Namaste, Hivers!
Today, I’ll be writing about my recent Sunday ride to Rewalsar. Due to the monsoons, I hadn’t been able to ride my bike—first, because it’s quite risky, and second, looking like a pig that wallowed in mud isn’t a great look for a 26-year-old lad! LOL.
Still, irrespective of all these limitations, my friend and I decided to go ahead.
I started at 6 a.m. and reached Talyahr around 6:30 a.m. That’s where I met my friend Digvijay. After checking our tyre pressure, we started the ride. It was already cloudy, but we still had a lot of faith in the gods of rain that it wouldn’t pour—LOL.
On the way to Rewalsar, I was impressed by the well-maintained roads, especially considering that the last time I visited, they were in pretty bad shape. However, that didn’t last long—soon the road conditions began to deteriorate due to landslides.
Landslides are a common occurrence in Himachal during the monsoons, thanks to unplanned urbanisation.
We reached a spot with flowing water where we filled our bottles. Just before reaching Rewalsar, we came across a small shop serving sugarcane juice. We had to pull over—the juice was incredibly sweet and the perfect energy boost. After quite a bit of sweating, we finally reached Rewalsar.
About Rewalsar
Perched at an altitude of approximately 1,370 meters, Rewalsar—also known as Rawalsar—is a peaceful hill town situated around 25 kilometers from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. At its heart lies a calm and picturesque lake.
Tibetan Buddhism:
Rewalsar holds deep spiritual importance for followers of Tibetan Buddhism. It is believed to be the site where Guru Padmasambhava—revered as Guru Rinpoche—meditated before setting out on his journey to Tibet to spread Buddhism.
Hindu Beliefs:
Surrounding the lake are age-old Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, and the sage Lomas, who is said to have performed penance at this very spot. Not far from the main town lies Kunti Lake (also known as Kunt Bhayo), which is linked to the legendary tales of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata.
Sikh Heritage:
Rewalsar also holds a special place in Sikh history. In the early 1900s, Joginder Sen, the local ruler, built a gurdwara(silh temple) here to honor the visit of Guru Gobind Singh—the tenth Sikh Guru.
Upon reaching Rewalsar, we had assumed that the dhabas (small eateries) would be open—but we were wrong. Everything was still closed, probably because it was quite early—it was just 9 a.m.
Then, out of mere serendipity, I saw a guy opening up what looked like a very aesthetic café. I asked him if they served breakfast, and to our delight, he said yes. Our faces lit up immediately! We decided to give him some time to set things up and meanwhile went for a parikrama (circumambulation) of the holy lake.
This simple act of cycling around the lake filled us with a deep sense of peace and positivity.
Later, we returned to the café—called Emaho—a name as unique as the place itself. We ordered 2 plates of Yak cheese sandwich and 2 cups of cappuccino. Trust me, it was the best cappuccino I’ve ever had! Honestly, I wasn’t expecting the coffee to be this good. The place, the vibe, and the view—it all made for a perfect morning.
From the café, we could even see Lord Padmasambhava’s grand idol overlooking the lake. We had initially planned to head to the Naina Devi Temple afterward, but the food and view had us reconsidering our decision.
Just as we were about to pay the bill, I spotted a freshly baked banana pie at the counter. You guessed it—we stayed longer. LOL. And yes, ordering another cappuccino to go with it was absolutely justified.
The pie, after that sumptuous breakfast, was truly the cherry on top.
After relaxing for nearly two hours, we decided to stick to our plan of visiting the Naina Devi Temple. At 11 a.m., we started the uphill ride. Having just had a heavy meal, climbing was a bit of a challenge, but we kept pushing.
Our first stop was Kunt Bhayo—a beautiful lake nestled atop the hills and surrounded by mountains on all sides. On one side of the lake stood a statue of Lord Hanuman, which added to the serenity and beauty of the place. We rested there for 15–20 minutes and then resumed our journey.
Finally, after another 20–25 minutes of riding uphill, we reached the top. That’s when it started raining. Luckily, we found shelter just in time and waited for the rain to stop. Overall, we spent about 30–35 minutes at the Naina Devi Temple.
Once the rain stopped, we began our journey back home.
From Naina Devi to Rewalsar Lake, the ride was smooth. But the moment we left the town, things got nasty. Though it wasn’t raining anymore, many patches of road had accumulated water due to potholes. In some areas, the roads had completely turned to dirt tracks.
As we rode through, muddy water and dirt flew all over us. Initially, we tried to stay clean and cautious—but eventually, we just gave up and went all out. And honestly, that was the best decision ever!
I really enjoyed being covered in dirt. It was a different kind of fun—messy, liberating, and unforgettable. LOL.
Partially covered in mud and fully filled with joy, we finally reached home.
Overall, it was a memorable Sunday ride—great for the legs, but even better for the soul.
ALL THESE PICTURES WERE CLICKED BY ME USING MY IPHONE13
