Kartik Swami Temple Kugti | Journey from Kugti Village, Bharmour & Chamba Hidden Gem

This is one of the most beautiful tracks of Himachal Pradesh. I reach here on the second day of the month. You reach here on the second day? From where do you go? Good morning! Welcome back to our channel Real Himachal. I'm your host Poonam. Today I'm in Bharmaur, Chamba district. Today we are going to explore Kugti village and Karthik Swamy temple. This beautiful journey starts from Bharmaur, Chamba. Kugti is about 25-30 km from here. In this journey, not only our destination, but also our roads are going to be very beautiful. 90% of tourists who come to Bharmaur come here due to Manimahesh Yatra. But if you are also considering Bharmaur as the only way to go to Manimahesh, then you might have known Bharmaur only half. Because in the middle of this small hill town, there is Chaurasi Mandir Parishar. It is such a religious area where there are 84 temples and temples. And that's why it was named Chaurasi. After visiting Chaurasi Mandir Parishar, we leave for Kugti village. Kugti village is about 20-25 km from here. According to Google Maps, it will take us 1-1.25 hours to reach here. This number seems ordinary to hear. Distance in the mountains is never measured in kilometers. Here every turn takes its own time. After about half an hour, the car reaches Hatsar. This is the same place from where thousands of devotees walk towards Manimahesh Kailash every year. The condition of the road up to here is fine. But as soon as you cross Hatsar, the mountains begin to show their true form. We have just crossed Hatsar on the road to Kugti. And Kugti village is 12 km from here. The road here is not just to drive a car, but to drive carefully. There are many parts between Hatsar and Kugti. There is a rockfall zone where rocks can suddenly fall from above. Always keep one thing in mind here. Stop the car only after seeing the safe area around. And in the middle of this dangerous and exciting road, something suddenly appears that the eyes stop there. There are two waterfalls descending from the mountains that meet directly in the Muril River. Locals believe that these are not waterfalls. They are called the waterfalls of sin and virtue. It is said that in ancient times, water was almost equal in both the waterfalls. But according to popular belief, as human sins increased, water also increased and water decreased in the waterfalls of virtue. Science will tell something else but everything in the mountains is not seen only by science. Because the flowing water sometimes carries a story with it. So finally, after a two-hour drive, we have reached Kugti village. This is the parking area of Kugti where you can park your car. The parking charges here range from 100 to 200 rupees for the whole day. Finally, we have reached Kugti village. We have parked our car here. Now we will have breakfast and then we will explore the village. After exploring the village, we will trek to Kartik Swami Temple. Here you will find 2 to 3 small dhabas where you can have breakfast. It takes hardly 5 minutes to walk from the parking to the village. This village is not just a beautiful place but it is a part where the life of the mountains still runs in its centuries-old speed. Because it is not just a tourist destination, it is a time machine that takes you far behind in time. In Kugti, the traditional lifestyle of the Gaddi community can still be seen today. Stone houses, wood carvings, local language and centuries-old traditions are the identity of this village. Life here is still far from the modern world. There are very few mobile network facilities here and due to heavy snowfall in winters, the life of the village becomes even more difficult. Kugti is basically divided into two parts Upper Kugti and Lower Kugti. Most tourists pass through Lower Kugti because the main track of Kartik Swami Temple starts from here. In Kugti, most of the houses are made of Deodar's wood, stone and slate roofs. Many houses here are 100 to 150 years old. The houses here are two or three stories in which the rooms are kept small. In the lower floor, sheep, goats and cows live and above the family. That is, the house is not just a place for humans, it is a world of humans and animals. Here, even today, mules are used After exploring the village completely, the most challenging part which is the track from here to Kartik Swami Temple. The temple is located at a height of about 5 to 6 km from the village. Now we have explored the Kugti village. Now we will go to the Kartik Swami Temple track. The village you see behind me is the Kugti village. From here, we are going to the Kartik Swami Temple track. This area of Kugti is part of the Kugti Wildlife Century. And as we move towards the height, the weather here and the entire mountainous landscape gradually change. We have completed about an hour by tracking Assume that 30% of the track has been completed. The track is one of the most beautiful tracks of Himachal Pradesh. If you look here, there is a path on one side, greenery on the other side and a river flowing from the middle. This track is only 5 to 6 km long, but the distance in the mountains is not determined in kilometers. Here, with every step, the height increases. The breath is a little deeper and the path teaches you to walk at your own pace. But it is very important to understand one thing here. The gait of the mountaineers and the gait of the city tourists are very different. The slope that the locals cross in 5 minutes, the common tourist can take 15 to 20 minutes. If you walk slowly, it will take 40 to 45 minutes. How much is the climb? It will be about 7 to 8 km. Approximately 1 km? Yes. You people take less time, right? It depends on how you walk. We walk very slowly. For the people who walk in the mountains in their routine, this path is completely normal. But it should not be ignored So far we have covered half the track. And the good thing is that you will find water bodies on the way from where you can take water. But if possible, carry a water bottle with you and also glucose. If you are going here for the first time, it is better to get information from the local people of Kugti or take a guide with you. There are many water bodies in this area, many of which come from high mountains and glaciers. Now the mountains suddenly start to open here. You can see huge green meadows in the middle of dense forests. And in these meadows, you will often find cattle with their sheep and goats. This is not just a beautiful mountain for them. This mountain is their home. These are their paths and this is a part of their life. When the weather changes, they go from Chamba to Lahore with their sheep and goats. Do you want to go from here? Yes. The water is coming from that point. From that point? After tracking for about 2.5 hours, this temple can be seen on the mountain. Now the trek of about 1 km starts from here. After tracking for half an hour, we have reached this point where the temple can be seen The trek up to this point is moderate, but after talking to some locals, we came to know that the next trek of about 1 km is uphill. After climbing this hill, the temple of Kailangwazir finally comes in front. The atmosphere here is filled with a different peace. In one direction, there is a village world and in the other direction, there is a world of high valleys and mountains. And this temple is standing This is the temple of Lord Kartikeya. Here is the self-made statue and along with that, statues of Sangbarmar and other elements have also been associated with time. Here, every stone, every symbol has a long-established faith. There are centuries-old traditions of the Gaddi community associated with this. Music In different parts of India, his worship is done with the names of Kartikeya Swami, Skand, Kumar and Murgan. At the same time, he is known as Kailangwazir in the Bharmawar Kukti region. And he is the god of justice and security of the entire Kukti valley. There is also a temple of Marali in the surroundings of the temple. After visiting Kartikeya, now we are going to Marali Mata. Marali Mata is Kartikeya's sister and her temple is located right in front of us. The green and beautiful mountains give it a magical form. There are many beliefs associated In winters, the doors of the temple are closed and a pot full of water is kept in the Garbhagri. Then after months, the doors of the temple are opened. So, looking at the remaining water from this pot, the rain and fertility of the coming year is estimated. Every year, when the cattle go to the high mountains with their sheep and goats, then before crossing the Kukti valley, they follow the tradition from Lord Kartikeya and local deities. If a valley does not get permission to cross, then they do not cross the valley and spend their six months near the Kukti mountain peak and also keep their sheep in a restricted area. For the Gaddi community, this temple is not only a place of worship but also a part of their daily life. And from here, the story of those old routes of the Himalayas begins which connected Chamba to Lahaul. The use of these routes is traditionally done by local herders and trackers. After exploring all this, you can either come back and stay in Kukti or you can go ahead towards Bharmaur. If you also want to explore Kukti village and Kartik Swamy temple, then you can travel here from May to October. But avoid coming here during the monsoon because during that time there is a danger of landslide due to heavy rain. Kartik Swamy temple is a very beautiful trek to go above Kukti For devotees, this is a place of faith a high and difficult mountainous area. And for the Gaddi community, this centuries-old weather is an important place associated with respect for the gods, tradition and mountains. Kukti is not just a village but a feeling. To come here, there should be both physical fitness and mental strength. The weather here can change anytime so always keep warm clothes with you. In addition to the beauty in the mountains, there is also a danger. Never trek alone on the roads of Kukti. Here you must take the advice of the local people and yes, do not pollute the holy place at all. Bring the plastic back with you. Nature gives us a lot. It is also our duty to save it. So how did you like today's video? Do tell me in the comment box. If you have any questions or any suggestions, then you can write to me in the comment box. See you in the next journey. Till then, thank you.