Reflections from Adi - A to Z Challenge.

Reflections from Adi - A to Z Challenge.

A to Z challenge - I had seen the badge on some fellow bloggers but was never excited to know more about it. Nor was I excited enough when Sweta posted her theme and decision to take the challenge. However, I clicked the link and went to the page. There were so many participants. But it was a tough month for me with almost 20 days travel plan. There were some more blogs on A to Z like those of Shashank and Amita and I couldn't keep myself away. On the first April itself and took to write - Write for the whole month. Then instantly came the thought of a theme and I took the theme of travel with focus on Himalayan states Himachal & Uttranchal where I had spent two years a part. Thus, started the journey and you would be surprised to know Himachal had so much to offer that I didn't even touch Uttaranchal throughout the month. Blogging really is infectious ... you stay in touch and you would love to get addicted.

Thus started the month, some commitment some planning lot of surfing, lot of research, lot of reading and plethora of writing. I can't believe I could write all through though I went off by couple of days at times. What I could write is one part of it which naturally gives one the satisfaction, more fulfilling were the constant visit by some fellow friends and their constant comments. For any writer comment is breather and I am indebted to all visitors for their time and motivating comments. I would love to bestow my special  thanks to Archana, Sweta,  Indrani, Abhijit, Selfdrive, Yogi and all those whose visit kept me motivated to write more and more. Thanks a lot.

It was not only one way - writing and writing - but more fulfilling as it was a learning experience. I was overwhelmed by the variety of blogs that were available throughout. It almost touched all one can think of. There were fiction, reflection, article, poetry, travelogues, technical suggestions everything. I had gone through some of them. But now is the time... I would love to read more and more of them to learn more, know more writers and connect with more bloggers.

In the last I would like to thank the host of this challenge who had been so devoted to constantly be in touch and make this a real interesting episode. 

Just to add pls find below the link to all the 26 posts of A to Z challenge.

A : A for Apple State 

Dhauladhar in Moonlit Night

B : B for Bir - Billing & baijnath

Billing

C : C for Churches in HP  

Church at McLeod Ganj

D : D for Dham  

Dham

E : E for Eco Tourism

Eco Tourism 

F : F for fish farming

Fish Farming

G : G or Government in Exile - Tibetan Govt. & Dalai Lama in McLeod Ganj

Dalai Lama Temple

H : H for Hidamba Temple and all about Manali

Hidimba Temple

I : I for India's Marijuana Heaven - India but still Alien - Malana   

Malana

J : J for Jakhoo temple and all about Shimla 

Jakhoo Temple

K : K for Keylong and all about Lahaul and Spiti 

Lahaul Museum

  L : L for Lakes in Himachal

Manimahesh Lake

M : M for Monolithic Temple - Masroor  

Masroor Tempol

N : N for Nako, Namgyal, Nyingmapa, Norbulingka and other Monasteries

Norbulingka

O : O for Ornaments of Himachal 

Chirri Tika

P : P for Pilgrim Special - Shakti Peeths in Himachal

Bajreshwari Devi Temple

Q : Q for Queer Facts and beliefs

Jwala ji

R : R for Rohtang Pass

Rohtang

S : S for Sports for Tourists in Himachal

Rafting

T : T for Triund and other Trekking Trails

Triund

U : U for Ultimate festials of Himachala

Kullu Dussehra

V: Vagabonds - The Gaddis

Gaddis

W : W for Weekend Tourist Destinations in HP

Dharamshala

X : X for 'Xtra in Himachal

Pong

Y : Y for Yatras in Himachal

Mani Mahesh Yatra

Z : Z for Zenith of all travel routes - Manali - Leh Ladakh Drive

Manali - Rohtang - Leh

Thanks.

Aditya Sinha

For other participants in the challenge visit : A to Z Challenge

Bir-Billing & Baijnath

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z challenge. On the second Day the word is B and I would talk of two places - Bir - Billing an abode for adventure sport Paragliding and Baijnath the famous Pilgrim site.

Bir – Billing

Paragliders Soaring in open air

Take off Site - Billing

Landing Site - Bir

Bir – Billing is a world class paragliding site in the Dhauladhar range of Kangra district of HP. It is about 90 kms from Dharamshala en route to Mandi falling in Joginder Nagar Valley near Baijnath. Bir is the village on the main route especially populated by the Tibetan refugees and serves as the landing site for paragliding. Billing on the other hand is 14 km uphill where the take-off starts. It stands second only to the paragliding site of South Africa. In 2013 it hosted the Pre World Paragliding Championship where approx 150 Paragliders from across 28 countries took part. It is also learnt that it has won the bid to host 2015 Paragliding world cup scheduled for August 2015.

Flag off as opening of Paragliding Pre world cup in 2013 by Sudhir Sharma the Urban Minister of HP

How to reach:  The nearest rail head for lower Himachal is Pathankot in Punjab where all Jammu bound trains stop. From Pathankot one can take taxi to Bir which is approx. 180 km through Gaggal – Dharamshala – Palampur - Baijnath and takes around 4hrs. Alternatively one can take flight to Gaggal Airport in Kangra and then move by taxi to Bir.

The route from Gaggal to Bir offers spectacular view of Dhauladhar mountains, the tea gardens of Palampur and arrays of Pines all the way.

Activity : Paragliding at its best can be enjoyed in support with certified tour operators and guides present in plenty over here. Aside from Paragliding one can visit the famous Shiv temple at Baijnath and Tibetan monasteries at Bir.

A guide helping paragliding

Baijnath : The shiva temple at Baijnath, Kangra has the same mythology that runs behind the Baijanath Dham temple in Deoghar district of Jharkhand. Astonishingly both the places are commonly called Baijnath. 

The Baijnath Temple

The Main Entry

The story behind both temples is that once Ravana performed immense tapasya on Kailash Parvat. Lord Shiva got pleased and promised Ravana to fulfil his wish. Ravana expressed his desire to take Shiva to Lanka and establish him there. Shiva agreed to accompany him in the form of Linga on the condition that he would not stop on the way and would not put the linga on the ground. Where ever it is put on the ground, it would not move any further. Ravana agreed and moved with the Shiv Linga but on the way he felt natural call and he asked help from a passer-by to hold the shivling for time. Ravana natural call took a longer time than normal and so the passer-by put the Shiv Linga on the ground. On returning Ravana could not move the Shiv Linga so the temple got established around that Linga.

The Baijnath Temple Garbha Griha having Shiva Linga

Route to Baijnath is same as to Bir. It is about 9 kms before Bir.

That's for today. Tomorrow would be C. Do visit again to know more.

For other posts on Himachal written as part of Ato Z Challenge : List of post on Himachal Pradesh written as part of A to Z challenge.

Aditya Sinha

For other participants in the challenge visit : A to Z Challenge

A - for Apple State

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z challenge. So we start the challenge with the first letter A and for me this A is Apple State that is directly to the epicenter of the theme. The theme for the month for this challenge is travel and my stories are to revolve around the Himalayan State of HP.

Apple State of India

Snow Capped Dhauladhar Range in a Moonlit Night.

                               

So which is the apple state of India? 

No its not J&K its Himachal Pradesh.

Right! Though J&K produces the highest amount of Apples, the Himalayan State of Himachal has earned the fame as Apple State. Further, from Apple this is poised to now earn the distinction of fruit state of World. The Kullu valley here is famous for some of the rare fruits and has earned the state another name viz. Fruit Bowl of India. Aside from Apple, Figs, Apricots, Pomegranate, Almond, Pear, Plum, Walnut, citrus fruits like oranges, kinoos, grapes, raisin, and even fruits of deciduous region like mango, litchi, guava etc. are found in plenty over here. 

The Apple Orchards in Kullu

How the apple arrived in HP is also an interesting story which we can read on AIR page here. 

Aside from the Kullu Valley, the Shimla range, the Kinnaur valley are other famous fruit belts of the state. The state also provides rich supply of winter vegetables to the northern states of the country.

The Cauliflower field in Keylong

So, now if you are travelling to this hill state, be assured to return rejuvenated not only by enjoying the Himalayan ranges, the snow covered peaks, the deep gorges, the gushing streams, vast jungles, the arrays of tall Pines in the lower range giving way to Deodars in the upper, and even ending to cold deserts at high altitudes, the contouring roads etc. but also by visiting the bloom of orchards of the fruit valleys of Kullu, the vegetable fields in roads from Rohtang to Keylong among others. The state also offers enormous opportunity to pilgrims’ sites, pagodas, monasteries, mesmerizing hill stations, adventure sports, trekking routes etc. Even a month would seem short.

Glacier frozen in deep gorges

Beas flowing between mountain ranges

Fresh water lake at High Altitude enroute from Keylong to Leh

The Roads at high altitudes

Jwalaji - one of the Many Shakti peeths in HP

Paragliding at the World famous Paragliding Site - Bir

The Parashar Lake

River Beas

Enjoying Snow fall

Tea Garden of Kangra

The Contouring Routes

The Dense Deodar Forest at the back

Kal- Kal karte Jharne 

In the next thirty days I would try to touch some of the places to cover all the above aspects of your itinerary. Keep visiting. Tomorrow would be 'B'.

Aditya Sinha

Map Courtesy: http://hptdc.nic.in/map.htm

For other posts on Himachal written as part of Ato Z Challenge : List of post on Himachal Pradesh written as part of A to Z challenge.

For other participants in the challenge visit : A to Z Challenge