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Shrikhand Mahadev - Unexplored Himachal |
Himachal is an interesting place. Isn’t it? I would like to post my writings on unexplored Himachal to give a off the road view and a different Himachal to let you all see. Shrikhand Mahadev is one such place. Its hidden. Its unexplored. Not many people know it or visit here. Its purely natural. No hick ups. Best place for people who enjoy trekking. Actually i love to go to such places.
Shrikhand peak is sited along side the Great Himalayan National Park of Himachal. It is in Kullu region, but near to Shimla.
Shrikhand Mahadeva
Shrikhand Mahadev, as localites use to say, is one of the adobes of Lord Shiva, who resides there. They worship the natural, rock-made shivalingam on the great heights of mountains. The shivalingam is 72 feets high and stands still at the mountain top, above 18,000 ft altitude. One has to go through many gorges, ravines, and beautiful valleys.
I have been there last year (in July, 2007). The place is actually open for just 15 - 20 days in summers between mid July till starting of August. Going uphill takes 3 days trapping a stretch of around 35 - 40 KM. Return can be done in 2 days. So you may have to schedule full week for such an expedition.
To reach Shrikhand Mahadev peak, one has to go to Shimla, and then to Rampur (140 KM ahead). From Rampur, one way goes to Sarahan and the other to Nirmand. While trekking, Sarahan route is little tough than Nirmand wala route. Another route is via Tirtath (but that too is unexplored - hehe). Himachal Tourism has a Hotel at Sarahan named The Shrikhand, named after the majestic Shrikhand mountain Peak in front of it. Sarahan lies on NH-22.
I went there last year with one of my friend. We had taken Nirmand route. The day we started I got little afraid as it was raining throughout the day and we just knew that the route is all a jungle one has to pass through. But with stiff determination for Shiva, Naresh said “Bamm Bhole - Om Namah Shivaya” and I got the message. We started moving up hill from a village. Up till Jaon, we has a cab from Rampur. After few KMs there was a langar organized by localites. We rested, had some food and asked them if we could move up? It was 3:00 PM by then and the next stoppage was around 10 KM far. It was a risk. But a couple that we met there gave us assurance that if we all go togetther then we will reach there in time. We agreed.
I still remember those 10 KM - complete exhaustness. It was tough, very tough. Steep 80 degrees height. Even a luggage of 5Kg on your back seems 25Kgs. We had dinner together. The cook charged Rs 40 for a plate of Rice, roti, Dal [cereals] and a subji [vegetables], but he looked more than satisfied while taking that money. We planned to move early morning so that we can reach next point in time. We hired blankets from the providers there and had a nap. In the morning we started again moving same steep hill.
The moment we reached the ridge, I was tired. We were also out of water. And there was a deep narrow gauge ahead of us to move down. We filled out water bottles with the water that came out of soil. That is actually hard water with lots of minerals in it, but tastes great. Naresh helped me and supported to get that gorge passed, as it was quite slippery. Next we moved several hills up and down. That day we traveled around 22 KM.
On the way we saw and the localite couple with us explained about various medicinal herbs. There is was - both shelter and food (langar). We talked to those servicing people, who were there just to service others. Preparing food, maintaining shelter, managing excretory system. Heads off to them. We had our breakfast and started again. When we reached a place called Nayan Sarovar, that couple had a bath there. People believe to have a holy bath at this small lake before visiting Shrikhand peak. Beautiful waterfalls and complete greenness that anyone would fall in love with. It was shivering as we moved ahead.
Last few steps (I mean KM) were dead end to me. But still I was moving without my effort - I dont know what was it. We quickly had a round walk around the shivalingam and moved down. Actually at such a height its very hard to stay for long time as it starts to have breathing problem.
We quickly moved down to the shelter (about 8 KM down). We had good chat with those men offering service. It was nice to hear of those spiritual talks. Next day we started early (at 5 AM) and moved down and said bye to that couple who helped us so much in this trip. Later on I took a bus to my home and Naresh left to chandigarh. This is all what i remember. Hope you liked it. Thanks for being patient.
I hope I will keep on updating you all with lesser known Himachal places. click here to read more of my writings.
Welcome aboard Vikas.
I haven’t heard about this place, thanks for sharing. Some more pics would have probably made the story even better.
Looking fwd to next ‘unexplored’ place in Himachal :)
A short nice post. More details and pictures would be better. I like the photograph here and its different tones. Himachal Pradesh is indeed an interesting place.
Never heard about this lovely looking place. Seventy two feet high Shivalingam at an altitude of 18000 feet must be amazing. I echo Nandan and Celine’s view and am sure that a few pictures of the temple and the ravines ang gorges on the way would make the reading all the more interesting.
Welcome aboard and do keep on sharing your views about the other unexplored territories of Himachal Pradesh.
Thanks Nandan, Celine and Ram for your comments. The place is actually considered to be one amongst the seven Kailash parvats [mountains] that we Hindus worship.
I have added few more things to the same post and pics as well.
Vikas - where did you add more pics ? I dont see them or do you mean something else.
Very inspiring. Vikas you are my kinda guy (in the right straight sense). I am on a hiatus from trekking and i hate that! I have great hopes from your posts. Going on treks really is a break away from city life. You are on our own, facilities are minimal, u dont have pressures, other than makin there on time, which is just a course of time and u enjoy beautiful scenaries and unblemished nature, the people are so different, they dont get on your nerves lol, their simplicity amazes you, you want to lisen to their little stories, the rains test you, wets your stuff, makes the ground slushy but makes your tea and pakodas taste so much more better, adds warmth to your cigaretes, makes your alcohol taste rich and smoother, makes the dhaba u take ur tea in so much more cosier with the pitter patter on the roof above, the walk gives u a sound sleep, the tent gives you a star rich view, the night has a raw feeling to it, like the days of the early man, u can see why and how they named the constellations, the firewood cooking, or just a bonfire, the light from fire on the faces of people around it making their stories sound like fairy tales, their emotions more clearer and real. Every element of a good 2-3 days trek has its own glory. I wish for you and the readers you get time to organise more treks like this one.
Thanks for those lovely comments ajeet. I have asked Nandan to upload the photos which will make a good view of the place
I was reading the comments and was wondering the reason for other comments as in my opinion the post is with nice photographs. Then I realized that many of these photos are added later on. Let me confirm that now this post looks perfect to me.
I travelled with you Vikas, enjoyed the hospitality of the Langars and generous locals. With two small kids its not possible to do trekking on these seemingly difficult treks, but nevertheless, I can do travelling with other ghumakkars like you through their beautiful descriptions.
A very interesting comment from Ajeet too. Such a nice emotions that only an experienced trekker like him can share.
We would be looking forward to more from you Vikas.
Recently I visited this place and it was really an adventurous trip. I think it’s six days trek. At many places on web difficulty level high is mentioned for this.
Vikas, please add more details so that other ghumakkars plan it in better way.
+ VJ
I was part of Trek team this time and with the help of Vikas and Vishal, even I could make it to the top. Though first day (SinghGhat - Kali Ghati), we got drenched in rain and had fever. Despite that we could manage to go further.
The time taken for this trek varies on Individual capacity and stamina. So plan accordingly. I recomend this to everyone once in lifetime.
I like the photograph here,
thanx for these details….
place looks really very cool
Its really a very good place to visit, at least once.
Recently we visited the place… (Me and 3 friends)
Hope if i get time to write that up.
thank you all for these lovely comments.
jai bhole shanker…
nice pics…wt i realize tht these pics are so different..like i had frns who clicked there..and i had my pics as well..they all seem totally different..each offering a great view….
amazing….what a place to be….nicely described and it no more seems unexplored….
treks are always a welcome break though they turn out to be extremely exhausting, the adrenaline rush is worth it…. but this trek looks like a difficult one…
hi all frnds.shri khand is 2nd hieghtest kailash after kinner kailash(6056m/20000ft) its actual hieght is(5856m/19000ft) above not 5268m it is wrong hieght.it is border of shimla-kullu.sarahan(shimla) is front of this peak and bagipul(nirmand/kullu) is back side of this peak.3 kailash in himachal out of 5 kailash
1.(mount kailash-22000ft Tibbet/china) but lake is an hieght of 14000ft.but we can’t touch shivlingam
2.(kinner kailash-20000ft-Himachal) same here we can’t touch shivlingam
3.(shri khand mahadev kailash-19000ft-Himachal) shri khand is only one shivlingum which we can touch.but its yatra is very tuff out of all kailash bcos thier is no roads,transport etc.etc…. this is 5 or 6 days yatra
4.(mani mahesh kailash-17000ft-Himachal) mani mahesh lake is an hieght of 14000ft.
5.(aadi-kailash/om perbat range-16000ft-utteranchal)
I too was able to visit shrikhand mahadev this year i e in Aug 2008 , realy it was wonderful experience , It would have been better if mention of Parvati Bagicha , Kali Ghati / Kali Mandir and Bhim Shila etc is added , i have few photographs of these places and can share with u if u wish.
I recently traveled from Mumbai to Sarahan. There, i could meet some people who had been to this lovely abode, serene & heavenly majestic place. I could only have a distant glance from another heaven called Sarahan and wish i could be there sometime. I have only been traveling across to mountains but never ever trekked, so i can’t judge whether i have that stamina and guts in me to climb this difficult place. My salute to all those lucky travelers who visit this peak. I will conslidate energies to see if i could sometime trek this peak and post pictures in my life…but i must say that one must go to this peak in lifetime and achieve that underlying satisfaction. Afterall life is a rare gift of God.
Great work dude n in my opinion its like a milestone achieved after visiting this xtraordinary land n i m planning to go there this year,please guide me abt the journey n luggage related info.Thanx a lot
Precausions:
1. Since its very cold there, so please take warm clothing with you.
2. Extra precaution for chilling wind - take a warm cap to pretect your head.
3. While trekking, with warm clothing on you, you will feel sweat, but do not take off those cloths.
4. Take medicines and moov gel with you. Medicine for headache, altitude sickness, may be vomit, digestion, aches, tireness.
5. Food - very imp. Take dry fruits, some high energy foods with you. Food prepared by localits is not good (because of altitude). You can ask for worm soup prepared out of dal or something from them, that will be better option rather than eating half prepared food. I relaised this at the top, because of non availability of good food to me for 2 days.
6, Make your luggage lighter - min you can carry. And while trekking, hire some guy from there. Initially you can carry the bag, but later on you cant believe me (you will feel extra tireness because of that). Hire some good guy, otherwise he may bother you up-hills. We hired a guy for 1200 who had gone till the peak with us. Most of them may not go. Dont take chance.
7. If you going with your own car, then take some driver with you. Gain 1: He will take care of the vehicle, Gain 2: After 4-5 days of trek you will definetly be tired, so he will drive you to home.
Happy Journey…