Page 121 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

HIM A CHAL PR ADESH  119

Practical Tips
Be prepared: Acclimatization is
essential for areas over 3,000 m
(9,843 ft). See p743 for tips on
altitude sickness. Guides are
needed as maps are insufficient
for safe passage across glaciers.
For details on trekking, see p727.
On the trek: Drink plenty of
water. Carry a first aid kit and
cooking fuel. Never burn wood, Renuka Lake, venue of the Renuka Fair held
which is a scarce resource. Put in November
out all fires properly, leaving no 5 Nahan
burning embers. Do not litter, and
The Pin Valley Trek carry your rubbish back with you. Sirmaur district. 100 km (62 miles) S of
Starting at Manikaran, famous Permits: Foreign visitors require Shimla. @ _ Renuka Fair (Nov).
for its hot springs, the 130-km travel permits for parts of Spiti
(81-mile) path goes over the and Kinnaur, obtainable from Lying in the lower Shivalik
Pin-Parvati Pass to the cold the district or subdivisional Hills close to the plains, Nahan
desert region of the beautiful magistrate’s offices in Shimla nestles sleepily on a low
Pin Valley. It ends at Mikkim, (see p115), Rekong Peo (see p123), wooded ridge at 930 m
40 km (25 miles) from the Kaza and Kullu (see p130). The (3,051 ft). The old town retains
main roadhead at Kaza. offices at Kaza, (01906) 222 302 its network of narrow cobbled
Duration: 7 days and Rekong Peo, (01789) 222 253 streets and has an interesting
Altitude: 5,319 m (17,451 ft) are the most efficient. For
Level of difficulty: Tough general details, see p734. bazaar dating to the 17th
Equipment hire & operators: century. The old palace (Raja
The Institute of Mountaineering Mahal) is closed to visitors.
and Allied Sports in Manali Other attractions include
Gepang Goh (01902) 252 342, and Yeti Trekking the Ranzore Palace facing
(6,050 m/19,849 ft) the Chaugan (the royal polo
Chamba in McLeodganj (01892) 221 887,
Kailash organize treks. The Regional ground), the lively Jagannath
Bharmour (5,656 m/18,556 ft) Temple in the bazaar, and the
Beas Mountaineering Centre in
Macchetar Kund Rohtang Pass McLeodganj, (01892) 221 787, quiet walks through the chir
Indrahar Pass (3,985 m/13,074 ft) Kaza offers mountaineering courses. pine forests on the Villa Round.
(4,350 m/14,272 ft) Kuarsi Solang Palchan In Manali, Himalayan Adventurers,
Hanuman Tibba Manali Nahan serves as a convenient
Dharamkot Triund (5,930 m/19,455 ft) (01902) 252 365, is a reputable stop over for visiting the
Dharamsala Chanderkhani Pass Spiti Dankar rafting agency, the Himalayan popular Renuka Lake nearby.
Palampur Naggar • (3,500 m/11,483 ft) Institute of Adventure Sports,
(01902) 253 050, offers para- Environs
Malana • Manikaran Mikkim gliding, and Himalayan Journeys, Lying 42 km (26 miles) east
Jari Khirganga Pin Pin Sangam (01902) 252 365, offers mountain
Kullu Pulga Valley biking. See also p731. of Nahan, is the sacred Renuka
Mud Lake, whose shoreline traces
Parvati
Caution: Trekkers have gone
Pandav Mantalai the shape of a reclining woman.
Bridge missing in Parvati Valley. It is According to Hindu mythology,
Beas
advisable to trek in groups and to
Beas
Pin Parvati Pass take an experienced guide along. Renuka was the wife of the
(5,319 m/17,451 ft)
Mandi sage Jamdagni and mother
of Parasurama, an incarnation
Other Adventure Activities of Lord Vishnu (see p683).
She was killed by her son at
Himachal Pradesh has several peaks his father’s command, and
over 3,000 m (9,843 ft) suitable for miraculously came back to life,
climbing. The Institute of Mountain- only to disappear again, leaving
eering and Allied Sports at Manali
Bilaspur Satluj offers three-week courses. Skiing behind an imprint in the shape
is possible at Narkanda and at of her body. At the far end
of the lake is a small wildlife
Solang Nala near Manali. Summer park housing a pride of lions,
is the best season for rafting and
kayaking on the Beas river at Manali, Himalayan black bear and
and for paragliding at Solang and antelope. Nearby lies a smaller
Billing in Kangra. Manali offers lake called Parasurama Tal, and
Climbing a rock face, opportunities for mountain biking below this, an open area where
Tirthan Valley near the Rohtang Pass. the Renuka Fair (see p117) is
held every year in November
to celebrate the harvest.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p695 and p707
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