Morning: So,we stayed in the Natures Lap Resort,fantastic place,no sound except the river flowing down the mountain.We had thought and planned for an early start.
And somehow before alarm goes of at 5, we woke up at 4:30 strange isn't. So after tea and initial hiccups we started I think around8:15 or so. A couple of views of the resort and nature around.
Around 10 kms we have gone and Haider is no where to be found, though the network is still working here but not able to contact him. We think he has left for Kullu already.
We reach Kullu and he calls up. He's at Bhuntar servicing his bike, would take a couple of hoours. We go ahead & get our bikes washed just before Manali. Later, I bought a 5 l can from Manali. Later Haider joined us there and we have lunch there in the late afternoon. While sitting there we heard the thumps and saw Dwaraka and team pass through.
We are already late ( around 2:15 pm) and Manali is still 19 kms from here. Phew, am a little perplexed about crossing Rohtang late in the evening, but Atul is confident and so we march through.
The day looked good, a little cloudy and we reached Rohtang Pass around 6 pm, very late. There were lots and lots of traffic and it was really tough navigating there. The muddy and slushy route was ready to make you fall there. And as it was getting late, I was ahead and was riding through the slushy roads first. And somehow in a hurry to cross the traffic and reach Rohtang pass, I crossed it without even being able to stop there and click photographs.
So, no stopping there, off we go, the target is Sissu. Around 4-5 kms from Rohtang is Gramphoo.You wouldn't know, there is nothing, except the board and a road cut going to Losar/Kaza.
Just as we crossed Rohtang pass, on the other side was nature's bliss. Unbelievably serene and beautiful.
We ride thorugh, Koksar was breeze. But I had a scare. I had my first fall there. Just navigating the curve while turning right, in front of me, there was a truck coming uphill and I just got slow and bham. Truck wala also smiled and stopped his truck, a fellow coming from the side helped me. Wasn't bad actually.
Koksar to Sissu is 15 kms, 4-5 kms is too good a road. After that the 10 kms stretch was the worst, I have rode on till date. 10 kms of loose small stones on the whole sand and dirt track.
The guest house location was the best among all our trip hotels, just out of the world. Take a peep of this view from the window, looks to me the best window in the world.
Night Halt : Trivani Guest House
Food + Lodging - Rs 600/=
Fuel : Rs 350/=
Trip : 186 kms for the day.
The resort and view from there:
Traffic jams at Rohtang Pass :
Starkly different other side of Rohtang :
Sissu outskirts in fading day light
