Nikita’s Solo Winter Spiti Experience was all about Daring the Unknown!
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods;
There is a rapture on the lonely shore;
There is a society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar;
I love not man the less, but Nature more…
- Lord Byron
I am sure most of you have not heard this quote. As for me, I came across it from a movie named “Into the Wild”. It is one of my favourite movies now, it gives me a sense of freedom, and it fills me with a certain strength of rebelling against the set norms of society. Do you know what the quote says? It says that roaming in the heart of Nature suits the poet better than running the intrusive rat race that the ‘world’ suffers from.
I felt the same when I wanted to go to Spiti all by myself; I felt the same when I booked a trip to Winter Spiti, all by myself. My parents called me crazy, they did not know why I was going to Spiti when I had my scholarship exam in three months. That too- a woman- on a solo trip. It sure raised the eyebrows of almost all the members of the “society”.
Simple. I wanted to refresh my mind, and there was no way I could do it in this distorted world where everything materialistic finds a place of recognition but nothing of nature does. Anyhow, I am digressing from the topic.
I was frustrated. It was too much, his heaviness of every day which weighed me down.
And one day, I said, damn it. I am going.
The Attributes of Solace
I must say it is a very scary experience. You don't know what to expect apart from the fears instilled within women from childhood. So I was cautious regarding that, but since it was my first solo, I was a bit sceptical about how my travel batch would be.
At the same time, I was excited to uncover what the future had in store for me. This was a very personal adventure, something that is suitable only for journals.
Upon reaching Delhi, I met the whole team- the guides, the representatives, the batch.
Everyone was all decked up and thrilled, and the ambience seemed energetic. I was feeling a bit shy, but I knew that I was alone and I had to socialise. I am not a very open person, to be honest, but I can be good friends if my vibes match.
But the group seemed to have cast some sort of a spell, I became friends with most of them! There are two possibilities, either the batch clicked with me too well, or the solo trip was bringing out an unexplored side of my personality, it was changing the way I thought myself to be.
Now that I think about it, it might have been both!
The Little Tibet
The road we took was through Shimla, via Chitkul. It was a spectacular journey. We could see the terrains of Himachal transform into that of Spiti- like cold desert regions, with rugged cliffs and standing mountains all around. Most were snow-covered, while some parts stood tall with a barren visage.
And against the brown-white landscape, there was the bright blue sky, with clouds like cotton balls drifting slowly across the horizon. I was so relaxed that I almost cried. Nature knows what I felt that day.
Winter Spiti offered a stunning sight. It was as if I had arrived somewhere remote in Switzerland, a place where everything was snow-white.
Crossing the Chicham bridge was quite thrilling, and Rakcham was a spectacular place. But, my best experience was in Kaza, while star gazing. It's a shame I have no pictures of this night.
I had never laid back like this, tension-free, worry-free, under the open sky at -18 degrees, wearing jackets and boots. The sky looked marvellous and I was shivering due to cold and excitement (mostly due to the cold), but I still lay outside, determined to spot a shooting star.
I told this to one of the friends I met on the tour, and she replied, “You can spot a shooting star just by waiting for it one night. It is a celestial blessing and a rare sight gifted to rare beings.”
I did not know all of these, but this conversation motivated me to manifest the same.
At around 12.45 Am, I was wrapping up, disappointment written all over my face - if only someone was there to read it with a torchlight. And then I heard,
“Oh look up there!”
I turned back instantly, looked up and saw a shooting star with a red tail. My eyes gleamed, and my heart was warm. I did not feel any cold, I just kept looking at the sky long after it had vanished. Finally, I closed my eyes and wished for something (can't tell you why until it's fulfilled).
The next day we set out for Kalpa and I slept on the bus. To my surprise, I saw a missed call from my father. I called him back.
He was looking out for me, wanting to know when I would return. I informed him about the same, although they already knew it. Then my mother got on the call and wished me for a safe return.
Something about their voice seemed off to me. Perhaps they had realised how too much exertion can deform a perfectly moulded sculpture. Being healthy is about balancing the right things in the right manner. The rat race can make us forget these things quite easily.
Cheers to the new-found self
On my way back, I knew I was a different person. More confident, more free. It was hard bidding goodbye to all the friends I made on the trip. All the guides there helped us and the local staff accompanied us and kept us on our feet at all times! Anshuman, Bhupesh, Kanchan and Pankaj Sir, thanks a lot. Also, Mr. Sonu Thakur, our driver, was not just cooperative and punctual, but understanding and funny too! His jokes helped us tackle the cold to a large extent, not kidding! Laughing keeps your body warm!
Also, I would miss the bonfires, the team dinners, and the post-dinner music sessions. Also, add to the list the rigorous itineraries and travelling, and the extreme cold that almost led to frostbites!
Lastly, the food- Simply delicious! We tried rose-bud tea, butter tea, Thenthuk, and Chhurpi, as local dishes along with Thukpa, Momo, and Apricot jams. The hotels were comfortable even in those high altitudes. The interiors were nice and clean, and the locations were good too.
Finally, the vistas, nature. All I had to say to her was this- “I will be back soon”.
Read More: Thrillophilia Spiti Reviews