Pattan Valley Exploration: A Brief Hike from Jahalman to Othang

I’ve been a fan of the fecund pastures of Pattan Valley for a very long time. I’ve ogled at them each time I handed by means of it to succeed in the likes of Killar from Keylong. Nevertheless, I all the time felt that Pattan Valley deserved extra time and protection. So, this time I received to Keylong with Shubham, initially planning for a repeat of Pangi. However we gave up on that as a result of numerous causes and ultimately determined to enterprise into Pattan and reached the Keylong bus stand within the morning having spent the day prior to this loitering round Keylong.

I’ve all the time beloved this a part of journey in Himachal. Arriving at an HRTC bus stand and not using a fastened plan, checking the timetable, surveying the oyster that’s my world, fantasizing about a number of choices, after which lastly selecting a spot. That day, we took a Udaipur-bound bus however booked tickets solely until Jahalman. We handed by means of the same old landscapes of the valley and reached Jahalma in a few hours. We had some intel that there’s a minimum of a homestay or two on this place and we duly discovered one. We seen a signboard and located the woman of the home too. We settled for a room for INR 500 per head (together with meals). Gone are the times of 300 per day!!!

Anyway, we requested her to offer us no matter she had cooked for the household and we shortly received some rajma chawal. She additionally promised to get native liquor for the dinner (that she brewed herself). It was round midday and it was a protracted summer season day. So, we nonetheless had lots of time. So, she steered we go to Othang and are available again earlier than darkish. Now, as I’ve talked about in some earlier posts, I used to be nonetheless battling with health points round that point, which began as a result of lengthy interval of inactivity and private issues in the course of the lockdowns. Until the day prior to this I used to be even struggling to stroll, nonetheless, that day I used to be lastly starting to really feel fitter. I used to be hesitant concerning the hike however determined to proceed.

We began by means of the yard of the homestay and got here throughout some basic Lahauli vegetation together with willows and blue pines other than cauliflowers, cabbages, broccoli, lettuces, and so on that are the primary money crops right here. After 10 minutes, we reached the primary path which was going increased up. I noticed the gompa on the hilltop, which seemed distant, and to be trustworthy, I used to be nonetheless uncertain. However, the hike continued. As we regularly gained altitude, the basic view of Pattan Valley and Chandrabhaga river grew to become clearer with each step and we clicked to our coronary heart’s content material.

We seen that this space is stuffed with roses, most likely rosa webbiana. These roses had given me one in every of my most cherished frames, the Serpent and the Roses {photograph} from Shashur Gompa again in 2016. After greater than an hour of hike we immediately reached a motorable street. That is after we realized that the trek was really non-obligatory! There’s an extended however motorable street proper to the gompa and there’s even a bus to Othang though nobody may inform us the precise timing.

Anyway, it was good to be ignorant as I had challenged myself for the trek and eventually started to really feel regular. We didn’t care concerning the street and stored going up by means of the steeper climbing path that stored giving us increasingly roses. Finally, after two and half hours, we reached the village of Othang with its picturesque homes and locals engaged on the restricted house to plant peas. The monastery additionally grew to become seen though it was additional up.

We received to the monastery and shortly discovered the pinnacle Lama of the gompa and began chatting with him. We came upon that he’s really from Zanskar, which is hardly a shock as a result of I’ve discovered individuals from Zanskar in a spot so far as Lhagyala Gompa in Arunachal! He knowledgeable us that the brand new shiny Gompa is just not very previous, and we received a tour of the interiors too. However he additionally confirmed the close by smaller home, which was really the previous Gompa. Peas had been flowering even within the land of the Gompa together with some pleasant lupines.

We spent an hour on the market on the gompa. We additionally talked to the Lama ji about Zanskar. He knowledgeable us that the brand new street has made life simpler and he himself drives his automotive to his village by way of Darcha Padum street. Finally, we left and returned to Jahalman. The descent was a lot simpler and we had been again in barely greater than an hour. Miraculously most of my troubles additionally had disappeared and I didn’t get any muscle ache subsequent day possibly as a result of blessings of the Gompa or due to the drink served on the homestay that night time.

What and the place precisely is Pattan Valley?

Pattan Valley is without doubt one of the three predominant parts of Lahaul area. It roughly contains the world between Tandi (Tandi) to Udaipur alongside the Chandrabhaga.

Learn extra within the detailed Lahaul Information.

Origin of the identify Pattan Valley?

There are completely different tales concerning the odd identify. None of them are verified although. I discovered this story in ram Nath Sahni’s e-book Lahoul: Thriller Land within the Himalayas. As per this story the settlers the place had been from Jammu, and had been a part of Zorawar Singh’s military that attacked Tibet. After his fall, they run away and got here right here however they had been initially from Pattan in Jammu and so named this place so. One other extra simplistic clarification is that Pattan means Flat Land in and this space is relatively flatter than neighboring valleys.

attain Pattan Valley?

How can get buses from Malai or Keylong to varied components of Patttan. Keylong could have extra choices. Learn this put up for a .ore detailed information and bus timings of Lahaul. Some main factors are situated on the primary street and also you’ll get them as you journey from Tandi to Udaipur. Nevertheless, just a few of them would require some detours.

The place to remain in Pattan Valley?

Numerous villages have Homestays whereas one village now has a backpackers hostel by an enormous nationwide chain. Main locations to remain embody Jahalma, Rashil, Trilokinath, and Udaipur.

What to see in Pattan Valley?

Pattan Valley nonetheless stays barely explored. You’ll be able to benefit from the picturesque villages, go for small native hikes, and even go for multi-day hardcore treks. Essentially the most well-known main trek right here is mainly a pilgrimage to the Neelkanth Lake Trek by way of Naingahar. Different small detours embody picturesque villages like Jahalman, Rashil, Lote, Thirot, Zobrang and so on. Jahalma to Othang Gompa as I’ve described above is a pleasing day hike with glorious views. The valley ends with Udaipur, which is legendary for the Mrikula Devi Temple. Then there’s in fact the Trilokinath Temple in Tunde which is revered by each Hindus and Buddhists and one of the vital necessary temples in Himachal. That is additionally the gateway to Miyar Valley in addition to Pangi Valley and there are extra severe treks that join it to Zanskar and Chamba.

Telephone and Information Connectivity in Pattan Valley?

Telephone and Information Connectivity is fairly developed these days alongside the freeway in the primary villages. It might be tough in case you go deeper and trek into extra distant areas.