When we left the Tareshing rain starts. It was about 5:30pm and it was getting cold and colder by the passage of time. It was raining all the way and getting darker, there are always chance of landslide and slippery road etc. Suddenly Ameer Hamza applied a break and it was like bit slippery.
We all were felling like horror movie and every one suddenly became quite. (Dar tu sab ko lagta hay bhai) Situation continues for few minutes but then I stand up to cheer everyone and i was recalling my mind with any relevant joke but it was all empty. Then i start singing old hilarious advertisements which was like …
Phoolon ki sej se khushboo chura k layeee hain
aap k nam aik tuhfa mehek ka layeeee hain
metro milan –metro milan –metro milan
her ghar mein hay metro milan
her aangan mein hay metro milan
metro milan agarbati hay
Billi marka metro milan agarbati hay
I was successful in cheering up then we all were talking something else but at least we were talking…
Anyway we reached Chillum Choki at 8pm after entry at Fogi choki we searched for PWD rest house but it was nearby. Care taker at PWD took 30 min to give us rooms. First he asked for permissions from his superior officer in Astor. There was only one PCO & General Store and long lane for phone calls. We had a dinner in desi hotel with regular Daal Maash and roti but it was very tasty. There was Mota Gosht (beef) available but we preferred daal(pulses).
In front of PWD rest house at Chillum Choki
PWD care taker and employee of PWD dept. Hospital at the back.
Chillum Choki has 2 rest houses, PWD and Wildlife. We stayed at PWD rest house which is before Army barrier on the right hand side. Wild life rest house was at “wild life barrier” (where everyone buy entry tickets for Deosai) on the left hand side of the road. Rate for both rest houses is Rs.1000/ room. These rest houses don’t have many rooms so it is advisable to book them from their respective offices in Astore.
A friend of mine urges me to go to Minimerg even I haven’t spotted it in the map and I have no Army men in friends’ n family. I don’t know how but Allhumdulillah we got the permission.
Minimerg was the most beautiful place I ever visited. Please note that way to Minimerg and Kamri has more greenery than Deosai. We spotted many glaciers on the way to Minimerg even it is located on the hot belt (near Kashmir). While our whole tour we found no other place with glaciers but only Minimerg.
**Marmots on the way to Minimerg
**We saw many marmots on the way to minimerg. There were no vehicle entry other than army permission, i think that is why nature has been preserved.
Way to Minimerg was not more than 2.5 hours from Chillum Choki but we spent lot of time on the way to Minimerg for Marmots, Glaciers, Lake and Scenery. We reached Minimerg aprox at 1:45pm.
Minimerg – Visit to Kamri Pass to Domel & Rainbow Lake
**Minimerg – Visit to Kamri Pass to Domel & Rainbow Lake
**Interesting Part
While going to Domel, we found 2 roads; Army personnel on the barrier guided us very casually for Domel. After traveling almost 1.5 hour, there was a Shaheed Gun Point. A soldier stopped us and asked, Sir is it Usman Sb? I said yes. Soldier said, Capt sb. summoned you. I said why, he said he doesn’t know but please come with me and give me a chance to host a cup of tea. I said thanks & JazakAllah. Then he asked where you are going, I replied “to Domel”. He was shocked and said “Oh that is the reason sir, you are going wrong way. This is Kamri. This must be the reason to call you back.
There were many thing in my mind and I didn’t take many pictures but the way was even better than Minimerg more greenery and natural scenery. Locals are still using horses for traveling. We spotted only single vehicle for road construction there.
Conclusion & Advice: -
I would always recommend going wrong way to Kamri instead of Domel. Even domel has small artificial lake named Rainbow Lake. **Please note that it might be a no go area.
**
Road to Kamri & Domel-
Metalled** Road on the right Hand size goes to KAMRI Pass and left side Kacha road goes to DOMEL**
We returned back to Minimerg after visiting Kamri to visit Domel and Rainbow Lake
**Rainbow Lake (Domel )
**It was almost 1.25 hours drive and 13 km from Minimerg. Small dark green lake for fish farming I think. There were nice colorful flowers at the bank of lake and it was raining which was making the scene real beautiful but we were not comfortable due to rain. When we reached the lake an army man comes with 4 umbrellas for us. He was real quick or maybe he has received call from last choki we crossed. We had stocked spring roll, samosas and sandwiches for picnic eat at Domel but we didn’t stayed there. I was most bhooka of them all so we took everything in the jeep.
At Minimerg an army truck brought the Chakor / partridge, Baaz / Shaheen, Kala Teetar/ Black & gray Francolin and other fancy birds. Baaz was a treat to watch and really naughty and powerful bird.
We wake up early again and ready after really tasty nashta. After having breakfast we took some pictures in the main hall.
For the ones who like to stay at luxurious place, fond of good food, peaceful ambiance and want to enjoy good service, Minimerg is the place for a long stay. Doesn’t matter its raining, snowfall or how ever is the weather it’s a really enjoyable place.
