You
have worked the whole year, and now your body and soul are screaming for
help to be released from the clutches of busy schedule. You need to relax
those aching muscles and rejuvenate that harried spirit. Of course, you
require a break that provides a perfect blend of leisure and adventure and
combine natural beauty with pleasant company. For all these wonderful
experiences, you do not need a simple holiday, but a special one, and that
is camping.
Camping in Himachal Pradesh is perhaps the most adventurous way of relaxing
in the lap of mother nature. Camping on the higher altitudes of Himachal
Pradesh doesn't need too much equipment, just take along your essential
camping gear and opt for any of the several camps that are pitched in the
state. The camps at Himachal Pradesh offer accommodation, catering and
adventure activities like fishing, hiking, nature-trips and rafting.
Camping Regions in Himachal Pradesh : Himachal Tourism
Department organizes camps at Sarchu in Lahaul, in addition to this tents
are available at Sangla and Kalpa in Kinnaur and at Kaza in Spiti. The Youth
hostel association of India has its camps in Himachal Pradesh at Dulhousie
(Chamba) and at Kullu-Manali.
Besides, several private companies run their camps at Baspa (Sangla)
valley, at Kalpa (Kinnaur), at Tabo (Spiti), at Al Hilal (Taragarh), at
Shoja near Kullu and Mashobra, at Baldian near Shimla and at Dharamsala in
Kangra.
Camping in Barog
Situated in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, Barog is the only hill
station in India with a registered camping site. Boparais organization is
running a camping site at Barog on Chandigarh-Shimla highway. You can reach
the Barog camps by a car or other motorable vehicles. En-route, you will get
a spectacular view of Solan valley and also the picturesque Choor Chandani
hill range of the Himalayas.
Developed on the lines of European camping sites, the camps at Barog are
equipped with all basic facilities that provide you a memorable stay. In
addition, you may go for a walk across the verdant valleys bursting with
flowers, fruits, chirping of birds and colourful butterflies.
Some Handy Tips for Camping
- Essential gears for camping in Himachal Pradesh are sufficient food,
fuel, clothes etc. Besides, you should carry a thermos of hot tea,
knife, space blanket, first aid kit, match boxes, candle or fire starter
blocks, flashlight, water purification tablets, filter, route map,
compass etc.
- Always go for a bigger tent as you need lots of internal space on a
winter trip for all the bulky items you are carrying. You may also get
snowed in winter and need to spend a lot more time in the tent so choose
high quality tent.
- Do not cook food in a tent because there are chances to asphyxiate
yourself from accumulated carbon monoxide.
- You should carry a water bottle with a wide mouth, otherwise the
mouth will easily freeze up.
- You should brush off all the snow from your clothes and boots with
whisk broom before getting into the tent at night.
- At night keep your boots in your sleeping bag stuff sack and place
the stuff sack between your legs to prevent them from freezing.
- Get warm before you get into your sleeping bag. Go for a night jog
or play an active game or do some jumping jacks so your heat is built up
for when you get in your bed.
- Strip off your layers of clothing to what will be adjustable in your
sleeping bag. Too much clothing can compress dead air space in the
sleeping bag and reduce its effectiveness.
- If you are going in windy areas or leaving your tents during day
excursions always stake your tent down.
