Head Count: is it really a town?

The Skinny: This place is really the only stop-over between Kibber and Darcha. Buses drive straight through, but since we can't do that with motorbikes Chota Dara is the spot to stop and sleep.

What Thar Be: There is absolutely nothing here besides a ridiculously overpriced government guest house and a small restaurant with a few sleeping rooms in back.

Digs: After some confusion, we discovered that the 1000R/night goverment guest house was not the only option and that we could shack up in back of the restaraunt for 150--much more like it.

Vittles: The little restaurant cooked us up some rice and dhal (surprise surprise) and big omelettes for breakfast.

Hooch Factor: We were too tired to even find out.

Navigability: There are no roads in this town--there is no town in this town...

Sliding In and Out: Moving on from Chota Dara to Darcha took us past Rohtang Pass and the turnoff for Manali, on good sealed roads with spectacular mountain views.