After a number of discussions and re-discussions, the decided route was via Una-Bhota and I must say the start was scary for the wife at least. I must have taken some wrong turn or so because rather than straight to Ropar, the ride suddenly went through mountains for a while (roughly 20 kms or less I guess) and you can understand the fear in wife as I was driving on hills in night for the first time. Even last Dehradun-Mussorie ride was my first hill ride throughout during day. I, on the other hand, had no issues with the route till it was wide enough and was paved.
The roads went up and up, then down and down, then up and up with almost no co-traveller or traffic to pass. It was complete lonely stretch feeling like we are walking into forest, leaving a sense of vulnerability. Anyway.. it lasted for a while and we were back to plains after that. It was still night and despite of expectations, no sunshine even by 4AM and then just small by 4.30 AM.
Encounter with green water
First stop was near some riverbank which had a typical greenish color.
First photo ops of the car
A short break for tea
As with beautiful Gurudwaras by side of the roads and finally stopped for tea by 6.30 or earlier before Nangal. In front of the Dhaba, there was this vehicle which seemed to have met a horrible fate. It was a reminder to me to keep speed in check even when I was willing to finish the journey faster.
Tiredness visible on face
Passed through Nangal but as I seen through the maps and was expecting a sight of Nangal Dam, reality happened to be opposite of that or I might have missed something. Didn’t see any picture worth portion of dam while Sygic kept on driving me for my way. It was tough part about routes as Sygic kept on pushing me on Bilaspur route while I intentionally wanted to avoid it. One minor mistake then backtrack, but finally with help of Google maps and determination, I managed to keep myself on Una-Bhota route and then that paid off…..
Dreamish Una-Bhota Route
Dreamish Una-Bhota Route
Dreamish Una-Bhota Route
Dreamish Una-Bhota Route
A stop near a farm
A 360 degree panorama view at somewhere on Una-Bhota route
Man!! What a sight the hill ride of Una-Bhota was. Literally never thought to see such roads on any Indian hill route. It was true Hollywood style, picture perfect route (only wish, wife would have been more interested in taking pictures than just watching & enjoying the scenic view). Perfect width, perfectly marked with paints and with rocks on a side and sometimes both the sides, it was always beautiful throughout the route. I really wished that it remains so till Manali.
The car posing at a corner
Some reservoir on the way
We also took a stop in between at some reservoir where we took Samosas and Tea while enjoying the view.
It was a long long hill drive for sure and in such perfect conditions of roads that if I had any longing for hill drive then it should have been satisfied completely by now (Must have been 200 kms in hills in this journey). After having a bump free ride for at least 400-450 kms till now, finally I was to face reality.
After Hamirpur or I would say precisely after Jahu, the roads were gone all of sudden. Literally no roads or narrow ones.. yeah.. supposed to be state highway. Anyway, I had to drive till I reach Ner Chowk then I come to reach such a stretch which was completely unpaved with very narrow width. At one side there were rocks and on other side thousands feet down. I kept on driving and wife was in no mindset to take pictures. I started driving slowly & steadily to pass that stretch hoping it would get better and then…
Despite of horns, the driver from other side kept on driving and both the vehicles came in front of each other. Trust me by no means even a biker could have gone past me at that road but how to tell this to that driver. I stopped my car & sat down idle. The driver in next car realized his mistake & started moving backward by inches and then I seen more horrible scene. A kind of small truck & a sedan were coming to this side & also an Alto was behind me. If they would have come then it would have become an hour long nightmare but thank god they understood the situation & stayed back.
Situation wasn’t over yet. Despite of moving few fts in those dangerous terrains by the other car, it was less space for us both to pass through each other or it was narrow. Anyway, we had no choice. I took God’s name inside my mind and moved forward. Almost an inch leaving by side of rocks while the other car had to do the more dangerous part.. to inch towards the other side with thousands ft down. Gap between our cars wasn’t more than 2” & his tyres & the other side just 6”… Anyway.. it was done. Honestly, I should have give full credits to the other driver for the part. In no way, I would have done that nor I had space left to move back as it was narrow even before me. Anyway…
We took a sigh of relief & I drove ahead joking with wife that she should have taken pictures of the moment so I would have a memory of scene & others could know what I am talking about. On which she replied that she was shit scared while same time she had to take care of the kid & to tell me clearance with rock as well, so wasn’t interested in keeping any memory sort of.
The situation of roads continued like this for a good 33km at least and got better once we reached Ner Chowk. Narrow & winding roads killed the momentum & made the car to run in first two gears for a longer while till we finally reached Ner Chowk.
Kiddo enjoying the first stop at Mandi
We took a stop at Mandi at around 12PM to have lunch. Roughly 7.5 hrs for 265 kms wouldn’t be called as some fast ride but considering the hilly roads throughout, horrible patch of 33km (Manageable still) and stops to take a look at views on kind of Hollywood style dream roads, I would say, I maintained good. Didn’t I?
(to be continued…)
During July 2013, we went to Jahu to attend a close friend’s wedding. And by looking at pics of Una-Bhota, now I remember the drive. We also drove further from Jahu but not much. 270 Km in 7.5 hours is pretty good.
My benchmark is 50 Kms per hour in plains (door to door, distances in excess of 200 Kms) and 25 Km in hills (again door to door, distances in excess of 50 Kms). As long as you are doing more than 50 and 25 then you are good. Remember to calculate this as door-to-door :-). So if you are lost in the city then that time is counted as well. hehe
I guess the log finished too soon. :-)
I would have written more about the “dream route” for driving if I would have taken some more pictures and would have taken more stops but that time target was to reach as early as possible so it was almost eventless.
As about time calculations, then totally agree with your estimates. Next journey would be to Bhimtal very soon and then these calculations would be on test :P
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nice post about the combination of good and bad roads with careless drivers in dangerous terrains.driving in nights should be avoided in general and especially in hilly area.
Hi! Nitish,
Good adventurous journey but too short in one log, as Nandan already submitted. Enjoyed your Night Ride but agree with Ashok Bhai, should avoid Night Driving not only in hills but on plains too, specially when accompanied with family. Intelligently, you drove cautiously and respected the rules of Hills. No matter how others behave, we should always keep our cool while negotiating curves. Pics are awesome and hope to see more logs from you.
Keep traveling,
Ajay
Sir,
More of it definitely coming to cover stay in Manali, Rohtang and then return journey to Delhi. Very soon to complete the series.
As about night journey in hills, then yes I would never prefer that… Just didn’t expected route to go hilly within mins of leaving Chandigarh
To the contrary i always prefer driving in night esp in hilly areas, as i can zip through curves in the night because of the fact you can actually make out before the curve that there is traffic coming from the opposite side with the help of head lights falling onto that curve. Whereas in the day, due to the ample daylight each and every curve is kind of a blind curve so you have to be extra cautious in the day than in the night.
So everyone fearing to drive in the night in hilly areas must try once to actually feel that it’s rather easier to drive in the night in hilly terrain (saves an hr or more than you would have actually taken) than in the day.