A Journey To The Lama's Land, Part - 1

A Journey To The Lama's Land,  Part - 1

There was a hidden desire inside my heart which I was nurturing for a long time and it would turn yellow in my chest little by little or it would dry up and die unless this opportunity came suddenly. I am a traveler and travelling is my passion and profession also, so this time when the sudden opportunity had emerged out,  along with few close friends and relatives I decided to start for Leh – Ladakh Tour.  From the very beginning, I decided to accompany the lofty Himalayas and move slowly away from all the ups and downs, so I started my journey from Chandigarh railway station in the early morning with the first shine of sun light. Our first destination is Manali.

This place is named after Mahatma Manu. Today's Manali, the name derived  from Manu's house. Mandi and Kullu, this two little town was on our way to Manali.  I come back again and again to these places. Nature has filled these places with extra ordinary beauty . The River Bipasha is on our way all along upto Manali with her sound and rich foam. The water with her high speed and sound  is going to hit the rocks, the pebbles, as if the river bipasha is  dancing like a  playful teenager girl. Another stream from Kullu bends to the right with the name Parvati. The valley on the right is called Parvati Valley from the name of Parvati river. That path has gone straight to Monikaran. Monikaran  is a big holy place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Sikhs. In this journey, of course, we are not going that way. We do not have much time to spend in elsewhere during this journey.

At this time Manali, Kullu and Mandi are full of red apples. Manali Mall is very beautiful. I also saw Basishta Ashram and Hadimba Temple at Manali.

The black rainy clouds had surrounded over the manali today evening. We were very disappointed with the heavy face of the sky in the evening  at Manali. Of course, I have never been to Manali only for few hours before, and left in less than two days. Who says mountains are just solid matter? This seemingly immovable majestic, graceful wave-playing mountain range is silently carrying in its heart an impossibly loving mind. He who understands gets him. Standing in the mall of rainy Manali, I apologized to my this friend with folded hands. I will come again friend, this time please forgive me.

The next morning the bright sky greeted us with a smile. We left after the breakfast episode. Today we will cross the Rotang Pass to Kelang, a town in Lahul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. That's where today's night is.

Rotang Pass is about 55 km from Manali. This road is very beautiful. The soft hills covered with greenery, the white blankets of snow wrapped around the peaks, are eagerly inviting the guests with both hands outstretched. It is as if we are floating in the pull of love like a fascinator.



Just before the Rotang Pass, on the right side of the road, an endless surprise awaited us. The name of the fountain is Rahala. It came down from a great height on the path. Unearthly environment. A few moments were spent with the shower. Then Rotang Pass. Every time I come, my mind is filled with a sweet joy.

"Astyattarasang dishi devatatma Himalayo namo nagadhiraja. Purbaparou  toyonidhibagajhyosthito prithibya  ibo  manodondo.”  This is how the great poet Kalidasa started his Kumarasambhav poem. The Giriraj Himalayas as the spirit of the gods are located on the northern border of this country. This great Himalayas, which stretches from the eastern sea to the western sea, seem to exist as the standard bar of the earth. This is that Nagadhiraja. O Mahabhaga, in your Shri Charan Padpadma(Holy feet), crores of prostrations, let us chant for the glory of Giriraj Himalayas.

Then we crossed the Rotang Pass and were on the way to Kelong. After a while, on the left side of the path, our companion becomes  the Bhaga River, a stream flowing sometimes very close to the gorge.



Shortly after, another stream appeared from the right side, this is the river Chandra. The two streams merged together with great joy and flowed to the left side under the name of Chandrabhaga. This Chandrabhaga River flows through Pakistan under the name of Chenab.



This reunion is big and beautiful. Our minds were filled with joy. After a short journey break, we captured the moments in the frame and proceeded again. The road from Rotang to Kelong is very bad. Especially just after the Rotang Pass. Yet the unfathomable beauty of this part of the Himalayas fascinated us so much that no obstacle along the way seemed tiring to us. Again, we were chanting in joy to praise the glorified name of the Giriraj Himalayas.

Kelong is the name of a small, well-arranged town, but it is so small that it would not be wrong to call it a village or neighborhood. Arriving in the afternoon, after a round of tea, we went out to visit the neighborhood. It was heard that a wonderful sunset was seen from the side of a mountain river.



After a short walk to escape the strong winds and severe cold, one has to return to the safe warm shelter of the hotel. Meanwhile, Surya Dev, the Sun god is going to rest by offering Raktanjali(The Red shade of the setting of twilight) to the white crown of the very nearer hill which is so close that I thought I can touch it at once.  It is as if the bed of the deity is completed for the night by offering incense, lamp and blood colourd sandalwood in the temple of God. In the town of Kelong the lights go out frequently. Comes again. In the dim light of a candle, in the dim light of this intense winter evening, we finished our evening snacks with a chunk of raw chilli, onion and oil, a glass of tea and a proportion of ghost stories. Dinner also had to end very early that night.

To be continued.......................................................................