Untold Stories – II – The Mangarh Fort (Piplu Fort)
The Dharamshala Stadium

I studied in three schools during my 18 years of schooling and out of all those years, two years were spent lived in Dharamshala. Studying in different schools was a blessing in disguise for me and my brother because it not only made us realize the vastness of the world but also helped us to see different places, different people, and different cultures. However, after my accident I decided to walk less and ride more so that I can do justice with my body. Visiting Dharamshala always makes me happy because I can relive the good old school days. Trek to Triund was a badly planned and even badly executed rides of my life.

We decided to carry only one bag for four of us and no spare clothes, we did not even have raincoats with us. The strange thing about Dharamshala is its unpredictable weather. During my school days, I observed that whenevr we had to leave to the school, or come back from the school it would rain. Other times, it will be sunny and bright but the moment you decide to go out for some work, be it any work, it will start raining. ten years after I left Dharamshala, this rule works. As soon as we decided to walk towards Dharamkot, it started to rain and it became unbearable to walk in the rain. We did not know that Dharamkot is accessible by road and we kept walking like morons and by the time we reached Dharamkot, we we drenched to the core.

But for no bad, there would be no good at all. We met the Garbage Girl [Jodie Underhill] when we were trying to catch breath at the dhaba at Dharamkot and that’s how I got a chance to interview her for all the amazing work she has been doing for the last five years [Read garbage girl’s interview here].

Soon the trek started and it turned out to be far more difficult than I had imagined. I could not walk for more than 15 minutes in one go and that started to hurt my partners too. Somehow, we reached at the top and the plan to go to the Laka Glacier, five kilometers further into the snow clad mountains, was instantaneously dropped. We did not have anything extra to wear, so we started roaming half naked in the forest guest house. Caretaker of the guest house was a complete nuisance, he started with his loss stories and claimed that he had lost sheep and goods worth INR 50k in lightning and rains. Within six hours, the amount doubled and when we were about to leave, he lost the count and said that his loss was close to INR 50 Lakh. I wonder how many sheep did he have, at least 50,000 I guess.

That day I realized one thing about me, no matter how tough and determined I am, I am one of those lame ass trekkers who no one would like to take with him/her on a trek. I cannot walk, cannot carry any luggage, technically speaking I am a liability when it comes to trekking. So I gave up the idea of trekking anymore in the future, which was eventually overruled this month when I went on a trek to Kamrunag.

Triund is a nice place to be because it lies close to the lower reaches of the mighty Dhauladhar peaks. However, for the first timers, I would not recommend it because it is inhuman to walk all those kilometers like a mule, but why would you consider my recommendation anyways. Triund is quite an expensive place so keep enough cash with you so that you do not invite trouble.

Another funny aspect of our lives, whenever an Indian looks at a foreigner, he would smile, say hi, hello, namaste, which country and all those trivial questions. On the other hand, if an Indian or a  desi guy looks at you, you try to beat the shit out of him, क्या घूर रहा है बे, is the usual reply you get. I have never seen an Indian guy greeting an Indian guy on such trips.