[rkbharat]

Like any other morning, I was up much before the alarm, sky was clear. The lawn and the available view was little different this time. I was shooting right towards the sunrise point and was not sure what is in the store, but things started getting interesting as the first ray of sun touched the horizon. I shot the rays so clearly for the first time, a wonderful experience. It was cold outside, must be around 4-5 degree Celsius, but it was worth all that pain. You don't get so beautiful sunrise everyday, not just for photography but for the real experience.

After a heavy breakfast and a much needed hot water bath, we decided to leave early, so that we clear the slush much early in the morning. We left Kalpa around 9:30 Am, filled fuel at Peo. It was a wise decision, though slush was tamed just a little, but we cleared all of it without much issue. Only to get stuck in another bad landslide. Vehicles were waiting there since 4 am to clear, BRO did couple of blasting to clear the landslide. Luckily we had to wait for just an hour and we were through it. Rest of the drive up to Narkanda was event less. We were at Narkanda around 4:00 Pm, and as a half hearted attempt, we first checked at Hotel Hatu and as usual nothing, I didn't even cared to switch off the car, as I was expecting this.

We went straight to Mahamaya Palace and got a nice room for 900 Rs, it was a nostalgic moment for us, exactly seven years back we stayed at the same room and had same terrace and view , minus nandini. When I told this to Nandini that we were here seven years back, she got angry that we came here alone without her .

We had a wonderful late lunch at hotel and to my surprise the food was really tasty and the best of the whole trip. We had a short walk around the market, to buy some stuff and Priyanka wanted to have the local sweets which was quite tasty indeed.

I slept quite early today, may be I was tired getting up early and staying up late. Our trip was finally coming to end, tomorrow will be a straight drive to home with very few pics.

Twilight or Magic




Light on the snow was amazing




Beautiful golden rays


Sun rising




amazing peaks




Finally our run back to Narkanda




Nandini was happy


SX4 was happy


Our evening walk at Narkanda






View from the terrace of room

[rkbharat]

Day 6:

Last day of the trip, it was bad feeling, it always feels bad when trip is about to end, but a cosy bed at home feels like a reward to head back home. We just had to cover around 450 Km, that to mostly downwards, so we again started around 9:00 Am, and a straight run to home. Had few neck to neck competition with the scorpios and hondas but finally let them go, so that we enjoy the return journey as well.

As ritual we took our first break at Ambala McDs, its becoming kind of a ritual for us to end our trip at a final hogging break at McDs. So we ordered as if we had not food in last one week :P . Next break was at around Panipat for tea break, and I got the SX4 pressure washed at a cleaning point just adjacent to dhaba.

From here on, a straight run to home, and we were at home at around 8 Pm.

So that's all from this trip, hope you people enjoyed.

Until next one, THANKS A LOT

Few last day pics

View from Hotel Mahamaya Palace










Lovely Sparrow, we rarely see these beautiful bird in cities





Toy Train tack and the train




THE END

[rkbharat]

Originally Posted by rajeevn

Thanks, Rajiv, for such a prompt reply and for the information. I have Vodafone and Reliance connections, and I guess will take a BSNL pre-paid as well, just to ensure connectivity.

Thanks again, and you have inspired me to take on this trip which I am sure will me most enjoyable and memorable.

Loved these picture of yours (below). All of them are fantastic, but these really are standouts! Spectacular stuff! More power to you.

Thanks, you should go there

Originally Posted by Baddychat

Absolutely stunning photographs and an excellent travelogue Rajiv.

Rated you thread 5 stars.

I especially loved the shots you compiled into post# 32 on this thread. The star patterns look absolutely amazing. They are drool worthy.

Thanks

Originally Posted by InControl

What Stunning Photographs and an equally amazing travelogue!!!
Rating your thread an easily deserved 5 Stars!!!

Thanks

Originally Posted by adi_sun

Those are wonderful pics !! Really and seeing you I am keen to take my SX4 to Leh this year.
If I may ask can we have some pics of your gear that captured all these amazing shots.

Thanks, I have taken SX4 to Ladakh in 2010 and to Zanskar(Rangdum/Padum) in 2011.
I will try to take the picture of all the gears

Originally Posted by phamilyman

My other key takeaway from this triplog is to work hard to justify to myself the purchase of a D7000

Exactly

[laluks]

Thanks Rajiv for a wonderful read with a lot of amazing photos.
Thanks a ton for sharing

[Indian Ranger]

Excellent Photographs and great narration Rajiv. Each moment is wonderfully captured. Deserves 5* rating.

Thank you for sharing.

[delix]

Rajiv.. the photographs are just Mesmerising.. These are to die for. Every aspect of the pictures are perfect. You must be in love with your Sx4..An amazing partner for terrains like these.. Did you travel on stock tyres?

[specialedition]

Great travel log. Some excellent landscapes pics along with Moon set and star trails. Thanks for sharing.

[clonedintellige]

Hey Rajiv !! Mind blowing pics !!

[rkbharat]

Originally Posted by laluks

Thanks Rajiv for a wonderful read with a lot of amazing photos.
Thanks a ton for sharing

Thanks buddy

Originally Posted by Indian Ranger

Excellent Photographs and great narration Rajiv. Each moment is wonderfully captured. Deserves 5* rating.

Thank you for sharing.

Thanks

Originally Posted by delix

Rajiv.. the photographs are just Mesmerising.. These are to die for. Every aspect of the pictures are perfect. You must be in love with your Sx4..An amazing partner for terrains like these.. Did you travel on stock tyres?

Thanks, SX4 is amazing, I changed to Bridgestone Potenza GIII before the trip

Originally Posted by specialedition

Great travel log. Some excellent landscapes pics along with Moon set and star trails. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks

Originally Posted by clonedintellige

Hey Rajiv !! Mind blowing pics !!

Thanks alot for liking

[sudev]

Loved the sun rays. Excellent. Rated max.

[Dodge_Viper]

Fantastic TL and beautiful pictures Rajiv . By any chance is Kinnaur Kailash peak visible from where you stayed? I guess the trail to that peak starts from Kalpa.

[ampere]

Beautiful place and beautifully captured! I did not see much crowd. That also must have been good. And you got the best of all ! Sun, snow and clear blue skies.

Also may I ask, how you post process all your pictures?

[pulsar56]

Amazing pictures and a wonderful travelogue. Rated 5 stars!
Thanks for sharing

[narsi_6989]

Man this is awesome . Fantastic place and fantabulous snaps. Read the log in one go and felt as if I am back from the snow covered peaks. Such is the influence of the pics. I feel guys in NCR are real lucky and you people make me jealous at times. We are in frying pan here down south and people are having weekend trips to exotic locations. Help me getting a job there mate.

Rated a well deserved 5*

[rkbharat]

Originally Posted by sudev

Loved the sun rays. Excellent. Rated max.

Thanks Sudev ji

Originally Posted by Dodge_Viper

Fantastic TL and beautiful pictures Rajiv . By any chance is Kinnaur Kailash peak visible from where you stayed? I guess the trail to that peak starts from Kalpa.

From Kalpa, on a clear day, you can sea the peaks loud and clear

Originally Posted by ampere

Beautiful place and beautifully captured! I did not see much crowd. That also must have been good. And you got the best of all ! Sun, snow and clear blue skies.

Also may I ask, how you post process all your pictures?

Thanks, yes its was just the start of season, most of the hotels were closed yet.

I use Capture NX2 for all the post processing. mainly WB correction, Level//Contrast/Shadows adjustment, and Dodging/Burning for clouds. Finally some Unsharp Mask if required. Thats pretty the standard process I follow for all my pics

Originally Posted by pulsar56

Amazing pictures and a wonderful travelogue. Rated 5 stars!
Thanks for sharing

Thanks

Originally Posted by narsi_6989

Man this is awesome . Fantastic place and fantabulous snaps. Read the log in one go and felt as if I am back from the snow covered peaks. Such is the influence of the pics. I feel guys in NCR are real lucky and you people make me jealous at times. We are in frying pan here down south and people are having weekend trips to exotic locations. Help me getting a job there mate.

Rated a well deserved 5*

LoL Thanks.
let the summer set in here and you will look for a job back in south