Manali - May 2024

 Almost everyone I knew had been to Manali.

They had either driven from Delhi or reached Chandigarh by Plane / Train and then hired a car to take them onward.

They had stayed at luxury resorts which laid out huge buffet breakfasts or at a friend's summer retreat

Their agenda: Temple visits, Picnics and Shopping 

Some attempted a few treks and those with kids participated in various adventure sports; zip lining, being amongst the most popular.

None of this interested me and once again I wrote off Manali from my list of as a " Must visit place".

And then I had a nightmare....

- Manali's  glaciers were  melting even more rapidly due to global warming....

 -The Beas Kund with its fascinating legend of Rishi Vyas had dried up..

-And  with almost every home in Manali being reconstructed and converted to a homestay ...its rich  forests were  denuded.

I had to go now and  use my time to imprint on my mind the  snow clad peaks of the Pir Panjal range, the Beas river  with its tributaries rushing to join the Sutlej and  walk thru a Deodar forest.

I planned four days; decided to fly both ways and stay at Sitara Himalaya in Kothi Village

I think these were good decisions

I saved on travel time ( approximately  3 hours each way )

Map -Courtesy Google

 

 Sitara Himalayas  -10 room property 

-with its silk covered walls, pashmina blankets 

 a kitchen where you can choose you own tea pot, tea cup....

-and be served at 5.30 AM

Last but not least was the view from my room window

 and a sit out facing the Pir Panjal and Dhaulagiri  range all in sync with the magnificence that is Manali  ..

Duhangar glacier -AKA Deo Tibba

I had made a small list of what I would like imprinted on my mind.

Sadly the very first place...Rohtang Pass ( Rohtang translates to ground pile of corpses!) was closed to visitors because of heavy snowfall.

However while I was not able to cross the pass I could go under  it with an engineering miracle - The Atal Tunnel - which took 10 years to make.  

The tunnel elevation is at just over 10,000 ft. ( Rohtang is at 13000) It is shaped like a horse shoe; has a dual carriage way..and kudos to the discipline of the users ensuring that they are always within the speed limit....and of course no overtaking!

For me , spectacular was emerging from the tunnel to Sissu Village in Lahaul ..and then coming to the rushing waters of the Chandra and Bhaga Rivers...joining to become The Chenab.

Manali is truly beautiful; and 4 days is absolutely not enough ,unless you just want to tick off boxes

You  need to allow time to stop...touch ,...just gaze..

I also think you need a 'Fitness " level. 

I did miss out on some magnificent walks in the forest...but managed the 159 steps to the Anjani Mahadev Temple where there is an amazing sight of a Shivling directly under a waterfall 

159 STEPS to   ANJANI MAHADEV

REST IN BETWEEN

SHIV LING UNDER THE WATERFALL

 

TRAVEL - A Passion

 

I love travelling, providing it leads me to nature, wild life, history…or a new experience.

MANALI

ORANGATUAN - BORNEO

Caught a  Piranha in the Amazon River

MOROCCO

There was a halt in my travels at the onset of COVID... but as soon as it declined I promised myself that I would set out every three months for a week. 

In my week, I would see, savour as much as I leisurely could without getting pressurised by a ‘Must do list”; without feeling that the trip was a failure because I had not spotted a tiger.

 The every three months promise was maybe a little ambitious. 

I  research the area of travel, explore options … often  going off tangent. I  take time to make up my mind…but I am happy that so far none of my destinations have disappointed me and I think the list that follows is a good showing.

April 2022- Kanha- Madhya Pradesh

Gaur-
Photo credit - Bagh Villas

Oct 2022 - Kabini - Nagarhole  Karnataka

Nagarhole - Kaav

 Aug 2023 - Alleppy Boat Race

Boat race - Alleppey

 

Jan 2023  - Sunderbans-West Bengal

Pitchkali River

 Oct 2023 - Laos

Jan 2024  - Chikkamangaluru

Wood way Estates - Coffee Beans

Pillar at Hoysalesvara Temple Complex

May 2024 - Koti Village - Manali

Pir Panjal Range and the Beas River

The Color Purple

The Color Purple

Evanston, with a population of approximately 74000 is in the state of Illinois, 

12 miles north of Chicago downtown.

The drive to it from O’Hare International airport can take 35 to 50 minutes.

The city’s claim to fame (according to me) is because it is home to Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Management, it is the International Headquarters of Rotary,and it lies on Lake Michigan which lends it not just a very scenic constant but also the most breathtaking moments of sunrise and sunset…especially in summer.

Grand Mother - Kiran Mehta - Mallika Bhandari  -The Graduate

 

Photographer - Mallika Bhandari

Lest we forget that it is a university town the large rocks at the lake’s landfill have messages painted on them by the students.

 

Many of these are the typical :
 

Jack loves Jill......

 Marriage proposals…

….. and there are some with a philosophical bent…

The city turns purple in June when Northwestern students graduate….
There is excitement…and every one celebrates….
We were there for my grand nieces’ graduation..and our hotel was in full support of the event.

PURPLE ACCENTS

CHEERS TO THE GRADUATE

We had decided …like many many others to be Northwestern.

The University giveaways were visors , little fans…

and we the parents, uncles, aunts… of the graduates  ensured that there was a touch of ‘purple’ in our wardrobe.

 June 21, Commencement Ceremony. 

June 22 - The Convocation.. 

From Left to Right - MOTHER -GRAND  MOTHER- GRAND AUNT

 The Convocation was full house and as expected there was applauding and cheering each time your loved ones' name was called out. Your neighbours also joined in, though a little less vociferously.

There was one  graduate that got every ones applause -

 a young man who after he was handed his degree whipped open his gown to reveal a shirt with ‘I LOVE YOU MOM” stencilled in bold black letters right across it.

Peacocks are not just Blue

Peacocks ..Blue and White.

When I was in my D.H. Lawrence phase I saw in his list of publications a novel called

The White Peacock.I did not read it. For me peacocks were a brilliant blue who fanned their tails when the sky was overcast, heralding rain.

And then, on June 10^th this year I went with my niece and her husband to Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Manish Bhandari- Kamal Kapur - Radhika Bhandari

 Lake Maggiore - Isola Bella

A ferry from Stresa took us to the Island Beautiful.We were looking forward to seeing the transformation of a rock into a Palace with terraced gardens.
There was a light drizzle........

Rain Ready

.

It was not a deterrent to walking through the narrow streets lined with cafes and craft shops nor to exploring the 400 years of work resulting in magnificent Baroque Architecture and gardens at various levels...each with its own story.

Everything Lavender 

A Grotto in the Palace in black and white stones 

The View.. As you enter the Gardens.

Planted 1819 Camphor Laurel Tree

White Flowering dogwoods

For me, like many, there was a Wordsworth “Daffodils” moment.....

white peacocks .....only white......walking.. strolling ..nonchalantly…seemingly unaware of the gasps of their audience.

I want to find them in India…not in a zoo.…but in a garden…

Recommendation :

 Add a couple of days to your Milan Visit.

Take a train, bus, car to Stresa or Bavena.

Take a ferry..they are frequent, inexpensive well appointed.

There are 3 islands to visit. I loved Bella.

Credit: Photographs, Video - Manish Bhandari, Radhika Bhandari