DAY 2 - Manali to Jispa/ Marhi

We got up rather early in the morning and perhaps it was the excitement to set out on the adventure or rains and sleet storm that was beginning to fall in Manali. As we had to first acquire a permit it wasn't possible for us to start the journey right away. 

We got ready and left for the SDM  office where we were supposed to get the permit. India has a strong red tape culture and while no office opens at the set time, this office is no different. the office would open at 10'o clock. The time in our watches was hardly 8.00 am .

We decided to put this time to good use and decided to discover old Manali in the mean time. A visit to Hidimba temple ate good time and on the way back from the temple a long traffic jam meant that by the time we reached the office it was close to 9.45 am. I set out to get  the licence while leaving my travel partner with the vehicle so we could set out on the journey as soon as I could get the same issued. 

Hidimba temple in old manali

At around 10.30 am the office opened and while we were told to collect the license at around 3 pm by fellow travelers ( People tend to spread rumors, so don't listen and ask the office people for information). I was told to come back around 12 am to collect it.  Once all the formality was done. ( you would need your driving licence, pollution of the vehicle and RC for the car to get this permit). The permit is free of cost so don't pay anything if some one asks for money. I went back at 11.30 and as luck would have it it was ready. So getting there early helps as its first come first serve and only 1000 permits are issued in a day for both rohtang and leh.

As i didn't want to waste time, ran down to our vehicle ( Please don't run in case you not in top physical form)and here we were off to Leh. the journey had begin.

The first check post is right outside Manali and there is a huge tax of around 600 rs that one has to pay, however vehicles to Leh are exempted , So in case you are stuck in a line show your permit and move on .

Enroute to Rohtang pass a pleasant change from delhi traffic Jams

The second time the permit is needed when you move towards Rohtang Pass.  The road is good to Rohtang pass bearing a few odd cobbled roads at places. keep ample time for traffic jams as even a small truck can take up to one hour to cross if caught in a wrong place. 

It had started to snow by the time we reached Rohtang. the time was almost 2.30 pm. The road after Rohtang pass although empty is extremely bad and perhaps the first precursor of the journey that lies ahead. As a matter of fact, it is only in a few places that one will find good roads after one crosses Rohtang pass.

The ideas of reaching Jispa, changed into being able to cross the area till where that permit was required to be shown. We reached the final check-post around 6 in the evening and while no one stopped us, we were told that this was the last stop for the permit that had been acquired in the morning.

the first camping Site

Now if you are carrying your own tents, you may put a camp and stay for the night  around these areas, else there is no hotel where one can stay. One has to keep moving on in to the night to Jispa which can easily be done by nine in the night. It is not recommended to drive in the night as the roads are very bad and average speed is not more that 20 km/hour.

We of course carried our tent so found a nice spot by the river and halted for the day in a place called Deta Marhi.

Our camp

PS: the phones do not work in these areas so make sure any loved ones back home know that you will be out of reach for a couple of days . Only BSNL is the service provider that actually works so get a cell one post paid connection before leaving, but still its the whim and fancy of the telephone company if it will work.
 Route - Manali - Rohtang Pass- Deta Marhi distance covered - nearly 120 KM