Tethys Himalayan Den, Chicham, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, Could 2023 #NAINAxBanjaraExperiences

January 17, 2025

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In contrast to final time, being pushed from Gurgaon to Manali to Chicham, we drove from Sangla to Chicham. It was a brand new route that I had not seen beforehand and it was equally enjoyable to discover.

Tethys Himalayan Den was our third cease within the #NAINAxBanjaraExperiences circuit that we deliberate : Thanedar, Sangla, Chicham and Sojha.

The whole drive was suffering from roadside indicators saying, “Taking pictures Stones. Drive Fastidiously.” and it grew to become a operating joke. How is one alleged to drive “fastidiously” when unpredictable stones might come pelting down at us any second! One can solely drive and hope for the most effective. And it doesn’t even matter in the event you drive quick or gradual. We noticed quite a lot of automobiles with smashed windshields and aspect home windows to be holding our breath every time was noticed one of many “taking pictures stones” indicators. the world is well-manned by the BRO they usually steadily had personnel with purple and inexperienced flags to alert automobiles.

We stopped at Tabo for lunch – there are a number of locations that serve multi-cuisine fare. Many of the drive is thru mountains that appear like they’re able to crumble at a lot as a sneeze.

It’s a pleasant panorama. All of the sudden a patch of inexperienced on an otherwsie completely naked mountainside. Columns of mud deposits weathered by the rain and excessive velocity winds. The whole area appears to be like prefer it’s comprised of tectonic plates entering into all instructions.

Above, Kee / Key Monastery as seen on the street from Kaza to Chicham; Chicham village sighted with the Chicham Gorge within the entrance and the Tethys Himalayan Den signal board on the flip for Chicham and Kibber.

Under, Tethys Himlayan DEN images effectively doesn’t it? It felt like coming again house. Much more so this time as a result of we drove ourselves. The locations this Diesel Ertiga has been pushed to! We didn’t suppose it could make the climb on the final flip towards the Den, however a fastidiously positioned stone behind the left rear tyre did the trick.

Above, the spot proper exterior the second ground rooms the place we drank our chais and coffees and generally beers. It’s chilly out, so it’s a fastidiously thought of resolution. The frequent eating corridor is a much more sheltered spot to do such issues.

Under : The Frequent Eating Corridor. Giant glass panes make you are feeling that you just’re not likely indoors however the wooden heater positively tells you that you’re. There’s board video games and breakfast, lunch and dinner and a hang around spot for all residents. Night video games and conversations with strangers are the norm.

There are a number of electrical plug factors, however I additionally advocate that you just carry your personal energy strip and mortgage out a number of spots to your fellow vacationers.

There’s quite a bit to do in and round Chicham. Although I’ve visited beforehand, we nonetheless had sufficient choices to select from. One of many issues we did was drive to Gete, which a really small village – no more than 5-6 houses maybe. The Key Monastery is seen from a spot close to the village and you’ll drive until there. I really like photographing the identical location from totally different views, so I positively wished to go and test it out. And I’m glad we did! Images under. Thanks Ritushree and Faizu for the tip.

Additionally took a while out at Gete to have myself photographed sporting a beautiful Pashmina Fur scarf by Janavi India.

One other spot that I had conveniently ignored the final time round is Chicham Bridge. Stopped over for a bit and was stunned to see meals vehicles! Not one thing I had ever anticipated to see in Chicham!

Chicham Bridge is a suspension bridge and is taken into account one of many highest bridges in Asia. It’s constructed over a 1000 ft deep, spectacular trying gorge and the bridge connects Kibber to Chicham village. The bridge was solely accomplished in 2017, earlier than which you’d need to drive an additional 40 kms to get to Chicham.

The final two photographs above : Crimson Fox and Blue Sheep specks. The Chicham Gorge can also be house to wildlife. Whereas we didn’t spot a Snow Leopard, we did spot a Crimson Fox that was choosing at rubbish. And we spent virtually an hour watching Blue Sheep head-butting on one of many slopes popping out of the gorge. This was nearer to sundown, so the sand they had been flinging about is what caught my eye – in any other case, at that distance, inconceivable to identify these shy creatures.

Tethys Himlayan DEN commonly hosts Snow Leopard Expeditions within the winters BTW.

Again to one in every of my favorite rooms, the place I’ve stayed each instances at Tethys. The loft room is GREAT. Regardless of being in direction of the again of the constructing, you’ve nonetheless acquired a view. It’s tremendous vivid tremendous early within the morning, so in the event you’re a lightweight sleeper like me, carry a watch masks. Ear plugs additionally won’t harm in the event you’re touring throughout busy season. It’s a homestay and voices carry simply. You is perhaps carried out with dinner at 9 pm however many of the others are actually not!

Water is photo voltaic heated but when there’s no sunshine, the workers will warmth water for you. Do keep in mind that that is an especially distant place – so please set your expectations accordingly. Beautiful home-cooked meals with some nice surprises, which I’d positively not anticipate at Chicham. For instance, watermelon for breakfast! It was much more scrumptious as a result of it was at 4,270 meters above sea stage. NOTHING grows at Chicham – besides a number of new endeavours the place locals are trying to develop peas and mushrooms.

Additionally, electrical blankets for the win!

My associate had not seen the Manali Street, so one of many days we had been at Chicham, we determined to only go for a drive within the Manali path. I recalled that it had appeared way more picturesque than the route from the Shimla aspect, and the sky appeared fascinating to my photographer’s eye, so it was a superb day to go for a drive.

We drove by the Ladarcha Meadows under.

The surroundings is unquestionably extra stunning that the opposite route. No marvel so many individuals choose the Manali route. We then drove on in direction of Kiyato however didn’t go all the best way. There was a bridge to our left, which might take us on a route that even I had not seen beforehand and we determined to strive that out. It turned out to guide us proper again to Kaza!

I discover it SO TOUGH to pick out photographs from Spiti. Every little thing is fascinating and so beautiful to have a look at and re-look at. No marvel this weblog publish has gone on and on. And there’s nonetheless a lot extra that I’ve not shared right here. I will probably be releasing among the images as prints too, someday quickly.

The Kiyato bridge to Kaza route turned out to be extra stunning than I had imagined.

We ended up again at Kaza, the place we picked up a number of provides, some garments and a few beer. Most outlets within the Kaza Market ( together with the ONLY gasoline station on the town ) settle for solely money as type of cost. Most of them do settle for UPI funds however bank cards are an absolute no-go and money is most well-liked.

There’s a brand new property within the works at a spot known as Mane, which we stopped over at whereas driving from Chicham to our subsequent cease, Banjara Village Retreat at Sojha.

Mane is at a decrease top than Chicham and located near the valley ground, proper subsequent to the Spiti River. A lot extra inexperienced. Can’t wait to see what these guys give you.

We had been additionally fortunate sufficient to identify a Himalayan Vulture up-close (often known as the Himalayan Griffon Vulture). We had seen a number of of those at Tethys as effectively however they had been at all times too distant to be photographed correctly on my 200mm lens.

And we noticed some extra Blue Sheep on our departure from Mane and Spiti Valley.

I’ll depart you with a number of extra panorama images under, all photographed from a window at Tethys. If there’s one 7 Star property at Chicham, it’s Tethys Himalayan. Huge hugs and gratitude to Faizu, who’s village Turtuk is on our radar subsequent.