JIBHI- AN UNSPOILED PLACE IN HIMACHAL (CVI)

23rd June -27th June 2017

Reaching home from office at 8.30 pm, convincing Dad, booking tickets at 9.30, packing by 10.00 and in bus by 11.00. I love sudden plans and that sudden plan made me find Jibhi- an unspoiled place in Himachal. 

With every new journey I evolve a little, with every new journey I find a little new me. And I know that travelling solves everything for me. It was a long weekend when  half of Delhi was going to Himachal but I was lucky enough to find one seat for me in a Volvo bus. Tired from the hectic day in office, I immediately slept in bus and with such an unplanned trip and no place to stay I started googling for places to stay in Jibhi. After 6-7 unsuccessful attempts I came across Mr Sandeep who runs Jibhi Camps & Cottages. Denying any vacant space initially, when I told him that I was travelling solo he ensured to arrange a place for me in his cottages. I had a sigh of relief.

View from my room- Jibhi Camps & Cottages

HOW TO REACH

Delhi- Aut (Bus)

Aut to Banjar (Cab or Bus)

Banjar- Jibhi (Cab or Bus)

THE JOURNEY AND THE EXPERIENCES

I meet so many helpful people during my solo journeys. But then there are certain people who could not do anything for you but are always ready to give free advises. So as I proposed my idea of going to Jibhi solo, a "friend" of mine messaged me on 'social media' that I should be careful as this is "India". Probably he does not know that India is unsafe because of negativity the guys like him possess. It was not an advise, it was an attempt to create fear in mind. However, I continued my journey and like all other journeys I met beautiful people on this journey as well- Sonali, Sandeep and Rahul.

SONALI

A 22 year old solo traveller, I met Sonali in bus from Delhi to Aut. It started with a simple 'Hi' and ended with hugs and goodbyes. With Sonali, this solo trip turned into a duo trip where we both were together but still we had our own space. Seeing Sonali I thought that I started travelling very late, but then present is the right time to start anything and I am happy that at least I am doing it.

Me and Sonali- Jibhi Waterfall

SANDEEP

Well I have less words to describe Sandeep. He is the owner of Jibhi Camps & Cottages and he came as a rescue for me when I had no place to stay in Jibhi. The long chats over beer and tea, listening his stories, discussing economy and philosophy, the jokes and his morning teas, he clearly considers that 'The guest is equivalent to God'.  The one line which Sandeep said very casually but I could not forget it is that, " It is easy to earn money. But it is difficult to digest it. And that is why money is the cause of all diseases in the society."

RAHUL

Before Jibhi Rahul was my facebook acquaintance whom I used to follow to get to know about different travelling places. So it was Rahul's facebook post which made me decide to travel to Jibhi. But I had no clue that I would get a chance to meet him on this trip. So all this happened because of long weekend traffic jam in Manali, when Rahul decided to find a peaceful place and ended up in Jibhi. We got in touch on messenger and he was staying just beside Jibhi Camps. We had endless chats but still there is so much left to talk about. I hope I will be meeting him soon again to talk more about places and our journeys. Indeed it is a small world. 

PLACES TO SEE

SEROLSAR LAKE TREK

From Jibhi to Jalori Pass via Sojha village- in Cab or bus (I took a cab and shared it with three more people who were staying in the camp)

A 6-7 kms trek from Jalori Pass to Sarehul Lake

The trek to Serolsar Lake

The trek to Serolsar Lake

It was beautiful 6 kms trek, very serene and calm. While I was walking there were so many thoughts running through my mind. But there were times when my mind was totally free. There were no thoughts. That was the time when I found myself totally elated. That was the time when there was complete silence and I could hear myself in that silence.

It was moderate but a long trek. I took a maggie and tea break in between. It was picturesque. 

Way to Serolsar Lake

Way to Serolsar Lake

Way to Serolsar Lake

I finally reached Serolsar Lake. I sat on a stone, closed my eyes and in that silence the cooing of Himalyan crows touched my ears. Meanwhile the lake was playing hide and seek amidst the clouds

Serolsar Lake

Serolsar Lake

While returning back I wondered that any new trek creates an excitement, anxiousness and curiosity in beginning. But the same trek while coming back creates totally different feelings- feeling of tiredness and a feeling of 'known' which makes it little boring. Probably all known people and known things become boring after sometime and that's why we humans keeps running after 'change'.

JIBHI WATERFALL

The regular showers became too boring for me and Jibhi Waterfall became my daily shower on this trip. My day used to start and end with Jibhi Waterfall. 

In the end I could realise, "That this is my journey and I have to fight it, enjoy it and complete it on my own."

BAROT- ULTIMATE ABODE OF SERENITY (XCVII)

12th August, 2016- 16th August, 2016

A plan which started with Morni Hills, got fixed at Shikari Devi and  I am glad that it finally ended at Barot, Himachal.

Barot is a place Where one goes and do Nothing. It falls under Mandi district, not to be confused with Barog in Solan.

BAROT- VIEW FROM MY ROOM

Travel Journey

Delhi- Chandigarh- Mandi- BAROT- Baijnath-Palampur-Dharmshala- Chandigarh- Delhi

Like always I booked HRTC bus from Delhi to Mandi and like always Ashish was waiting for me at Mandi bus stop. Meeting my traveller partner almost after 3 months was exciting and getting his first glimpse from my bus window was warming and comforting.

Barot is 70 kms from Mandi bus stop and from there our journey on my beloved Duke started.

ON THE WAY TO BAROT

RIVER SIDE RESORT

It was a sudden plan and we left everything on the time and the destiny. Plus point of travelling is that the destiny never fails you in it. Even if it fails you enjoy that failure also. Our destiny took us to River Side Resort - A cluster of rooms and tents on the bank of River Uhl. 

RIVER SIDE RESORT

MY BOOK AND MY CUTE FRIEND 

WHEN OUR CARETAKER SPREAD
THE UTENSILS IN THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT

MOON ALWAYS SUPPORTS ME IN MY JOURNEYS

Taking full advantage of the crystal clean, fresh river water my mornings used to start with a dip in Uhl River.

IT WAS FREAKING COLD WATER

FIRST TIME EXPERIENCE IN FISHING

Barot is famous for trout fish and one could catch fresh fishes from the river and barbecue them. Having no experience in fishing we hired a guide, Mr Vivek who rented us fishing rods and hooks and taught us fishing. It was totally a different experience. A fishing license is required in Barot which costs Rs 100/- for an amateur. Mr Vivek arranged for that license and told us "Now you have got license to kill." Something in me died at that time. We went for fishing and I was not able to catch any fish (later I thanked God for that). Vivek told that catching fish is a matter of luck. Vivek caught two fishes for us- two big trout fishes. While he made me clicked pictures with those fishes and I smiled and laughed but seeing those dying fishes was repulsive. And after coming back to Delhi I tried eating fish curry but I must accept that I didn't enjoy it. Well, it was an unusual, exciting and adventurous experience for me.

*Purposely not sharing any pictures with the fishes

A PLACE WHERE THE ROAD ENDS- POLING VILLAGE

While exploring Barot we reached at a point where the road ended, though a further construction for connecting Barot and Bir was going on there. We took our bike on a kaccha road which was getting connected to some village. It was Poling village- a village full of lovely and smiling people, children playing and enjoying their Independence day holiday, women washing clothes and oldies sitting and chatting with glass of tea in their hands. One of the old men offered us tea and became happy after knowing that I had come from Delhi. For a while I became part of that village.

  

My return bus was from Dharmshala and to reach Dharmshala on time we started from Barot at around 12 pm. Taking halts in between and enjoying the nature, having kheer served by the temples, getting drenched in rains and tea and pakoras at Satyam cafe in Dharmshala, all  have somewhere got a place in my memories. 

Chasing butterflies

Spotting rainbows

Naming birds from red tail to yellow neck bird

Watching hidden waterfalls

This trip to Barot was full of beauty, nature and ecstasy. 

For more pictures, stories and quotes on Barot visit- Everything out there is for A reason  - A page owned by Ashish Sohal and The Day I Realised that I Am Alive-  My Facebook Page