A Very 'Driven' Adventure To Spiti Valley & Manali

Our member Hari Baskaran and his wife Deepa went on a driving holiday to Spiti Valley. He tells us how it helped to revive their spirit after months of the pandemic.

In August 2021 my wife and I went on a driving adventure to Spiti Valley and Manali with a group of senior citizens. Kaza is approximately 770 km from Delhi via Shimla and approximately 200 km from Manali. It was a fascinating and memorable adventure and a very welcome break after being cooped up at home for a year and a half due to the pandemic. Besides the sheer magnificence of the Himalayan Mountain ranges, this trip helped my wife and me break away from a nagging sense of fear and anxiety. We got back our mojo and regained our spirit of adventure.

In the months leading up to the expedition, there were heavy rains, flash floods and loss of lives near the areas we were to visit. Many well-wishers advised us not to go ahead as it was far too dangerous. Most travelogues and blogs also described some sections of the route as treacherous and a challenge for the most experienced of drivers.  Besides, we had to cope with high altitudes. Senior citizens beware, is what they said.

Nevertheless, our intrepid group of senior citizens fed off the energy of each other and went ahead undaunted.

What followed was an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. The Himalayan ranges are awe-inspiring and the scenic beauty takes your breath away. The ancient 1000-year-old Buddhist monasteries were a delight. They house several valuable and ancient scriptures, artefacts and mural paintings. The little villages en route had eating places that offered wholesome food in memorable surroundings. At times the roads were in poor condition. Some sections were truly torturous and easily the worst roads we have ever been on. This added to the thrill and adventure and made it an unforgettable experience.

Why should senior citizens participate in these arduous events?

Besides the bragging rights, it brings you a whole host of benefits. Let me stick to the top three in this post.

1. Feeding off the energy of others: Elders who have a strong love of adventure, a resilient mind and the spirit to challenge themselves are exceptionally inspirational. They have a love of life which is very infectious. Participating in activities and events with them rekindles our passion for life and is a wonderful tonic for a healthy life.
2. Breaking free of anxiety: We can get anxiety-prone as we age and more so in difficult times such as the pandemic. We tend to view events from a worst-case perspective and deny ourselves the opportunity to refresh and energise the way we think and live. Such activities in the company of inspiring people help us break free of this negative mindset. This too rekindles the zest for life and is a wonderful tonic for mental health.
3. Gaining new experiences: Experiences of this nature are unique. You learn a lot. Meet many wonderful people. Gain self-confidence. As we age our mental faculties decline. The fear of diseases such as dementia is ever-present and a source of worry. Experiences of this nature go a long way in keeping your mental faculties active.

These observations are backed by the studies (a special report by The Harvard Medical School - A guide to cognitive fitness) of several specialists in the field of eldercare. 

Preparing for a Spiti Valley driving adventure

Clothing: We travelled light but carried layers of clothing to cope with warm and cold conditions. Warm innerwear, a light sweater, a fleece jacket and a warm jacket were more than adequate for us. The coldest temperatures in August were at night at Nako and Kaza where it dropped to 7 degrees. Day temperatures were around 20 degrees. 

Medical kit: Besides sufficient quantities of our regular medicines, we carried contingency medicines such as paracetamol, anti-loose motion tablets, broad-spectrum antibiotics and Diamox for the prevention of high altitude sickness. We took a tablet of Diamox for a couple of days before reaching high altitudes. My wife developed mild symptoms due to high altitude sickness at Kaza but recovered immediately with Paracetamol. Staying hydrated is most important. Our highest points of stay overnight were Nako and Kaza at about 3600 metres. During the day we visited places that reached altitudes of about 4500 metres. 

Stay and food: We had no problems locating decent places to stay at all our night halts. No prior bookings gave us the flexibility to change our plans at any time if it became necessary. There was good wholesome food at dhabas along the way and at our places of stay. 

Type of vehicle: The roads were reasonably good at several places and very good at some places. The Losar – Kumjun La – Gramphu stretch was a bad one with dirt tracks and poor quality roads whenever we went off the highway. An SUV or 4-wheel drive with good ground clearance should be the vehicle of choice to do this trip. You are likely to hire a rented chauffeur-driven vehicle or hire a professional driver to drive your car. Here are some tips to help you ensure that you are well prepared for a long car journey. 

https://www.team-bhp.com/safety/preparing-indian-road-trip 

Electronics: A mobile phone camera is more than adequate. Reliance Jio had the best connectivity in the Spiti Valley so carry a Jio sim in addition to your usual sim. Carry a power bank and all your charging cables. 

Finally take along oodles of high spirits, a willingness to take the rough with the smooth and an open mind for adventure and you will love this journey. 

All photographs are courtesy Hari Baskaran.