Kazaa in November. Possible??

[Prasham]

Does your wife or student know driving i.e. can they drive a bit? If so start early and by evening you can definitely reach Kalpa subject to clearance of the land slide prone area near Wangtu. BTW One day in Kalpa should be enough. I suggest you stay 1 day at Narkanda while returning.

You can book a room at Circuit House or PWD GH of Kalpa from R. Peo. Apart from it I stayed at Hotel Aucktong which is also a good one but Circuit House and PWD GH are the best in the town.

In Narkanda Hotel Hatu is the best choice if that's out of budget you can stay at PWD GH for 400 bucks.

[tsk1979]

Kalpa is 5-6 hours from Narkanda by road if you drive normally

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Just start early from Chandigarh (3-4am) and you ought to reach Kalpa by evening.

[ashpillai]

Originally Posted by Prasham

Does your wife or student know driving i.e. can they drive a bit? If so start early and by evening you can definitely reach Kalpa subject to clearance of the land slide prone area near Wangtu. BTW One day in Kalpa should be enough. I suggest you stay 1 day at Narkanda while returning.

You can book a room at Circuit House or PWD GH of Kalpa from R. Peo. Apart from it I stayed at Hotel Aucktong which is also a good one but Circuit House and PWD GH are the best in the town.

Prasham, all of us can drive but the only issue is I probably wont let let them. It is too much fun to drive to share!! I know it will be taxing but on our last trip to Chitkul, I drove from Chitkul to Chandigarh with only two cigarette breaks and one milk, tea and lunch break!! And that was the first time we were driving in the hills!!

But I am very interested in your suggestion about the PWD property at Kalpa. I guess you had in another thread (and here too) stated that they have the views and rooms at Kalpa. Is that so?? How can I find the availability and tariffs? Any way of online booking?

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Kalpa is 5-6 hours from Narkanda by road if you drive normally

Thanks Kurt, if it is only 6 hrs from Narkanda, then it can be done. But I hope you are factoring in "your experienced driving skills" and "my lack of any" in the equation!!

[tsk1979]

1. My name is not Kurt
2. I am talking about normal driving time, not high speed runs. Except on highways, I normally rein in my speed. Safari is not really a good handling vehicle on mountain roads!

I suggest you start by 6-7am from chd, have lunch at Hatu Narkanda, and then go on to Kalpa to reach by evening

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by ashpillai

...
By the way guys. Now just tell me should I even try driving to Kalpa in a day from Chandigarh. My aim is to get two full days at Kalpa and then drive back in one day.

Leave Chandigarh at 0400 hrs. You should be at Kalpa by 1900 hrs or 2000 max.
Two full days at Kalpa.
Then leave Kalpa at 0400 hrs to be in Chandigarh by 2000hrs.

[Prasham]

Originally Posted by ashpillai

Prasham, all of us can drive but the only issue is I probably wont let let them. It is too much fun to drive to share!! I know it will be taxing but on our last trip to Chitkul, I drove from Chitkul to Chandigarh with only two cigarette breaks and one milk, tea and lunch break!! And that was the first time we were driving in the hills!!

Firstly the road is land slide prone and hence you should keep that in mind. So an early start is always better.

Originally Posted by ashpillai

But I am very interested in your suggestion about the PWD property at Kalpa. I guess you had in another thread (and here too) stated that they have the views and rooms at Kalpa. Is that so?? How can I find the availability and tariffs? Any way of online booking?

In November you can book on the spot... I don't know if there is any facility of online booking. There are about 3-4 rooms in both places. Enquire about accomodation at R. Peo before heading to Kalpa.


@ Anup Sir: You've really simplified the matter

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by Prasham

Enquire about accomodation at R. Peo before heading to Kalpa.


@ Anup Sir: You've really simplified the matter

The Recong Peo PWD rest house is HUGE!
How many PWD rest houses are there at Kalpa? Are there two?

With four days available it should not be much of an issue being able to spend two at Kalpa, particularly since it is not ex-Delhi.

[tsk1979]

No PWD at Kalpa, only at Reckong Peo. You need to send them "love letter" by post
And as for times, even driving slow Narkanda-Kalpa is 6 hours, I guess Chd-Narkanda is around 6 hours maximum if you leave early and miss Kalka jam and all?

[prem.arora]

Isn't this route an all weather route. I have also taken up a weeks leave and am planning to do the circuit with diversions to Jalori etc in the first week of Jan'10.

The recent run to Manali and around wasn't much fulfilling as it lasted only a long weekend and much time was eaten up by the Volvo on road.