After the disclosure of the JOA IT paper leak case, complaints of other examinations conducted by the Staff Selection Commission are also reaching Vigilance. Till now Vigilance has received 12 complaints of paper leak.
In these complaints received by Vigilance, there has been a possibility of paper leak of the recruitment examination of various departments held in the last three years.
Vigilance has intensified the investigation of the Commission’s examinations after complaints. On Tuesday, the team of officers including ADGP Vigilance Satwant Atwal Trivedi, DIG G Shiva Kumar, SP Balbir Thakur, SP Rahul Nath, SP Anjum Ara of all the three ranges of Vigilance have reached the commission.
The Vigilance team scrutinized the records of the candidates in the commission’s office. Apart from this, the team is also questioning other employees of the commission regarding the paper leak case.
Vigilance camped in the Staff Selection Commission’s office throughout the day on Tuesday and has captured the complete data of the candidates appearing in the examination. Now this data is being scrutinized.
Vigilance is ascertaining which exam papers conducted by the Commission have been leaked. It may be noted that the woman employee arrested in the paper leak case was posted in the secrecy branch of the Staff Selection Commission for the last three years.
In such a situation, now the Vigilance will also investigate that which papers of the examinations conducted earlier have been leaked by the accused female employee. Vigilance has also constituted an SIT to investigate this.
There can be many important revelations in the Vigilance investigation. On the other hand, ADGP Vigilance Satwant Atwal says that 12 more complaints of paper leak have come to Vigilance, in which there is a possibility of paper leak of the previous examinations conducted by the commission. He informed that the Vigilance Commission is also probing the previous examinations conducted by it.
Commission’s Officers’ Protocol will be Investigated
Vigilance will now examine the protocols of Staff Selection Commission officials to find out how the key reached the accused woman of the Staff Selection Commission, as the accused woman is repeatedly changing her statement during interrogation.
The accused woman is sometimes saying that the key used to be lying in the office, sometimes she is telling something else.
Vigilance will now find out from the protocol of the officers that with whom the key of the almirah was kept and how it reached the accused.
Whenever it comes to Himachal, people often think of Shimla or Manali. Tour and travel agents also give you packages like Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Rohtang, but Himachal has a lot more to offer than just these cities. The entire Himachal Pradesh is very beautiful.
It is very difficult to make a list of five of these villages which are at extreme beauty, but still we have tried to tell you about the most unique villages where you will not be disappointed.
Here we are going to tell you about such villages which definitely have something special.
Chitkul
Chitkul village in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh is very special. This is because the main attraction here is the India-China border.
It is always cold here, so it is better to keep warm clothes before going here. Snow-capped mountains and beautiful valleys, all these will be found here.
Many Buddhist temples will be found in Chitkul, but one and only temple of Goddess (Devi) is one of the major attractions here. The houses here are very beautiful and here you will get all the facilities from hotel, lodge to home stay.
There is also (‘Hindustan Ka Aakhri Dhaba’) “Last food place of India” here. Actually, this is the name of the (Dhaba) food place which is present in Chitkul. This is also a kind of local attraction.
Avoid going here in too much winters because at that time it is completely covered with snow and there can be a problem of mobile network too.
How to Reach Chitkul
The distance from Delhi to Chitkul is about 569 kms whereas it is 333 kms from Chandigarh. It is 28 kilometers away from Sangla in Himachal. Himachal Tourism buses are available from Sangla to Chitkul. This is the easiest way to reach Chitkul.
Langza
Whenever there is mention of natural beauty, you definitely mention Lahaul Spiti. Langza is a small village in Spiti Valley. The specialty of this village is that there is a 1000 years old statue of Buddha which is made of gold.
People from far places come to this village to enjoy this place. There are many monasteries here and also if you are interested in Geology then you will find a lot in this village. Moreover, if you are interested in wildlife, you can find snow leopard, Tibetan wolf and many other endangered species here.
How to Reach Langza
You can take a direct bus from Delhi to Manali or Kaza. After this, one can reach Langza through private cab from here. This village is 745 km away from Delhi and 494 kms away from Chandigarh.
Komic
The specialty of this village is that it is the highest village in the world where there is a proper road. 4 wheelers, 2 wheelers can go here comfortably. Situated at an altitude of 15,027 feet above sea level, this village is famous for its Tsemogumpa Buddhist monastery.
Many festivals are celebrated in this village. Tourists can also easily enjoy the festivals here. If someone is fond of trekking, then in this village they can get the facility to do very good treks.
How to Reach Komic
You will have to take a private taxi from Kaza to reach Komic village. If you are planning to go here for the first time, and then let me tell you that the weather in this village can be bad anytime. So go only after making complete preparations and checking the weather conditions.
Also, if you are going for the first time and have breathing problems, then first consult a doctor because there is a lack of oxygen here many times. Distance between Chandigarh and Komic is 500.6 kms and other hand it is 731.8 kms away from Delhi.
Kaza
Kaza is a small village in Spiti Valley. It is famous because from here you can take bus facility to go to any remote village of Spiti. Apart from this, there is a lot of peace here.
If you want to see the beautiful views of Spiti and feel the peace, then definitely visit this place. You can spend hours here admiring the valleys.
How to Reach Kaza
Getting to Kaza is easy. This village is 115 kilometers away from Manali. So you can take a bus from Delhi, Chandigarh or Punjab to Manali and then take a private cab to reach Kaza.
The second route is to reach Kaza by direct bus from Shimla. Distance between Chandigarh and Kaza is 481 and from Delhi it is 711 kms.
Malana
You might have heard the name of this village before. Often, Himachal’s Kasol is kept in the tourist list, but people ignore Malana. Malana village is very beautiful and its specialty is its people and its customs.
Malana is also known as Greece of Himachal. The people here are very strict about their customs and children will also be seen here following them. There are many ancient temples in this village.
Jamlu Temple is very famous, which is made by carving wood in Kathkuni style and deer’s head has also been used here. Apart from this, there is also a Rukmani temple here.
How to Reach Malana
Take a bus or your own car from Delhi, Chandigarh to Bhuntar. Thereafter take a bus or taxi to Kasol. On the way to Kasol, you will come across a place named Jari, from there you can take a taxi to Malana.
Apart from this, you can take a bus from Delhi, Chandigarh or any connecting city to Manali. From there, private taxis can reach Malana directly. Distance bertween chandigarh and Malana Village is 256 kms.
After the JOA IT paper leak case, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has justified the action of suspending Staff Selection Commission Hamirpur and also said that the stalled recruitment process will be completed in two months.
He clearly said that complete transparency will be maintained in the next selection process. A day after the action on the Selection Commission, the Chief Minister, who appeared before the media on Tuesday, said that the investigation into the corruption and scams of the BJP government has only just begun. There will be many more sensational revelations.
He was addressing a press conference at Hotel Peterhoff, Shimla. The Chief Minister claimed that the business of paper leak going on in Hamirpur has deep roots, so by forming SIT, pre-examinations have also been taken into the purview.
He said that decisive action will be taken against drug mafia and mining mafia before the upcoming budget session. The Congress government is also probing the police recruitment paper leak case and there will be some new revelations in it. His government will ensure that there is complete transparency in government jobs.
Sukhwinder Sukhi said that on December 12, he had given instructions to the police officials in this regard and we laid the trap only after that. Finally on 23rd December this whole matter came to the notice. For the last one year this was going on in the Sports Commission.
When no one has faith in the organization doing the recruitment, then it is appropriate to suspend it. We have just postponed the ongoing recruitment process and very soon a decision will be taken regarding this also.
Complete arrangements will be made to ensure transparency in recruitment. Under which act strict action should be taken against the employees who leak the paper, it is also under consideration. The woman who has been caught in the paper leak, her son was the topper last year itself. Even then no one’s eyes opened in the previous government.
The Chief Minister said that even in the paper leak of police recruitment, the previous BJP government tried to cover-up and tried to save the culprits. Now this will not happen. The Congress government is also probing the police recruitment issue and despite handing over the case to the CBI, the responsibility of the police officers will be fixed.
In this press conference, senior Congress MLAs Chandra Kumar, Colonel Dhaniram Shandil, Harshvardhan Chauhan, Anirudh Singh etc. were present with the Chief Minister, while Chief Secretary RD Dhiman and Personnel Department Secretary Prabodh Saxena were also with him.
Strict Laws will be Brought Against Drugs in the Budget Session
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhkshavar Singh Sukhu said that we have resolved to take strict action against the drug mafia. For that we are going to bring a strict law against drugs in the budget session.
We have started the process. Will not let the future of the youth be ruined. Strictest steps will be taken against those who are found involved in such wrongdoings.
Government will Take a Decision on the Stalled Recruitments in a Month
The Chief Minister also made it clear that after suspending the work of the Staff Selection Commission, Hamirpur, the stalled recruitments would be done soon. When asked questions about this, he said that the government will try to complete these recruitments within two months.
In the next 25-30 days, the process will be decided whether Hamirpur Staff Selection Commission will do this work or this process will be given to some other agency. The effect of paper leak will also be tested first in the written exams that have been conducted so far.
The State High Court has passed orders to cancel the seniority list for the post of Inspector Grade I in the Food and Supplies Department and reissued the seniority list for this post.
Justice Satyen Vaidya, after perusing the facts and records related to the case, found that with the intention of showing the privately made respondent senior to the applicant, he acted contrary to the law and placed him above the applicant in the seniority list.
According to the facts given in the petition, the applicant and the respondent were appointed in the year 1988 on the post of Sub-Inspector by the Food Supply Department.
The post of Sub-Inspector was converted to the post of Inspector Grade 2. The applicant, being senior, was placed before the respondent private Inspector Grade II in the seniority list.
Two channels were kept for promotion from the post of Inspector Grade 2, he could either become Inspector Grade-1 or he could be promoted to the post of Head Analyst. The private respondent opted for promotion to the post of Head Analyst, she got promoted to the post of Ad Analyst on 30th August, 2006.
After serving as Head Analyst for one year, he submitted a report on 6th September, 2007 that he should be promoted to the post of Inspector Grade-1. The department accepted his report and promoted him to the rank of Inspector Grade I on April 9, 2008.
Orders were passed to place the private respondent above the applicant in the seniority list and treat him as Inspector Grade I with effect from January 10, 2007 and push the applicant back in the seniority list as the applicant was promoted after January 10, 2007.
The State High Court made it clear that when the privately held respondent had opted for promotion to the post of Head Analyst, he could not have been promoted to the post of Inspector Grade 1.
Finding the department’s decision wrong, along with giving proper place in the seniority list to the applicant, orders have been passed to give all service benefits.
Hearing adjourned till 30
The hearing on the petition challenging the election of MLA Randhir Sharma from Srinayanadevi ji assembly constituency was adjourned till December 30.
Due to the absence of Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, the matter was listed for hearing before Justice Sushil Kukreja. The court ordered the matter to be listed before the concerned bench without issuing any notice.
It is notable that former MLA and Congress candidate Ram Lal Thakur challenged the election of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Randhir Sharma, who won by 171 votes in the counting of votes related to the election of Srinayanadevi ji assembly constituency, by filing a petition in the High Court.
Ram Lal Thakur has alleged rigging in the counting of postal ballot papers during the counting of votes. He has alleged rigging during the counting of postal ballot papers.
Taking a major step, the Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu government of the state has suspended the Staff Selection Commission, Hamirpur after the paper leak scandal.
Paper of Junior Office Assistant IT in the commission was leaked and the main accused in the scandal was a female employee posted in the secrecy branch of the commission.
The Vigilance Bureau is probing the matter. In the orders passed by the State Government, it has been said that the Staff Selection Commission has not been able to perform its duty, therefore the Commission is suspended till further orders.
Dr. Jitendra Kanwar and Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, appointed as Secretary and Deputy Secretary in the Commission, have been called to Shimla Secretariat, while the rest of the staff will report to the new OSD posted in the Commission. ADC Hamirpur has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty for the rest of the work.
After this decision, the commission has also postponed all the ongoing recruitments. The state government has not said in its orders what will be the role of the chairman and four other members of the commission.
After this decision of the state government, now we will have to wait for the next order of the government regarding new recruitments. It is also possible that the commission may now have a completely new structure or the ongoing recruitments may be given to some other agency.
The recruitments in which the written test was done have also stopped. Nothing will happen to the requisitions that had gone from the departments. On the other hand, Vigilance Bureau has also increased the scope of investigation by constituting SIT in this matter. Previous exams have also come under scrutiny.
File Leaked before Decision, CM Angry
Chief Minister Sukhu is very angry with the officers due to the leaking of the file to suspend the Staff Selection Commission. He has ordered the Chief Secretary to investigate the entire matter.
Along with this, the officers have also been instructed that all this will not work in my government. After signing the file, the Principal Advisor to the CM had instructed the media to hold a press briefing in this regard, but the officials out of habit did not even maintain official secrecy.
During the Jairam government also, this weakness had harmed the government. This was also one of the reasons why the former CM was accused of weak administrative hold.
Only Sukhu could have Taken such a Decision
Principal Advisor to Chief Minister Media Naresh Chauhan said that a tough decision like suspension of the commission shows the commitment of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to ensure corruption-free and accountable administration to the people of the state.
Such malpractices were going on for a long time and the commission was not discharging its duties and responsibilities transparently.
The State Government under the leadership of the Chief Minister is determined to ensure zero tolerance against corruption and this is a historic decision to ensure complete transparency in the functioning of the Commission.
Shimla: After 18 years old pension is being restored in Himachal. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has adopted a new formula, as soon as he returned from Delhi, the Chief Minister held two-level talks with the officials of the Finance Department on Sunday, but did not give his idea to anyone.
It was also not made clear on which formula he wanted to work? Now on December 28, the Chief Minister has held a meeting with the New Pension Scheme Employees Union. These employees have been informed about this through phone and have been given a tentative time of 12:00 hrs on 28th December.
A total of 12 people have been called by the NPS Union for this meeting, and the NPS Union has been asked by the Chief Minister’s Office to bring a presentation on old pension. On the other hand, the officers of the Finance Department have also been asked to bring a separate presentation.
Initially, in this meeting, the Chief Minister will see the presentation of the Finance Department. Then NPS will compare it with the presentation of the employees union.
Before this, Finance Department was working on the model of 4 states regarding old pension. It includes the formulas of Rajasthan Chhattisgarh Jharkhand and Punjab. In general, the officials felt that the Chief Minister would adopt the Punjab formula, so that there would be time to assess all the impacts before formulating the scheme.
In the instructions given by the Chief Minister before going to Delhi he was more inclined towards the Rajasthan formula. Sukhwinder Sukhu has already said that NPS contribution should be stopped and old pension should be implemented, but now it will be decided only in the meeting on December 28, what new instructions he gives.
Many times you would feel like going to some place which is far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Where there is neither the noise of vehicles nor the hassle of the office. Anyone would like to take a break from the fast-paced life.
A question comes to the fore quite often that where should we go? The problem with famous tourist spots like Kasol, Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Dalhousie is this that there is a lot of crowd. So why not talk about a place which has not been explored yet.
Himachal Treasure
We all know that tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh are very famous worldwide. There are various modes of transportation available to reach these destinations around the year. However in this post we are going to talk about a remote place Fulga where there is no road but it is still famous in world map of tourists.
One such place is Pulga village in Himachal. The place which we are talking about is the place where only trekking people will go. Here you will find peace as well as taste of Israel and Himachal cuisines.
This village is also hidden from the tourist crowd because no vehicle can go till here. To reach here, one has to trek 3 kilometers from Barshaini, located near Kullu. The only way to reach here is by walking. Barshaini is the last bus stop of Parvati Valley.
This village is situated between Tosh and Kasaul. However, it is on the other side of the Parvati River. You have to climb a hill to reach it, but it is not a difficult climb. This is very easy. So even if you are not into regular trekking, still you can easily reach this place.
On the way you will get to see the view of deodar trees and valleys. Even if you are not planning to stay here, going here for the whole day can be a good experience. These days this village has become a hub for backpackers.
Tosh and Pulga are two villages of Parvati valley. These two villages are also point to the number of treks like Buni Buni trek, Kheerganga trek and many more.
How to reach Pulga village
If you go from Delhi or Chandigarh to Manali by taking an overnight bus, then its fare can come between 1300-2000 rupees. Also, you can get local buses or taxis from Manali to Barshaini. Local bus fare can range from Rs 100 to Rs 500.
It depends on the tourist season and bus service of Himachal. Apart from this, you can also book a taxi which will charge around Rs 2500- Rs 4000. After Barshaini, you trek to Pulga.
If you are going from Delhi, Chandigarh or any Punjab region by hiring your cab, then the cost of commuting can be between Rs 15000- Rs 20,000.
Pulga village is full of natural beauty. Here you will find many waterfalls and wooden bridges. A special attraction here is the houses of people here which have been built in such a way that wood can be stored in them for up to 1 year. The architecture of Pulga houses is different.
What time to visit Pulga village
It is difficult to reach this village during heavy snowfall. Because one has to go here only by trekking, so it can prove difficult for you. If you choose the summer time to go here then it can be the best. One can reach here even in the rains too.
In the months of September, October, November, you will not feel like leaving the natural beauty here. You will have the best memories of your life at that time. The months of February to May and September to November can prove to be the best time to visit this place.
Where to stay in Pulga
You will find many guest houses in Baisharani. Apart from this, Pulga also has some hotels and guest houses. However, the local people there also provide home stay facilities. All these are not listed online, so it would be better if you go there and get the booking done.
For all these reasons, you will like Pulga village very much. There are also many cafes here where you will find Israeli tourists. Like Kasaul and Tosh, this area is also full of Israeli tourists.
The phone connectivity in this area is good, so even if you have to be on the network continuously, it will not be a problem. There are many such small villages in Himachal which are very unique and at the same time give a very unique look. If you want to see the natural beauty of Himachal then go here instead of any famous tourist place.
The paper of JOA-IT post code 965 which is to be held on this Sunday has been leaked. It is being told that out of the five people arrested by the Vigilance team, one had passed the exam last year itself by purchasing papers, while the mother of one of the accused is posted in the secrecy branch of the Staff Selection Commission, Hamirpur. In such a situation, there can be many important revelations in the action of vigilance.
For now the Staff Selection Commission has canceled the paper. One lakh three thousand four hundred and thirty four candidates have applied to fill a total of 319 posts, which have come under tension.
This exam of JOA-IT was to be conducted on Sunday. Vigilance team is cross checking the paper. It is being told that the accused were selling paper for four lakh rupees.
During this, the Vigilance team, acting on the basis of secret information, caught the accused selling paper.
In the interrogation of Vigilance, one of the accused has also disclosed that he has also passed the examination last year by purchasing paper.
As we are already going on with the haunted series of Himachal Pradesh since last few weeks, so let’s continue with it. In that on-going series next in number we have Charleville Mansion.
Charleville Mansion is a century-old abandoned fort, built during the British era. Perched on the lush green hills of Shimla, it once used to be the home of a British officer, Victor Bailey, and his wife.
Victor was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of the Railway in 1913. The couple decided to stay in this mansion because of its low rent however they didn’t knew about its past.
Before him, an army officer lived in the haveli. The mere sight of the haveli is eerie, making it a definite entry in our list of most haunted places in Shimla.
They have reported strange occurrences inside the house such as seeing a British gentleman who slowly disappears, smashes and crashes things in the house. The activities were quite violent and disturbing.
These unexpected activities used to happen in one of the upper rooms. When that room was locked by the owner after few hours they heard a sound or crash. They ran upstairs and opened the room.
To their shock the room was completely shattered, mirrors were broken, furniture had been thrown against the walls and the room was generally in disarray. The couple immediately vacated that mansion and never returned back.
Few years later, when Victor and his wife shifted to that mansion everything was perfectly fine for almost around a year. But one night couple went out for a dinner party and one of their servants was at home.
During the night servant saw someone roaming in the house to who he described as an English Gentleman. He went after him to check but the shadow disappeared through a closed door.
The door of the same room which was locked by the previous owners. After hearing all the story from servant Victor and his wife immediately left the mansion. It’s been haunted ever since.
Some people also say a woman used to live in this mansion after Victor’s and she sold this house to Indian family after India got independence in 1947.
According to the people living around, they have seen a shadow of someone walking around and it disappears all of a sudden. Due to such reasons this villa stays empty for all the time.
Currently the mansion is owned by an Indian who has renovated the entire house. Even today, locals report apparitions of ghostly figures and shadows inside the mansion. It is actually one of the famous haunted places in Shimla.
According to some other sources, no one can actually find now that where the mansion is. People say that Indian owner has refurbished and renamed that mansion. So it is hard to find.
It is hard to say what the reality of this mansion is but whatever it is. The stories are enough to give you goose bumps. Next time whenever you visit Shimla try to find and visit this place. Please do share your experience with us.
UltraTech company based in Bagha, Himachal Pradesh is ready to meet the shortage of cement in the state.
The production will be increased to 5,000 tonnes at the company’s Solan’s Bagha, Nalagarh’s Bagheri and Uttarakhand’s Roorkee plants as soon as the written order for cement demand is received from the government.
At present, UltraTech has a plant at Bagha in Solan district. Up to 10,000 tonnes of clinker is being prepared here daily. Apart from this, cement bags are also being made as per the demand.
The company is sending the clinker to its two other centers at Bagheri in Nalagarh and Roorkee in Uttarakhand. The company claims that the plant has the capacity to produce 10,000 to 15,000 thousand tonnes of clinker daily if the order is received from the government.
The government has now made preparations to transfer the order to Ultratech company which has been given to Ambuja and ACC. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has given orders regarding this.
UltraTech Company is expected to get written orders soon. In such a situation, the company has already started preparations. On the other hand, the UltraTech Bagha plant head says that he has not received the written orders yet.
As soon as the orders are received, the production will be increased immediately. There will be no shortage of cement in the state.
Production increased by 600 tonnes in both the cement factories of Nalagarh
Due to the closure of ACC cement plants of Ambuja and Barmana in Darlaghat, cement production has increased in both the plants of Nalagarh. Clinker has also started coming from Rajasthan instead of Darlaghat.
Several vehicles of clinker reached the Ambuja plant in Nalagarh on Saturday. Along with the Himachal border, production has also been increased at the Ambuja plant located in Ghanauli, Punjab.
These plants are now producing more than their capacity. Production has been increased to 600 tonnes at Ambuja Cement Plant located in Navangram, Nalagarh.
The plant produces 6,000 tonnes of cement per day, but on Saturday 6,600 tonnes of cement was produced. At present there is stock of clinker in the plant, but clinker has started coming from Rajasthan.
Production has also been increased at UltraTech’s cement plant at Bagheri. 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of cement is being produced here. On the other hand, Ashok Goel, director of Baddi-based dealer Rama Trading Company, told that till now he has not faced any shortage of cement.
Cement is coming from both the plants of Nalagarh. The old rate is still running. One bag of Ambuja Cement is being sold at Rs 400, UltraTech 410 and Bangar Cement at Rs 380 per bag.
On the other hand, Panjehra’s cement dealers Ram Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar told that they have no shortage of cement. Both the companies of Nalagarh are providing cement equally.
Established 154 years ago, the Convent of Jesus and Mary Chelsea School is one of the first institutions to be set up in the hills of Shimla.
It is covered with deodar and oak trees which makes it very beautiful. This all-girls school has produced famous alumnae.
Prominent among them are actor Preity Zinta and former Union minister Preneet Kaur, who is also the wife of Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
Being a famous Convent School, Jesus & Mary is also popular for terrifying stories and incidents even most of them seem to be hearsay. But no one knows what the truth is behind these stories.
There is a rumor that during the British era, a coachman, whose name is lost in history, used to live near the school. He was believed to be quite interested in ladies. Unfortunately, he died in an unknown accident.
Since then it is said that on 13th Friday a headless horseman comes riding a white horse. People say that once he gave a rose to the girl and she accepted it. According to believers that man instantly took her with him.
But there is no solid proof of it. It is believed that he takes along those who agree and kills those who do not.
So on every 13th Friday local children avoid coming to school and hostel students make sure to keep their faces covered.
In 1842 six missionaries from the trust of Jesus and Mary from Ireland came to India. They wanted to help the needy people of India.
Firstly they established an orphanage in Agra but due to hot weather they decided to shift to some cool environment. So they opened an orphanage in Shimla.
The army headquarters opposed the decision at Calcutta after getting a final recommendation from Lord Canning, the Governor-General of India. The missionaries moved to the summer capital of British India.
Initially the orphanage occupied two bungalows at Elysium Hill, near Auckland House School, in Shimla for the first three years of its existence.
The Bishop of Agra sent children to Shimla to be looked after by the nuns. The military provided the orphans a small monthly stipend for their upkeep and education.
Because of insufficient accommodation, the orphanage was moved to the Chelsea Estate. The orphanage was called St. Francis School.
In 1869 the school was enlarged and in 1873 the amazing school chapel was built.
By 1940, the rules for military services were changing and there was no need for an orphanage. St. Francis School became a secondary school and the main building was the senior school.
As enrolment inclined, the curriculum was modified to include Indian history and languages. In 1947, when the British authorities were about to leave the country, the school prepared for another phase of transition.
On April 29, 1946, at nighttime, a fire broke out and destroyed three-fourths of the Chelsea building. It took the life of a 10-year-old girl. However, the school rallied immediately.
A fortnight later, classes were resumed at Eagle Mount in tents lent by the military. But the girl which was died in that fire is still believed to be present on the premises of the school.
Another story tells of a fire in the CJM’s hostel for orphans during the British rule. The present playground of the school is the place where earlier the dead bodies of those orphan children were buried.
Because of that people say there are ghosts seen there. It is said that there is a spirit of a young girl who always keeps asking for her doll and a girl who was carried away by a horseman still roams there.
A tragic incident happened in the year 2012, when two students of IVth standard were found dead near the school.
The family and friends of the victims claimed that they committed suicide due to mental harassment by their teachers. Some people claim that the spirits of those two boys still haunt in the school.
The royal families of Thailand, Nepal, and the Princely States of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh used to send their daughters to this school for convent education.
Now also this is one of the biggest schools in Shimla but no one is interested to comment on the haunted stories.
Viewing panoramic views and amazing natural beauty is best described in Manali. It is believed that Manali was named after the great sage Manu Par who wrote the “Manu Smriti”.
Manali is also known as “Valley of the Gods”. Every year tourists from many parts of the world come to relax in the serene environment of the valley away from their hectic life.
Tourists come to this place to get relief from the scorching heat of the sun apart from this one can also enjoy various adventure activities like paragliding, rafting, cable car ride, etc.
Playing in the snow is another reason why tourists, especially children, love to visit Manali. The beauty of nature is abundant here, which attracts tourists to Manali.
Best Time To Visit Manali
If you are considering a trip to Manali then you can visit any time of the year. But the best months are from October to February for cold lovers.
They are considered to be the best time to visit Manali for its beauty and fun games. The overall temperature during this time is quite pleasant and suitable for travel and tourist activities.
At that time you can enjoy skiing, trekking and many other activities. Especially January is perfect if you want to enjoy fresh snowfall.
But if you do not want to go in winter, then you can enjoy Manali trip between March and June. Because the weather of Manali is quite pleasant during this time and the temperature remains between 10°C to 30°C.
The main advantage of visiting Manali during the summer season is that at this time facilities like paragliding, river rafting and ziplining as well as many other adventure activities are provided.
September and October is also a good time to visit Manali as there is hardly any rain during this time and the crowd is also much less as compared to summer.
Due to less crowd you will find hotels here very easily in September and October. You will also see a slight reduction in the fares of hotels and taxis here as compared to summer.
There is no need to tell you that the month of July and August are the months of monsoon in the whole country. Due to which there is a lot of rain everywhere.
So there is no benefit of going to Manali in July and August, because at this time your trip can prove to be useless. You should not travel to mountains during monsoon i.e. July and August at all.
Now we will tell you all the information about “How to reach Manali”.
You can take flight, train, bus, taxi, car or bike to reach Manali from different cities of the country.
There are multiple options available to reach Manali from every part of the country or world. Manali is the main tourist attraction for foreigners too.
Reach Manali By Flight
The nearest airport to Manali is Kullu Manali, which is located in Bhuntar. The distance of Kullu from Kullu Manali Airport is about 11 kms and the distance of Manali is 50 kms.
From here you will easily get the facility of bus and taxi to go to Kullu and Manali, which run from time to time.
If you do not get flight to Bhuntar airport then you can also choose Chandigarh airport. Flights are available from every major city of the country.
The distance of Chandigarh from Manali is about 310 kms. By landing at Chandigarh airport, you can reach Manali by bus or cab or can also take a flight from Chandigarh to Bhuntar. The flight takes 55 minutes to reach Manali from Chandigarh.
Alternatively, you can also opt for bus services which are regularly available to Manali. The distance from Delhi to Manali is about 530 kms.
There are no direct flights to Manali from Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and even Kolkata, but from these cities you can fly to Chandigarh or Delhi. Beyond this you can travel by bus or cab.
Reach Manali by Train
The nearest railway stations to Manali are Chandigarh, Pathankot and Ambala, where you can reach by train from any part of the country.
Manali is located at a distance of 305 km from Chandigarh Railway Station, 293 km from Pathankot and 277 km from Kalka.
Bus and taxi facilities are provided from Chandigarh, Pathankot and Kalka to Manali, which are available at all times.
Buses can be availed from Chandigarh, Pathankot and Kalka railway stations to reach Manali.
Volvo and ordinary buses ply from all these three railway stations to Manali, the fare of which starts from ₹ 500 to ₹ 1300. You can book flights from these three cities to Manali according to your budget.
Reach Manali By Bus
Direct buses run to Manali from major and nearby cities of the country like Delhi, Shimla, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Chandigarh.
You can easily reach Manali by taking bus facility from all these big cities of the country.
Road network –
Delhi – 530 km via NH- 44
Agra – 750-800 km via NH- 44
Jaipur – 800 km via NH- 44
Ludhiana – 331 km via NH- 3
Patiala – 336 km via NH- 3 or NH-205
Amritsar – 395 km via NH5A
Chandigarh – 305 km via NH84
Reach Manali By Private Taxi And Tempo Traveller.
If you want to visit Manali with your family and do not have your own car, then you can book a taxi or tempo traveler from Delhi and take your whole family for a sightseeing tour of Manali.
Reach Manali By Bike And Car
If you are planning to go on Manali trip solo (alone) or with your friends, then you can also go on your bike to visit Manali, but if you are planning to go to Manali with your whole famiy, then it would be better for you to go for your own car or private taxi on the Manali trip. If you are going on Manali trip by your bike or car, then you will have to pay green tax in Manali.
Know about this ghost temple located on Manali-Leh road, there is a true story related to it
The valleys of Himachal Pradesh are as beautiful as they are said to be dangerous.
Today we are telling you about such an inaccessible place here, about which it is said that ghosts live in this place.
People coming out of this place go ahead by keeping mineral water and cigarettes in place of this ghost.
Gata Loops is on the Manali Leh road of Himachal. At an altitude of about 17,000 feet, the deserted mountains and silence give a strange feeling.
Here is a small house of ghosts. How this place (house) came into existence has a different story.
No one goes to this scary place. People who pass through this place go ahead only by keeping mineral water and cigarettes in front of this mysterious place of ghosts.
The dangerous 21 twisted hairpin bends on the Manali-Leh National Highway are called Geta Loops.
It is also considered as the most dangerous road in India. In winter, this road remains closed due to heavy snowfall.
The plateau plains of Sarachu are visible as soon as they reach the border of Himachal Pradesh via Keylong from Manali. After this comes a river, then comes a dangerous hill.
It is said that in this area a truck broke down at this particular place about a decade and a half ago.
It was the beginning of winter, it was snowing lightly. The truck driver left the cleaner in the truck and went to the village for help.
The distance of that village from this place was around forty kilometres. During this the weather got worse and the road was closed due to heavy snowfall.
A week later the snow storm stopped. By the time the driver returned with help, the cleaner died of hunger and thirst. His body was found inside the truck.
Saddened by the death of his assistant, the driver cremated him at the same place. The cleaner was buried at the same place where the truck was parked.
A few days after this incident, strange and scary incidents started happening with the people coming out of this place.
At this place a boy started appearing frequently, who would ask them for some food and water to drink.
Those who did not give it to him would meet with an accident after few kilometres as that boy starts following them.
It is said that people coming from outside used to die due to difficulty in breathing at such a height.
Many people also gave water to the boy, but the water bottle used to fall down from his hand and he kept on asking people for water and food with tears in his eyes in a very helpless situation.
During that time so many accidents started happening in this inaccessible place that people started refusing to go here.
The discussion about this place started all over Himachal. Pundits were called to pacify this ghost, who got him a place made here after the rituals.
The drivers passing by started offering bottles filled with mineral water and cold drinks at this place.
Many people also started offering liquor and cigarettes as offerings in this place. The people of the village say that after making the proper place for the ghost, they stopped seeing the ghost of that young man.
The Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh is world famous for apple cultivation. Juicy apples produced in Himachal Pradesh are not only famous in India but people all around the world seek, savour and applaud apples exported from India.
Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is known for its natural beauty and delicious apples. But do you know that Madavag village located in Chaupal Tehsil of Shimla district is considered to be the richest village in Asia?
Madavag – Asia’s Richest Village
It is believed that the average annual income of the families of Madavag is Rs. 7 to 8 million. Agriculture is the main source of income for the people of Madavag village. The population of Madavag village located in Chaupal tehsil is about 2000.
You will find apple orchards everywhere in the village of Madavag. Each family has luxurious house in this village. The apples of Madavag village are mostly exported abroad. Every year apples worth Rs 150 crore are produced in this village.
The people of Madavag village cultivate apples using innovative techniques. Village people get information about new techniques of farming from all over the world through the Internet.
The farmers of Madavag village sell apples only after checking the market price on internet.
Let us tell you that apples are cultivated in two ways, one is on-year production and the other is off-year production.
Before Madavag village, earlier known as Madhavpar village was located in Kutch district of Gujarat. It is the richest village of Asia.
Prior to this, in 1982, Kyari village in Shimla district has been the richest village in Asia. The main source of income for the people of Kyari village was also apple cultivation.
History
In 1954, Chaiyan Ram Mehta, a farmer from Madavag village. Once he brought some apples from Kotkhai. He planted those apples brought from Kotkhai on his land.
At that time there was a lot of apple production in Kotkhai. The plants of apple planted by Ram Mehta when bore fruit for the first time, he sold them in the market.
When he came back after selling apples, he had eight thousand rupees. Gradually the people of Madavag village also started planting same apples. As a result, Madavag village became the richest village of Asia.
Kangra is the most populous district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Dharamshala is the administrative headquarters of the district. It is home of Masroor Rock Cut Temple, also known as Himalayan Pyramids and wonder of the world for being likely contender for the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kangra Valley is situated in the Western Himalayas. Administratively, it predominantly lies in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is a popular tourist destination, with the peak season around March and April. The Kangri dialect is spoken there.
The valley is filled with numerous perennial streams, which irrigate the valley. The valley has an average elevation of 2000 ft. Kangra Valley is a strike valley and extends from the foot of the Dhauladhar Range to the south of river Beas. The highest peak on the Dhauladhar range (White Mountain) which marks the boundary between the valley and Chamba, reaches 15,956 ft. The peaks of the range are approximately 13,000 ft above the valley floor, rising sharply from its base with no low hills in between.
In our previous blog of this series we talked about the Beautiful places of Ladakh to visit. Here is our second post on the Beautiful places of Ladakh to visit. If you haven’t read the first post yet, it is here Beautiful places to visit in Ladakh – Part One
Alchi Monastery
Alchi Monastery is a monastic organization of temples of Buddhism. It is located in a village called Alchi in Leh.
Under this, there are different monuments in the four colonies. Alchi Monastery is considered to be the oldest and most famous monastery of all.
It was built between 958 and 1055 by Guru Rinchen Zangpo according to local tradition.
This monastery is home to many old photographs and paintings present in Ladakh, in which the artistic and spiritual detail of Buddhism and Hinduism of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh has been taken care of.
Khardung La
Khardung La is a beautiful route through the hills in Leh. This path serves as a gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys.
It was constructed in 1976 but traffic was allowed from 1988. This pass is very important from the point of view of India because it was through this route that goods were transported to the Siachen Glacier.
Earlier it was considered to be the highest vehicular route in the world, but due to the height of Umling La pass being higher than Khardung La, it is now famous by this name.
Tso Moriri Lake
Tso Moriri or Lake Moriri is a mountain lake located in Ladakh, the area around which is protected by the government under the Tso Moriri Wetland Conservative Reserve.
Its height is 4522 meters and it is the highest lake found in the whole of India. It is a salt water lake. Access to this lake is limited to the summer season only.
Tso Kar Lake
Tso kar Lake is a salt water lake situated in the Rupshui plateau and its valleys. It is considered as the 42nd Ramsar site of India.
Until a few years ago, this lake was considered an excellent source of salt trade, which was exported to the nomadic Tibetans of Changpa.
Located 160 km south of Leh, this Tso Kar lake can be reached by two routes. Either way, the Leh-Manali route can be chosen to reach this picturesque place. It can also be reached here by the route of Pangong Lake.
Chumathang Village
Situated in Ladakh on the banks of the river Indus, this village is at a distance of 138 kms from Leh.
According to the 2011 Indian census, there were about 127 houses in this village of Chumthang.
This village of Chumthang has some houses built in the Himalayan way. People who want to live and feel the Ladakhi culture can stay here and enjoy it. There is also a Monastery / Gompa behind the village.
Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
Gurudwara Pathar Sahib was built in Leh in 1517 to commemorate the arrival of Guru Nanak Dev to Ladakh.
Located on the Leh-Nimmu-Kargil road, 25 km from Leh, this gurudwara looks like four moons in the beauty of Ladakh.
Guru Nanak Dev went to many places in his biography, one of which was Ladakh, he had a lot of recognition in Buddhism.
He was also known as Guru Gompka Maharaj as the Dalai Lama has said many times. This Gurudwara is built in a valley known as Sham Valley.
Hunder Sand Dunes
The Nubra Valley of Ladakh has often been a heaven for tourists. One such place is Hunder Sand Dunes. This sand dune is 10 km away from Diskit village.
This sand dune is famous all over the world because it is completely different from all other mainstream.
White sand, river flowing nearby and snow captured mountains. You will not get to see this view anywhere else.
It seems unimaginable to even think that even at such a height, there can ever be a desert, but the charisma of nature is amazing.
The double-humped camels are also here which are very unique. With the waning evening, this place becomes so beautiful that you will also be in awe of how stunning and picturesque this charisma of nature is.
Phugtal Monastery
Phuktal or Phugtal Monastery is a separate monastery located in the southern and eastern part of the Zanskar region in Ladakh.
It is the site of the preachers and scholars who lived here in ancient times. This place was a place to meditate, teach, learn and enjoy.
Phuk means “cave” in Jhukri dialect, and tal means “rest”. This 2250-year-old monastery is the only one that can be reached on foot.
Phugtal Monastery is one of the major tourist places in Ladakh and a very special place for trekking lovers.
Here every day prayers are offered by the people in the temple for good life and works. Here festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm and entertainment.
Hemis Monastery
The major tourist and sightseeing places in Leh city include Hemis Monastery which existed before 11th century and was re-established in 1672.
It is a Tibetan monastery which is the richest and the largest in Ladakh. Hemis Monastery is situated at a distance of 45 kms from Leh city which opens every 12 years.
Hemis Math hosts an annual festival held in honor of Lord Padmasambhava every year. It is one of the fascinating festivals in the world.
Let us tell you that Hemis is also home to the endangered species “Show Leopard”, which is found in Hemis National Park located here.
Leh Market
Leh Market is the first place in Leh-Ladakh that you will visit during your visit as it is located right in the heart of the city.
If you are going to visit Leh Ladakh, then we would advise you that you must visit this market. Leh Market is a place where you can buy a lot.
There are many small Tibetan markets and souvenir shops in this market that offer various articles like embroidered patches which can be custom made, pashmina shawls, prayer wheels and various silver artefacts.
Apart from shopping, you can also enjoy a variety of local food of Leh here.
Ladakh – The iconic Magnetic Hill, the turquoise coloured Pangong Lake, the confluence of two mystical rivers, ancient and awe inspiring monasteries and the highest passes are a few of the marvellous attractions of Leh and Ladakh in general.
If you are planning to visit Leh Ladakh in next summers or monsoon then you should prepare a list of places to visit. So let us help you in making this list with little bit of introduction of every place so you do not miss them when you visit Ladakh.
Leh Palace
In the sixteenth century this palace used to be the house of the king. Even today this land is under the care of the royal house of Leh.
This palace, which looks like the Patola of Lhasa of China, was the target of the earlier Kashmiri invasion.
The wall paintings present here are quite famous. The Khar Gompa inside it is worth seeing.
From the roof of this palace, you can see the colourful flags used for prayer and for waving. The mind feels happy and relaxed while looking at those colourful flags flying in the blue sky.
Hall of Fame
Built by Indian soldiers, this museum is located near Leh and remains a favourite among tourists.
This museum is a symbol of all the soldiers and brave hearts of India who have been sacrificing their lives for the service of the country at every turn.
Here you can find autobiographies of many soldiers, weapons used in war, etc. A part of the museum is completely dedicated to the Battle of Siachen.
One can find many weapons, shoes and other things and belongings pertaining to the soldiers on display in this museum.
Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa is said to be a dome shaped religious temple built in white colour. It was built by a Japanese Buddhist organisation to commemorate the completion of 2500 years of Buddhism.
The temple was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama and is known worldwide as a symbol of peace.
Adorned with white marble, this temple spreads its magic on all the tourists with the waning evening.
Shey Monastery
Situated fifteen kilometres south of Leh, this monastery was built by the first king of Ladakh.
There is a 12 meter high statue of Shakyamuni Buddha which was constructed in 1633. It is considered to be the second most prominent statue of Ladakh.
Thiksey Monastery
Discovered in the 15th century, this monastery is considered to be one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh.
It is the abode of more than 500 monks, in which a 15 meter high statue of Maitriya Buddha is installed.
It is also famous for its hall where many prayer books are kept wrapped in muslin cloth.
Stoke Palace
Situated 14 km from Leh, this palace was built by Raja Namgyal in 1825. Today it is the residence of the people of the royal family.
It is the only museum that is open for tourist activities. This museum holds an exhibition of the clothes and jewellery of the royal family and is a perfect place in order to know the history of the state.
Pangong Tso Lake
The fame of this place increased after it was featured in Amir Khan’s film 3 Idiots. Situated about 160 km away from Ladakh, this river is famous for its clear blue waters and golden weather that remains uniform throughout the year.
If you want to feel solitude and peace then you must visit this place. This lake is considered to be the largest salt water river in Asia and leaves a sudden impression in the hearts of tourists with its immense beauty.
Nubra Valley
Established to the south of Leh, the Nubra Valley passes between the mountains of Ladakh and the Karakoram and has a tributary valley immediately adjacent to it.
Both these valleys make their integral contribution in maintaining the greenery of the place.
Nubra Valley is also known as the Valley of Flowers and many beautiful and brightly coloured flowers can be seen here. This valley gives a picturesque and serene feeling to all its tourists.
Magnetic Hill
Magnetic Hill is actually a cyclone hill located in Leh. Due to the way the place has been drawn, it appears to be a small mountain.
The slope and the ups and downs give the illusion of being a hill. Cars moving on this road appear as if they are going up a hill but in reality they are going down.
This space defies gravity. Many tales and stories are told about this place, the villagers of Ladakh believe that this road was once the way to reach heaven.
On the other hand according to science it is said that this hill has magnetic potential which attracts all the vehicles and objects towards itself.
This power is considered to be so strong that all vehicles deployed for air travel stay away from this path.
Flow of Indus and Zanskar
The Indus River originates from the Tibetan Plateau near the Mansarovar while the Zanskar River comes from the Zanskar Valley, the beautiful confluence of these two rivers in the Nimmu Valley is located between Leh and Kargil.
The green color of the Indus river and the blue color of Zanskar look very prominently divided at the time of the convention, making this convention one of the most beautiful things present in the world. This conference in Leh is known as Sangam.
Shimla is a hill Station situated in the hills of Himachal. Many couples go for honeymoon after marriage. Shimla is a very beautiful city, full of natural scenery. As much as Shimla is beautiful it is scary as well.
The beauty of this place is mesmerizing for the tourists. But do you know that there is such a place in this beautiful hill station which is very scary.
There are many haunted stories related to the Most Haunted Place in Shimla. Shimla’s Barog railway station is also called ghostly tunnel.
It is a scary and haunted destination. People believe that someone’s shadow hangs in the tunnel here.
The history of Shimla’s Barog Tunnel no 33 which is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage in year 2002 is very thrilling. This small hill station is in the route of Shimla where Barog tunnel is built.
Barog is a small village in Shimla, which falls on the Kalka-Shimla highway in Himachal Pradesh. There is a Barog tunnel here, which is named after Colonel Barog, a former British engineer. It is said that his shadow often roams in this tunnel.
Actually the colonel was given the task of making this tunnel. After which he first inspected the mountain and put marks at two ends and ordered the labourers to dig tunnels from both the ends.
The colonel had an idea that while digging, the two tunnels would come together in the middle and it’s ends will meet. But his guess turned out to be wrong.
The British government was very angry with this mistake of the colonel. So the colonel was fired from his job. Along with this, a fine of Re 1 was also imposed on him.
The colonel became very upset by this fine and humiliation. After this incident, one day he took his dog for a walk inside the wrong built tunnel and shot himself with a gun.
The blood-soaked body was there in the same tunnel for several hours. The witness of that suicide was only the dog, because it took time for the villagers to reach.
The colonel was buried outside the same incomplete tunnel to pay homage to his work. The Barog Pine Wood Hotel stands at the place where the Colonel shot himself.
After the death of Colonel, Subsequently, the work of the tunnel was carried out by Chief Engineer H.S.
Harrington, but he too could not succeed in making it. In the end, Baba Bhalku Ram tried to dig this tunnel and he was successful in 1903. Then it was named Barog Tunnel.
Baba Bhalku Rail Museum has also been built near Shimla Railway Station. Apart from Barog tunnel, this tunnel is also called Haunted Tunnel-33.
There are many haunting stories about the tunnel. People say that even today the shadow of Colonel Barog is seen walking in this tunnel.
Apart from this, many times people have also heard some screams from inside the tunnel. Many local people have also done worship here, but the spirit of the engineer is still visible.
In reality this tunnel is very scary. If all the lights inside the tunnel are extinguished, then there is a very scary scene inside.
The water of the mountain keeps seeping inside. After walking some distance inside this tunnel, you will find a place, from where strange sounds come.
The government have also installed an iron door to close that tunnel, but one day people found the lock of the door broken. Since then till today it has not been locked again. One can go there and hear the creepy sounds.
Let us tell you, Barog tunnel is 96 km long and there are about 103 tunnels on the Kalka – Shimla route. Train runs at a speed of 25 kilometres per hour but still it takes 2.5 minutes in order to cross this tunnel.
Buddhist traditions are recognized in the distant valleys of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. These very beautiful Buddhist monasteries have been built in the mountains here, which look very attractive.
It represents a rich heritage of art and literature of Buddhism. There are very beautiful ancient artifacts inside them which have been made in bright colours.
These artifacts are decorated in very attractive structures, on the sides of which beautiful edges have been made with silk thread.
Dharamsala, where His Highness the Dalai Lama is living in exile, has become a wonderful Tibetan city, where Tibetan culture is flourishing. It is the main centre that attracts researchers and religious tourists.
Tso Pema Monastry
Rewalsar is probably the most religious place of Buddhists. This place is 20 KM from Mandi. It is located in the far northwest.
According to a legend, Guru Padmasambhava went to Tibet in order to start spreading Buddhism from here.
There is a very beautiful pagoda style monastery on the banks of the lake. There are four monasteries situated on each corner of the lake, which are popular Gompas.
The first monastery established in Rewalsar was Nyingma Gompa, which is located right at the lakefront. Drikung Kagya Monastery, Zigar Drukpa Kagyud Monastery, and Zangdok Palri Palace Monastery are the other three renowned Gompas of the region.
Guru Ghantal Math
This monastery is situated on the right bank of river Chandra-bhaga at a distance of 4 kms, which is the oldest wooden gompa of Lahaul-Spiti. The roofs of gompa are made of shikhara style, with beautiful wood carvings.
The Statues of Guru Padmasambhava and Brijeshwari Devi are placed here. On the full moon night in mid-June, a festival is celebrated jointly by Buddhists and Thakurs called “Ghantal”.
Kardang Monastery
This monastery is located at a distance 5 km from Keylong crossing the Bhaga River. There is a belief that this monastery was built in the 12th century.
This monastery has a very large library where books belonging to Buddhist literature in Kangyur and Tangyur script are written in Bhoti script. also Once the capital of Lahaul-Spiti was Kardang village.
Shashur Monastery
It is situated on a hill at a distance of 3 km towards North from Keylong. In the month of June-July, this monastery becomes the centre of attraction, where thousands of visitors come to see the demon dance.
It was established in the 17th century. The artifacts installed here depict the history of 84 Buddhists.
Tayul Gompa
Situated at 6 KM from Keylong the Tayul Gompa is one of the oldest monasteries in the valley. This place is famous for about 5m tall Guru Padmasambhava’s high statue and Kyungar library which is located here.
Tayul means “chosen site” in Tibetan language. There is also an interesting story behind this.
Key Monastery
This place is 12 km from Kaza situated in the north Spiti is dedicated to the people of west valley. This monastery is one of the oldest and largest monasteries in the valley and is situated above the village.
There are books related to Buddhism and artifacts of Lord Buddha and other goddesses. Lamas practice dance, music and play instruments here.
The lamas are given religious training here. There is also a collection of books and masks related to moral ideals.
Kungri Gompa
This Gompa is about 10 km from Attargaon. One has to cross the Spiti river to reach this gompa located in the distant Pin valley. This gompa is dedicated to the people of Pin Valley.
Dhankhar Math
This monastery is in Kaza. It is situated in the east and is dedicated to the eastern part of central Spiti. Dhankhar, which is a large village, was the capital of the erstwhile Spiti state.
There is a fort on the top of the hill where there used to be a prison in olden times. About 100 lamas live in this monastery and here Buddhist literature of Bhoti language is preserved.
The main attraction here is the statue of “Bairochan” which has four figures of Lord Buddha which are attached back to back. There are also some relics in the form of artefacts and paintings.
Tabo Monastery
This is another very famous and large monastery dedicated to the eastern population. It was built in the 10th century and is located at a distance 50 km from Kaza.
Its fame comes on second number after Tholing Gompa in Tibet. There are 60 Buddhist monks living here. There is a large collection of Buddhist literature which bears a resemblance to the Ajanta paintings.
Nako Monastery
The famous footprints of Guru Padmasambhava are stored in the Lotsabad Math. Situated at a high altitude in Kinnaur district, this village is situated near the transparent lake.
The monastery was found in the 11th century by a renowned ancient translator Lochen Rinchen Zangpo. It is divided into four halls or chapels. The gate of the monastery is engraved with detailed patterns.
Nestled between the valleys of the vast Himalayas the city of Ladakh has the ability to touch the hearts of all the tourists. While visiting tourists enjoy its immense beauty and take good memories with them.
Situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, this city is famous for its outdoor environment, picturesque green oases, sparkling monasteries and small villages.
Ladakh is famous all over the world for its mesmerizing beauty, which is why tourists come from far to enjoy. The blue sky filled with high White Mountains will amaze you as soon as you step into this city.
The charm of the canal valleys will make you dream of living here for forever. Ladakh is also known as the snowy desert, all the tourists fall in love with its pristine beauty.
Situated on the banks of the Indus river, this city is making its own place in everyone’s hearts by becoming a wonderful example of infinite beauty from every end of its rocks and mountains.
It is bordered by China in the north and Tibet in the east, due to the mountainous area, there is very little cultivable land here.
History
The history of Ladakh can be drawn better from the ninth century onwards. The establishment of Ladakh coincided with the end of the kingdom of Tibet.
It is believed that the first tribe to live in Ladakh belonged to the Dardis. According to the beliefs of Greek historians and Alexander Graham, many such evidences have been found which prove that the Dardis used to live in Ladakh.
Naima-Gon was a representative of the ancient Tibet family who discovered Ladakh after the end of the Tibetan Empire. Since then Tibet started living with the Dardis.
At that time Buddhism was very prevalent in Ladakh, a man named Lade-DPA-Hokhar-Bastan was appointed to build several monasteries in Ladakh.
This city of Ladakh was divided into two divisions of Upper and Lower Ladakh. King Takbande ruled Upper Ladakh and Lower Ladakh was under the control of King Takpabom.
Thereafter, King Bhagan of Lower Ladakh adopted the name Namgyal after defeating the Raja of Leh and established a new dynasty which is present in the plains of Ladakh till date.
King Senge Namgyal was popularly known as the Lion King. During his reign the construction work was in progress in Ladakh.
Senge ordered the construction of Leh palace and extended his kingdom to Zanskar and Spiti. King Senge was finally defeated by the Mughals who had already occupied Kashmir and Balistan.
Deldan Namgyal and the Mughals
Senge Namgyal’s son Deldan Namgyal entered into an agreement with the Mughals, in which Aurangzeb was agreed to build a mosque in Leh. With the help of Fidai Khan’s army, Senge defeated the fifth Dalai Lama’s invasion force and established his empire.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Mughal rule was approaching its end, at the same time Raja Ranjit Singh sent his most loyal person Zorawar Singh to conquer Ladakh in 1834. At that time Ladakh was under the rule of Tehspal Namgyal.
Zorawar Singh got power from Namgyal and Karli and Dogra dynasty entered the plains of Ladakh. After 1850, British rule and Europe increased interest in Ladakh. Then by 1885 Leh was made the headquarters of the mission of the Moravian Church.
Inclusion of Ladakh in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir:
In the year 1947, when India got independence on the condition of partition, then Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir had two options whether he should join Hindustan or Pakistan.
In 1948, Pakistani attackers tried to capture this part by entering Kargil and Zanskar in Ladakh, but Indian soldiers drove the Pakistanis from this part.
Then Jammu and Kashmir announced a conditional merger with India, and being grateful to the Indian Army they decided to make Ladakh an integral part of India as a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Both Leh and Kargil got the status of Mandal Headquarters in the convention.
In 1949, China stopped oil trade by closing the border between Nubra and Xinjiang. The people of this region were greatly troubled by the Chinese incursion in 1950.
In 1962, China occupied the Aksai China area and immediately started building roads between Xinjiang and Tibet. On the other hand th Pakistan, China also built the Karakoram Highway.
So India decided to built the highway between Srinagar to Leh at the same time. This highway takes only 2 days to reach Leh from Srinagar whereas earlier it used to take around 16 days.
India also continued to have disputes with its neighbours Pakistan and China over this part of the state including Jammu and Kashmir. The Kargil region of Ladakh remained the focus during the wars of 1947, 65, 71 and 1999.
Ladakh was divided into two districts or regions Kargil and Leh in 1979. In 1989, due to the tension between the population of Buddhists and Muslims, riots also took place here and then Ladakh raised the demand for the status of a union territory by separating from Kashmir.
After this, in 1993, the Government of India established the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, giving autonomy to Ladakh.
In February 2019, Ladakh became a separate Revenue and Administrative Division within Jammu and Kashmir. As a division, Ladakh was granted its own Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police.
Leh was initially chosen to be the headquarters of the new division however, following protests, it was announced that Leh and Kargil will jointly serve as the divisional headquarters.
In August 2019, an act was passed by the Parliament of India which declared Ladakh as a union territory, separate from the rest of Jammu and Kashmir.
Best time to visit Ladakh:
Summer is the best time to visit Leh-Ladakh. In the months of June to September, the atmosphere is sunny and pleasant during the day and at night, the temperature drops rapidly.
You can reach here either by air or by road. If you are thinking of coming to Ladakh by road, then the Manali-Leh or Srinagar-Leh route seems to be the most appropriate knowledge.
Ladakh is most famous for breathtaking landscapes, the crystal clear skies, the highest mountain passes, thrilling adventure activities, Buddhist Monasteries and festivals.
