A Trip To Himachal Pradesh

Since my childhood I have heard a lot about Himachal Pradesh’s beauty and always wanted to visit it. I got the chance in December 2008 and visited the place.

We started off from Delhi via a tourist bus in the evening of December. It was not much cold in Delhi and as expected it was more in HP. When the morning was approaching and things were visible outside the bus, we had already reached the hilly region. The outside scenery was very beautiful.      

                                   

Beautiful Manali

 
In the morning we reached Manali (Day 1), one of the most favorite hilly destinations. From the bus stand we directly took an auto rickshaw to our hotel. We had reservation at the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Resort Hidimba Cottages, about 2 km from the Mall Road. The cottages there were very beautiful with lots of natural beauty surrounding them.The best thing I like about these cottages were their location .It was on a sort of small hill. There were around 8-10 cottage huts with a pair of room in each hut. As soon as you step out of your cottage hut there was mountain in front which gives a very beautiful view. Each cottage room was provided with a bedroom, bathroom, a small living room or you may call it dinning room and a kitchen. The resort did not have its own restaurant but on order food can be arranged for the guests. The Kitchen has got all requirements for cooking food. So if one wants he can cook the food of his choice. After checking in we ordered tea and breakfast and took rest for few hours.

Hidimba Cottage

After a few hours rest we went for sightseeing. It was a bright sunny day of December. Our resort Hidimba Cottage was very near to the famous temple in Manali, Hidimba Temple. The temple was dedicated to Hidimba, the demon wife of Bheem. So we took a walk to the temple. Within five minute we reach the temple. In the temple compound for the first time in my life I saw the Yak in real. It was so huge, got dense fur all over its body and big horns. At first I was a bit afraid of going near it but it was peaceful and its owner was there to have a check on it. If one wants than one can ride on the Yak and get photographed. It was really fun. Next we head to the main temple. A few number of steps and you reached the temple. It was a small temple in a small cave of great religious importance. After visiting temple we headed to the Mall Road. It was evening by now. We roamed there till late and did some shopping. Later had dinner at one of the restaurant named Khyber Restaurant of Mall road, a decent one with very good quality of food. It was situated not on the ground floor but the first floor. So while having dinner we have full view of mall road and of town also. By the time we finish dinner it was 11:30 and the Mall Road was almost empty with only few vendors and auto rickshaws. It was a nice evening.

Next day (Day 2), again a sunny day with few clouds in the sky, after breakfast we again headed to the Hidimba Temple compound and visited a small temple of Hidimba and Bheem’s son Ghatothkach. The temple was below a big tree and there were many weapons on the tree. Local people have some belief because of which they tie weapons (horns) on the tree of Ghatothkach Temple.

Ghatothkach Temple

After that we roamed in the huge Temple compound. Like all tourists spots there were many photographers ready to click your photos the way you want. There were local people with Himachal dress available and if you want to be photographed as a Himachali than they can help you to do it quite gracefully. It was a fun and people love to try it. Women get to dress up with all Himachali accessories and men with the famous Himachali hat.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

There were also a few local women with very pretty white rabbits and one can get photographed holding the rabbits or playing with them. There was a natural park near the temple. It was fun to roam in the hilly park. There was a huge scope of getting beautiful photographs and if some one has interest in photography the place will definitely suit you. After that we took a hilly shortcut (with stairs) to the famous club house of Manali. We had our late lunch there. After so much of roaming we were very tired and went back to our resort for rest. After a few hours rest we went to the club house to enjoy the evening there. Club house arranged few interesting activities for the tourists. Club house has its own disco also. In the evening the clouds had become intense dark and by the time we were leaving club house it was raining heavily. It became a bit difficult to reach back as we were not prepared for the rains.

 

Me and Rabbits

Next day (Day 3) was real thrill for us. It was our last day in Manali. When we got up it was 9’o clock and no traces of sun there in the sky. Peeped out of the room window it was cloudy and we assumed it was still raining. Our prediction was half right. We got ready as that day we had to go to the Rohtang pass. Manali is considered the gateway to Rohtang pass. When we got out of our room and got the first view of outside. We were surprised but thrilled more.

                             

The mountain in front of our room which was green in color last evening is white now and it was raining with snowfall. It was a very beautiful view. I had never seen snowfall in my life it was the first time I was experiencing it. Overnight rain and snowfall had dipped mercury very much out of my expectations. The resort manager informed us that after yesterday’s heavy rains, there was very heavy snowfall in the valley and now its raining as well as snowfall is there. I was very happy about the whole condition. I decided to come to Manali in December to see the snow fall, but was a bit disappointed when got sunny days in December, but today I was more than happy my wish got fulfilled on the last day of my visit. I was very excited to go to the Rohtang pass. I had some idea that the pass is closed in December, but we can go up to some distance. Car driver informed us that we had to start early otherwise we would meet heavy traffic in our way. So we started off without breakfast, as it was taking time.

                                                                                                                                                                        

Snowfall

 

 

      

      

All our way we were very excited. On the way we halted at a small restaurant and had breakfast of hot aloo paratha. On the way there were many small shops offering snow suits, gloves and snow boots on rent. Initially we thought we did not need it as we were having our sports shoes, and warm coats, but driver informed us that without these we won’t be able to walk in snow and enjoy it. So we got our snow suit, gloves and the boots. As the driver had predicted we got heavy traffic in between and got suck into it. We came to know that it snowed very heavily yesterday night on the Rohtang pass and the road to the pass is blocked by snow. Few of the vehicles were also stuck there. We were a bit disappointed that we were not able to reach there. Then we decided to enjoy our time there itself. We got out of the car snow was falling and on this altitude it was very less rain only snowfall. We enjoyed the whole day there playing in the snowfall and enjoying every moment of it. 

Me and Snowfall

   There were other people also like us who were stuck in the way. All were out of there cars and enjoying the snowfall there itself as it was not possible to go to Rohtang Pass anymore until the way is cleared which might take a few days. We enjoyed snow and photography there the whole day. It was a very beautiful experience and we got memories for lifetime.

                                  

I was very happy. When the road to Manali opened in the late afternoon we came back to our resort. Had late lunch and enjoyed the weather. In the evening we again went to Mall Road for evening walk and dinner. Sitting in the same Khyber Restaurant of the Mall Road we enjoyed our dinner and the fantastic view of Mall Road. It was a very beautiful day of my life.

Next day (Day 4) we had to go to Mandi. The distance between Manali and Mandi is about 110 km and it takes about 3 hours to reach there and we had to take a break at Manikaran and the Shawl factory on the way to Mandi. Mandi was our halt between Manali and Shimla. We started off at 10’o clock in the morning. Today we have got sun in the sky and mountains covered with white snow. We came to know that there was still snowfall at Rohtang Pass, higher altitude. As we were leaving Manali we saw big mountains covered with snow and the snow was sparking with the presence of sun in the sky. It was a very eye pleasing scene. With beautiful memories of Manali we headed to Mandi. 

On the way to Mandi there were many tourists’ spots. There were also few clubs which organize water sports and adventure sports. We wanted to do that but we did not have time so skipped all that. When we planned our tour we were not aware of these activities and where they took place, so we had not included these in our tour. This is a lesson for us if we plan another such tour.

On the way to Mandi there is a very famous religious place called Manikaran, 38 km from Manali. Manikaran is famous for its hot springs, temples and gurudwara. Manikaran was situated in between the mountains. To reach there one has to take stairs downwards. The region has mythological importance to Hindus and Sikhs. Hundreds of pilgrims visit the temples and gurudwara every day. Hot spring water is considered sacred by local people and tourists also take dip in these hot springs before visiting the temples and gurudwara. The accommodation is available to the visiting tourists in Manikaran. Manikaran is full of spectacular natural beauty and a must visit place.

After our visit to Manikaran we headed to Mandi. On our way we halted at a beautiful restaurant in the forest and had a good lunch. 

The Reataurant 

                                                   

After going for some distance we took another halt at the Kullu Shawl Factory in our way. There were many Shawl factories on the way but Kullu Shawl Factory is the best. On the ground floor of the factory there were workers weaving the beautiful shawls. It has got all equipments for the purpose. At the first floor and the second floor there were various types of woolen materials at very attractive price. 

After visiting the factory and we went to shop for woolens. I did a lot of purchase there including shawls, gloves, caps, sweaters and jackets. As a result of my shopping I got a duffle bag free with my purchase. Woolens were a bit costly but of very good quality and were very beautiful work of wool. I was very happy with my shopping.

After shopping we headed to Mandi. It was now late afternoon and it appears that the sun was about to set. There was a beautiful lake on the way and we stopped for a few minutes to get a few photographs. By the time we reach Mandi it was already dark. Journey from Manali to Mandi was just of 3 hours but as we stopped at various places it took whole one day to reach Mandi from Manali. Taking a few minutes rest at the HPTDC hotel we went to Mall Road in Mandi, quite similar to the one in Manali. After a hectic but a beautiful day we retired to bed as next day again we had to move to Shimla.

Next day (Day 5) at 10’o clock in the morning we left Mandi and headed to Shimla. It was a bright day with sun shinning over us and weather was also not much cold but pleasant one. 

                                          

The distance between Mandi and Shimla is about 150 km and it takes around 5 hours. We descended towards Shimla on hilly roads. There was a small dam on the way (don’t remember the name of it), we halted there for few minutes for some photography. In between we took break at a hotel to have our lunch. Early evening we reached Shimla and checked in HPTDC hotel, The Peterhof Hotel. 

The Peterhof Hotel

It is a heritage luxury hotel which has a great historical lineage. The hotel had housed Viceroys and Governor Generals during the British Period. The hotel also served as the Punjab High Court after independence, where the trial of Nathu Ram Godsey, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, took place in 1948-49. The location of the hotel is very good and the city of Shimla can be viewed from it. The hotel is very comfortable and provides the necessary services to the visitors. It’s a big hotel with big compound in the center of the city. Tired by the journey from Mandi we decided to take rest for the day. 

Next day (Day 6) after having breakfast we went to sightseeing in Shimla. Our first destination was Kufri, 17 km from Shimla. Kufri has a Himalayan Wild Life Zoo which hosts rare Antelopes, Felines and Birds. The other attraction in Kufri is the Mahasu Peak-the highest peak in Kufri. To reach the Zoo and the peak one can hire Pony (Horse), which are available in abundance here. The Ponywala takes two ponies at a time. It was amazing to see ponies move in one line not out of it on the hilly region even when sometimes ponywala doesnot pay attention to them. Here one can enjoy a Pony even a Yak Ride and enjoy the sightseeing. It provides great views of nature all around.

Me and Horse

Tourists can also enjoy Skiing in Kufri. After spending quality time in Kufri while returning to Shimla we stopped at a place on the way from we can have the magnificent view of thick pine forest valley. It was really breathtaking. 
                                          

Pine forest

 
Spending sometime there we came back to the hotel. We enjoyed our evening in the hotel garden having the views of Shimla city.

Next day (Day 7) was our last day in Himachal Pradesh and we decided to spend it in leisure and take rest. We spend time in hotel compound and later went to Shimla Mall Road for the evening walk.

                                                 

After dinner at the hotel we took a tourist bus back to Delhi at 9’o clock in the night. Shimla was very beautiful during the day. While traveling through the bus we realized that Shimla Valley looks very beautiful in the night also. It dark over the valley and lights from buildings and houses spark as firefly (jugnu) in the night. 

There were many more places to see but we decided to go for few selected ones. With beautiful memories we headed to Delhi.