An Unforgettable Journey: A Father's Bonding
Adventure with His Son in the
Mountains
Angad Singh Bhangu, my son, was just over eight years old, and until then, we hadn’t embarked on any long journeys together. He often had travel sickness, which led to frequent nausea even on flat roads. A mountain drive seemed out of reach—until early June 2018, when I casually suggested, "Angad, it’s your holiday; how about a trip to the mountains?" His immediate, enthusiastic “Yes, let’s do it!” came as a surprise. From that moment on, he asked daily, almost hourly, when we’d be setting out. By June 8, I’d made up my mind; we packed up, tents included, and set off in my Renault Duster with a simple plan: find a beautiful spot, camp, and return once he was content.
Day 1: Mohali Mohali - to Nako (450 km)
We set off at 5:00 a.m. in our Renault Duster, heading for the mountains, not yet realizing how much this trip would change our bond and outlook on travel. By 5:30 a.m., we had fueled up in Chandigarh’s Sector 21, grabbed essentials like chips, water, juice, chocolates, and were officially on our way. I assumed my son would soon fall asleep, but he stayed wide awake, fully engaged with the adventure.
As we reached Dharampur, his first bout of nausea hit, but a dose of Domstal settled him, and we continued. At Solan, a second wave of nausea struck, though this time the cool, misty mountain air seemed to calm him once it passed. We took a break at a nearby dhaba, enjoyed a warm cup of tea, and resumed our journey. Passing through Shimla, we found ourselves quickly en route to Kufri, embraced by fresh mountain air and the early morning calm.
On the Narkanda-Rampur stretch, we were welcomed by stunning views of the mountains, a flawless road, and bougainvillea blooms. I suggested we stop for a while, but he was thrilled by the views, counting each mountain with excitement. His energy kept me going too. At 10:30 a.m., we stopped for breakfast, sharing a paratha before driving further. Traffic eased up after Rampur Bushahr, and I encouraged him to give a thumbs-up to passing motorcyclists. As they waved back, his delight grew; soon, he was the first to wave, enjoying each response.
The Karcham Dam road was especially serene. Clouds rolled in, the road was empty and smooth, music played softly, and we shared easy conversation. This stretch solidified a new bond—father and son now becoming true friends. After Karcham, the road turned rugged. Earlier, a landslide had diverted us through a small village, where I’d briefly lost our way. I hesitated about the shrinking path, but a local man helped us rejoin the route. Navigating a tight U-turn, I noticed Angad’s calmness, which helped me keep my own cool.
By 4:00 p.m., we reached Spillow and stopped for a late lunch of Rajma Chawal with a bit of tomato sauce—delicious and refreshing. With the Satluj River flowing alongside, the metal road reappeared, leading us toward Pooh. As we climbed, Angad observed how the landscape transformed from lush green to stark, barren mountains, eagerly jotting down his impressions.
At 6:45 p.m., we finally arrived in Nako, found a hotel, and settled in. In town, we indulged in momos, which he loved and still remembers for their taste. The evening grew colder, and he marveled at the gathering of bikers—a thriving community of riders. After a full day of driving, we ended the night with hearts full of adventure, ready for a good night’s rest.
Day 2 Nako to Kaza to Key Monastery to Chandartaal (208 km)
We had planned to leave early, and luckily, our room was equipped with a geyser. I woke Angad up at 5:30 a.m. and got him to take a bath. After dressing him warmly in jackets and pants, we were back on the road by 6:00 a.m. The stretch from Nako to Chango had no proper road, so we drove cautiously. Once we crossed Chango, the road improved significantly, and we began to pick up speed. However, it wasn’t long before Angad had his third episode of motion sickness. Thankfully, Domstel came to the rescue once again.
The narrow roads, marked with "Shooting Stones" signs, wound along the beautiful Spiti River. As we passed Tabo, the stunning Spiti Valley unfolded before us. By 9:00 a.m., we reached Kaza and enjoyed a hearty breakfast. Kaza, with its picturesque views and pleasant weather, was the perfect place to take a break. Before settling in, we decided to visit the Key Gompa. On the way, a Japanese tourist asked for a lift to the monastery. Angad struck up a brief conversation with him, offering chips and chocolates. The Japanese traveler appreciated his kindness, returning the favor with chocolates. Angad was thrilled by this exchange.
After spending some time at Key Gompa, Angad suggested, "Dad, let’s go to Moon Lake (Chandartaal)!" We left Kaza at 11:30 a.m. for Chandartaal. On our way, we encountered a car with a Mohali number plate. They were asking for directions to Key Gompa, and after a brief chat, they decided to join us to Chandartaal. Suddenly, our once solo journey became a shared adventure.
The drive from Kaza to Losar was smooth, and the breathtaking scenery along the way added to the beauty of the experience. We stopped at government-built snow shelters, which, for kids, were like amusement parks. Angad had endless questions about them—why they were built, how people survive the snowfall, what they eat, and where they find clean water. I did my best to answer each one. The other vehicle had a child around 10 years old, and Angad enjoyed having company during the stops.
By 3:50 p.m., we reached Kunzum Pass, where we were greeted by light snowfall. The most thrilling moment was when Angad saw the snow-covered mountains up close and realized he could touch the snow. With excitement building, we set off for Chandartaal.
Driving to Chandartaal was no easy feat. The route lacks proper roads, with narrow, muddy paths and scarce passing points. Often, if we spotted or heard another vehicle, we had to wait as far as half a kilometer back to let them pass. Along the way to Chandartaal, the valley stretched on our left, leaving us driving precariously close to the edge.
At one point, we encountered a driver from Delhi who was clearly anxious about navigating the road. He faced the tough choice of reversing nearly 100 meters or waiting for me to back up. With him visibly panicked, I decided to reverse, leading to one of the most intense moments of my life behind the wheel.
With fellow travelers from my hometown encouraging me, I prepared for this careful retreat. First, I handed all our belongings to my son, ensuring he had his mother’s contact number memorized. Then, I began the reverse—a nerve-wracking endeavor, with the car's back tire slipping off the edge three times, leaving us briefly balanced on three wheels. Thankfully, our fellow travelers were vigilant, guiding me with signals and warnings that kept us safe through each heart-stopping moment.
We finally reached Chandartaal. The breathtaking lake enchanted us both as we spent time there, making memories until the evening chill drove us to our tented accommodation. Under a crystal-clear sky, stars glinting, and the moon’s soft light, Angad drifted off to sleep, warm and secure.
Day 3 Chandartaal to Manali to Mohali (370 km)
At 5:00 am, we found ourselves back on the narrow, muddy road, with just two other vehicles in sight. As the day wore on and the sun began to rise, the path, a riverbed strewn with stones, demanded slow and careful driving. The road was non-existent in some stretches, and we often had to maneuver over stones, left behind by melting snow. (Definitely not a route for a sedan!) Along the way, we were greeted by wild horses and the sight of lush green valleys, a beautiful contrast to the rugged terrain. We followed the Chenab River, passing the sign for "Chotta Dhara," a place marked by a rather amusing sign that read "Total Population: 0."
Breakfast at Chacha Dhaba was a must—it’s a lifeline on this route. The drive from Chattru to Koksar was equally captivating, with glimpses of small glaciers along the way. By 11:00 am, we were back on the main Leh-Manali road, where, as usual, we encountered a landslide that delayed us until the path was cleared. Angad had a blast meeting more bikers and waving to each one of them. Some even stopped to snap a photo with him!
Even now, he recalls our first adventure with fondness, cherishing the memories we made together..
Not long after, we got caught in a massive traffic jam, which stretched our journey until 6:00 pm when we finally reached Manali. After a quick meal, we decided to push on, aiming to finish the circuit and head home. The drive from Manali to Ropar, though long, was uneventful, with no tunnels to break the monotony. Passing through Bilaspur took more time than I expected, but I kept going. We stopped for one last meal near Bharatgarh and finally reached home by 4:30 am. It had been an incredibly long journey, but one filled with unforgettable memories shared with my son, who was now free from the nausea and vomiting that had once plagued him.
