Beyond the Beaten tracks, Love awaits at Larot!

Hunting for new places on this adorable planet has always been a passion, the vagabond shoes have never given up, while the days flew like a wind, as I took some endless, mesmerizing, refreshing, tiring, soulful journeys.

My India is a country with extreme landscapes and diverse tourism options. I have always believed and I still do, that if we can change the country to optimum prosperity, we can do it by promoting and offering its tourism in an organized setting to its own and foreigners.

After taking journeys to Ladakh, Nepal, Almora, Rishikesh, Gushaini, Kasol, Tosh, Nainital, Shimla, Dharamshala in the Northern Himalayas in the past, there were a few options left this Summer to do a budget travel for 7-10 days with family.

But, if your search is with a strong determination, you might see God, and his creation: off course through Google

We found our Summer destination along the Pabbar valley: Larot and the Chanshal Pass, hidden jewels ahead of Shimla, some 300 kilometers from Chandigarh. While Larot is a purely high hill with widespread apple orchards, Chanshal is a mecca of plateaus at 13000-14000 ft, way higher than the Rohtang Pass.

The Chanshal pass borders the Dodra-Kwar villages. Dodra and Kwar are two rustic and beautiful villages in the remote Himalayas. Its peaks can touch up to 17000 ft around 5200 metres above sea level. The Chanshal Pass is accessible from May to October and closed in winters, due to 6-8 ft of Snow each Year.

To reach Chanshal Pass:

Chandigarh-Shimla-Kotkhai- Khara Pathar-Hatkoti-Rohru-Larot-Chanshal Pass.

Our base camp was Larot, where we nestled in the beautiful Woods Hostel, a homestay in a 100% natural environment, be its air, food, water, vegetation and its in-house dairy. A wooden home mounted on a hilltop with a 360-degree view of the Himalayan ranges. Amazing home-made food, a home to some wonderful travelers in transit and those with longer stays up to 2-3 months. A base abode for avid trekkers, campers, and explorers

A good 10 days spent at Larot with excursions to the following:

1. A day trip to Chanshal Pass with my fellow travelers: Aashna-6, Sahana-9- a 3 hours journey covered on a 19 km stretch. Barley no roads, but barely any impure air.

2. A day trek to the Thalathal village to visit Asia’s Largest Deodar Tree, a famous 2-hour trek through most remote villages, forests and steep hill ranges, a safe and a wonderful experience with our sweet guide Ajay Singh.

3. A visit to rarest of rare scenic spot Kharshaili, where a small temple of Mata Hatkeshwari is nestled in dense Deodars.

4. A doable trek from Chanshal Pass to Saru Lake- 3-4 hour trek as you walk along the clouds on the peaks above 14000 ft.

But, all these days, we were mostly accompanied by a gem of a soul called JOHNNY, a Himalayan Shepherd Dog who was a pet at the Woods Hostel and we made great friends together, especially, my daughters, who were so attached to the loving creature, the Loyal Companion, who followed us in the village treks, daily walks to the local market, who just was simply a sweet chap JOHNNY! OH' Johnny dear, we miss you!

The simplicity of the village, the service of the locals, the great food, the loyal love of Master Johnny and the addictive routine in a not much traveled tranquilizing Himalayan village, is unforgettable.

This experience made us feel to a place where we actually belong; our true home is in the lap of Nature, where simplicity reminds us of a deeper meaning to our human existence.

What one man can do, so can the other.