13-day mountain bike tour with stop-offs at 14 of James Baillie Fraser’s sketching sites in the summer of 1815, published as Views of the Himala (1820), and described in his Journal of a Tour of the Snowy Ranges of the Himala.

As far as possible the route follows B roads or tracks with limited traffic with no back-tracking.

Back-up 4WD available for forwarding luggage, ensuring routes followed, safety kit, emergencies, and camping gear. 

Day 1. Delhi (or Chandigarh) to Nahan by taxi / minibus.

5 hours / 266 km from Delhi. (2 hrs / 85 kms from Chandigarh).

Hotel. Acclimatise. Historic sites related to Frasers.

Day 2. Nahan (800m) – Jamta (1200m) – Baru Sahib (1000m)

62 kms.

Back roads, mainly following contours above Giri river. Surfaced.

Option of going up to the fort on Jaithak. Personal tour of the Raja of Sirmour’s house and museum.

Stay at Baru Sahib.

 The Ridge and Fort of Jytock

 Assemblage of Ghoorkhas

Day 3. Baru Sahib (1000m) – Rajgarh (1550m) - Palu Pass (2000m) – Shaaya (1350m) – Himalayan Eco Resort (1850m)

70 kms. Road surface variable.

The Freedom Fighters’ Valley, which is the site of the Pajhota Rebellion against the local Raja, who supported the British in the 1930s.

Stay at the Himalayan Eco Resort. 

The Village of Shai

Day 4. Shaaya (1350m) – Neripul (1200m) – Churdhar Pass (2600m)

65 kms. Long climb from Neripul. Road surface variable.

Stay at homestay in Jorna. Hike into Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Churdhar peak (3647m) – Watch out for Black Bear, leopards, monkeys and deer.

Day 5. Churdhar Pass (2600m) – Bamrar river crossing (1250m) – Bamta (2400m)

Road surface poor.

50 km to Bamta.  Descent followed by long ascent on rough road.

Village & Castle of Bumpta

Day 5. Bamta (2400m) – Kharapathar (2650m) – Deorighat (2650m) – Jushala (2500m) – Khaneti (2000m) - Himalayan Orchard (2150m)

38 kms. Poor to variable road surfaces.

View of the Country from Urshalun Teeba

The Village of Jushul

House of Rana of Cote Gooroo

Day 6. Rest day at Himalayan Orchard

Pétanque, billiards, table tennis, badminton, forest walk, yoga, meditation, home-cooking.

Day 7. Himalayan Orchard (2150m) – Sararu Pass (2850m) – Nowagarh – Thanedar (2300m)

85 kms. Road surfaces poor to variable.

Stay at Thanedar.

Country to the Northward from Nowagurh Teeba

Day 8. Thanedar (2300m) – Nirath (900m) – Rampur (1000m) – Jeori (1400m)

70 kms. 21 kms on NH5. A lot of the NH5 can be avoided by crossing the river.

Ancient sun temple at Nirath – one of only two in India.

Stay at Jeori.

The Town of Rampore

Day 9. Jeori (1400m) – Sarahan (2000m) – Daranghati Pass (2850m) – Seri Bridge (1450m) -Taklech (1550m)

72 kms. Road surfaces variable to poor. Long ascent from Jeori to Daranghati Pass.

Seran Raja’s Palace

Assemblage of Hillmen

Day 10. Taklech (1550m) - Sungri (2800m) – Hatkoti (1450m) – Tiuni (950m)

140 Kms, 38 uphill, 102 largely downhill or flattish. Road surfaces increasingly good.

Stay at homestay by the Giri river.

Fort of Raeengurh

Crossing the Touse

The Junction of the Touse and the Pabur

Day 11. Tiuni (950m) – Ashyani (1000m) - Renuka Lake (700m) – Jamta (1300m)

150 km. Tarmac roads, no great ascents, apart from the climb up to the hotel at the end.

Stay at hotel below Jaithak Fort.  

Day 13. Jamta – Delhi (or Chandigarh)

Taxi. 6 hrs. 285 kms.