It is rare to get ‘peak winter‘ like conditions in ‘peak summer’ at destinations like Rakcham in Himachal Pradesh. Tourists who were holed up at this place between 16th – 18th June, 2013, carried indelible impressions in their mind for having watched a continuous snowfall for two days, followed by a clear sunlit day. The extreme chill in the air notwithstanding, it was a god sent opportunity to capture the scenario through the lens, for once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and share it with nature lovers.
Frame 1 Date: 16.6.2013 Time:5.25 am
After getting up in the morning and coming to verandah, a cool
surprise! Icicles hanging from corrugated roofing catch my eye. With the
previous day’s rainfall being reinforced by today’s snowfall, it took everyone by
surprise. One could foresee a chilled atmosphere for the rest of the day.
Frame 2 Date: 16.6.2013 Time:5.26 am
Not so distant view of Kailash View Camp offering luxury tents, the
two parked cars indicated two families as inmates. The infiltration of cold air
through the tent canvass in such a climate perhaps makes them rue the fact that
they were not holed up in a hotel. The three lights are the mute spectators in
the murky morning.
Frame 3 Date: 16.6.2013 Time:5.49 am
The neighboring stone and wood two storied building had the
agglomerated snow mass hanging by the roof edges. The rain accompanying the
snow was aiding in detaching the snow mass with wavy impressions from the roof and
slide down the edge.
Frame 4 Date: 16.6.2013 Time:5.51 am
With canvass roofing holding on well, the onslaught of slanting
snow mass and raindrops can easily leak through the zipped joints in canvass. That must be ominous for the inmates.
Frame 5 Date: 16.6.2013 Time:5.51 am
The bridge over the roaring Baspa river is conspicuous by the
absence of people or animals like cows and sheep which is usual in early
morning. From indoors one can vision the roaring river from extreme end of
valley and passing by the hotel.
Frame 6 Date: 16.6.2013 Time:6.22 am
The brick colored two storied private bungalow in mid-ground
with snow mass hanging down the roof and a lone light in one of the rooms
indicates activity in the kitchen. The pine trees in backdrop collects some of
the snow and the foreground apple trees make rest of the picture.
Frame 7 Date: 16.6.2013 Time: 6.24 am
Switching the location, I face the road from corridor running
along the rooms in the hotel. The parked cars had a layer of snow with blistery
appearance. Compounding the woes for the tourists, roads were blocked with
boulders sliding down the hill. The cars will surely not see any people
venturing anywhere near it. The guests holed up in hotel missed their chance of
vacating the hotel with their tour itineraries going for a toss.
Frame 8 Date: 16.6.2013 Time:7.40 am
The much touted picturesque Modern Village of Rakcham looks
bereft of any activity. The lush green hill in backdrop as was visible
yesterday takes a pale white hue. The accumulated snow on roof tops gives the
impression of an destination in Indian Himalayas in winter.
Frame 9 Date: 16.6.2013 Time:12.17 pm
By noon it was exceedingly clear that the inclement weather was
there to stay. The drivers of the vehicle hold a conference on the wet road,
discussing the prospects of their vehicles getting stranded for days due to
blocked roads. The tourists resigned to fate with no option but to be confined
in their rooms.
Frame 10 Date: 16.6.2013 Time: 5.27 pm
Snowfall intensifying in afternoon, the cottages had roofs
totally covered with snow and sliding down the edges, from time to time, with a
spectacle of its own.
Frame 11 Date: 16.6.2013 Time: 5.33 pm
After a cup of evening tea and snacks to go with it to beat the
chill, it was worthwhile exploring the scenario from hotel entry gate. The
makeshift steps of wooden planks placed on stones, did not look too encouraging
with a layer of snow cover, making it slippery. A few inmates did venture out as can be seen from foot marks on door
mat.
Frame 12 Date: 17.6.2013 Time: 5.19 am
As has been a ritual with me, coming out on verandah after
waking up in the morning, more surprises. Overnight heavy snowfall did not
spare any portion of landmass, houses and trees. Pure and pristine white
landscape was being displayed in all its glory. We reconciled for another cold,
snowy, rainy and power starved day in hotel.
Frame 13 Date: 17.6.2013 Time: 6.16 am
Switching my position to corridor and facing the road and the
village, the lone villager, gingerly walking on snow gives some life on this
snowy day. The overnight snowfall was very heavy, with about 10” snow on ground
and prospect of more to come. We were like sitting ducks holed up in
hotel.
Frame 14 Date: 17.6.2013 Time: 6.17 am
Looking beyond, the village house roof tops were heavily loaded
with snow as a result of lashing snow particles in full fury.
Frame 15 Date: 17.6.2013 Time: 6.50 am
Ordering for a cup of tea in canteen, looking through the
window, the road to freedom to take us to Sangla, was totally covered in white
deposits. So was the triangular arch with signage for Modern Village.
Frame 16 Date: 17.6.2013 Time: 6.51 am
On the hill side the giant trees give an impression of having
stopped quite a bit of snow, unable to shed all that was incident. One gets
reminded of Christmas trees crafted out of paper and wood with white cotton
stuffed to give impression of snow cover. Here a real life Christmas scenario
in summer! That is the vagaries of Himalayan weather this year.
Frame 17 Date: 17.6.2013 Time: 6.53 am
The tourist cars were doomed to remain mute spectators for last
two days. When they will whir to life is anybody’s guess.
Frame 18 Date: 17.6.2013 Time: 8.37 am
From the room verandah, facing the backyard consisting of apple
trees, one can see the lone soul wondering about the desolate road, which is usually sees a lot of activity on a
normal day. Today was different.
Frame 19 Date: 17.6.2013 Time: 9.02 am
The Baspa river, bridge and the pine trees and even the rocks
see enough deposition of snow. The tented camp in far end is conspicuous by the
absence of cars. This means the guests have abandoned the tents finding it not
too comfortable a place to stay during heavy snowfall. What better place to
move than the hotel where we were holed up.
Frame 20 Date: 18.6.2013 Time: 6.05 am
At last rainfall and snowfall totally relenting, the morning
view from verandah was prominently green and white with a splash of brown shade
of river Baspa. The bright sunlit day
brought some warmth in weather and hope at heart. Can we come out of our
hibernation today?
Frame 21 Date: 18.6.2013 Time: 6.05 am
Another view of landscape with the river, the
tented camp, the greenery, the fresh snow splattered hills in backdrop give a
picture postcard scenario.
Frame 22 Date:18.6.2013 Time: 6.10 am
The bright sunlit day and blue sky surfacing after 3 days in
hibernation brings in the hope of moving to our next destination. Will the road
reopen for vehicular movement today?
As a post script, only on 20th June we were able to leave the hotel and trek 14 km to Sangla.
The readers can view some astounding footages of snow swept
Baspa valley by taking the following link:
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