Gata Loops is a bunch of 21 sharp hairpin bends, around 25 Kms from Sarchu (towards Manali on Leh-Manali highway) which takes you to a steep descend of ~450 meters (from 4650 m to 4200 m) amid breath-taking sceneries.
Its believed that “Ghost” of a truck cleaner still haunts here whose truck got stranded at one of the loops, for several days, due to heavy snowfall & severely bad climatic conditions. Several decades ago, this Truck driver left terribly ill cleaner in the truck in search for the help from nearby village, got stuck there itself, returned back after few days & found that poor chap dead in freezing temperature due to illness, cold, thirst & hunger. The body of the cleaner was buried at the Gata Loops by the villagers right at the same place where he died. Since then, as worded by few people, a beggar begs there for water (thankfully, we didn’t see anyone) but cannot hold the bottle in his hand. In order to make the soul rest in peace of that “ghost”, locals did make a small temple at the place where he was buried & started offering Water. Since then, who-so-ever knows this story and passes Gata Loops, leaves a water bottle at that temple as an offering. In June’15, Amazed with this bunch of bottles at such a beautiful place, didn’t notice this “ghost’s” temple (though, now clearly visible in our pic) – we parked our car – bang in front of this place - for few moments & clicked this photo with an intend to report to concerned authorities for cleanliness of this place.
Came to know about this story after this trip, may the “ghost” excuse us for not offering him a water bottle !!!
