Footloose in Kangra Valley - 3

Sherabling Monastery - Bhattu Village - Baijnath - McLeodganj - Naddi Village

A narrow road leads from the vicinity of the Sherabling monastery to the village of Bhattu. We follow the road for some time and then take short cuts through Bhattu village. It is indeed a picturesque and prosperous village, looking clean and washed up after the rain. The ubiquitous piles of garbage and plastic common to tourist destinations are missing here – perhaps a sign that there are few outsiders passing through this place. The houses are set among small fields and we identify wheat, mustard, onions, garlic, and carrots all in tiny plots.

The road winds down along the Binwa river carrying melted snow from the Dhauladhars behind us. Walking along an elevated meadow one gets splendid views of the snow clad peaks.

We enter the town of Baijnath after crossing a bridge over the Binwa. A little distance ahead is the 8th century Shiva temple located at a height above the river and offering gorgeous views of the river gorge and the snow clad peaks behind. The temple complex is refreshing – neat landscaped gardens all around and entrances from several directions. It seems that the complex is not just a place for prayer but also an area where people can take a pleasant walk or relax. Behind the temple, there is a steep staircase leading down towards the river far below. Our trek ends at the Baijnath bus stand just a couple of minutes away from the Shiva temple.

We reach McLeodganj after hopping on and off several buses from Baijnath. There has been a snowfall the previous day and the roads are slushy/crunchy. A hotel room on the Dalai Lama temple road sets us back by Rs 500.

The next morning, we enjoy a luxurious ‘Canadian Breakfast’ - scrambled eggs, tibetan toast, tofu, fried potatoes and tea made in tebetan style, all for Rs 85/ - at the cute One Two Café.

One Two Café.

Later, we walk to Naddi village on tar roads. The village itself, set against the backdrop of the snow clad Dhauladhar’s offers fantastic views of the Himalaya’s and the valley below.

A house at one extremity of Naddi village










A couple of itenerant Nepali salesmen passing through Naddi pose for pictures. Raju and Biswas request us to send their photos to Dadi. We ask for an address. They say - just send it to Dadi Gaon, Dadi Panchayat. Everybody knows us there. That is what an address means to them. On further prodding, they give us the card of a Block Congress Leader in Panipat who supplies the blankets they sell.

The bus ride back to Delhi is uneventful except for C first loosing his mobile phone – his lifeline – and then a little later, finding it.