Sarchu

October 02, 2022

02 October 2022

The Ibex Hotel at Jispa was just brilliant. Had a hot shower in the morning before I left at 0800.

The difference when you come into the sunlight is total.

Was getting along nicely till I reached Darcha, where there is a bridge.

There was a police checkpost. Story doing the rounds was that traffic would start moving at 0900. That was in 45 minutes. No one had a clue as to why the wait. Learnt much later that the road conditions were not too good in the morning because of ice formation. They waited for the ice to melt before allowing traffic up.

Things changed a bit earlier, when they looked to allow vehicles.

The tempos jumped queue. And, all movement stopped.

Till a police officer came around sending all the vehicles in the wrong lane back. he made them reverse all the way. Cleared the lane.

Thanked him for doing his duty.

The wait wasn't all that bad. For one, it was entertaining. And, the view was good.

At 0900, the vehicles started moving.

But, the tail was long.

Lorries were backed all the way up the road you can see.

The road was very good. Clean two lane highway. Drove easy, letting any two or four wheeler by. Stopping where I could, or just shooting on the drive.

Started seeing more and more snow, as though the drive had it's downs and ups, was steadily climbing. At times with sharp hair pin bends. Sometimes straights.

Soon was above the snowline.

And, at Baralacha La. At 4850 meters.

Stopped for a while taking in the sights. Parked away from the crowds.

Then started downhill, towards the valley.

The drive was still at about 4100 meters.

Reached my destination, Sarchu for lunch.

The place had changed since I saw it last in 2014. Then all the place had was a tented camp. Now, the amount of work going on for the roads and bridges has created semi permanent dwellings, including booze shops in tin sheds.