I used to be first acquainted with Banjara Experiences again in 2021 once I visited and stayed at Tethys Himalayan DEN at Chicham. Since then, I’ve chatted briefly with Rajesh and Mohit and thought of how we are able to collaborate and work collectively and FINALLY it’s taking place!
That is the define of the journey plan:
Drive from Gurgaon to Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar
Drive from Thanedar to Banjara Valley Retreat, Sangla
Drive from Sangla to Kaza for an evening of acclimatization
Drive from Kaza to Tethys Himalayan DEN, Chicham
Drive from Chicham to Banjara Valley Retreat, Sangla for a one-night halt
Drive from Sangla to Banjara Village Retreat, Sojha
Drive from Sojha to Gurgaon
Banjara Experiences has a number of further retreats, resorts and eating places. Which I’ll get to as a part of the general work plan. For now, the above 4 stops determine into our plan definitively. It’s completely potential that the street journey would possibly get prolonged to incorporate the opposite lovely locales as nicely.
THE ROUTE
We can be driving my Dad’s Diesel Maruti Ertiga through the Shimla Route.
Plan to depart on a Sunday morning at 0500hrs in order that we are able to keep away from most metropolis visitors. even when we drive comfortably, with a few lengthy breaks, we must always be capable of attain Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, by or earlier than 1700hrs. The purpose is to achieve earlier than Sunset.
As soon as we’re there at Thanedar, dinner and sleep. The following couple of days can be spent exploring apple orchards, presumably lake Tani-Jubbar and naturally the scrumptious meals that every one Banjara properties are recognized for. The Sutlej River flows subsequent door, in order that’s going to be a spotlight too.
This, above, would be the longest drive of this journey.
From Thanedar to Banjara Valley Retreat, Sangla is about 5-6 hours of driving time. Assuming I’m going to need to {photograph} on the best way, journey time would possibly lengthen to 7-8 hours.
At 2,700 meters above sea stage at Sangla, there are extra orchards, the Baspa river flows subsequent door and possibly a drive to a scenic spot shut by.
From Sangla, we then drive to Kaza, which is at 3,650 meters above sea stage, for an evening of acclimatization as a result of the subsequent cease is Chicham, which is positioned at a peak of 4,270 meters and it’s suggested to take it simple when climbing so excessive so rapidly. Oxygen deprivation is kind of actual and I bear in mind my final time – I used to be out of breath when taking actually 5 steps on the street in Kaza. The Sangla to Kaza drive ought to be doable in 7 hours if we make zero stops on the best way. However that’s no more likely to occur.
After an evening at Kaza, we go away for Tethys Himalayan DEN at Chicham. It will take roughly an hour of driving time.
There can be a LOT to do whereas at Tethys however I plan to soak within the views from their eating space, hang around with Faizu and possibly go for a stroll to my “Emerald Pond”. And plenty of pictures in fact. I additionally hope to hold a number of unread books with me and do them justice whereas I’m there.
Then the return leg of our roadtrip begins. We drive from Chicham to Banjara Valley Retreat at Sangla for an evening halt. This can be an roughly 8 hour lengthy drive.
Subsequent day, we go away for the Banjara Village Retreat at Sojha, which is roughly a 6 hour drive. At Sojha, we can be in the course of the Nice Himalayan Nationwide Park, so I’m trying ahead to plenty of forest sights and sounds.
PHOTOGRAPHY
All through this journey, I’m trying ahead to photographing sunsets and sunrises (I’m fairly certain it can largely be sunsets although), birds, landscapes and loads of flowers and vegetation and bushes. Other than the distinctive points of every property in fact. I’m carrying my whole vary of lenses and cameras, one tripod and even the laptop computer goes with me this time. SO EXCITED.
After Sangla, it will be a drive again residence to Gurgaon. It is a 12 hour drive and I’m not too eager to do that in a single go. So, we would get in an evening halt at Chandigarh to interrupt the journey. Haven’t finalized this half simply but.
In fact there can be updates on my Instagram. Observe alongside! (You may as well check out Banjara Experiences on Instagram.)
I’m tremendous excited to be doing this in partnership with Banjara Experiences. It feels insanely nice to be appreciated sufficient for my work to be employed to do it. Cheers to so many extra beautiful model experiences to come back!
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