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 )
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| Map -Courtesy Google |
-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 ..
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| 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
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| 159 STEPS to ANJANI MAHADEV |
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| REST IN BETWEEN |
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| SHIV LING UNDER THE WATERFALL |
Manali is indeed a popular destination from Delhi. I like the way the attraction of Manali is summarized in a few lines. The writers personal experience is well presented. The accommodation is really special. Highly readable account.
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