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Off The Beaten Track In A Himachali Haven
Located
high up above the gorge of the Budhil Nala, in the western corner of
Himachal Pradesh, lies Hadsar village. The nala itself flows into the Ravi
river, one of the key constituents in the Indus system.
Hadsar is the roadhead, 13-km from the ancient capital of Chamba State at
Brahmaur, on the annual route of the Gaddi shepherds. It is also the
starting point for the yatra to Manimahesh
Lake and Manimahesh Kailash. The distance of 34-km from Brahmaur to
the lake at 3,950 metres and comprise of attractive mountain passes of the
Kalicho, Kugti and Chobia, that lead into neighbouring Lahul valley across
the Pir Panjal range.
A visit to Hadsar thus leads the visitor to an off beaten track. Starting
from Chamba, the road climbs steadily for 65-km
along the Ravi and then the Budhil, to reach Brahmaur. The 8th to 10th
century Chaurasi temples in the ancient town are the Gaddis' major place
of worship. For the rest, the air of continual arrival and departure in
Hadsar gives it that special flavour of activity in these remote
mountains.
LAKES
Manimahesh Lake: The
most popular route begins at Hadsar, a bumpy onehour bus journey from
Bharmour that leads to Manimahesh Lake, at an
altitude of 4,183m, one or two days walk away. Every year thousands of
pilgrims flock to its shores for the mela and the start of the yatra in
the month of August. more...
MOUNTAINS
Manimahesh Kailash: The glacier lake of Manimahesh is towered by a
mountain Manimahesh Kailash, which is held sacred by the Shivites, who
worship at the banks of lake and follow the ritual of Manimahesh yatra or
pilgrimage, following a circumambulatory path around the dramaticrock and
ice peak.
CITIES
Bharmour : Travelling eastwards along
the Ravi, one comes to the ancient capital of Chamba,
Bharmour, at a height of 1,981m. and 69-km
from the new height. Habe remained the capital of the city for 400 years,
Bharmour posses ancient temples built in the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries more....
Trekking: Hardsar to the Chandra Valley via the Kungti Pass, can ideally be combined with a trek to Manimahesh Lake. more...
Air: The nearest airport is at Gaggal in
Kangra (170-km from Chamba).
Rail: Nearest railhead is at Pathankot (118-km from Chamba).
Road: From Chamba (78-km away)
Standard hotel accommodations are available at Chamba and private lodging facility is provided in Bharmaur.
Hadsar is having a temperate summer and winter is extremely cold with the hillstation receiving heavy snowfall. Because of the cold the best time to visit this place is in between the months of May and November.
Bharmaur: 34-km
Chamba: 78-km
Pathankot: 131-km
Gaggal: 183-km