Sitting on the edge of a meadow atop a hill, looking down at the breathtaking views of the scenic Pabbar valley and Himalayan ranges as far as the eye can see, is a rare experience. It's an opportunity to connect with nature, to speak to it in absolute silence. The only sound that breaks the stillness is the music composed by the wind whispering through the leaves of cedar and pine trees. There is no hustle and bustle of the crowded cities, only the "Sound of Nature." While listening to the trees breathe, the cold breeze touches the face and whispers in the ears - Respect, protect, and preserve this beautiful Godly creation for the generations to come. Let's not only enjoy this scenic beauty ourselves but pass on this precious gift to the future. The few precious moments spent capturing the beautiful landscape in one's eyes, the Kuppar Bugyal, a highland meadow at a height of 3250m, are truly unforgettable.
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In November 2019, we embarked on a journey from Khadapathar to Giriganga to Kuppar Bugyal trek. Khadapathar (खड़ा पत्थर) is a small and beautiful town situated at a height of 2700m, approximately 80km from Shimla. The only HPTDC hotel at Khadapathar is the best place to stay within budget and excellent hospitality. One can also taste some local delicacies on demand, such as Gobhi Palda, cauliflower cooked in curd, which we tried and found to be excellent!
We drove all the way from Delhi to Khadapathar via Shimla, and the drive from Shimla to Khadapathar is beyond words. On the way, we passed through Mashobra, Kufri, Theog, and Kotkhai. The road is well-maintained and can be dangerous, but the drive is awe-inspiring.
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| "Prathas with butter at Murthal!" | ||
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| "Reached hotel!" | "View from hotel room balcony" | "View of Kuppad from hotel" |
After reaching Khadapathar in the afternoon, we discovered the area, including the Pabbar river, Hateshwari Mata Temple, and Rohru. It was too cold in Khadapathar, and the chilling wind was killing us.
We enjoyed the evening sitting beside a room heater in the hotel room. The next morning, we set off on the trek. Our first stop was Giriganga temple, approximately 6km from Khadapathar. A muddy road leads to Giriganga temple, and we decided to cover it on foot. Although we were not aware of the track and location, we started our journey. After a couple of hours, we reached Giriganga temple, a small temple surrounded by a forest with a stream (Giriganga) flowing through. It was a quiet place to spend some time and have darshan at the temple, even though the temple was closed.
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After spending some time at the temple, we continued further into the forest. A small trail with the stream flowing beside it led to a valley with open space. From this point onwards, the steep trail at an inclination of almost 70 degrees starts amidst dense forest. We were ill-prepared for this trek as we hadn't expected any snow and were wearing normal sports shoes. It had snowed the night before, making our upward journey too difficult and slippery. Finally, when we reached the edge of the meadow atop the hill, the view of the Himalayan ranges was mesmerizing. We sat there for some time to relax and tune in to nature. However, we didn't spend much time there as we were not carrying any food and were feeling hungry. Nonetheless, the moments spent there were worth a lifetime.
जैसे सितार के तार छेड़ जाये बहती हुई।।
यह हवा ही है हर जगह फ़र्क़ बस इतना है।
वहां सांस घुटती है यहाँ यह ज़िन्दगी देती हुई।।
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Soon, we headed back down the hill on slippery snow. On reaching the Giriganga temple hydrated ourselves with the water from a small spring and it was so tasty and extremely chilled. Completely tired reached the hotel by evening. Early next morning after breakfast started our journey back home carrying memories of a couple of days well spent at a beautiful place!
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