Manali-Leh road is closed but a ghost lives there

Winter is in full swing in North India. Due to snowfall on the high reaches of Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhnd, Kashmir and Ladakh, there is a cold wave in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi region. Even though it is freezing cold in the high Himalayas, few tourists prefer to go to hill stations in chilled weather. Some people even visit Ladakh in the freezing cold of December and January. There are few luxury hotels that provide all the facilities even in winters. These days air service is the only way to reach Leh. In May-June, after the snow has cleared, the roads open up. Then there is a queue of bikers and cars from Srinagar and Manali to Leh. The route from Manali to Leh is definitely tough, but very exciting also. Those who reach Leh by air are astonished to see the snow-capped peaks. But even those who go to Leh via Manali and Sarchu by road will have to remember this journey for life.
 
The deserted mountains of Ladakh are worth seeing in summer. For miles you will not find a single man, bird or animal on the way. Sometimes even the road is not visible. Because what you see ahead is only a bumpy road. Ladakh is the cold desert of the Himalayas. Life is difficult in this part of the earth. The day passes by looking at the beautiful scenery. But at night one feels scared. Those with weak hearts can also see ghosts. Gata Loop is one such place on the Manali-Leh road. There is a high climb with twenty sharp turns. This place falls ahead of Manali and before Nakeela Pass. Tourists passing by can see a pile of hundreds of plastic bottles at one place. There may also be a few packets of biscuits lying there. Something like a cave with red flags has been built there. It is said that this is the abode of a ghost with a bottle. The local people have given this place a temple-like appearance.
 
On our last trip, I asked the driver of the car what was the secret of bottles. Why were so many water bottles lying there? He replied that “there lives a thirsty ghost”. When the trucks pass by at night, the ghost harasses the drivers. There have been many accidents due to this reason. To keep the ghost happy, the truck drivers leave a few bottles of mineral water there. Sometimes biscuits too. Then, they pass away safely. Many years ago a truck broke down on this route of the Gata Loop. Even after trying for hours it could not be repaired. In the evening, snow started falling and the roads were closed. Then no other truck passed by. The driver left in search of some help nearby. The cleaner stayed there to guard the truck. When the driver returned the next day, he found the cleaner dead. Hunger, thirst and cold had killed him. It is said that the soul of the same thirsty cleaner wanders there. The local people built a temple in respect of the soul. Trucks passing through the loop leave water bottles on the temple. There is no dearth of such stories in the mountains.

(Author is a senior journalist & columnist)