Churdhar

Name of Place:	Churdhar
District:	Sirmaur
State:	Himachal Pradesh
Country:	India
Time to Visit:	April to October

It was 7^th September of 2013 when I moved on my bike from Shimla to Solan. Plan was to visit Churdhar top.

Churdhar is situated in Sirmaur District of Himachal Pradesh. It is the highest peak in outer Himalayas having an altitude of more than 3600m. During winters, it remains covered with snow & is not so easy to visit. It is visible from Shimla in a clear climate and even in winters when covered with snow.

Night View of Solan (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

I reached Solan at around 07:00pm, my friends (Parveen Sharma, Manmohan Pathak and Kaka) met me there and we decided to move early in the morning at about 04:00am.

Next morning we all were ready and started our journey exactly at 04:00am in Maruti 800 car. We moved on the route via Rajgarh. When we started, it was raining intermittently in the dark outside. We reached Rajgarh at around 06:00am and we used ATM for some cash withdrawal. Then we moved towards Nauradhar from where, our on foot trek was to start. The road to Nauradhar was not too good neither too bad.

Road to Nauradhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

On the way we saw beautiful landscapes and a natural waterfall. We stopped there, clicked some pics and moved ahead.

Waterfall on the Rajgarh-Nauradhar Road (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Around 07:30 we reached Nauradhar, had our breakfast, filled our water bottles and at around 08:30 we started our on foot trek towards Churdhar top. From Nauradhar, it was at the one sided distance of around 15km.

Natural Views on the way to Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Trying best to reach Churdhar In the Pic: Parveen Sharma (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Natural Views on the way to Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Aahhh…… The route was steep upwards, too tiring and even it was becoming too difficult for us, as we were wearing tight jeans. One must have loose fitting lowers for such treks. We kept on moving and clicked some pics on the way....

On the way to Churdhar, In the Pic: Kaka (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

On the way to Churdhar, In The Pic: Kaka, Manmohan Pathak & Parveen Sharma (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Houses of people residing in heights on Churdhar way (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

On the way to Churdhar, In the Pic: Manoj Mehta (Pic: Parveen Sharma)

Old House Structures on the Churdhar way (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Agriculture by locals of heights (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Relaxing time, In the Pic: Kaka & Parveen Sharma (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

As the trek was tiring, we relaxed on some points. But Manmohan Pathak was fully charged. I don't know how, but he was moving too fast and we all were behind him with a huge gap and I was the last one in the slow speed race.....

Relax for a while, In The Pic: Parveen Sharma (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Manmohan Pathak was moving too fast n fast...

On Fire, In the pic: Manmohan Pathak (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

At last in relax mode, In the pic: Manmohan Pathak (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Natural Views on the way to Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

On the way to Churdhar, In the pic: Kaka & Parveen Sharma (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

On the way to Churdhar, In the pic: Kaka & Manoj Mehta (Pic: Parveen Sharma)

On the way to Churdhar, In the pic: Parveen Sharma (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Relax Mode, In the pic: Manoj Mehta (Pic: Parveen Sharma)

On the way to Churdhar, In the pic: Manoj Mehta (Pic: Parveen Sharma)

View of Nauradhar from above (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Normal Straight way started from this point (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

After walking steep upwards for about 1½ hours, we found the way straight. Now it was neither too upwards nor too downwards, it was now mutual with little ups and downs and we tried to cover the time by moving fast.......

Lets move now, In the pic: Manmohan Pathak (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Manmohan Pathak was waiting for us and when we reached to him we again started walking together.......now the path was normal

Now the route was normal to walk (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Slow & Steady wins the race, In the pic: Manmohan Pathak & Manoj Mehta (Pic: Parveen Sharma)

On the way to Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Cattle of locals on the way to Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

While walking, rain started and we tried to find a type of cave or shelter....

Walking in the rain (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

And we found a cave for shelter and stopped there to escape rain.....

Found a cave for shelter, In the pic: Kaka (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

But rain din't stopped and we started moving in rain and reached Jamta (Name of place) at 11:20am. There was a tea shop. We stopped there for tea, I wear my raincoat.... rest were having their umbrellas. Another group of guys also came there, they were returning back from Churdhar. I clicked some pics there, after then wrapped my camera, kept it in the bag... and again started moving in rain towards....

Jamta, 1st stoppage for tea (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Having tea in relaxed mode (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

After walking for more than 1 hour the rain stopped and we reached at another location at 12:40pm. There was also a tea shop but we din't stopped there. Now again my camera came out from bag and again it started clicking....Here are some clix after rain.....

After rain view on the way to Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

After rain view on the way to Churdhar, In the pic: Kaka, Manmohan Pathak & Parveen Sharma (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

After rain view on the way to Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

At 01:10pm we reached a point from where back side of Churdhar top was visible.....

Backside view of Churdhar top (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

After rain view on the way to Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Backside view of Churdhar top (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

After rain view on the way to Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Backside view of Churdhar top (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Churdhar surrounding (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Churdhar surrounding, In the pic: Kaka (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Churdhar surrounding, In the pic: Parveen Sharma (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Churdhar surrounding after rain (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

On the way to Churdhar, In the pic: Parveen Sharma (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Churdhar surrounding after rain (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

At 02:16pm we reached at the bottom of Churdhar top....from there the way was too steep upwards between heavy rocks.....

Bottom of Churdhar Top (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

At the bottom, we found a tail-less rat........

Tail-less rat at Churdhar bottom (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Bottom of Churdhar Top, Front view of Churdhar (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

At 02:30pm we reached at the junction point of Nauradhar & Chaupal route....

Junction point of Nauradhar & Chaupal route (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

From junction point it took ½ hour for us to reach at the top...

View from Churdhar Top (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

Lord Shiva Statue at Churdhar Top (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

View from Churdhar Top (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

View from Churdhar Top, In the Pic: Manmohan Pathak (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

View from Churdhar Top, In the pic: Manmohan Pathak (Pic: Manoj Mehta)

We stopped there for about 15 minutes and then we moved downwards to Shirgul Devta temple. We were too tired, it took 50 to 40 minutes to reach there.....