A tour around north India on Royal Enfields

[Lone Rider]

I heard satellite phone is not allowed due to security reason. Is it true?

From: Cox and Kings GmbH - India Visa Services Centre

NOTICE

GUIDELINES REGARDING USE OF SATELLITE PHONES IN INDIA

The use in India of any telegraph services/devices, including wireless, is regulated by the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. Satellite telephony services are ordinarily not permitted in India.

As per existing guidelines issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of the Government of India, INMARSAT satellite phones, excluding BGAN systems, can be used by foreign nationals belonging to government organizations or corporate houses, or by members of mountaineering expeditions and other such categories of personsonly with prior permission from DoT. The only authorized provider of INMARSAT services in India is Tata Communications Limited, which provides such services after a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for carrying satellite phones into India is issued by DoT on a case by case basis. Details of the procedure for obtaining the NOC can be obtained from the DoT website - Home | Department of Telecommunications, Government of India.. Foreign nationals wishing to carry an INMARSAT terminal into India should apply for an NOC to the CS Cell, DoT, Room No.1204, Sanchar Bhawan, 20 Ashoka Road, New Delhi -110 001.

Intending users of satellite phone services may also please note that use of theThuraya satellite phone service is not permitted in India.

It is pointed out for the benefit of travellers to India that anyone making unauthorized use of any telegraphic devices including satellite phones in India without prior permission of DoT violates Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and can be prosecuted under Section 20 and 21 of the said Act, as well as Section 6 of the Indian Wireless Act. Moreover, in the absence of a license from DoT, satellite phones being brought in baggage/hand baggage are liable to confiscation/detention by Indian Customs authorities. In case of import as cargo, a declaration should to be given by the person importing the goods about the details of the goods/systems being imported. All intending visitors are advised to make a declaration to Indian Customs to this effect at the first port of entry.

 

[Lao2stroker]

Beautiful pictures Phil......Got any pix of the crazy Saddhus and Babas that walk along those roads?

I used to live in Paravatti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It's really just amazing everywhere you look. I wish I could be there with you all now. Good luck!

 

[KTMphil]

Amazing overhanging rocks that just miss the trucks

 

[KTMphil]

Beautiful pictures Phil......Got any pix of the crazy Saddhus and Babas that walk along those roads?

I used to live in Paravatti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It's really just amazing everywhere you look. I wish I could be there with you all now. Good luck!

Havn't seen any yet Eric, but have been looking around! I can see why you would like it here, it's amazing.

- Were you in Marikaran?

 

[Kamarul R Muhamed]

Thanks Phil. Keep the report coming. I have submitted application to DoT of India for NOC to use SatPhone. I am not hopeful but just want to see how it goes. I am pretty much all set for my trip.

Are you planing going to Khardung La?

 

[KTMphil]

After 4 days finally got some slow internet again.




Buddhist Monks are pretty wise and know a thing or two.

 

[KTMphil]

Thanks Phil. Keep the report coming. I have submitted application to DoT of India for NOC to use SatPhone. I am not hopeful but just want to see how it goes. I am pretty much all set for my trip.

Are you planing going to Khardung La?

Kamarul - Your Iridium service provider will be able to give you email software for your satphone, plug the phone into the computer and you can send and receive text emails pretty quickly by plugging the satphone into the computer, we used to do it every day on the yacht offshore.

 

[KTMphil]

Som getting caught up in a landslide removal

 

[KTMphil]

Finally arriving at the Mahesh Regency in Rampur

We just missed this one by a matter of seconds before arriving at the hotel

 

[KTMphil]

The Mahesh Regency is only 2 years old but has a bunch of problems, roof leaks etc...

 

[The Bigfella]

After 4 days finally got some slow internet again.




Buddhist Monks are pretty wise and know a thing or two.



View attachment 18726

Now that photo is a keeper...

 

[KTMphil]

Time to head north & this was to a real special hidden place Gushiani, Banjar (you'll see why in a moment)

 

[KTMphil]

Up the thin, windey, tarmac road, some of the greenest terraced vegetable gardens i've ever seen

 

[2wheels]

Wonderful!
Good to have you back Phil.

 

[KTMphil]

Over a mountain pass, probably around 4,000 meters (Doi Inthanon (highest point in Thailand) is 2,565 meters !!)

Bloody cold, time for some cha

 

[KTMphil]

Creative home made lantern at the chayawalla's shop

Then up to the highest point on the pass, you always know when you're at the highest point because there's a religious monument of some kind

 

[KTMphil]

Shop owner at the pass

Down the other side and some more terraced gardens

 

[KTMphil]

Fine dining approaching Banjar

Ladies waiting for the bus near Banjar

 

[KTMphil]

Last few bends before turning off into the valley - Whoa!!!

Eastwards in the valley and there are some unusual suspension brides

 

[Captain_Slash]

Fantastic photos Phil and what a wonderful insight into rural India, these certainly make India very appealing indeed

 

[KTMphil]

Fantastic photos Phil and what a wonderful insight into rural India, these certainly make India very appealing indeed

I think you'd love it here Colin, good food and superb roads (& they speak English). It's pretty cheap, guest houses everywhere and easy to rent an Enfield from lots of towns.

 

[KTMphil]

An hour or so eastwards following the river, we get to the secret destination for the night - Raju's cottage

What makes place so different, is the only way to get to it is buy a rope-pull in a seat across the river, there are no bridges

 

[KTMphil]

Som on her way across

Me

 

[KTMphil]

Well worth the trip across the river on the rope an exquisite setting

Cozy, ski chalet style rooms

 

[KTMphil]

Decent nights sleep in the log cabin, back across on the rope-pull and off north to Manali - the gateway to the high passes and epic snow capped Himalaya's



The ice cold run-off from the Himalayan glaciers reacting with the warm air creating an usual fog

Suspension bridge visible through the fog

Monastery in the fog

 

[KTMphil]

More on the Sarahan temple



From : Glimpses of the western Himalaya's by O.C Handa

In Sarahan, the big attraction is the 850 year old Shri Bhimakali Temple

Interesting flag near the temple - The Buddhist one goes clock wise as does everything they do.

& this on the wall in the hotel

Wiki:

Shri Bhima Kali Temple is a temple at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh in India, dedicated to the mother goddess Bhimakali, presiding deity of the rulers of former Bushahr (Hindi: बुशह&#2352 State. The temple is situated about 180 km from Shimla and is one of 51 Shakti Peethass. The town Sarahan is known as the gate way of Kinnaur. Down below at a distance of 7 km from Sarahan is the River Satluj. Sarahan is identified with the then Sonitpur mentioned in Puranas.[SUP][1][/SUP]




According to a legend, the manifestation of the goddess is reported to the Daksha-Yajna incident when the ear of the Sati fell at this place and became a place of worship as a Pitha - Sthan. Presently in the form of a virgin the icon of this eternal goddess is consecrated at the top storey of the new building. Below that storey the goddess as Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya is enshrined as a divine consort of Lord Siva.
The temple complex has another three temples dedicated to Lord Raghunathji, Narsinghji and Patal Bhairva Ji (Lankra Veer) - the guardian deity.



History

Sarahan was the capital of rulers of former Bushahr State. Bushahr dynasty earlier used to control the state from Kamroo. The capital of state later was shifted to Sonitpur. Later Raja Ram Singh made Rampur as the capital.[SUP][1][/SUP] It is believed that the country of Kinnaur was the Kailash mentioned in Puranas, the abode of Shiva. With its capital at Sonitpur this former princely state was extended up to entire area of Kinnaur where for sometimes Lord Shiva disguised himself as Kirata. Today, the then Sonitpur is known as Sarahan. Banasura, the ardent devotee of Lord Siva, eldest among the one hundred sons of great ablative demon King Bali and the great grandson of Vishnu votary Prahlad, during the Puranic age was the ruler of this princely state.







Superb attention to detail

The guard was very proud

This is what it looks like in the winter

 

[KTMphil]

Up the hill to Manali and into the palatial Mayflower Hotel, Manali

The owner of the Mayflower Hotel in Manali is also the chef, the trout is superb!

 

[robert]

thanks, KTMphil, look forwards anxiously to your report on riding over and down the Rohtang La....and don`t forget to take a look at the Hilton Gramphoo, a rock hotel, at the foot of the rohtang...haha!!!!

 

[KTMphil]

That's coming up next Robert, I'll check it out.

thanks, KTMphil, look forwards anxiously to your report on riding over and down the Rohtang La....and don`t forget to take a look at the Hilton Gramphoo, a rock hotel, at the foot of the rohtang...haha!!!!

 

[KTMphil]

No rain and its off NE towards Keylong, this is where you start hitting the 4,000-5,000 meter passes. The checkpoint north of Manali is pretty strict and it's sometimes closed.

Some local ladies at the checkpoint selling fruit

 

[KTMphil]

More to come when i get some internet ..... a quick one of Som at one of the tent camps

 

[Kamarul R Muhamed]

Phil, all those photos are mind blowing. What sort comfort that swiss tent offer? I dont want to bring too heavy of sleeping bag if not necessary. Thanks

 

[KTMphil]

Kamarul - we found their blankets to be sufficient, Som used a 15 C rated sleeping bag in addition to their blankets but could have got away without it. Its not the sleeping thats the problem, it's the getting in and out of bed in 4C!

Phil, all those photos are mind blowing. What sort comfort that swiss tent offer? I dont want to bring too heavy of sleeping bag if not necessary. Thanks

 

[KTMphil]

Climbing up up up into the Himalaya's, this was the first time Som had ever seen snow & ice outside of the restaurants freezer



REMEMBER THIS IS THE SUMMER IN NORTHERN HEMISPHERE ON THE SAME LATITUDE AS FLORIDA IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY

 

[KTMphil]

No real drama's and we arrive at in Keylong at the Tashi Daleg Hotel







Plenty of other loaded Enfield mules are on the same road






Some arriving late in the dark and cold






You could push on more north than Keylong but its not wise as you will rise to quickly. Keylong is an excellent stop with a "midway" altitude which will give you time to adjust to the lack of oxygen.

 

[KTMphil]

Rain the night before, now a beautiful morning to leave Keylong for TsoKar - our first tent camp coming up!

 

[KTMphil]

North of Keylong was some of the best riding so far on broken gravel roads in many places

The 21 loops of switchbacks

 

[KTMphil]

Yellow plated vehicles are commercial people carriers








White plated are private vehicles








More water crossings from the melting ice above







A shepherd with 100's of goats

 

[KTMphil]

Not sure this would pass emissions








The landscape was changing minute by minute

 

[KTMphil]

Som was getting out of breath and light headed here








This was why, this mountain pass was nearly 5,000 meters (almost twice Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand)









Luckily it wasn't far to the next tent camp which was at about 4,700 meters, Som still not feeling too good






Tent altitude 4,718m