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The time I found a divine creation in Barot
Barot is a tranquil village nestled in the thick deodars of the blissful Himachal. It is a treasure for those who seek thrill in the unknown. A few years ago, you wouldn’t find an iota of information on the internet about this dreamy village. Now it’s a tourist hub! My story goes back to when this comely village was a hidden treasure among other popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh. Places like Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Jibhi, and Rohtang Pass were more famous among tourists. It was my maiden solo trip to the mountains! Yes, I am a one-woman army, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way! So, let’s begin. People back home asked me how I managed to find Barot when others couldn’t find it on Google Maps. It was pretty easy. I have a lot of friends in Himachal! Besides, those were the times when travel blogs were on the rise! So, one day I stumbled upon a spectacular blog that narrated their trip to Barot in the most magical way! I spent the whole night learning about Barot from the blog. I knew where I was heading the following weekend!
Barot was lush with majestic meadows brimming with pine and deodar forests. It was full of spectacular views of the meandering Uhl River. The village came into existence when the British started the Shanan Hydel Project during the 1920s. It was the maiden hydro project in India with a megawatt capacity. It's interesting to know it was only possible to reach Barot valley after the 80s. With time, development progressed, and today it's one of the most beautiful tourist spots in Himachal. Barot is about 550 km from Delhi and 69 km from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Every year, thousands flock to Barot for trekking, camping, and trout fishing. Do you wish to lie down under a sky full of stars listening to the song of a pristine river? Go ahead and book your flight if you have a free weekend. The closest airport to Barot is Gaggal in Kangra, 114 km from the valley.
It was easy for me to catch a bus to Manali and get down at Mandi from Kashmere Gate ISBT. I took the night bus and reached Mandi around 10 in the morning. I boarded a bus full of locals with crimson cheeks and kind eyes. The driver swung the bus along spiral paths. Within an hour or so, I was standing on a sleepy road looking for a taxi to take me to Barot village. Thankfully, I found a gentleman who charged me INR 500 and dropped me at the threshold of what seemed like a colourful scenery we drew as kids. I knew I'd made the right decision to choose Barot for my solo trip. I was greeted by a population of a mere 1500 or fewer people who guided me to my homestay.
Did you know that Mandi is also known as ‘choti Kashi’ due to its uncanny resemblance to Varanasi? It has ghats and Shiva temples on the banks of the Beas River. Thus, the name! Mandi is also the cultural capital of the state, with exciting stories to tell. It was a business centre linked to the Silk Route! Mandi offers incredible wilderness and sprawling lush forests home to monals, musk deer, Himalayan black bears, leopards, and more!
Back in the day, Barot only had homestays. The most reliable among them was Sachin’s place. Can you believe it? They charged only INR 350 per night! My room was quite airy and comfortable. Nothing luxurious, but comfortable enough to make my stay a happy one! My adventure in the valley started on the very first day. I am a water baby and always up for exploring a new water body. So, when the homestay's owner told me about a small yet pristine pond close to the deodar jungle, I geared up for a visit. Being young and energetic, I freshened up and left my abode immediately.
Let me get straight to the point – the sky was spotless blue, and the sun shone like a healing potion. The soothing music of the Uhl river and the lush green pastures tingled all my senses. I found myself melting into the colours of mother nature. I was one with her. I walked on the path laden with wildflowers and immediately transcended to a meditative state. I knew I was walking towards the pond, but I didn’t care to look up because I was enthralled at the sight of thousands of wildflowers welcoming me to the forest. So, I missed the trail that led to the pond (guided by my homestay owner) and took the wrong path instead. If you have visited Barot, you know what I mean when I say that the forest was too dense to go deep. One of the many reasons we must refrain from entering the forest is the lack of phone signals at some point. You guessed it right! Soon there was no signal on my phone. So, no calls, no GPS, and no way out of the forest!
Just then, I heard a voice asking me if I was lost. I opened my eyes and saw a small boy, about 8-9 years old, looking at me in wonder. It was unbelievable for a boy that age to wander in the woods alone. Nonetheless, I saw a glimmer of hope in his presence and told him my story. He smirked and gestured for me to follow him. He was wearing the traditional Himachali kurta and salwar with a Himachali top. He had a smiling face with beautiful grey eyes. He didn’t look back but gestured for me to keep following him. Within 15 minutes, we were out of the woods. We soon reached the PWD guesthouse I had intended to book first but couldn’t due to high booking demands.
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