Exploring Chamba in the Himalyas of India
I have always had sentimental attachments to Chamba & its surrounding areas. Located on the banks of the river Ravi, the entire district offers some breath-taking views. Being very close to my town, it also doubles up as a perfect weekend destination. So, recently, over a span of two weekends, I decided to make two separate trips to rediscover this quaint region in all its majesty. The places I explored ranged from the Ennan Mata Temple, Jot, Khajjiar and the Dalhousie region.
Ennan Mata Temple & Water Falls (Bhatiyat, Chamba)
The first weekend, we chose to visit the Ennan Mata Temple & Water Falls. We woke up early on Saturday morning, ate a hearty breakfast and started our drive into the mountains. It was a sunny day and the sunshine was resplendent on the mountain side in a beautiful manner. We wanted a quick weekend getaway idea and given the distance, this was an easy choice. Ennan Falls was a place we often visited as children- some locals go there for adventure and some for purely worshiping. It is in a secluded place and in fact most people from the area are unaware as to how to get there. As for us, it was a familiar road.
We left home and traveled up north on Highway 33. After a few kilometers, we came to narrow but extremely thrilling stretch which was just a teaser of the kind of adventure that lay ahead of us. As it is with boys who enjoy exploits like this, we got really pumped up. The drive was intense, required a degree of concentration but the experience was rewarding. We drove for about thirty minutes on this narrow curvy path carved out of the mighty mountain, all the time being guided by direction boards to the falls, until we caught the first glimpse of our destination- the majestic view of the temple on the edge of the mountain.
Soaking In The Waterfall
The temple is located right next to a gorgeous hundred feet high waterfall. Words don’t do justice to the view that awaits one if one can hike up to the right place. And of course, we were there for the view. We got out of our car and began our hike downhill. The entire area is green with foliage, shrubs and trees. As we were used to the trail, it took us about an hour to get to a good halting spot. The frothy, hissing waterfalls have a soothing effect and all one needs to do, is just soak it in. We took our time, resting our tired legs on the rocks and hydrated ourselves with the drinks we were carrying. This gave us a chance to catch our breath and just be with nature. Once we were done, my brother reminded me to capture some shots, which I have posted here.
Onwards To The River
We then got up to make the final trudge down and it wasn’t much of a challenge. It took all of thirty minutes and as soon as we reached, we spotted a rainbow arching in the sky above us. The beauty of it, surely made up for the bad pictures which had played a dampener on my spirits a short while ago. We trailed a little further until we reached the river and found several safe swim spots.
It was decided we needed to relax and rest our tired feet & souls and there is nothing better than beer to do this! We dipped in, savoured the snacks we had carried and sipped our beers. The quick swim was really rejuvenating. We then took a nap on the river banks to wake up refreshed. It’s the little experiences like this, which are unique; cannot be described but which make you want to come back again & again to places like these.
Hiking Back Up
The hike back was harder than expected and it took us longer. However, sticking to the trail and using some simple precautions, we were back up safe & sound. I turned around and took in a final view of the place and admired its beauty. The only thing that I wished, would have been better was the water level. It being the fall season, the heat had evaporated parts of the water body. But post rains, the place would be back to its former glory. The pictures I have shared are from the rainy season when the water levels were high- so you get the idea. Our drive back was quiet and retrospective as both of us were just too tired. By the time we reached home, it was dark. Luckily for us, the family had fired up a barbeque and that ended the day on a beautiful note. Thank God for weekends like this.
If you liked my story then do visit etu for more :)
Namaste!
