Tethys Himalayan Den, Chicham, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, Might 2023 #NAINAxBanjaraExperiences

Not like final time, being pushed from Gurgaon to Manali to Chicham, we drove from Sangla to Chicham. It was a brand new route that I had not seen beforehand and it was equally enjoyable to discover.

Tethys Himalayan Den was our third cease within the #NAINAxBanjaraExperiences circuit that we deliberate : Thanedar, Sangla, Chicham and Sojha.

Your entire drive was affected by roadside indicators saying, “Capturing Stones. Drive Rigorously.” and it grew to become a operating joke. How is one purported to drive “fastidiously” when unpredictable stones may come pelting down at us any second! One can solely drive and hope for the very best. And it doesn’t even matter in the event you drive quick or gradual. We noticed various automobiles with smashed windshields and aspect home windows to be holding our breath every time was noticed one of many “capturing stones” indicators. the world is well-manned by the BRO they usually often had personnel with purple and inexperienced flags to alert automobiles.

We stopped at Tabo for lunch – there are a number of locations that serve multi-cuisine fare. A lot of the drive is thru mountains that seem like they’re able to crumble at a lot as a sneeze.

It’s a pleasant panorama. Instantly a patch of inexperienced on an otherwsie totally naked mountainside. Columns of mud deposits weathered by the rain and excessive velocity winds. Your entire area seems prefer it’s constituted of tectonic plates entering into all instructions.

Above, Kee / Key Monastery as seen on the street from Kaza to Chicham; Chicham village sighted with the Chicham Gorge within the entrance and the Tethys Himalayan Den signal board on the flip for Chicham and Kibber.

Beneath, Tethys Himlayan DEN images properly doesn’t it? It felt like coming again residence. Much more so this time as a result of we drove ourselves. The locations this Diesel Ertiga has been pushed to! We didn’t suppose it will make the climb on the final flip towards the Den, however a fastidiously positioned stone behind the left rear tyre did the trick.

Above, the spot proper exterior the second flooring rooms the place we drank our chais and coffees and typically beers. It’s chilly out, so it’s a fastidiously thought of determination. The widespread eating corridor is a much more sheltered spot to do such issues.

Beneath : The Widespread Eating Corridor. Massive glass panes make you are feeling that you just’re probably not indoors however the wooden heater positively tells you that you’re. There’s board video games and breakfast, lunch and dinner and a hang around spot for all residents. Night video games and conversations with strangers are the norm.

There are a number of electrical plug factors, however I additionally advocate that you just carry your individual energy strip and mortgage out a number of spots to your fellow vacationers.

There’s rather a lot to do in and round Chicham. Although I’ve visited beforehand, we nonetheless had sufficient choices to select from. One of many issues we did was drive to Gete, which a really small village – no more than 5-6 houses maybe. The Key Monastery is seen from a spot close to the village and you’ll drive until there. I like photographing the identical location from completely different views, so I positively needed to go and test it out. And I’m glad we did! Images beneath. Thanks Ritushree and Faizu for the tip.

Additionally took a while out at Gete to have myself photographed sporting a stunning Pashmina Fur scarf by Janavi India.

One other spot that I had conveniently ignored the final time round is Chicham Bridge. Stopped over for a bit and was shocked to see meals vehicles! Not one thing I had ever anticipated to see in Chicham!

Chicham Bridge is a suspension bridge and is taken into account one of many highest bridges in Asia. It’s constructed over a 1000 toes deep, spectacular wanting gorge and the bridge connects Kibber to Chicham village. The bridge was solely accomplished in 2017, earlier than which you’d need to drive an additional 40 kms to get to Chicham.

The final two pictures above : Pink Fox and Blue Sheep specks. The Chicham Gorge can be residence to wildlife. Whereas we didn’t spot a Snow Leopard, we did spot a Pink Fox that was selecting at rubbish. And we spent virtually an hour watching Blue Sheep head-butting on one of many slopes popping out of the gorge. This was nearer to sundown, so the sand they had been flinging about is what caught my eye – in any other case, at that distance, not possible to identify these shy creatures.

Tethys Himlayan DEN repeatedly hosts Snow Leopard Expeditions within the winters BTW.

Again to one in every of my favorite rooms, the place I’ve stayed each occasions at Tethys. The loft room is GREAT. Regardless of being in direction of the again of the constructing, you’ve nonetheless bought a view. It’s tremendous shiny tremendous early within the morning, so in the event you’re a lightweight sleeper like me, carry a watch masks. Ear plugs additionally won’t harm in the event you’re touring throughout busy season. It’s a homestay and voices carry simply. You could be completed with dinner at 9 pm however many of the others are actually not!

Water is photo voltaic heated but when there’s no sunshine, the workers will warmth water for you. Do do not forget that that is a particularly distant place – so please set your expectations accordingly. Beautiful home-cooked meals with some nice surprises, which I’d positively not anticipate at Chicham. For instance, watermelon for breakfast! It was much more scrumptious as a result of it was at 4,270 meters above sea degree. NOTHING grows at Chicham – besides a number of new endeavours the place locals are trying to develop peas and mushrooms.

Additionally, electrical blankets for the win!

My accomplice had not seen the Manali Highway, so one of many days we had been at Chicham, we determined to simply go for a drive within the Manali path. I recalled that it had appeared way more picturesque than the route from the Shimla aspect, and the sky seemed fascinating to my photographer’s eye, so it was a superb day to go for a drive.

We drove by means of the Ladarcha Meadows beneath.

The surroundings is unquestionably extra lovely that the opposite route. No marvel so many individuals desire the Manali route. We then drove on in direction of Kiyato however didn’t go all the way in which. There was a bridge to our left, which might take us on a route that even I had not seen beforehand and we determined to attempt that out. It turned out to steer us proper again to Kaza!

I discover it SO TOUGH to pick pictures from Spiti. Every thing is charming and so gorgeous to have a look at and re-look at. No marvel this weblog put up has gone on and on. And there’s nonetheless a lot extra that I’ve not shared right here. I will probably be releasing a number of the images as prints too, someday quickly.

The Kiyato bridge to Kaza route turned out to be extra lovely than I had imagined.

We ended up again at Kaza, the place we picked up a number of provides, some garments and a few beer. Most retailers within the Kaza Market ( together with the ONLY gasoline station on the town ) settle for solely money as type of cost. Most of them do settle for UPI funds however bank cards are an absolute no-go and money is most well-liked.

There’s a brand new property within the works at a spot known as Mane, which we stopped over at whereas driving from Chicham to our subsequent cease, Banjara Village Retreat at Sojha.

Mane is at a decrease top than Chicham and located near the valley flooring, proper subsequent to the Spiti River. A lot extra inexperienced. Can not wait to see what these guys give you.

We had been additionally fortunate sufficient to identify a Himalayan Vulture up-close (also referred to as the Himalayan Griffon Vulture). We had seen a number of of those at Tethys as properly however they had been all the time too distant to be photographed correctly on my 200mm lens.

And we noticed some extra Blue Sheep on our departure from Mane and Spiti Valley.

I’ll depart you with a number of extra panorama images beneath, all photographed from a window at Tethys. If there’s one 7 Star property at Chicham, it’s Tethys Himalayan. Huge hugs and gratitude to Faizu, who’s village Turtuk is on our radar subsequent.