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Jeep Safari

Day 4 : Killar to Keylong

Route: Killar, Purthi, Rohli, Udaipur, Keylong
Distance Covered: 140 K.M.

Killar to Purthi (2150m):

Killar to Purthi is thirty kilometer. There is a plant nursery established by an Englishman, Mr Tudd. It is said that this rest house used to be the residence of Mr. Tudd who accidentally fell in the river and was drowned. There is a firm belief that the ghost of Mr. Tudd visits his house even today. Cherry bungalow rest house is at a distance of' thirteen kilometers from Purthi. Saichu nallah, one of the major tributaries of Chandrabhaga meets the river here. Cherry is the take off point to the Saichu Twan wildlife sanctuary area.

Purthi to Udaipur (2050m):

The road gets narrower after Rohli. About four kilometres from Rohli is Karu nallah that forms the boundary of Pangi with Lahaul. There is a small temple after crossing Karu nallah that welcomes the travelers into the valley. The feeling of getting out of the gorge grows stronger. At times it becomes very depressing with mountain slopes on both sides closing on you and it looks as if civilization will never come. Tindi, nineteen kilometers from Udaipur, is the last inhabited village of Lahaul towards Pangi side. There are a few shops on the right bank of the river. The main village is located on the left bank.

Udaipur is administrative sub-division of Lahaul & Spiti district. It is located on the right bank of Chandrabhaga. The valley is quite wide at this place and is surrounded by steep rock faces. Mayar nallah coming from Mayar valley meets Chandrabhaga at Udaipur. There is a small market here that caters to the needs of the locals and the travelers. Udaipur is the main activity centre and market for the people of surrounding panchayats extending upto Mayar valley (42 km). There is a famous temple of Mrikula Devi. It has wonderful woodcarving. It is believed that the Pandavas built it while they were in exile. The main image in Mrikula Devi temple is that of Mahishasurmardini.

Udaipur to Keylong (3201m):

Beautiful villages are located on either side of the river-Kargha, Ghoshal, Jhalma, Tholang, Shansha and Thirot are some of these. People grow potatoes, peas, hops and off-season vegetables in this region. Lahaulis are very hard-working. They symbolize the spirit of human endurance and survival. The road is on the right bank of Chandrabhaga. The road is by and large good but there are many streams and nallahs which keep on disturbing the vehicular tragic. A micro Hydel Project is located at Thirot. Electricity is supplied within Lahaul valley from this project. The Sansari-Killar-Thirot (S.K.T.) road starts from Thirot.

Six kilometers from Udaipur is the Triloknath village located on the left bank of the river. Famous Triloknath temple is situated in this village. It is very old temple and people of the entire tribal belt including Lahaul, Pangi and Bharmour have great reverence for Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the hills and mountains. Both Hindus and Buddhists hold Triloknath temple in great respect. At the gate of the temple inside the courtyard stand two pairs of parallel pillars dose to each other. It is said that the sinner can not pass through these two pillars even if he is as thin as a leaf and in case a person has not sinned he can easily slide through these even if he is as fat as a pumpkin.

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