A rainbow is a visual treat but two prismatic multi-coloured arches in the sky connecting snow-capped mountains is a rarity and nature's wonder. Malayalam film director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan had the fortune to see this spectacle on reaching the Himalayas to shoot his upcoming film 'Kayattam.'
"A double rainbow welcomed us to the Himalayas and the striking formation was connecting one snow-capped mountain with the other. All the crew members were so ecstatic on seeing this fascinating display of colours that some even desired to touch it," says Sanal.
The major chunk of the Manju Warrier-starrer movie was canned in and around Himachal Pradesh and the film crew had hit the headlines when they were stranded during the 2019 Himachal floods. Following the deluge, nearly 30 crew members had to stay in a far-flung hamlet for a week and they were eventually ferried home following the intervention of the Kerala government.
Story behind the film poster
A new poster of the film was released on the occasion of Eid. The photo of Manju Warrier sitting against the backdrop of Himalayas became viral on various platforms of social media. Manju is donning the role of a hiker in the film and the story has been penned by director Sanal. The film also marks Manju's debut as a producer.
Thrills of Hampta Pass
The main location of the movie was Shea-Goru, a place located on the Himalayan Hampta Pass trekking path connecting Manali with Chhatru. The Hampta Pass (4,270m) is a small corridor between Lahaul's Chandra valley and the famous Kullu valley on the Pir Pangal range of Himalayas. Moreover, the Hampta Pass is a favourite trekking destination of many travellers.
Zeal and zest all the way
The compelling Hampta Pass is on the bucket list of every daring trekker. The steep rock formations, waterfalls, pine trees, and grasslands will provide an ethereal travel experience for the backpackers. The highpoint of this unique trek is the lakes and mountains that are close to 6,000 m above sea level. The novice trekkers should avoid the Hampta Pass as the pathways are perilous and the climate conditions are quite harsh. It will take four days to complete the trek from Manali to Chhatru.
Four-day trekking itinerary
Day 1 – A 45-minute drive covering 19km from Manali to Jobri. Three to four hours trekking from Jobri to Chikka: The short drive from Manali passes through Prini and Sethan before reaching Jobri.
The trek begins after crossing a small river in Jobri and the travellers have to walk through forests replete with pine, maple, and birch trees. The first day's effort will wind up at a camp site in Chikka, which has a beautiful waterfall.
Day 2 – Five to six hours trekking from Chikka to Balu ka Gera: The second day's trekking kicks off by entering the meadows along the shores of Hampta River. There is a small hut and tea shop on the way for the travellers to take rest.
After eating lunch from here, the trekkers can proceed towards Balu ka Gera, which can be reached by night. The travellers can get the first glimpse of the Hampta Pass from Balu ka Gera.
Day 3 – Seven to eight hours trek from Balu ka Gera to Shea-Goru; crossing of the Hampta Pass: The trekking will get arduous from the third day. The climb will get steeper after walking for a while and it will take at least three to four hours to reach the Hampta Pass.
One could see the Indrasen Peak and other breathtaking sights from Hampta Pass. But harsh weather conditions and strong winds will force you to move on. The next challenge is to trek down to the Lahaul valley, which will take another two hours, and after that the travellers can have a fairly easy trek. Finally, the trekkers will reach the journey's most stunning camp site at Shea-Goru.
Day 4 – Five-hours trek from Shea-Goru to Chhatru: The fourth day’s expedition starts by crossing an ice-cold stream. This path through the rocks will lead the trekkers to the moraine valley. The final trekking stretch to Chhatru starts from the banks on the left side of the Chandra River. Many travellers also go to the Chandra Tal Lake, which is 46k m from Chhatru.
