Chandigarh the union territory and capital of 2 states Punjab and Haryana is the first planned city of India. The place is entirely unique as it has a rich history, bright future and extraordinary beauty and is controlled by the Union Government. The city overpowers other union territories of India in terms of every metric- be it the quality of life, living standards, planning, architecture or touristy spots. THE CITY BEAUTIFULstands on the top in the list of well-known cities around the world and interestingly there are many interesting facts about Chandigarh. The city is also known as Pensioner’s Paradise, as mostly the retired officials and the politicians are seen residing in the posh areas here.
10 Interesting facts about Chandigarh
We feel, once you breathe in the air of this city, you won’t be able to settle anywhere else. Its air has something in its ambiance which embraces everyone who comes here either to visit or live. So in this post, lets quickly read the most surprising facts about Chandigarh, from its name to how it got created to its symbolic monument, etc. and we are sure these will make you surely plan a visit to the City Beautiful.
Facts about Chandigarh
1. Name
The city got its name Chandigarh from the Chandi Devi Mandir. Chandi means “Warrior version of Goddess Parvati” and Garh means “Fort.” The temple lies in Panchkula i.e 15 km away from the city Chandigarh. During Navratris, thousands of people gather here to do pooja and is considered as a must visit place for everyone who seeks to let their wishes come true.
Chandigarh lies in the foothills of the Shivalik range of Himalayas at 365 meters above sea level. The entire layout of the city is in sync with nature and you can find different varieties of flowering species and trees planted all around the city.
Note: the three nearby cities namely Panchkula, Mohali and Chandigarh together are known as Tricity here.
3. First Planned city & its architecture
The city was the dream of our honorable late Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru and his vision was brought into reality by French Architect Le Corbusier. Today it is spread over an area of 114 sq.mt and is known as the first planned city of modern India.
3D view of Chandigarh – The City Beautiful
Indeed, the city is known internationally too, for one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture.
4. Official Symbol – Open Hand Monument
The Openhand Monument, a symbolic structure of peace was the central idea of the architect Le Corbusier. The symbol represents “to give and to offer”, is 26 meters high, made of metal. Interestingly the Hand Structure rotates in the direction of wind flow.
5. Design analogous to the human body
The City is planned according to the structure of the human body where:
Sector 1 comprising of Capitol Complex is the HEAD
Sector 17, City Centre is the HEART
Leisure Valley which consists of various parks is the LUNGS
The cultural and educational institutions are the INTELLECTS
The network of the roads based on seven V’s (with the vertical roads called the Paths (running northeast/southwest) and horizontal roads called Margs (running northwest and southeast) are the CIRCULATORYSYSTEM
Industrial Area is the VISCERA
6. Sectors & Unlucky Sector – 13
The whole city is divided into sectors and each one is well connected with market, shops, schools and other needed amenities via a network of small roads. The educational, cultural and medical facilities are spread all over the city, however, major institutions are located in Sectors 10, 11, 12, 14 and 26.
Sector 17, the city centre is the heart of Chandigarh. It comprises the Inter-State Bus Terminus, Parade Ground, District Courts etc. on one hand, and vast business, banks and office square and shopping center on the other.
Top View of Chandigarh
There is NO sector 13 in Chandigarh City as Le’ Corbusier being a Christian believed to number 13 to be highly unlucky. Thus this idea prevails in the construction of the Chandigarh as well Panchkula.
The roads of the city are designed and oriented in such a way that most of the time during the day, they are under a shadow. There are huge parking areas for the commercial zones to avoid havoc on the main roads.
The city is also known as city of roundabouts as after every few meters on the road, there are roundabouts decorated with plants and flowers, addingmiles to the beauty. And none of the park or roundabout in Chandigarh has statue or sculpture of any kind as the condition laid down by Le Corbusier.
Matka Chownk in Chandigarh
8. Historical Background
Early History
The medieval Chandigarh was said to be the home of Harappan Civilisation nearly 8000 years ago. So, this place has a rich history and also, from the nearby locations, some remnants have been found.
After Partition of India in 1947, Punjab was split to East Punjab (India) and West Punjab (Pakistan). The Indian Punjab required a new capital to replace Lahore, which had become part of Pakistan during Partition. So, in 1949 the work of designing a new city was designated to an American Planner and architect Albert Mayer. And there came the origin of Chandigarh. The Beautiful city got completed in 1960 and till then Shimla was the temporary capital.
The beautiful city too has many haunted places and abandoned homes. Most haunted stories lie in Sector 16, where there is a famous Haunted House and Haunted Bridge. The house has been lying vacant from several years now and its condition is enough to give you shivers. It is believed that an aspiring doctor girl, 20 years old was hit by a truck and her soul still resides in the area. People have all sorts of stories attached to it where some have even said that they were in a conversation with a girl and then she disappeared right in front of their eyes. Read some more haunted places of Chandigarh here.
Haunted Bridge in Chandigarh
Sukhna Lake
The man-made Sukhna Lake is one of the longest channel for rowing and yachting events in Asia. And it has some mystical elements attached to it. Just in the center, there is a tower, known as the suicide point which is closed for the public now, due to multiple suicides.
Sukhna Lake Suicide Point
Then there is a belief, that those who wish for true love at the Lake, their wish can come true as the spirits take care of the lonely hearts.
Chandigarh truly deserves the title of “THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.” Lush green surroundings, perfectly laid roads, walkways, disciplined people, flowering plants and trees on a roadside make it the best city to live.
Topiary Park, Japanese Garden, Butterfly Park, Cactus Garden, Garden of Silence, Garden of Palms
Doll Museum
Leisure Valley
Le Corbusier Center etc.
Rock Garden Chandigarh
So, the City beautiful Chandigarh is full of surprises with well-planned infrastructure and lush green surroundings. Indeed, it tops the list of Indian states and union territories in the Human Development Index too. And believe us, it has got loads of things on its platter to serve you and will never let you go without a gleamy smile.
10 Interesting facts about Chandigarh
We think we have given you enough reasons to visit this place. So start planning your trip soon. Explore the most famous locations and do let us know if you know any more facts about Chandigarh in the comments. Also, Don’t forget to share this post with your friends from Chandigarh or who are coming here.
Did all those Instagram and Facebook posts inspire you to visit Chiang Mai? Are you desperately waiting to experience and admire the beauty of those lush forests, vibrant culture, historic temples and adventurous activities? Well, wait no more and visit the land of elephants, learn some authentic Thai cooking, and visit historic temples! Chiang Mai, located in North of Thailand, is known as the city of contrasts where several Buddhist temples shine bright all day long. It is a journey into the city of winding streets, past the ancient buildings and walls of old city of Chiang Mai. So, let’s look at some of the things you must know before you set on your journey to discover Chiang Mai.
Also, find a good comfortable, best place to stay in Chiang Mai. The accommodation options here range from Hostels to Luxury Hotels.
Things You Must Know Before Travelling to Chiang Mai
A little knowledge of Thai language can go a long way
Although English is widely spoken in the city, it is always good to know a few basic Thai words to communicate well with the locals, tuk tuk drivers, hotel staff and while ordering food. In general also, it is always good to know a few local phrases to show some respect to the locals. What you would find interesting about Thai language is that the men and women use some different words at the end of sentences. While males generally use the word krap, females use kap. Some of the commonly and widely used words are – Sawadee (krap or Kap) which means Hello, Khopkhun (krap or kap) for Thank you, Mai as in No and so on.
Old City Chiang Mai
Dress appropriately in Chiang Mai
Since Chiang Mai is the home of several monks and takes pride to have around 300 temples, show respect by dressing up appropriately. It is always good to wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders as Northern part of Thailand is little conservative as compared to other cities of Thailand. It is best to carry loose fitting, decent clothes as wearing skirts and shorts might even burn your body. So, cover yourself from the sun and keep sweat at bay by wearing breathable outfits. Check the complete post n what to wear in Thailand here.
Best time to visit the city of temples
The peak season starts in November when the weather of Chiang Mai is at its best. Tourists from all over the world travel to the city in the months of November, December and January. However, it is best to avoid a visit during March as that’s when the farmers burn their crop and the city gets covered with a thick blanket of smoke, which is unbearable and terrible.
Temple in Chiang Mai
Don’t hesitate to haggle
When out shopping, do not think twice before haggling with the shopkeepers. While the street markets of Chiang Mai has some of the great stuff to offer, the vendors try to fool the tourists to earn a little extra money. So, offer them a price you feel is the most suitable for an item and walk away if they don’t agree to it. They might call you back with a smile!
Oh Mother! How far is Chamba from Shimla Side, I don’t want to settle in Shimla or Kasauli, Have to go to Chamba only!
Have you heard this Himachali folk song? The first time, we heard it, we were absolutely in awe of it and since then; had made up our mind to visit Chamba. On little research, we further found that a trip to Chamba can be clubbed with Dalhousie and Khajjiar. So, on my birthday it was the perfect time to make a winter trip to Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar.
Dalhousie, a colonial hill station in Northern Himachal Pradesh lies at an altitude 6500 feet above sea level and is a famous tourist spot whereas Chamba lies on the banks of River Ravi at 3300 feet and is an ignored tourist destination. With the similar notions in our head, even we left with a thought of first visiting Dalhousie, then Khajjiar and Chamba. But at times things don’t work according to your plans and you have to choose the paths directed by nature and that is what happened with us.
Winter Trip to Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar
How to
Reach Dalhousie & Khajjiar?
Dalhousie lies 560 Kilometers from Delhi and 313 Kilometers from Chandigarh. Further, Khajjiar lies 22 km from Dalhousie via Dalhousie Chamba road and 23 km from Chamba. From Delhi we took a halt at Chandigarh and started the next day early at 9:00 am to reach Dalhousie on time.
We reached Dalhousie around 4 pm. Roads were covered with slush and had walls of snow on sides whereas some trails were completely laid in white. Trees had specks of snow on them and few cars were covered by 2-3 feet of snow. It clearly seemed the area had received an adequate amount of snowfall this year. We went straight to our hotel JK Clarks Exotica, Dalhousie and after relaxing, left for a quick stroll. It was freaking cold, Sun was playing hide and seek behind the clouds. And as it started getting dark, the wind speed and chilliness increased. In minutes, the rain too joined the drama, and people started running to find the shelter wherever it was possible. We too joined the league and without much delay rushed back to our hotel. The whole night it continued raining and the temperature had fallen drastically (Probably -5 or even lesser than that).
Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar in winters
The next morning, the sky was clear but had some hovering clouds. And within an hour, the weather took a drastic turn from sunny to cloudy. It started raining and locals predicted snowing in Khajjiar. Hearing this, we immediately packed and left for Khajjiar, which lies 23 kilometers ahead. But as soon we reached near Gandhi Chownk Market in Dalhousie, there was a big Que of vehicles apart snow and slush. Traffic was halted and was not allowed ahead to Khajjiar because of the roadblock due to snow. On further inquiry, we learned that it will probably take months or more to open this route.
We started looking for another route option in GPS and the only way was to go Khajjiar from Dalhousie was via Chamba. It too looked completely luck dependent, as the Chamba to Khajjiar road was also closed due to snow till yesterday.
Bit disappointed, we took a U-turn to Banikhet (6 Kilometers from Dalhousie) to refuel our car, and there we saw a diversion for Chamba, stating 44 kilometers ahead.
Note: There is no fuel station in Dalhousie. The last one is available only at Banikhet
From Banikhet itself, we took the Dalhousie Chamba road. Landscapes changed immediately. Roads got wider as compared to the Dalhousie road, and we were driving at lesser altitude. There was greenery all around and the towns on the way looked thickly populated.
On the way to Chamba – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar
On the way, comes the turquoise green color Chamera Lake. It looks grand and was perfectly gelling with the surrounding. Indeed, with the backdrop of Himalayas, it made the perfect picture.
Chamera Lake – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar winter road trip
The weather was worsening, so we thought of booking the room at earliest before we don’t get a place to hide. The majority of the hotels were not operating. It looked people had gone to the hibernation zone and they will only come out once the sun warms up the place and summers come back.
First look of Chamba – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar Road trip
Somehow Goibibo came into help and we got a place to stay at Anantson resort in Chamba. Reaching the resort was another task, but once we reached and saw the views from the cottage, our whole day pain vanished away.
Our Cottage at Anantson Resort, Chamba
Rains had washed away the dust, everything looked crystal clear and now we knew why the above Himachali Song quotes “Chamba Jana Zarur” (Must visit Chamba).
The town looked heavenly on the banks of River Ravi. There were shades of green everywhere, clouds were floating among the Himalayas and extreme winters looked like monsoons. The ancient town still looked unadulterated although modernity has begun to sneak into the lives of town people.
View of River Ravi and Chamba from our Balcony
The beautiful Chambalis were happy to greet and meet us. We inquired about the Chamba – Khajjiar road from the manager and were happy to know that road had just been opened yesterday. For us the perfect day was still ahead; so, we spent rest day gazing and clicking the landscapes from various angles.
At Anantson Resort
Chamba
to Khajjiar
The next day, after a good scrumptious local Chamba breakfast (Aloo cooked in Dahi and Puri), we left for the trip to a winter wonderland – Khajjiar, also known as Switzerland of India. It lies only 22 kilometers form Chamba. But just a kilometer ahead from the resort, there was a big landslide. Disappointment started building up again in our mind, but our heart was fighting back with positive thoughts. After an hour the road got cleared and we took a turn to Khajjiar.
The single-lane road looked narrow, steep. We had to climb another 3300 feet in 22 Kms. Landscapes looked breathtaking. The great Himalayas in between were decorated with patches of terrace gardens, colorful houses and had adorned a beautiful white crown. Clouds were floating along with the scalps and it looked like rain on the mountain tops. We inquired from another crossing car about the way and were super delighted to hear Yes!
On the way to Khajjiar – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar
From there we took a deep ascent and the specks of snow increased to mounds and trails. The Dauladhar range of Himalayas started resembling black forest cake and there came the board of view of ManiMahesh Kailash Peak, also known as Chamba Kailash (One of the five abodes of Lord Shiva according to Hindu mythology). It was engulfed by the clouds while going but we got a crystal view while returning back.
Manimahesh view point on the way to Khajjiar
We reached the entrance of the Kalatop – Khajjiar reserve. It was snowing inside and was dark. Roads were completely covered in white except the tire marks. There were no vehicles and people. The whole scene looked scary for driving but Tashi wanted to drive. 5 Kilometers distance felt like 50 kilometers here, as we were driving at speed of 10. The car was slipping, and there was no parapet. Literally my heart was pounding and in the next few minutes’ taxi crossed us giving assurance to go ahead. We followed them, kept moving, and there we saw the first view of meadows.
Entrance to Kalatop Khajjiar Reserve – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar
Note: Khajjiar is a part of
Kalatop – Khajjiar wildlife sanctuary
OMG! Is this for real? It was a dreamy winter wonderland, with Dhauladhars on one side and pine forests on other. The road was not visible except the Tyre marks. Clouds were floating in the snowy meadows. There was silence all around, and looked shops, restaurants all were closed due to bad weather.
Without stoppage, we directly moved toHPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) Hotel Devdar Khajjiar. What a perfect location they have? The resort directly opens to meadows and our balcony room had a Khajjiar Lake view. It was still snowing and raining, looked 2 feet snow will soon turn to 3 feet.
Outside Hotel Devdar, Khajjiar – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar
Hotel
Devdar, Khajjiar
We left our vehicle in between the road and climbed the stairs to check whether the hotel is operational or not. The manager came out and our fear came true. There was No water, No electricity from the past 7 days and it was too cold. Met Department had forecasted overnight snow and the roads might get closed for several days. Hotel Manager narrated this and asked us to stroll and play in the snow for an hour and go back to their Chamba guest house in the evening.
But “we were we”. We reversed the talks by saying that, we don’t need electricity, we just need a bucket of hot water and give us the same food you will cook for yourself. We will be more than happy. He got convinced and allowed us to stay.
Honestly, it was one of the best decisions we took. If one moment the snow meadows were covered with moving clouds, another moment we could see the saucer-shaped Khajjair lake in between the Devdar forest with a backdrop of white Himalayas.
Note: Other good locations to stay are Forest and PWD Guest House, but you need to have a prior booking with them.
Khajjiar
Meadows
After having tea at hotel, we left for a quick walk. It was serene and magical beyond words. White powder was all we could see around. There we saw leading stairs to reach the Khajjiar meadows and we took them at once.
Our feet were sinking in the snow and looked only a few tourists had set their foot on it. Lake was completely frozen from one end and the other side looked semi-frozen. We wanted to walk along the circular meadow and visit the Khajjinag temple but it didn’t look like a perfect time. So, we retired back to our hotel early.
At Khajjiar Meadows – Dalhousie Chamba Khajjiar Road Trip
At night, the moon was playing hide and seek with clouds and the snow in the meadows was glowing like a silver sheath. We wanted to take some good night shots but gave up in the freaking cold and started waiting for the next morning.
The next morning was a promising sunny morning. We got ready as active birds to roam in the circular meadows. The entire Dhauladhar range was clearly visible and it was painted in the shades of white and green.
The Khajjiar meadows which looked all-white yesterday, now looked entirely different, colors were jutting out from white. Locals were out in the sun to bask their bodies whereas adventure organizers were hunting tourists for paragliding, tube Skiing, river crossing, snow skating, etc but all we wanted to do was see, feel, and click every inch of the circular meadows.
Khajjinag
Temple, Khajjiar
In between the Khajjiar meadows stood an ancient, golden dome Khajjinag Temple, dedicated to Naga- the lord of serpents. The temple is also known as Golden Devi Temple. It was built by King of Chamba in 12th century and was renovated in 16th century. The temple has a lot of wooden work, which looks a perfect blend of Mughal and Indian architecture. The Temple is believed to have a mythological significance too. The circumambulatory path of the temple has the images of Pandavas defeating the Kauravas in the epic battle of Mahabharata.
From the temple keep moving toward the Khajjair lake. There were water streams in between and spongy earth around the banks of the lake, due to the dense growth of weed called vacha.
Boat in the frozen Khajjiar Lake
From there walk towards the fairytale HPTDC cottage, smushed between green and white. We couldn’t stay here this time, but for sure during the next visit.
HPTDC cottage in Khajjiar Meadows
After the complete round, it was time to head back to the civilization but our heart and mind were not ready to leave. We were still looking back at the mesmerizing scenery at each step. Khajjiar is a perfect combination of lakes, meadows, and mountains which resembles a fairyland of the stories.
Khajjiar is among the 160 locations in the world that bear topographical resemblance to Switzerland. On 7 July 1992, Mr. Willy T. Blazer, the Vice Counselor and Head of Chancery of Switzerland in India brought it on the world tourism map by calling it “Mini Switzerland”. He also installed a signboard showing Khajjiar’s distance from the Swiss capital Berne -6194 km.
The counselor also took a stone from Khajjiar, which will form part of a stone collage around the Swiss Parliament to remind the visitors of Khajjiar as a Mini Switzerland of India.
Best Season to visit Dalhousie Khajjiar & Temperature
Dalhousie Khajjiar can be visited throughout the year. Summers lasts from March – July (temperature lies between 32 – 44 degrees Celsius), Monsoon is in July – August (Temperature 22 – 35 degrees Celsius) and winters step from November till February (Temperature 7 to -4 degree Celsius).
For snow lovers, the best time is January- February, and remember it is an off-season too.
Sometimes, you hear a place and mark it to your wish list. That is how our Spiti saga started in 2013. And we never knew a single visit there will make the place become our second home. Yes, we are absolutely in love with Valley and now want to see it in in every color, in every season. We have traveled to Spiti Valley multiple times in summers and the wish list was to do a Spiti winter trip now.
There is a common thought among people that travelling to Spiti Valley in winters is not possible – as the roads get snow covered and becomes inaccessible, temperature falls extremely low and survival gets tough. But the question was then how do locals survive. We wanted to see the challenges they face during winters and how they tackle them. So, we took a self-drive road trip to Spiti valley in winters (i.e. in January).
Before leaving from Delhi, we checked the MET department forecast, rain and snow both were predicted in the upper hills. There were high chances of getting struck but our spirits were much higher than the thought of getting struck.
Route for Spiti Valley in winters
There are two routes to enter Spiti – one from Shimla and other from Manali. In winters i.e. by October end, Rohtang La and Kunzum La both get covered with heavy snow, so one cannot enter through Manali and complete circuit via exit from Shimla. So the only viable option is to enter and exit through Shimla.
Beyond Kaza, towards Kunzum La and Chandratal roads gets closed. So, the farthest one can reach is Kaza and the villages around it i.e Kibber, Komic, Langza, Hikkim, Tashigong.
What to expect while doing winter Spiti Trip
By October
end or November first week the valley start receiving snow and the temperature
dips down to negative around -10 degree Celsius. Public transport service decreases
and the only moving vehicles you get to see are of local Spitians, local taxis
and of government officials.
1. Snow on the road
Expect fresh or old snow on the roads between November to March in the Spiti Valley. So, roads will be slippery and one needs to drive very carefully. Snow cutters are there but not on the moves always, so there are high chances of getting struck in between too and if weather conditions worsen than there are chances of roads getting closed for several days.
Preparation
Remember our vehicles usually don’t have snow tires; so drive with full concentration and as slow as possible; only during the day time
Try travelling by 4*4 only and if you don’t own one, do tie snow chains for extra traction
Don’t try to apply hard brakes, especially on the black ice as there are high chances of vehicle getting slipped
Reduce Tyre pressure and add more weight in your car by luggage or add stones
In case your car loses control, don’t apply brakes. Release the accelerator and let the car go to intended direction
Also keep a towing cable and shovel, in case you need to clear snow on the way
2. Limited food joints on the way
Finding a food joints while taking the winter Spiti trip is a challenge in itself.
After Rampur the places which serves you food are at Tapri, Spillow and Nako. Between Nako to Kaza, there is no food joint option.
Preparation
Carry along packed food, at least a stock of 1 week. You never when you can get stuck.
Drink lot of water to avoid dehydrtion & AMS and Thupka or soup to keep yourself warm
3. Sub Zero Temperatures
As you cross Rampur and drive towards Kaza, the temperature dips further and goes subzero. The villages above Kaza i.e. Hikkim, Langza, Komic are much colder and here temp even go as low as – 25 degrees. So, the key to live and stay comfortable in this extreme weather is to wear proper layered clothing.
Wear clothes in 3- 4 layers, with a warmer / thermal inside to fleece to thick feather jacket to wind cheater outside.
Keep your head, hands and feet covered.
Also keep snow and ice proof, warm boots which have enough traction for walking on slippery surface
Carry a pair of sunglasses to avoid snow glare / blindness
Keep drinking something warm
When inside sit inside the kitchen around Angithis
Never touch metal with bare hands as there are high chances of your skin sticking to the metal. If in any case, that happens, don’t pull your hand away. Instead, pour hot water to detach your hand
Keep camphor and cotton handy to light fire, if struck anywhere on the road,
4. Limited Accommodation and Resources
As the winters set its feet in Spiti Valley majority of the hotels, guest houses and home stays close down. Only few home stays are operational and ready to host you. So, it’s always advised to go with a pre-booking in winters.
Evening view of Kaza – Spiti Winter Trip
During our Spiti winter trip we met few folks from Chandigarh, who came without booking and it was a big nuisance for them as well home stay owners. First all the running home stays were booked and they didn’t get the place to stay. Second, there was a fight for the resources. Still, the big heart Spitians accommodated them.
Preparation
Book your stay in advance
Limit your expectations as the resources are limited and life is really tough in winters. Water freezes down in pipes and for usage it has to be carried from far away hand pumps. Angithis are kept burning throughout for heating water and keeping the room warm. The supplies are stored for coming months
Don’t compare winters pricing to the summers pricing. Indeed help locals in whatever way you can
View from our Homestay at Tabo – Winter Spiti Trip
Note: We stayed with Mr & Mrs. Tandup at Pema Homestay in Kaza; asuper helpful family who can go beyond limits to give comforts to the guests. You can connect with them at 9459252699, 8988231033 and they charge Rs 1500 per night.
5. No Bathing & use of Dry toilets
Pipes & sewerage system freezes down in Spiti valley in winters. Locals keep 20 litre and 40 litre cans filled for the usage, which they get after walking miles from the hand pumps. And this is a part of their daily chores. So, give up on bathing every day and remember to save water.
Also the only option for pooping is dry toilets. Dry toilets are like pooping through the hole in the ceiling of a room filled with compost.
Preparation
Instead of bathing, ask owners for warm water and do wet towel scrub
Carry enough of tissue paper roll and wipes to clean
Be prepared to use dry toilets. Dry Toilets don’t smell if used properly. Make sure to add a shovel of compost after you are done
Avoid taking your cellphones in the dry toilets. If it drops in the hole, you cannot get it back anyway
6. Frozen Diesel in the car
Don’t be surprised if your car is not starting in the morning. It’s the result of frozen diesel in subzero temperatures and keep in mind that the diesel vehicles are more prone to it than the petrol vehicles.
Preparation
Don’t park your car in the open. If there is no other option, at least cover the bonnet/ hood of your car
Mix appropriate portion of anti-freeze in the diesel to avoid diesel freezing. And still expect that diesel can freeze and it happened with us during our Spiti winter trip
Wait for the sun rays to melt the frozen diesel or use a cylinder with the local’s help. Also you can throw boiling water over the engine
There will be more wear and tear of vehicle in the snow as compared to summer trip
Always keep a towing cable in your car
7. Getting struck anywhere
Spiti is a land full of challenges so be prepared for the undue situations. Landlines or snow can make you struck here for several days. So, only move on the route after local’s guidance and stay in touch with them.
Preparation
Always carry the contact details of a
local person with you and inform your homestay owner where you will be
travelling for the day
If you see the unlikely condition, ask
immediately for help
8. Limited Medical Help
There is a hospital in Kaza but you can ger only limited medical help. Many times electricity is not there, although during our last trip electricity was there for majority of time in Kaza. Hospital has ambulance service, but if the roads are closed it is of no use.
Preparation
Carry all the basic medicines (like
Disprin, D- cold, Chestron, Noroflox, Betadine etc) and a first aid kit with
you
For any major complications, you will be
referred to the Rampur Hospital
9. Chances of AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness)
AMS(Altitude motion/ mountain sickness) can surely hit you at this extreme altitude. So, be prepared and if you see any of such symptoms i.e. a headache, nausea, breathless during Spiti winter trip it is AMS. Seek help immediately.
Preparation
Give
yourself some time to get acclimatized
Keep
sipping a lot of hot water
You can
start a DIAMOX course prior to the trip, only after
the doctor’s consultation
10. Fuel and Cash Availability
ATM service is available at Kalpa, Tabo as well Kaza but don’t expect them to have enough cash as well many of them will not be in working conditions.
There is a Fuel station at Kaza which opens only
between 10 am to 5 pm and if it snows then it doesn’t open up. Also at times,
the fuel tank doesn’t reach Kaza on time. So, there won’t be fuel for a day or
more.
Preparation
Carry enough cash with you
Get your vehicle fueled timely
11. Limited Connectivity
Till day Spiti Valley is
a remote land and there is only BSNL connectivity. So, it is a perfect place to
digitally detox yourself.
Preparation
Carry a BSNL sim with you
So, these are the challenges which you are most likely going to encounter while taking up a Spiti winter trip. The drive to valley is tough as it checks your patience and endurance but once you pass all this, you will fall in love with it and you will wish to return here every winter.
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