14670 Ft above the sea level.
Somewhere between the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar Himalayan Range.
Crossing Passes.
Julley Everyone!
A beautiful day out here in the Kullu Valley of the Himalayas! Me enjoying my summer time exploring the unseen side of the Himalayas. This summers I was more into the peaks which were between the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar Himalayan ranges so that I could get a fair idea about the peaks of both the Himalayan ranges as being in the middle of the valley in a high altitude place would give one of the best views of the whole area.
So just a new day with an astonishing expedition. Crossing the magical ancient Pandu Shilla. 'Pandu- The Pandavas from the Mahabaharata.' Shilla means the rocks/the Gharath. - Water Mill used for grinding grains.
As per the few locals who are above 80 years say that these were the Water Mills of the Pandavas that they use, But looking at the size of the rocks it is nearly impossible even to imagine! Few of the rocks were more than 20 feet.
There are various stories that I have heard from the people that there ever are several places in the same region with such an interesting things like this, The Pandu Ropa in Hamta Pass. It is said to be the farming land of the Pandavas!
By looking at the size of the rocks that are just right in the middle of these lush green meadows would even make anyone wonder and think about it.
Few of the people even say that these rocks over here are at the time when there was a fight between the good and the evil. There even are two peaks just right in front of this place of the Pir Panjal named Papsura and Devsura, The peaks of Good and the Evil.
Very few people have successfully summited the peak Papsura! But the peak Devsura no such information has been there till now.
It was around 8 AM when we started our hike to the Pandu Shilla from Mahili Thach- The Shephards Paradise! Miles and Miles away we would only see lush green grass and the mighty Himalayan Peaks. It was truly a magical experience! I was so grateful to explore such magical hidden places in the Himalayas and like to share my experiences with the masses.
The peaks of Pir Panjal Himalayan range were visible from here! Behind these peaks there lies the Pin Valley that would led a pass-way through the Parvati valley to the Zanskar Range of the Himalayas.
Just walking straight over the Ridge, Looking right we can enjoy the heavenly views of the Peaks of Dhauladhar Himalayan range and on the left side we would see the heavenly views of the Peaks of Pir Panjal.
If just walking straight over the ridge who would even think and imagine about the just right in front of us after few miles away there would be a Pass-way of the rocks! And few of the rocks even more bigger than twenty feet.
The Pandu Shilla
After hiking for an hour or so from the Mahili Thach we reached this place! The place that no one is sure about! Even the nature can’t express the place! It could be a castle from the olden times! Maybe it could be a gateway to another world! As the depth underneath these rocks was insane! When I looked just right under the rock that I was Passing by I was literally scared by just looking down as the thing that I could see was just the dark Black colour pit that has no surface.
It was my fourth time visiting this place and whenever I see these rocks the feel different. The Pathway through which we came last time was totally lost! It was a whole new world now! After even winter season all of this place gets covered under a thick blanket of snow. Snow more than 30 feet and above that stays there for three-Four Months.
Maybe the climatic conditions would led to the change in such phenomenons of there would be an ancient history about the place.
Since all over the years and my hiking experiences one of the most toughest part I have gone through would be this one!
May it be snow, May it we crossing the glaciers, may it be crossing the water bodies!
This was the patch that I would never forget! Just right a day before this expedition I had a fear about this place! The thoughts were constantly running over my mind! That what would happen if someone would fell into this never ending trap! It was nearly impossible to come out! It was more dangerous then going inside the caves that I have seen in the internet that people get inside tiny spaces and call it an adventure but over here nobody know that what is this place about!
The deep black holes in the middle of these rocks! Was the greatest fear at this time. I was even scared to take the photographs.
It was half was over and we were left with crossing the half potion of the place. It took us around more than half and hour crossing till now.
It was really a difficult task guys as the bigger rocks were too huge in size and the smaller ones were small in size that if we keep out feet on them the would just slip off their place. Which made it a difficult task.
Few of the people even make a pile/ heap of rocks and in local language call it Oodi Few people make an Oodi and keep a wish and few people make Oodi as a mark of their presence! The people who make a wish at the time of making Oodi also refer it as the wishing stones! When their wish comes true they again visit the place to see their Oodi. So as being a responsible hiker and and traveller we should always respect the Oodis of the people who has all of his belief in it!
One Oodi at the corner of this place was also seen in this Photograph. Just think about it guys that how would have that person would have been on the very end corner in order to make a wish or mark their presence!
There were holes all around the place! It was our carefulness that we have to be cautious about!
A photograph Depicting Oodi. The Wishing Stone.
This place was truly a magical place guys! Just right in the middle of Nowhere in the land of Meadows above the Non Tropical Zone (NTZ) Where even the trees does not grow. How would these properly chopped pieces of rocks be present here as if someone has brought then from another place and kept it in this place.
This is referred as to the Gharat of Pandavas. The water Mill which was used to crush the grains!
It looks like more of a fort to me!
Or a passage to some place! Maybe another world.
It was really dangerous to climb this patch as the was more than 50 feet in height and there were a lot of deep holes in it! So we decided to cross this portion by finding a was through the side of it.
Even at the side there were huge pieces of rocks. But somehow we had made our way through it. The last time when I crossed this place the whole region was totally different! Maybe you can see it on my past posts about this place! Or I would even like to do a bit of a research on this place and share it with the masses.
So thats all for today guys! I hope you liked it.
All of the photographs are captured by me using my iPhone 12 and are Raw and unedited so that you guys could get the true essence of the unseen Himalayas.
Thanks for your precious time. 🙏
Love form the Himalayas❤️