A leisurely holiday amid valleys and woods
By A.S.Prashar

HIMACHAL Pradesh, the abode of gods, has been a haven for tourists who want to have a refreshing and invigorating holiday in pure, clean and pollution-free surroundings.

The Churdhar region in the district of Sirmaur is one such destination that offers solitude, picturesque environs and even gives one an opportunity to go on treks, or carry out nature and ornithological studies. Its green valleys, misty woods, thick forests, orchards of peach and plum, besides its rich art and culture, are just a few vignettes that this lesser known tract offers to those who seek to combine their holiday with soft adventure activities.

Nestled in the Shivalik ranges at a height of 11965 feet (it is the highest peak in southern Himachal Pradesh), Churdhar, commonly known as Churichandni (Bangle of Snow), is blessed with some of the most spectacular and beautiful landscapes in this region. The view from the summit embraces a vast panorama of lowland tracts towards the south and snow-capped ranges, including the peaks of Badrinath and Kedarnath in the Garhwal region, towards the north.

On its peak, is the Shiva temple and the shrine of Shorgul devta, who it is believed possesses supernatural powers and whose worship can cure all kinds of ailments. The locals also believe that this devta brought water to the villages on either side of the peak, thus bringing prosperity to the area. Besides trekkers, thousands of pilgrims visit the peak every year.

To explore the Churdhar region, you must first reach Rajgarh. Rajgarh at 5000 feet and 40 km from Solan is a well-developed town with a salubrious and healthy climate. Its small bazaar is suitably stocked with provisions normally required by visitors. You have a petrol station there also. There is a PWD rest house with eight double bedrooms where you can stay with prior reservation.

Travelling from Solan to Rajgarh, you come across some fine scenery and the sprawling Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry. After crossing the bridge at Yashwant Nagar, you have before you neatly laid out fields of Gaura village on the banks of the Giri river. The river was once known for mahaseer fishing. The erstwhile Patiala rulers and their British guests often indulged in this sport. From Gaura you can visit Chail, a popular tourist resort set in thick woods, with splendour and elegance of a princely preserve.

Making Rajgarh the base camp, you can explore the surrounding valleys. You can go to Deedag (12 km away) on the Naura road either by bus or by trekking. There you can get tented accommodation (at 6800 feet) along with some log huts for those who wish to spend some time away from the congested cities. At night, you get to see the lights of Chandigarh, Solan, and other places. From a distance they seem to be like stars twinkling all round you. You can even gaze at the heavenly bodies through the telescope, and you are likely to get very sharp and clear images. Seven kilometres from the log huts (Himgiri resorts), is a natural waterfall where you can enjoy a refreshing bath besides relishing the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

You can choose from many routes to go trekking to Churdhar. The popular one, however, is from Naura. It entails a gradual climb of 18 km that can be covered in about five hours. Himachal Tourism offers a three-day trekking package to Churdhar from Chandigarh. On the first day, the participants halt at Nauradhar. On the second day, they start trekking from Nauradhar to the summit, passing through some thick forests of deodar, kail and rai. Medicinal herbs also grow in abundance in this area. On the third day, the trekkers return to Chandigarh. Those who do not want to return, can go further to the Kuppar valley and down to Jubbal and Kot Khai or to Shimla from Pulbehal.

Helpline: Contact Manager HPTDC Information Office, ISBT, Chandigarh, Phone 708569, for further details.