Samatva
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people, places and stories.
nothing else.
just the trivial things.......
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- All (76)
- Footsteps of Rama (3)
- Himachal (16)
- Quiz (0)
- Temples (16)
Lesson 16
Lessons 14 and 15
Lesson 10
Lesson 8
Lesson 9
Lesson 7
Lesson 5
Lesson 4
Lesson 3
Lesson 2 Part 2
Lesson 2 Part 1
Lesson 1
Harmony lived each day, Triloknath
One of her kind, Bhimkali at Sarahan
Philosophy at a glance, Kardang
The pleasure of doing nothing at Ki
Mataji, Mountains and Maggi, Dainkund
Hatkoti, on its own
The perspective of Buddha, Langza
Coming out of Mud, Dhankar
Perfect setting for the soul. Baijnath
Land’s end at Bharmour
When the whole town is a temple, Kullu Dussehrah
Everyday life at Kali Bhari, Shimla
Sun Temple of Sutlej Valley, Nirath
Variety of Manikiran
Lake placid at Renukaji
Hanumanji at hilltop, Shimla
The perspective of Buddha, Langza
Langza. Temples of Himachal ….12
The river Spiti is the spine of the region and Kaza, the largest town. It is about 3800 meters altitude. The river valley is somewhat narrow and hardly has any vegetation along it. A number of villages rise up the valley at different heights. Each has a patch of land, some large, some small, that surprisingly is cultivable.
Langza is one such village. It has less than 150 people. It is at 4250 meters. It is a sharp climb from the valley on barren mountain face. The road snakes through gaps in the mountains and then it suddenly opens up to the vista. You can see tiny specks of the village and houses at a distance.
The first glance of Langza
The centrepiece of the village is the Buddha statue, giant, maybe 40 or 50 feet high. He overlooks the vast plains and it is difficult to get a sense of proportion with all that space. Right behind the Buddha is the 21000 feet Chau Chau mountain. With snow all around the year, it looks like a ice cream cone.
Buddha and Chau Chau mountain
There are a couple of houses that host guests. When I reached early afternoon there was no one around at the place I was planning to stay. A toddler asked me to settle down and said his dad will come in a while. Time kind of doesn’t make sense here and he eventually came, hosted, guided and cooked for me. The womenfolk are totally engrossed in the farm work and don’t waste a minute of sunshine in late summer. Langza is also known for fossils which I didn’t buy from the two women bent on selling to me. I should have. I had plans for Annapurna in the autumn and thought I’d buy them there. I should have bought some in Langza.
High street retail at Langza, Fossil sellers
Langza also leads up to Hikkim which the world’s highest post office; and further on to Komic which has a road at 4600 meters.
Langza and the Buddha, at 4250 meters, more than take the breath away. It is a different perspective.
Around Langza 
Around Langza 
Post office of Hikim
The landscape of Langza
Everyday life at Kali Bhari, Shimla
Kali Bhari at Shimla. Temples of Himachal …10.
There are grand temples, there are popular temples and there are temples at great locations. Then there are some that are part of everyday life.
Kali Bari temple in Shimla is a part of the daily life. It is an interesting blend of native history and migration. Kali as Shyamala represents what is native, giving the city its name; and as Kali, gives identity to the Bengalis who accompanied the British into the city in its early years.
It is at the western end of the ridge, a few hundred meters after Scandal point where most tourists stop. My client in Shimla has a habit of walking to the temple every day, and I have accompanied him a few times.
The temple is grand because of this routine of its devotees. One June, we were at the temple when it had started raining heavily, The chill was unbearable and bare feet were making it worse. I took a glance from within the temple outside.
There is a small but open courtyard and you can look at all of Shimla from there. A bench if you are tired of the walking, a tiny oil lamp on the wall, shielded from the rain and snow; which must have been here since 1845. Then the sight of modernity – a solar lamp post. The sight of the bells in the background of dusk, create serenity. The locality is nothing such, but faith does create an oasis.
Everyday life at Kali Bari temple, Shimla
Mataji, Mountains and Maggi, Dainkund
Dainkund. Temples of Himachal… 6.
There are several temples in Himachal on hilltops. Although they are neither grand nor popular, the location makes up for it.
Dainkund is one such temple. At about 9000 feet height, it is near Dalhousie, itself lesser visited than Dharamshala or Shimla. It is a nice family hike, not too strenuous for anyone; It offers a 180 degree plus view of Himalayas, if you are blessed with a clear day.
180 degree plus views from Dainkund
Dainkund is a hilltop drive from Dalhousie till a fork, after which the road is controlled by armed forces. My guess is a radar station and missile defence. That makes it a perfect location for the Himalayan vista too.
Each morning a defence vehicle comes down the hills and clears the start of civilian traffic. It is a snaking drive up to another spot where all traffic is stopped. Then you start walking: a sharp climb to a ridge and then walk on a narrow ridge top. It snows heavily and the repeated tourist flow melts and hardens the snow making it slippery to walk. After about 45 minutes or so, you reach the temple. Like most of the traditions of Himachal, this is a Devi temple, for Phaloni Devi.
Dainkund gives you early snow, a short family hike, a great snowcap view, ridgewalk, and picture book maggi.
Mataji, Mountains and Maggi at, Dainkund, Dalhousie, Himachal
The lightest of new year snow at Dainkund
Maggi is made for mountains