Posted by Shivam Singh
On 4th April, 2021
***Kinnaur Roadtrip***
Date: 28th November 2020
After finishing/visiting each and everything as per our plan, today we decided to return back to Delhi (500 km from here). GPS was showing 12 hours if we go non-stop, plus there was road blockage near Delhi entry point in Sonipat/Murthal due to farmer’s protest against farm bills.
We were also discussing an alternate route from Sarahan, which was bit long but there is a waterfall on the route (as told by our taxi driver the day before). Finally we decided to take this route, unaware of the road conditions.
So after having our breakfast at hotel, we packed and adjusted everything in our car. I had to drive, Prabal to sit next to me and Sharad did his sleeping arrangement on the back seat since he couldn’t sleep the whole night.
Around 9 AM, we left hotel after clicking some pictures at the hotel premises in Tipvaani t-shirts.
Just as we reached 2-3 km downhill from Sarahan, we reached the diversion where two roads were going in different directions.
One we were aware of, which goes down to Jeori (17 kms) on NH5, the other one was sure to be the one we need to follow. GPS was not working during this time. Both Sharad and Prabal we trying hard to understand the offline maps.
As we moved 2-3 km on that road, GPS got online and showed a 40 km journey towards Rampur and the time to be taken was 1 hr 45 mins. Looking at the GPS shown time for 40 km, we understood it will not be an easy journey.
After comparing with the normal route, we calculated an extra 15 km and 50 mins (plus additional time for waterfall).
The road was 90% single lane with no railings/boundaries to protect you and accompanied by a deep valley. Avoid if you are new to driving in hilly areas. Normal route via Jeori is much more easier.
Scary but was ok for us as till now we were use to of such roads on this trip. As the time was passing, we were getting worried to reach Delhi since we did not wanted to halt & stay in the middle due to Covid plus risk with road blockage. But such worries are common, we were enjoying the route to the fullest.
After driving for almost 1+ hour, we finally reached the waterfall. Looking at the fall, first we laughed looking at each other as it was not at all worth travelling that much. But this was our first waterfall on this trip so we were happy.
Jumped out of our car and started taking pictures. One good aspect of this trip was that all 3 of us were fond of clicking pictures for memories.
We left this place soon as we had to travel a very long distance. I was driving, both Sharad and Prabal were talking with their wives on phone when I heard them making promises to buy clothes from the market. This was an absolute necessity for getting permissions on our future trips.
A good market for shopping as per our knowledge would have been in Shimla but thought of giving a try in Rampur, as Shimla would have been risky during covid time.
Once we entered and parked our car at Rampur on Nh-5, there were many stairs on the roadside going downhill towards the market.
Market was big with enough shops to purchase clothes or other stuffs. Prabal took almost 45 mins to find the type of cloth requested by his wife and overall we spent around 90 minutes there.
From here, next we stopped after 130 km just after Shimla for lunch at a roadside empty dhaba around 4 PM.
By now we got the confirmation that the Chandigarh-Delhi highway is closed by farmers at Murthal/Sonipat.
Prabal started calling people on mobile for help with an alternate route. Some suggested via Saharanpur (an extra 4 hours) and some suggested to stay at Chandigarh and wait for re-opening of road.
We still decided to go by that road hoping that GPS will show an alternate route near Sonipat, and we were correct. Just before Murthal, we turned left as per GPS towards a village which later took us to Signature Bridge in Delhi.
Although it took an extra 1 hour but GPS helped us in reaching our homes safely by 2:30 AM.
This wonderful trip will surely be in our memories for long long time now. Once again special thanks to our life partners for allowing us to go on the trip.
See you in the next blog, till then Happy Travelling.
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