Namaste Steemians!

Today I’m excited to share my bike packing experience to the beautiful and serene Prashar Lake.

My Experience:

Now, let’s talk about my journey. To be honest, this trip truly tested me both mentally and physically. While heading to the mechanic, out of nowhere, my brakes completely failed. I was descending a slope when it happened, and the fear was overwhelming. The thought of crashing into the sand pit crossed my mind, but instead, I decided to use my feet to stop the bike. Thankfully, it worked, but not before my life flashed before my eyes. After stopping, I walked about 5 kilometers to the mechanic. The bike was fixed, but the fear lingered. However, I couldn’t let that hold me back.

I packed my gear and set my alarm for 4:30 a.m., ready to leave in the early hours. I hit the road with two apples tucked in my jersey’s back pocket and began my journey. After about an hour and a half of riding, the sun started to rise, lifting my spirits as well. I took my first stop after two hours of riding—though I wasn’t tired, I was quite hungry, so I enjoyed my first apple.

I reached Katindhi, a small village, and from there to Kamandh, the ride was mostly downhill (a section I didn’t enjoy, given my recent brake scare). After Kamandh, I anticipated a grueling climb, but to my surprise, it wasn’t too exhausting. The valley was cold, and the sun hadn’t risen yet, but the scenic views kept me going.

Soon, I reached Kataula, where I stopped for a proper meal—delicious aloo parathas and tea. This gave me a much-needed energy boost, though I could feel some laziness creeping in. As I continued, the roads became more lively, with people curious about where I was headed, which helped keep my spirits up.

After reaching Baagi, I saw the devastation caused by the 2023 monsoons, with much of the valley destroyed by torrential rains, a stark reminder of nature’s power. The climb after Baagi was manageable until I hit Kandhalu, where things got tough. The 15-18 km stretch that followed was exhausting, with steep climbs. People in cars and on bikes honked and cheered me on, which was much-needed encouragement.

At some points, I had to get off my bike and walk it due to the weight of my gear and the steepness of the climb. When I reached Til, I was completely famished. I stopped at the only open dhaba, hoping for rajma and rice, but settled for Maggi and tea. I was so tired that I dozed off while waiting for my food.

After refueling, I felt sluggish, but I kept moving forward. At one point, I became hungry again—unlike anything I’d experienced before—so I devoured the second apple without even washing it, as my water bottle was empty. A brief conversation with a passerby, who admired my efforts, gave me a second wind, and after a couple of grueling hours, I finally reached my destination.

My arrival at Prashar Lake attracted a lot of attention. People were curious and even a bit awestruck that I had cycled all the way from Mandi. It was both embarrassing and gratifying. I checked into the PWD guest house, where the chowkidar was extremely friendly and surprised to hear about my journey.

After a much-needed nap, I had a magical lunch—probably the best meal I’ve had, better than anything at fancy restaurants. Later, I visited the lake, and the moment I stepped into the temple’s premises, I felt an overwhelming sense of positivity and peace. After some time meditating, I met the priest, who initially mistook me for a foreigner. When I shared my story, others gathered around, making me feel like a celebrity for a few minutes.

That evening, I enjoyed an unforgettable dinner of mutton and rice, prepared by the chowkidar, who, in my opinion, deserves to be a chef! I spent the rest of the evening chatting with fellow travelers before calling it a day.

The Next Day:

I woke up at 7 a.m. to freezing weather and planned to catch the morning sun, but the cold kept me in bed a little longer. After gathering the courage to get up and bathe, I headed back to the lake for prayers. Around 11 a.m., I began my journey home, filled with positivity and a sense of accomplishment. On the way, I had the rare sight of wild boars crossing the road—an unexpected thrill to cap off the trip.

This journey pushed me to my limits and taught me a lot about perseverance, patience, and the rewards of adventure.

All these pictures were clicked by me using my iphone13

THANK YOU