dhabas with 60% profit margin in Aloo parantha, some showing off their desparate check-ins into their in-law's washroom. Boring weekends are like this. Either keeping myself in professional commitments keep me busy, or it is the wanderlust that makes sense.
We have been exploring our beautiful country on road by means of two wheels as well as four wheels. However, what turns us off is the hell lot of crowd at destinations. I was born in West Bengal, and thanks to my bengali surname associated with my facebook profile, I have been added in many travel forums in facebook. With no offense, the majority of the bengalis like armchair travel. You take me to Shimla and let me say this is the most beautiful place on the earth.Somehow, I felt like living like an Indian, I mean pan-Indian. We prefer off-beat locations. Hence GRAHAN!
We barely had couple of thousands in hand and a three day long weekend to spare. Doctor has detected my allergic nature to proximity car-o-bars with loud musics while traveling, hence we skipped common destinations. We had started off from Delhi on thursday night and drove the entire night. We took the beautiful Subathu-Ghaghas route. The route is generally devoid of traffic. Enjoy the morning view.
We reached Bhuntar by 9 am. The view gets better as we proceeded towards Parvati Valley.
The valley was visible ahead:
We drove towards Malana and came back as we had other team members joining us. As usual, we camped at Kasol camps in Kasol, which has been our campsite since we started visiting Kasol.
We prepared our own food out there and did bon-fire over the night. We had a peaceful stay at our tent. The trek to Grahan was due the next day.
The trek starts right before the small bridge before the taxi stand (on the right hand side if you are facing Tosh). We continued for another 500 meters and the beautiful trail started. Enjoy the greenary.
Soon, we were mesmerized by the surroundings:
The dark dense forest around us:
And there was a steep climb.
Notice the beautiful and colorful leaves. I must say, the nature was greeting us with all beautiful colors:
After the ups and downs, there was a stretch of plain land. It looked like those from 'straight from the fairy tales'
The old bridge
Our guides. They accompanied us all the way from Kasol till Grahan, stayed there overnight with us and trekked back to Kasol along with us. Yes, they partyed along with us too.
Soon, we came across another beautiful bridge. Notice the amazing red flowers on the way.
As it appears from the other side (The grass is always greener on the other side)
We took bath in the flowing stream. This part of the stream was narrower. The current is good enough to drag you along, hence venturing inside the water is not recommended.
The lovely walk upwards (feels like i am knocking on heavens door)
This place is almost 3 km from the village. The steep climb starts little after this place. This is a shed made for animal shelter.
The plain continues for 200 more meters:
We met with the local shepherd
There is a diversion after this plain ground. Don't get mislead towards the so called ' New Grahan'. The board will mention that this trek is easy, but do not venture into that route as the route is longer and you may lose the way. Stay on the road which marks towrads 'Ghan Shyam's dhaba'.
The very next landmark is this big tree, which is very much noticable on the high gradient trek.
Usage of solar power is abundant in the village:
A typical house in the village
Friendly kids of the village. They are always ready to pose for pics
We stayed in mountain view. This is a great place to stay. The rooms are nice, the food is nicer and the people were nicest. Puran become my good friend. Do buzz them in case you are making a visit soon. Do mention my name and they will take you for special hospitality.
The lovely wooden room inside
Raju's shop, the only one in the village
The lovely view of the village
We left behind a lovely memory out there. With a promise to come back soon to the mesmerizing Grahan village and off course, to the lovely Himalayas, we are back to the congested city. We will be back the hills, soon, very soon.
Since request not to copy any of these pics. We have put much of pain to click each one of them during the trek.
the original blog is here: http://onthewaywithsrc.blogspot.in/2016/04/away-from-mainstream-route-to-jungles.html
I have been away from blogging from last couple of years. I would not say it was due to lack of time, but due to lack of motivation. The website where I used to blog majorly has shifted their focus from all bikes to 'super'-bikes and super-likes. Meanwhile, my closest friend in motorcycling community has left all of us all on a sudden for heavenly abode. He has been motivating me to write my own blogs since last half a decade and I felt it to give a kick-start with no more lethargy. Thanks Suhail Bhai for the motivation. I am sure you are reading this up there. Miss you!
Well, off late, I was bored by the boring weekend in March end. If there is nothing to do, we (I) do facebooking. And off-late, the quality of the posts from the so-called travelers have reduced these days as most of the folks out there are selling something. Some selling leather boots, some sellingride to local dhabas with 60% profit margin in Aloo parantha, some showing off their desparate check-ins into their in-law's washroom. Boring weekends are like this. Either keeping myself in professional commitments keep me busy, or it is the wanderlust that makes sense.
We have been exploring our beautiful country on road by means of two wheels as well as four wheels. However, what turns us off is the hell lot of crowd at destinations. I was born in West Bengal, and thanks to my bengali surname associated with my facebook profile, I have been added in many travel forums in facebook. With no offense, the majority of the bengalis like armchair travel. You take me to Shimla and let me say this is the most beautiful place on the earth.Somehow, I felt like living like an Indian, I mean pan-Indian. We prefer off-beat locations. Hence GRAHAN!
We barely had couple of thousands in hand and a three day long weekend to spare. Doctor has detected my allergic nature to proximity car-o-bars with loud musics while traveling, hence we skipped common destinations. We had started off from Delhi on thursday night and drove the entire night. We took the beautiful Subathu-Ghaghas route. The route is generally devoid of traffic. Enjoy the morning view.
We reached Bhuntar by 9 am. The view gets better as we proceeded towards Parvati Valley.
The valley was visible ahead:
We prepared our own food out there and did bon-fire over the night. We had a peaceful stay at our tent. The trek to Grahan was due the next day.
The trek starts right before the small bridge before the taxi stand (on the right hand side if you are facing Tosh). We continued for another 500 meters and the beautiful trail started. Enjoy the greenary.
Soon, we were mesmerized by the surroundings:
And there was a steep climb.
Soon, we came across another beautiful bridge. Notice the amazing red flowers on the way.
This place is almost 3 km from the village. The steep climb starts little after this place. This is a shed made for animal shelter.
The plain continues for 200 more meters:
We met with the local shepherd
There is a diversion after this plain ground. Don't get mislead towards the so called ' New Grahan'. The board will mention that this trek is easy, but do not venture into that route as the route is longer and you may lose the way. Stay on the road which marks towrads 'Ghan Shyam's dhaba'.
Finally, the breaktaking view appears as we reach Grahan village. Notice the entire mountain range as it appears in front of us
Ever colorful Grahan village:
The mountain range as visible from Grahan Village
The name Grahan does not come from the any relation to eclipse as per the villagers. It is related to the first person who has discovered this place to be a possible vegetated land. There are couple of temples inside the village which are worth visiting.
We left behind a lovely memory out there. With a promise to come back soon to the mesmerizing Grahan village and off course, to the lovely Himalayas, we are back to the congested city. We will be back the hills, soon, very soon.
Since request not to copy any of these pics. We have put much of pain to click each one of them during the trek.
Got to know about this beautiful place from you dada. Thanks for the information. If possible will definitely try and go to this Grahan Village.
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