17. A Day Doing Nothing in Rajgundha (25th June 2022)

#soloroadtrip #barot #barotvalley #sleepinginthecar #rajgundha 25th June, 2022, Saturday…Day (17) Rajgundha (0 km). Solo Road Trip to Barot Valley, Day (17)…Rajgundha. Such a wonderful experience it was. I had parked my car outside A Day in Rajgundha campsite and settled in for another night inside my home on wheels. Complete silence, a clear starlit sky and not a soul around. Woke up very early—5 AM to be precise. The village was still asleep. Even the stray dogs seemed to be enjoying their sleep. A faint pink glow was beginning to appear in the sky. It was cold outside, but the urge to step out and walk along the silent road was irresistible. And what a walk it turned out to be! No traffic, no voices—just the soft morning glow, crisp mountain air and birds chirping somewhere in the darkness. To my pleasant surprise, Shakti Thakur was already awake and prepared a hot cup of tea for me. What a luxury at five in the morning! I spent the rest of the day exploring Rajgundha Valley, walking through its two lively little hamlets—Rajgundha and Kukurgundha, each with barely 30–40 houses. I met and chatted with the villagers and learnt about their simple mountain life. During the harsh winters, when heavy snowfall cuts the valley off, most families migrate to warmer places such as Sansal and nearby villages, where they have second homes. Come summer, they return to their fields and farms to grow potatoes, rajma, peas, cabbage and other vegetables. There are no schools or panchayat offices in these hamlets. Village affairs are managed from Badagran, across the Uhl River. But things are changing fast. With road connectivity improving from Bir-Billing and Barot, the Rajgundha Bridge nearing completion and mobile connectivity finally reaching the valley, this remote corner of the mountains is gradually opening up to the outside world. Being a weekend, Rajgundha was buzzing with visitors from Bir-Billing. Campsites were full, music floated through the valley and tourists were enjoying the beautiful surroundings. A Day in Rajgundha was packed that evening too. Yet Shakti Thakur went out of his way to serve me a delicious dinner separately, outside the campsite. Such a warm and thoughtful gesture! As the evening grew colder, there wasn’t much left to do except walk, chat with fellow travellers and listen to music. So I slipped back into my home on wheels. Outside, the camps were alive with music and laughter. Inside, I was alone with my thoughts, wrapped in the comforting silence of Lalpari. Another beautiful night. Another unforgettable sleep in Rajgundha. For more videos and travel stories, search "Sunil Azaad".