Ride to Bimakali Temple, Sarahan #trip2

I was eagerly waiting for weekend to have a ride. Friday evening i finished my office work and started for shimla at about 6PM. There is a short-cut route from nahan to Shimla via Kumarhatti but road is getting renovated and is badly damaged (got to know from #trip1), and also it was ride with my headlamps on so i chose to ride via chandigarh which is better highway road, all packed with clothes i reached Shimla at about 9PM. Met my brother Ankur at Shimla University Campus. We both then went to IGMC area to have nice dinner and there we had lot of chit-chat along with nice food.  Reached back to Ankur's house after dinner and took rest, Ankur decided to join me on the ride. I came to Shimla undecided about destination, i just want to go to higher himalayas and enjoy the cold weather. Ankur told me about Bhima Kali Temple about 180 Km from Shimla. 

Warning up the machine at Shimla 3 degree Celsius

Next day morning we got up early at 8AM (yes that's too much early at Shimla). and starting our journey. Crossing Sanjauli, Dhali in shimla we were on National Highway 22. Next came the most dense forest of Asia. forest has dark green full of devdaar trees. narrow road inside jungle was taking us to higher attitude. We did not stopped and keep riding last night i had gone little pain at right hand knuckle and hence i was not feeling comfortable with the gloves. I gave gloves to Ankur and continued without gloves, after few kilometers i adjusted with the temperature and cold was bearable without gloves, atleast it was better than to little sweet pain. We crossed and beautiful village fagu and headed towards Narkanda. Narkarda is situated at an altitude of 2708 meters. We could see the snow/ice on the road sides. though i was wearing 6 layers of clothes but at this place i was feeling cold on my chest.

The Route

Ankur Stopped me at a village after he saw an Alto. I don't remember now but car was having a fancy number. it was his friend's car, met his friend, This guy warned us to be careful from the ice patches on the road, from this place we have to go down to Rampur town situated on the bank of river Satluj, many portion of this road remains in shadow away from the sunrays, which makes that portion refrigerated. Rolling down from this place we stopped at North View Dhabha for breakfast, near to Kumarsen. Had a black tea along with couple of Aloo paranthas. Being prime apple belt of Himachal raods are nicely maintained in this area. Also this area is constituency of Congress leader Virbhadra Singh. Rolling down the road we reached Rampur.

Road above the Hydel Power Station

I had been to this place before also but that was car ride to visit power generation plant. City also have Asia's Largest Hydro Project Nathpa Jhakri Power Corp. at Jhakri and also have world's deepest Surge shaft at shah 22 K.M. away from Rampur. Whole hydel project is built inside a mountain, from outside no one can judge road is crossing over a 5 story building inside a mountain. It was awesome view here. one side giant mountain and other side deep green coloured river satluj. after Rampur we again started climbing up the mountains. Road was broken and many places with signboard showing spots for landslides, these patches are normally not repaired frequently so tarred road totally vanishes for few hundred meters at these places. After reaching jeori we got out of the national highway and starting climbing Sarahan hills with a narrow road. we were crossing the apple orchards but beauty of these trees were lost because of off season, trees were only having hanging dried leaves. 

2 Wooden towers of BhimaKali Temple

Crossing the Camp of Indo-tibetian border police we were finally reached sarahan. people at these place were wearing green color himachali cap similar one former CM Virbhadra wears. Reaching here i learned that bhima kali temple is ancestral temple of Raja Virbhardra's Family. You can see the picture temple is built of pure wood and iron sheet on the roof. Temple comprises of two tower shaped multi-story building, one tower remains closed from public visitors and is only opened for Raja Sahib once in a year during particular time as told by purohit in the temple. Even in the other tower major part remains locked and only opened for pooja. we can see the deities from the small windows. Basement of this tower was closed with a sealed locked. this was treasure hall of the temple. for sure this will have huge treasure inside. After some photography here and there we settled at Hotel Shrikhand by HP Tourism department for nice lunch. 

Ankur at Hotel Shrikhand, Sarahan

 It was 3PM by we finished lunch we have to travel back to shimla which was 175Km back following is the picture showing the shimla mountains from bhimakali Temple.

Narkanda Mountain from Bhimakali temple, Sarahan

You can image the chillness of the roads we have to experience while going back. and also wearing gloves was still a pain, i tried to ride with hand gloves while starting back from sarahan, but removed them after few kilometes. Better to bear cold than the pain. We kept riding to cover max distance in sunlight i was riding with a target to cover Narakanda without headlamp on, but with all the curves it was impossible after kumarsen light were on and we kept riding. Now it was becoming difficult we needed a same shadow area i mentioned above was about to start, Ankur needed a break he told as he was tired of seating on the back seat. we stopped at small shop and had nice ginger tea along with hot pakoras. After this road upto narkanda was little dangerous. sides of the roads were frozen. Narkanda was coldest spot we crossed, we thought to ride directly upto shimla after break from Narkanda, but coldless couldn't allowed us we again took a break from the dense forest and had another ginger tree. the Dhabawala was kidding said, "aap pahle customer ho jinne chai mangi, loki taan Rum lende hain", (you are first customer asking for tea, all others asks for RUM). We were back at Shimla at about 8PM. We contacted another friend Raghav parked bike at his house and climbed to Ridge for nice dinner. Lot of talking and experience sharing and back to Raghav's House for sound sleep.

Next morning got up at about 9 and got ready for return journey to Nahan, Ankur was accompanied with me upto Parwanoo to spend time with Ketan, while going back we were stopping at many places and shooting some videos following is a clip i made from those videos

Stopped at RE Solan for general check-up, the mechanic adjusted chain little bit, rest all things

were fine. Had lunch with Ketan at Parwanoo and after little rest i continued my return journey to nahan. i was at home at about 9PM. I wanted to go to higher attitude craze of bike was pumping me regularly to plan another ride during Christmas holidays from from this ride i learned it is not right time to go on higher attitudes. Snowfall can anytime block the roads and keep me struck at any place. Also it was after a long time and i was enjoying winter at my home. Staying at South india from many years i might have lost the immunity to bear the coldness during snow time ;) 

Oh i made this blog very long .. stopping it now. Will be back soon with some other stuff on my blog, probably my next BULLET RIDE.