Trip Stats:
Nalderha - Dhamaur (summary)
Progress: 60.89 km
Time: 2:26 hr.
Avg. Speed: 24.9 km/hr
(altitude chart)
Dhamaur - Chindi (summary)
Progress: 9.84km
Time: 0:23 hr.
Avg. Speed: 25.3 km/hr
(altitude chart)

The normal Indian hotel bathing set

Mr. Sharma, the hotel manager's card.

Hand written instructions on what there is to see in the area.

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2003-05-24/25 - Naldehra - Chindi - Karsog - Chindi (Day 39-40)

I set off from Nalderha with what seems to be a simple goal - don't fall off the bike moving or otherwise today. I realize that I'm starting to associate fear with this bike as its so hard to handle fully packed that my goals are getting quite small. The ride like the one from Narkanda drops me from 2000 meters down to 800 and the temperature skyrockets going from the 70's into the 90's. Once I make it down to Tatapani and cross the river the road starts going right back up and I'm soon back at 1800 meters and am putting the clothes I just took off back on. The ride other then that was uneventful.

Arriving in Chindi I easily find the Himachal Tourism Hotel Mamleshwar which is the newest looking hotel I've stayed at yet and is quite lovely. From the parking lot I see the sign about not picking the flowers and before I even reach the hotel I'm amused. The room I pick is a two very large room suite which after the 25% discount for traveling alone is about 18 U$ / day. Its simply lovely with a large bay window looking at the mountains with a desk which I spend the rest of the afternoon and evening doing homework at. Doing homework in this type of environment is just wonderful. To my delight I also have the first shower that I've had since leaving Delhi. All the previous hotels have had the basic bucket and water bathing system which is fine, but this hot stand up shower is certainly a pleasant change. Unfortunately, this hotel also has the smallest water heater and while the shower is a bit too short, I drain every last drop of hot water savoring ever minute.

As I'm packing up to leave, I receive a call which leaves quite an impression. The hotel manager Mr. A.D. Sharma calls and asks if I'm satisfied with the hotel and the service. I reply that everything has been very nice. Then he says, "You know this area is one of the most beautiful and peaceful in all of the Himachal Predesh, the people are wonderful, the flowers are out, and the hotel is here to make you comfortable, why don't you stay another day or a few days and enjoy the place. I'll also be glad to give you a further discount to make you more comfortable." Doesn't seem surprising? Think back, how many hotel managers have called and asked you to stay? I can't remember a single time even though I travel quite a lot, and so far on this trip its been just the opposite with the hotel managers showing up at 8:00am to ask how soon I'll be leaving, and if possible could I leave earlier. I walk down to meet the man and he's good to his word, offering me more of a discount taking the lovely room down to US$ 14 / day and he hand writes me a list of the local temples that are worth photographing and places of interest. Now its true this hotel has vacancies - it looks very new and isn't even listed on the Himachal Tourism's own maps - but this type of service really made an impression. This is one hotel and manager which I'd heartily recommend. Come to think of it, the Himachal Tourism Hotel chain has been one of the few things in India which has consistently left a very positive impression.

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