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Shimla Region Map |
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Levi fare at Rampur |
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Hatu Peak |
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View from Hatu Peak |
Next morning at 7 we were on to the beautiful lawn of the Hotel Hatu, Narkanda, a cup of steaming tea in our hand and covered fully to fight the cold breeze from the deep valley in the south. We saw two tourists approaching us with a broad smile.
'Have you come to visit The International Lavi Fair at Rampur?' asked the stocky one with a golf cap.
'Well, no...may be..,' replied Tommy Singh with a bit of embarrassment in his voice
'Can you tell us some more details about it...?,' I asked inquisitively.
And then we were told.
Hungry as ever for the excitement, we decided to leave immediately for the fair at Rampur Bushahr, to a 60 km drive from Narkanda on National Highway 22.
It was a beautiful early morning drive with exhilarating cool pine scented air. We came down from 9000 ft to the plains at 1800 ft with a dramatic change in the landscape and temperature. Sainj was a small road junction on the banks of the river Satluj from where the road bifurcates to the great heights leading you to Jalori pass at 12,000ft and the to Manali, a tourist paradise in Himachal. We were told that it has breathtaking views on the way. Next time!
The further drive of 32 km from Sainj to Rampur was a sheer delight. You could go on at a reasonable speed in a valley which reminded us of the magnificent Kashmir. Along, river Satluj accompanied us, its water reflecting the sunlight like a shining crumpled metal sheet and the road carving through into distant hills. Fantastic!
We entered into a crowded town of Rampur Bushahr. In the past, Rampur was an entry port on the Hindustan Tibet Road (now NH22) connecting Kinnaur region of Himachal, India with Tibet, Ladakh India and Afghanistan. Now Rampur is a major commercial hub of Himachal.
Lavi in local language is 'wool'. Why it is called an International fair we didn't know but subsequently we thought of two reasons. One- the traders and buyers come from the distant parts of remote regions as well as from the differnt parts of India and abroad; Two-it has a legend that the royal queen of France, Marie Antoinette was very fond of Himalayan wool and had bought the wool many a times.
We were amazed at the quality and the variety of Pashmina and Kinnaur Shawls including other dresses of tribal origin at the most reasonable a price. There were stalls of dry fruits like walnuts, pine nuts, almonds and apricots at half the price of Delhi!! There were beautiful Himachuli caps and jute shoes as well! Great!
Historically, the fair was 300 years old and was to commemorate the treaty between Tibet and Bushahr state in India, during the rule of King-Kehri Singh (1636-96 AD). Unable to stay till evening to watch the tribal cultural programs due paucity of time, reluctantly we left the fair and Rampur back to Narkanda
THE ADVENTURE WAITING!
It was 4 pm when we started for our last local destination, a spiritual journey to a temple at Hatu Peak at the height of 3300 meters ie at 13,000 ft! We tried to reconfirm about the level of difficulty while driving as we had heard stories of mishaps on that road. Till recently it was only a trekking route of 7 km. We were reassured with a caution of driving carefully.
There was a concealed excitement! Our driver though good on the mountains moved slowly towards the car betraying a reluctance. The sunlight had become pale by then and temperature had dropped due to wind chill. After a straight drive of a kilometer we took a sharp and steep 'U' turn to our right and the car lurched forward. the road was becoming narrower and the gradient steeper! The silence was broken by the roar of a struggling engine.The forest was thick barely allowing the sunlight to pass through. In between the trees I could have a glimpse of distant forested hills with bright and shaded patches and deep dark valleys below! KRUUUUUTCH....BANG!!
We cried loudly!
A sudden fear gripped us!
The driver had negotiated a sharp turn when it happened. A protruding rock from the hill on our left had hit the car's wind screen breaking the glass and got stuck! We sat there paralyzed. Nobody knew what to do. On our right was the valley. There was a suffocating silence.
The we heard another sound. A whinnying sound and then we saw it. Another car coming down just managed to stop missing a hit by a whisker!
They were five guys. Young and strong. Their smile brought some cheer on our faces. They thought for a while, discussed among themselves and then the minds worked. Our driver started the engine, put it in the reverse and the other car started to push our car from the front. Double power worked and our car moved back. Soon we found the space for the other car to pass.
Phew!
What a relief. We thanked our rescuers and determined proceeded up on our journey. We passed a beautiful pond on the way, seemed to be a camping site. Surprisingly the light became brighter.
The entire scene was becoming ethereal and mystic with the tall and straight alpine trees and the snow on the slopes. The we were on the top at the peak. There was a bright sunlight at 5 pm. It was a small plateau with a small temple...with something of a divine aura. ..unexplainable! On a hillock was a house. There was nobody there! The temple was of "WISH FULFILLING HATESHWARI MATA (of goddess Durga). We started shivering. The breathing became shallow and difficult. We stood still at the temple each praying and wishing silently. The we walked around the peak and once again bowed at the miracle of nature. A 360 degree incredible view of the mighty Himalayas. At that spiritual crown we were in Heaven with every mortals and immortals below us!
Yes! I felt HIS presence at that point of time. There was something more than 'MYSELF.' I could see HIM everywhere.
The why this desire, lust, hate, grief, love, anger.....? Can I separate it from my soul? Can I put it away and keep it locked?
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