Barot....Hues of green and blue

A serpentine road cutting through thick cedar forest and rain lashing already green forest, making it more verdant.Giving you company throughout is River Uhl gurgling and  making it's ways through rocks and hills. This is a road to quaint sleepy village called Barot in Himachal Pradesh.

Layers of hills merging into horizon....

There are only three dominant colours in this valley....green, blue and white and that too in their purest forms.This is a place straight out from Artist's easel.It has all the elements like water,snow ,forest all in one place.Any coordinates in this place will give you amazing views .You will see layers and layers of mountains merging into horizon.This almost seems surreal till you come across one or two occasional group of shepherds.

Small hamlet perched on hill

On the way one will come across hamlets perched on hills.Not to miss the the cultivation done in form of wide big green stairs.This seems like a green heaven in lap of hills.I noticed that there are some hills just having a single house.While looking at them , I was just trying to contemplate the hardships and struggles these villagers have to undergo each and every day.Life can be quite a challenge in these hamlets which get cut off completely  from urban civilization in winters.

Mighty Uhl River

Throughout your journey you will be tempted to stop at each and every turn  and enjoy the breathtaking landscape.The more you travel further the more closer you keep on getting to mountains.Finally you reach Barot.This is the place which was put on map in 1927 by Britishers.They tamed Uhl river here only and made a small water reservoir and also laid the foundation of trout farming for locales.Its amazing to know that this dam was built almost 90 years back and that too in such a inaccessible and remote place.Britishers laid a track for haulage trolley so as to carry people and material from villages/towns to this area .This trolley is still in operation .I bet if God can send back any of it's creators  today to see this trolley , they will die hundred deaths.It is in such a state of neglect!It could have been very well made it's way into heritage property but alas...

Log hut

Anyhow coming back to Barot. This is strictly for those travelers only who are seeking just solace and peace of mind and not looking for any glamorous type of holiday. There is a lone log hut which is a pwd resthouse where you can park yourself for a night or two and venture out into the wilderness of Barot and nearby places.
As far as eating out options are concerned ,if you are lucky you can savor the taste of quintessential kidney beans and rice in a sole dhabha(a small basic eatery) in market.Market boasts about 10 shops and to my utter surprise , I could spot a beauty parlour too. Beauty knows no bounds ;-)

A short journey to Barot left an everlasting impression on me and left me asking for more.....I want to go there again and again. By the way this area is also called trekkers paradise ...may be next time I will stick to that way of exploring...