Why Jwara is an amazing campsite? - Hampta Pass Trek - Day 2

The second day of the Hampta Pass hike from Jobra to Jwara is a paradise. The most beautiful scenery, waterfall, flower bed, hiking trail right next to the stream, between the boulders, and icy-cold stream crossing. Furthermore, a lovely campground where clouds and fog play hide-and-seek with ice-clad mountains. A paradise for nature lovers.

Jwara Campsite - Hampta Pass Trek
Jwara Campsite - Hampta Pass Trek

Also read: Trek to Jobra Campsite – Hampta Pass – Day 1

Jobra campsite

Jobra Campsite - Ravindra Joisa - Hampta Pass.jpg
Jobra Campsite - Hampta Pass Trek

The golden hours at Jobra campsite, in the evening and early morning, are ideal hours for photographers to get some amazing shots. The campsite at Jobra is just before the wooden bridge. Trekkers usually spend their time enjoying the view where they had come from on the previous day or next to this wooden bridge. 'Rani Nalla', the stream nearby is the main source of water at this campsite.

The first half of the trail

Jobra Campsite - Wooden Bridge - Rani Nalla
Jobra Campsite - Wooden Bridge - Rani Nalla

Day 2 of the trek starts from this wooden bridge and is almost a flat walk in the meadows, followed by a gradual climb uphill. This is where the trail gets narrower. The entire trail to the Jwara campsite is right next to the Rani Nalla. The trail is full of boulders and unnamed seasonal waterfalls.

Waterfall in the Hampta Pass Trail near Jobra
Waterfall in the Hampta Pass Trail near Jobra

The ideal time to visit this place is during the monsoon when you get too many small waterfalls. Also, less snow in the lower region. During monsoon, you may expect snow only near the Hampta Pass and you may find a snow patch on the way up. In addition, as you walk along the banks of the Rani Nalla, you get to see the Maple and Pine forests around.

The tricky place

Jwara campsite - Tunnel View - Hampta Pass trek
Jwara campsite - Tunnel View - Hampta Pass trek

The trail is slippery and right next to the stream. The trail is narrow, full of huge boulders, and can be tricky in some places. There is one place where you are directly under the waterfall. The view is breathtaking and you get to see wild horse grazing and also if you are lucky you even get to see vultures.

Rainbow and the tunnel view
Rainbow and the tunnel view

Once you reach the top of the stream is where the final adventure of the day begins. To reach the Jwara campsite, the crossing of the ice-cold stream is a must. Be prepared for a slow crossing in this ice-cold water as the stream is full of sharp stones. In addition, the current and water level might be higher. You may even find a tent where they sell toffees, biscuits, maggie, and cold drinks, but cannot be guaranteed.

Where to camp in Jwara

Jwara campsite
Jwara campsite - Hampta Pass Trek

Once you cross the stream, the trail is a 20-degree gradual ascent to the Jwara campsite. The trail is full of wildflowers and meadows. If you look back at the trail that you had just covered, the view appears more like a tunnel where dramatic cloud movements are seen. Therefore, an ideal place to get some timelapse videos.

Meadows and wildflowers - Hampta Pass trek
Meadows and wildflowers - Hampta Pass trek

Meanwhile, you may want to watch the YouTube video below where I have made some timelapse of this location. A few meters further is the Jwara campsite. In the evening, you may visit the nearby waterfall and go on handpicking wild strawberries.

Read Next: Balu Ka Ghera – Hampta Pass Trek – Day 3

https://youtu.be/UII6FbTNqi8

To conclude, the day is full of adventure and a short hike - with too many waterfalls, a slippery trail full of boulders, stream crossing. In addition, check out my YouTube video, and do not forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and to follow me on Instagram - @ravindra_joisa. Also, check out the remaining days of the trek by clicking here.

https://ravindrajoisa.com/hampta-pass/

Lower Antelope Canyon - Natural wonder

A place that is known for its natural wonder, the unique pattern formed by the erosion of Navajo Sandstone due to flash flood. In addition, the place attracts thousands of visitors every year and is best known for photographers to visit during noontime. It is the Lower Antelope located in Page, Arizona, US.

Lower Antelope Canyon - National Geographic Picture
The famous National Geographic Picture was taken from this place.  Image: © Ravindra Joisa

Where is antelope canyon national park

If you are in Arizona or in Vegas then consider visiting this place. An early morning five hours drive from Vegas will take you to Antelope Canyon. However, there are many tour operators you can opt for who can take you to this place. Lower Antelope is located in the Navajo Nation Parks. So, antelope canyon is a national park. The nearest airport to Antelope Canyon is Page (PGA) Airport which is 2.1 miles away. Other nearby airports include Cedar City (CDC) (105.1 miles) and St George (SGU) (119.7 miles).

What's near antelope canyon

Other places to visit on the way include Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, Navajo Village Heritage Center, Powell Museum. Note that you need to cross the Glen Canyon Dam bridge. Also, you may even visit the Upper Antelope Canyon.

Lower Antelope Canyon
Lower Antelope. Image: © Ravindra Joisa

About this place

Lower Antelope Canyon has copper-colored walls, full of natural patterns that have formed over the years. As you start walking through the canyon floor's chalky gold dust, gentle curving lines in the rock creates an illusion of waves, swirling around us in a flood of color. Reds, oranges, pinks, and blues dance, with the sun's rays and shadow, adding drama to an already striking location. 

Lower Antelope Canyon is full of narrow passageways to squeeze through and ladders to climb. Also, the narrow walls at the bottom, twisting and turning their way through the canyon, with the natural design patterns is a lovely walk-through, sometimes even scary. The place is famous for some of the iconic national geographic photos. In some places, the rock carvings and formation appear more like a human face, shark face, etc.

Why is antelope canyon red

Periodic rains sculpted Antelope Canyon out of the rock. Aeolian deposition generated Navajo sandstone between 191 and 174 million years ago. Since then, iron oxides have been deposited in various concentrations on some of the sand grains, giving the slot canyon layers upon layers of varied shades of red.

The pattern and design formation and the opening on top - Lower Antelope Canyon
The pattern and design formation and the opening on top. © Ravindra Joisa

You might also like the Ropeway ride across Parilungbo Canyon – Chicham – Spiti Valley, India which is much deeper than the Canyon.

Why is antelope canyon called that

Antelope Canyon got its name from Navajo legends about antelopes grazing along the canyon during the winter. The Navajo people call the Upper Canyon "Tse' bighanilini." In English, this means "the location where water rushes between rocks."

What I did not like

The man-made stairs in this beautiful place are made for visitors. Spoiling nature's artwork with the drill holes, screws, nuts, and bolts is not something that I like. The place is overcrowded most of the time. Also, this place is not something where you can go solo but you will have to go with a guide.

The place is scary when you get to see the depth and hear the flash flood stories. Antelope Canyon remains closed once in a while for the same reason. In addition, the entry ticket to this place is overpriced at 50-60 USD. If you are allergic to sand then this is not the place to visit. Note that it is a place to do some photoshoots but tripods are not allowed and as it is a crowded place it is hard to spend even a minute more in one place.

The formation that appears like a human face.
The formation appears like a human face.  Image: © Ravindra Joisa

Is Antelope Canyon worth it

To conclude, this is a beautiful place to visit if Antelope Canyon is on the way to your destination. But, if you dedicate a trip only to this place, then it is not worth it considering the time it takes to reach this crowded place. In my case, it was a tour organized by tour operators from Vegas. Similarly, we have the Upper Antelope Canyon which is similar and good to visit in the morning at around 10:30 to see the sunbeams. Note that these canyons are not pet-friendly.

https://youtu.be/ZhsZ5COb9cg

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Chimi Lhakhang - An exceptionally unique monastery

The Land of Thunder Dragon in the Himalayas, Bhutan is a heavenly place to visit. A country that gives priority to the happiness index. In addition, this country is full of stupas, Buddhist monasteries, and artwork. So, expect all the places to be tranquil and serener. But, there is one less known and unique monastery by the name Chimi Lhakhang, with a lot of penises around. Yeah, you heard that right.

Chimi Lhakhang - Yowakha village farmland - Ravindra Joisa
Hiking through the Yowakha village and farmland. Image: © Ravindra Joisa

Why Chimi Lhakhang is important?

It is well-known across Bhutan as a fertility-inducing location for all guests who come here hoping to have a kid. Several pilgrims, particularly newlywed couples, come here to seek the blessings of the saint who is reputed to possess the Magical Thunderbolt Of Wisdom.

Chimi Lhakhang, located in the Punakha requires district-level permission. However, a tourist guide will help you with the necessary permissions. The fee is per day stay in Bhutan and can be super expensive for outsiders other than a few countries in the Indian subcontinent and a guide is a must.

Where Chimi Lhakhang located?

Chimi Lhakhang is on the way to Punakha Dzong. It is just over 100 kilometers from Paro and 65 kilometers from Thimphu. But it takes 2-3 hours to drive in the mountains. Meanwhile, reaching the Chimi Lhakhang monastery from the highway is an approx one-kilometer hike. The hike is scenic, crossing the paddy fields, via the Yowakha village full of handicraft stores, paintings, and prayer flags. Also, the hike can be even more picturesque if you take the back entrance, next to the Puna Tsang Chu river.

The scenic route behind Chimi Lhakhang is next to the Puna Tsang Chu river. Image: © Ravindra Joisa

What is a fertility temple? - Chimi Lhakhang

Chimi Lhakhang monastery is no different from other monasteries, it just has a lot more penises. This monastery also known as the Fertility temple was originally built back in 1499 AD on a short hill. This penis-focused monastery is dedicated to Buddhism's "Divine Madman". In addition, he was 'the monk of 5000 women', his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humor, and outrageous behavior, was shocking and with sexual overtones. Women who come to the temple in the hopes of conceiving are forced to carry a wooden phallus around the temple three times.

Who built the Chimi Lhakhang?

Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the Chimi Monastery or Temple, is a Buddhist monastery in Punakha District, Bhutan, near Lobesa. It was erected by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel after the land was blessed by the Divine Madman, the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley.

Chimi Lhakhang Fertility temple
Chimi Lhakhang Fertility temple. Image: © Ravindra Joisa

Significance of Chimi Lhakhang

Divine Madman is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eaves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of the phallus. The wooden phallus has a silver handle as decoration. People are blessed with the wooden phallus, who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. More on inside the temple structure and tradition refer to the wiki.

Chimi Lhakhang - Fertility temple  Image: © Ravindra Joisa

Other places to visit nearby

About 15 minutes drive from Chimi Lhakhang is the beautiful Punakha Dzong, where the royal wedding takes place. Therefore, for tourists, this is a must-visit place. After that, a kilometer drive from here is a beautiful campsite where you can stay overnight, right next to the river. Also, on the other side of Punakha Dzong is the Punakha Pho Chhu suspension bridge. However, vehicles are not allowed on top of this bridge. Cross the bridge and have some local tea on the other side of the river in a traditional style.

You might also like: World’s largest mountaintop statue of Buddha Dordenma

Chimi Lhakhang - Yowakha village artwork
Yowakha village - House decoration and wall paintings. Image: © Ravindra Joisa

To conclude, a visit to this place is unique, if you consider all the images that are put up in each and every house. Also, considering the story you get to hear of the divine madman. Above all, as this is a fertility temple, people from all around the world visit this place hoping to get the blessings to beget children. Also, do not forget to visit one of the local handicraft stores on the way to this temple. Even the world-famous Thangka paintings (more details) are available. Check out the YouTube video below and please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/upoqSUIXGyo
YouTube Video. Please SUBSCRIBE. © Ravindra Joisa

Beautiful campsite of Jobra with breathtaking Valley view | Hampta Pass Trek | Day 1

Hampta Pass is a famous hike if you are in Himachal, India. Also, this is a 5-6 days hike and an ideal hike for beginners to get that true Himalayan hiking experience. Additionally, you will be covering the most picturesque lake after the trek. The trek starts from Jobra and ends at Chhatru. The trek has some breathtaking landscapes, stream crossing, and many more. However, I recommend a short weekend hike before attempting this trek. For instance, you might want to go for a weekend hike to the western ghats.

Pine forest in the Kullu Manali valley on the way to Jobra basecamp - Hampta Pass
Pine forest as you drive uphill to Jobra campsite. Copyright: Ravindra Joisa

In this post, I will be covering the first day of reaching the campsite located at Jobra, the basecamp for Hampta Pass. After that, I will be sharing more posts for each of my days spent on this slope. In addition, you might want to check the video on YouTube which is at the end of the post. So, consider subscribing to my channel - link.

Staying a bit outside of Manali town can keep you away from the tourist crowd. Also, booking a room on the mountain slopes with a beautiful view can be a memorable stay. Gather enough ration needed for your hike and pack your backpack. Because there are no shops on reaching basecamp or on the way up. However, you might find a few huts during the trek where you can have maggie, tea, and snacks.

Drive to Jobra campsite

There is no public transport available to reach the Jobra campsite. The only option would be to hire an expensive jeep drive to the top. This will cost around ₹ 2,600 per vehicle which you can share among other trekkers. However, if time permits, then it can easily be a one-day hike to the Jobra campsite. It is a picturesque drive from Manali to Jobra with some 40+ hairpin curves and a one-hour drive uphill. The panoramic view of Kullu valley with the mountain slopes full of pine trees is just breathtaking.

Rani Nallah. Trekker crossing over the stream. Copyright: Ravindra Joisa

The short trek to Jobra basecamp

The drive starts from the Manali bus stand and ends near the hydel plant and the reservoir. After that, you will have to hike for another 45 minutes from here to reach basecamp. As you enter the forest, the trail is through the pine trees, a few maple trees. In addition, the last stretch as you come out of the forest area is the meadows. The hike is right next to the Rani Nallah / stream. Likewise, the next three campsites are right next to this stream till you reach Hampta pass.

Jobra campsite - Hampta Pass trek in the Himalayas, India
Jobra Campsite - Day 1 of Hampta Pass trek. Copyright: Ravindra Joisa

To sum up, there isn't much of a hike on day one. It is more of an uphill drive followed by a short hike. But, the scenery that you get to see on the way is breathtaking. Also, even at the Jobra campsite, the view above the cloud is heavenly. Explore the campsite at Jobra. Spend some time next to the wooden bridge and a small waterfall nearby. Similarly, you get to see many unnamed waterfalls all along the trail.

My advice would be to spend less time inside the camp and explore the campsite around. Enjoy the clean air, morning mist, clear night sky, etc. It might rain at times. So, I recommend, carrying an umbrella or a rain cover. The temperature drops below 5 degrees Celcius. Therefore, having an additional layer of clothing is advised.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdCWUqVIkm0
SUBSCRIBE for more videos. Copyright: Ravindra Joisa

Read Next: Day 2 of Hampta Pass trek from Jobra to Jwara campsite.

Hotels in Manali

There are no hotels or homestays in Jobra. On the previous day before the start of the trek, you can stay in Manali. The landscape is scenic and you can stay in hotels rooms with some amazing views. There are hostels where you can stay overnight for as little as rupees 250 to the expensive hotels.

Check out the remaining days of the trek by clicking here.

https://ravindrajoisa.com/hampta-pass/

Kibber Chicham Ropeway - An Extraordinary Canyon ride

Chicham - a remote village in the Himalayas in India. Spiti Valley is one of the world's most beautiful places on planet earth and has some stunning landscapes, lakes, canyons, glaciers, and snow cap mountains. As a result, adventure lovers flock around Spiti valley from all over the world. In addition, you will find a lot of bikers exploring this place.

There are these little know villages where a few families have lived for generations without any infrastructure or connectivity. However, the beauty of this place and the considerate nature of people make this place an ideal getaway. One such village is 'Chicham'.

Chicham village
Chicham Village as seen from the trail to Kanamo Base Camp. Image Copyright: Ravindra Joisa

How did I come to know this place?

Exploring the Himalayas is something that I love. Visiting a place that is less crowded, peaceful, and away from any kind of mobile connectivity is what I like. This time, the trek was not the usual trek. I usually go on a hike for a few days. But, this trek was a summit climb to Kanamo Peak which is at 19600 feet. And Kibber which is the village adjacent to Chicham is the basecamp.

Where is Chicham Bridge situated?

The nearest town to Kanamo is Kaza and the best place to collect all the ration needed for the trek. There is road connectivity to the basecamp, Kibber which is another village similar to Chicham. We reached Kibber a day in advance to get acclimatized to 14,000 feet. The only village around is Chicham which is more like a backyard to Kibber village.

Chicham and Kibber - Parilungbo canyon, Spiti valley
Parilungbo canyon and Kanamo peak to the top right. Image Copyright: Ravindra Joisa

What is Chicham Bridge famous for?

Which is the tallest bridge in Asia? - The tallest bridge in Asia may be seen in Spiti Valley. Yes, it is home to the Chicham Bridge, Asia's tallest bridge, and an amazing sight to behold. The bridge, which stands at a dizzying height of 13596 feet, is the highest bridge in Himachal joins the communities of Chicham and Kibber. The bridge was under construction at the time I visited this place and is now a major tourist attraction. The bridge has made the like of people living in these villages easier with better connectivity and an increase in tourism.

Spine-Chilling Chicham Ropeway

Chicham and Kibber had no connectivity before. Other than a round trip to Kaza, there is a Parilungbo canyon separating the two villages. So, the only way to reach Chicham from Kibber was to hike down to the Spiti river tributary and climb up. And, that would take half a day. This route was being used by the locals to carry heavy goods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwIVbhLvGBM
Crossing Parilungbo Canyon using a simple ropeway.

But, locals without luggage had an alternative to cross the canyon with a self-propelled ropeway. Also called the Kibber Chicham Ropeway. There is absolutely no safety, but locals risked their lives to cross the canyon. Recently, the government has built a bridge connecting the two villages. During my visit, the Chicham bridge was under construction and I doubt if the ropeway still exists.

The ropeway has no backup power, motor, or any kind of safety and is completely manual. Luckily, in the video, you can see our trekking team pulling the rope. Also, the present-day Chicham bridge can be seen to the right in the video but was under construction at that time. So, if you have the guts needed to sit in that little cart and cross the canyon which is at a height of 150 meters, without any kind of safety gear then leave a comment.

https://youtu.be/vx41M7sxoOs

You might also like: KANJI – A REMOTE VILLAGE IN THE HIMALAYAS

Kanamo Peak which is approximately 19,600 feet high can be seen from these two villages. People stay at Kibber before making an attempt to climb the summit. The village stay is ideal if you are not acclimatized to this high altitude.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBtUUJUvar6qBtz1_EuRE7QhnTGYN-d0S

To conclude, this was a true adventure trip that I had and something that you should definitely experience. So, SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel and to my blog for more travel and photography stories. In addition, you can follow me on Instagram - @ravindra_joisa to see all my travel stories.