There’s nothing like a green getaway to please the heart, feed the soul and become one with Nature. Carry your books, paints, Pajamas and camera to soak in the sunshine and take a digital detox in the verdant environs

1. Sarchi, Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

The fragrance of deodars mingles with the fresh breeze on the drive from Tirthan Valley to Sarchi, the land of truth. Located 2,220m above sea level and home to about 130 families, this small village has open doors. No one needs to close the doors, even at night.

No policemen, no thefts, no cheats, no lies, this is the land of truth or sach in Hindi. When sach became Sarchi in local parlance, no one knows. Under the grace of Goddess Gada, a form of Durga, who resides in a 250-year-old temple in the village centre, this village lives by the principles of Nature.

In case of a dispute or any other mishap, the branches of the holy tree outside the temple dry up and the culprit is revealed. Then a new tree has to be planted to ensure that balance is retained.  

There is an enclosed well also near the temple. Almost 21-feet under this temple is a room for the goddess. The well was enclosed after a baby fell and died in it. The community celebrates the coming of the goddess four times in a year, possibly for each season. She travels across the various mountain villages and stays for some time in a home chosen by the villagers. We did not meet the Goddess, but her guardian, Khodu devata, who was residing in a devotee’s home.

Nestled amid apple orchards and terraced farms, life in Sarchi is simple, with little to disturb the body, mind and soul. Living in stilted wooden, mud and stone huts with straw roofs, the farming community is a close-knit one.  

There is a small primary school but the older children walk two hours daily to Tirthan for their higher education.

The land of sunshine and rainbows is popular with trekkers as they can trek through the surreal terrain to the Lambri peak or a village named Jamala and even the Jalori Pass. The valleys of Tirthan and Seraj are connected via Lambri top which is more like a ridge.  

In case, you decide to stay here, then the villagers can help with a homestay. Alternatively, you could camp or stay lower in Banjar.

There is only one tea shop in Sarchi, which offers Maggie as well. Best to carry your own snacks and water though.

What more to see in Tirthan Valley

It is a delightful trek from Banjar to the Great Himalayan National Park with butterflies, scenic views and more villages.
Trout farms are a plenty and there is an old-world water mill aka kharat too.

How to reach Sarchi

You can take an overnight bus from Delhi till Tirthan Valley. It is 460-km and around a 10-hour journey. And then it’s a one-hour drive through the curvy mountain roads to Sarchi.

2. Garli, Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Located on the foothills of the Himalayas, with the Dhauladhar mountain range as the backdrop, Garli is a sleepy village marked as a heritage zone along with sister town Pragpur. There is little to do and much to savour—explore quaint abandoned homes, breathe in the fragrance of roses, bite into freshly-baked bread from a coal-fired old-fashioned oven and feed the fish in the pond.  

A 6-km long, single street lined with homes, school, hospital makes up this village of 2,000 residents. The most prominent place to stay is Chateau Garli, a heritage home built in 1921 by Mela Ram.

This village retains the ages-old morning ritual of worshipping the tulsi or basil plant. In every courtyard, there is a tulsi plant and beds of flowers. The water for these prayers comes from a well located outside the walls of Chateau Garli, also known as ‘kuanwali kothi’ (house with a well). Apparently, this was the first well of the village, struck by Mela Ram. A century has passed but the ritual lives on.

Garli wasn’t always a sleepy village. Way back in the 1930s, this was the ‘Switzerland of India’. River Beas flowing nearby, this had become the home of the rich merchant ‘Sud’ community who had migrated from Rajasthan. However, all good things come with a catch. A woman accused of adultery cursed the place. By the 1950s, the merchants found greener economic pastures and their abandoned homes are now relics of the past, attracting only heritage lovers.

A walk around reveals the colourful, beautifully designed homes with Kangra-style slanted roofs, Colonial chimneys-garbled windows-pillars and corridors. Many have unique names such as Santri Wali Kothi, Bhagwan Niwas, Raeeson Wali Kothi, The Mystery House and more. There are varied architectural influences such as frescoes and wooden carvings from Rajasthan, curves from the Islamic style. A metal rooster on the roof was built for earthing, as the area was prone to lightning, but is now ornamental.

There is no rush here—every morning women feed the fish in the pond, the children run around the school, lighting the lamp for Goddess Saraswati, no horns or shouts, no cars or buses. Trees covering low-roofed homes, snow-capped mountains and gentle waves of the river, it could be paradise.

What more to see, eat and do in Kangra Valley

Garli is built at a cross road of three major devi temples in the area—Brajeshwari, Chintapurni, Jwalamukhi.
Fish cooked in a leaf from the vendor en route Jwalamukhi is a must try. Garli is also famous for its malai barfi and Himachali dham.
Take a trip to the Radha Krishna temple in Dada Siba which is lined with beautiful frescoes.
Explore the Kangra Fort. Enjoy a meal at ‘Dhoniwala dhaba’, en route Kangra Fort. Apparently, famous cricketer MS Dhoni and his team had a meal at Sharmaji’s dhaba and now their pictures are all over the dhaba.
Pray at the Baglamukhi temple where everything yellow is sacred and the goddess presides over tantric practices.
Drive to the rock-cut temples of Masroor.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at Nangal Chowk, near Pong Dam. This is a birder’s paradise.
Take a night safari to see the famous civet cats and other animals.

How to reach Garli

There is an overnight train from Old Delhi to Amb Andaura (around 20-minute drive from Garli).
Garli is approximately 460 km from Delhi and the drive could be over 9 hours.
One can also take the flight to Gaggal Airport (aprrox 65 km from Garli).
Garli is 60 km from Dharamsala by road.

3. Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh, India

Just 15 km from the crowded and famous hill station of Shimla, Mashobra woos hearts. Rolling green mountains, rows of blooming flowers, glistening views of the peaks and dancing sunrays, this little village can melt all your stress in a jiffy.

This is apple land and orchards abound. In fact, at the nearby Craignano, just a 15-minute drive from Mashobra, is the Regional Horticultural Research and Training Station. Here, you can know more about apples and see daffodils, hyacinths, and oak and pine trees.

Besides the awesome views, it has a small museum-cum-conference room. This is an information trove of barks, dried apples, insects which damage fruit trees and more.

The location was called Hillock’s Head in 1887. Alexander Coutts, a tailor to the then Viceroy of India Lord Dufferin, had planted apples, plums, pears, roses and exotic plants here. This later came to be known as ‘Coutt’s Garden’. In 1953, the garden became a research station under the department of agriculture. In December 1985, it was transferred under the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry.

What more to see and do around Mashobra

A drive through the conifers, oaks on the road to Narkanda brought us to the peak where we met Hatu devi, a form of Goddess Kali. This wooden temple, with elements of Buddhism, comes alive during the lunar month of Jyeshtha. Animal sacrifices are also performed here.

With the most spectacular views, this viewpoint is surreal. There is a natural rock formation which is popularly known as Bhima’s Chulha. Apparently, the Pandavas hid in the forests during ‘agyata vas’ and the gigantic Bhima would cook here, while keeping a lookout for the enemies.

On the drive down, we crossed the village of Shilaroo. There is a high-altitude astro-turf hockey stadium is right at the edge of a mountain here. It was constructed by the Indian Hockey Association in 2010 at a cost of over INR 3.5 crore. The synthetic turf lies in the premises of Netaji Subhash High Altitude Training Centre, which is under the Sports Authority of India.

How to Reach Mashobra

You can reach this little place by car or bus from all the major cities. It is a 365-km drive from Delhi and would take over 8 hours.

Kalka Railway station is well connected to all the major cities and there is an airport too in Shimla. I prefer to take the toy train from Kalka to Shimla and then go further in a car. This way, I miss the traffic jams of Shimla and enjoy a slow travel sans mountain sickness. It is a slow journey but an experience to absorb.

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This post was created for the Blogaberry Creative (Monthly) Challenge.