Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Trip to Kullu Manali

Heeelloooo 2 all….how are you?

I am back from a very COOL trip…and now trying to adjust in this hot weather of Chattisgarh…it’s very very very HOT….no thnx to Global Warming but thnx to the beautiful places in the world...who help us in enjoying the wonderful nature.

I Love the Sun beam

Every day I sat with my Laptop to write and share my wonderful trip with you all ..but couldn’t write….You can call me lazy in that…but today I have decided I will share it…So the trip goes like this…..
We started our journey from Delhi and headed towards Manali by Volvo….I was little hesitant about Neil’s health that whether he would feel comfortable during the whole journey of 18 hrs? But he is my baby…he was so sweet all through our trip…..thank you kid…umhaa…


31st May: We stayed in Sterling Hotel…as we are its members……the room was great…could see nice hilltop from the window.


View from Our hotel room's window

That day we decided to stay in the hotel and relax…one thing which was nice in Sterling, that every night there were some games held in the garden area, which was a nice entertainment for the guests. That night there was a Magic show along with the games.

1st June – Woke up late at 9 am. Enjoyed the hot Aloo Parathas in the small eating joint. The first day tour included Naggar Castle, Castle of the King, now turned into hotel; Roerich Art Gallery and Museum(Roerich was the artist of Russia married to Devika Rani; our old bollywood actress).

One made Taj Mahal for his wife and the another, her Portrait, made by Roerich


We visited many places but still missed something…think what? We were in hilly area…how could we miss a waterfall?? So the driver took us to a beautiful fall. Check the pic down here. Enjoying the fall
Below the mountain being covered by heave dense cloud. It was such a amazing view.

Shadow of Cloud over Mountain, Beautiful, Isnt it?


2nd June – Ah!!! This was the crucial day..why? As it was coz of this day, we all three were out on holidays…It was our Marriage Aniversary…. Yes….:-)
This day we had to climb Rohtang Pass…by taxi Ofcourse…..!! we woke up at 4 am in the morning and left the hotel by 5 am. The road was not that good. It can be scary too for few…but definitely not for me….(atleast this time, as I had seen much scary roads and climate in Sikkim…driving on the hills is exciting but one has to be very careful)
Reaching at the top was too awesome….all the tiredness of sitting inactive in the car paid off when stepped out of the car….Snow everywhere…………..WOW!!!!

The weather was great….helped us to explore more there…..Neil got excited after seeing the white colour of snow….I saw heaps of people playing in it…..enjoying themselves totally, unreservedly. We too threw balls of snow at each other….saw it in films….and did it in real…:-)….
Playing with snow

I had visited RP when I was in 5th std in 1992…..and I remember visiting this palace, wearing a knee length frock and bare chappals. I saw a wide change in every aspect. The road became less dangerous….there were numerous shops in the way, of the coats, wollens, small eating joints……At the peak point too I could see lots of things to munch, like hot bhutta (corn which we enjoyed immensely in that freezing weather), Tea, Maggie, aloo paratha, sandwiches …..and so on….. Enjoying CornCrowded

But the place was little crowded so decided to go to Zero Point….but with Neil it would have been too exhausting to climb. So started searching for the options. One option was by horse..but Neil was too scared to sit on it….second was by carriage which was pushed by two or three people….but I felt sympathy for all those…the last one was a Snow Bike…remember seeing it in Fanaa movie…it looked so Smart..but these smart things doesn’t come to you easily…it was quite an expensive affair….but we went there to experience and enjoy so why not this smarty thing…so here went…. took a motor Bike (BLACK - very stylish one) and reached the point within seconds….(the seconds ride was too thrilling)…..
COOOOLLLL!!!
At the Zero Point, the snow was much dirt free and white….RP is a Must Visit….
Holding Cloud ?

On the way


3rd June: Morning commenced with the hot cup of coffee…but with no mountain view from our window…..the heavy clouds embraced it…..we could see rain approaching our area swiftly….That was our last day in Manali…..
Cloudy Weather
But before leaving we wished to visit Manikaran and Hadimba Temple….
Hadimba temple was beautiful….lots of school children had come on the tour…The temple with lots of sky touching trees….reminded me of Saudagar movie
Hadimba Temple
…we spent our time sitting on one swing imagining that this would be the best place for the youngsters to date….singing romantic songs amidst the trees…… “akele hai toh kya gum hai…bas ek jara saath ho tera”……Tall Trees Sneak Peek through Leaves
Next was a Club House but seeing the traffic we dint wish to enter inside its campus…rather we spent time sitting on the rocks beside the river Vyaas…I was very much eager to do river crossing but there was a time limit…we had very less time in our hands …so skipped the idea of seeing hot springs….koi nahi….next time sahi….

Hey forgot to tell you all, I also did Paragliding, while returning from RP…..it was crazy, thrilling, wonderful experience…I always wished to do it…..and this time I did it ….intially I was very afraid but at the same time confident too…but thankfully the take off and landing both were done nicely…..the wind pressure was awesome…..too chilly up in the sky… …I was having an eye of eagle…everything was seeming so small…. WOW I still feel it…….
Thrill
Kullu Manali was an astounding place to spend one’s vacation…..Running from the Hot climate visit beautiful Himachal Pradesh….
Valley







PS – I started writing this post on 9th June and finished it today……9th was too hot and today its pleasant…..I assume the Manali’s Post affected the climate here in real……

45 comments:

  1. 1st :) you seem to have enjoyed a tonne...and your description reminded me of our Manali trip :)

    I'm sure you had fun on your anniversary :)

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  2. had a gr8 n fun time....lovely pics :)
    memories of my Manali trip got refreshed :)

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  3. wow amazin pics..amazin description...now I can understand what took u soo long to write this post...para glidn must have been grt fun......thnx 4 sharin....all d best ..tak cre!!!

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  4. wow...amazin pics and grt description...now i understn what took u sooo long to write this post..para glidin must b great...thanks 4 sharin...all d best..tak cre!

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  5. wow..ur journey sounds amazing... :) :)


    ur description along with the pics amde it a wonderful read...i too wanna be to a snowy mountain sometime...Hope soon..

    TC :) :)

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  6. this place rocks!!!
    And you were luck to see some Ice!!!
    Did you visited manikarn or not???

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  7. wowowowo ... beautiful awesome .. I had gone there in 1996 way way backk.. man it has not changed that much .. still ever so beautiful.. and paragling boy I envy you now ...

    Welcome back.. glad ot hear you had a awesome time .. Manali is indeed very beautiful...

    beautiful

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  8. I have become too excited after reading the post! Which camera you have? The pics are amazing!

    Good to know you had a great time. The fun and freshness is flowing from the post...

    Keep up the good work! :)

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  9. @ Nu - yeah had lot of fun on the aniversry..and in the whole trip//

    @BH - thnx for the comment...:-)

    @ BS - thnx for liking the travel post...paragliding is defnitely an exciting thing to do...

    @ Bhupesh - yes we were very lucky....now the next dream is to see a snow fall...we couldnt visit Manikaran coz of rainfall and then we had no time too...:-(...although i had visited it yrs back..

    @ Urvashi - dear..run towards it then...wish u have a nice trip there...:-)\\

    @ Bikramjit - hihii...now u guess how much i must have envied u while reading ur impulsive attitude which excites u in doing these stuffs often....me too in the line...:-)
    u r right manali is very beautiful...

    @ Karan - SOny cam...:-) Sony must pay me now....thnx for liking the pics...good that moto of forwarding the fun and freshness has been passed thru this post..thnx///

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  10. Totally agree with Urvashi
    Your description along with the pics made it a wonderful read.

    मुझे तो गाना याद आ गया

    हरी हरी वसुंधरा पे नीला नीला ये गगन,
    के जिसके बादलों की पालकी उडा रहा पवन,
    दिशायें देखो रंग भरी.....,
    चमक रही उमंग भरी
    ये किसने फूल फूल पे ......किया सिंगार है
    ये कौन चित्रकार है? ये कौन चित्रकार है?
    ये कौन .....चित्रकार है?

    {गीतकार पं. भरत व्यास, संगीतकार सतीश भाटिया,
    फ़िल्म बूंद जो बन गयी मोती ( वी. शांताराम) }


    ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs
    ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs
    ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs ThAnKs A lot

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  11. wonderful to hear u had a gr8888 time..let more n more cheers line up in yr life friend...

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  12. Awesome journey ji..
    Ur write up has made it even better.
    Ur trip was really pleasant and yes wish u very happy anniversary.
    Let me guess its number 5 or 6??
    Kudos to d child.
    U revised my memories RP is really the place to be.
    Para gliding,snow scooter, zorbing etc.. makes it even better and ur way of puuting things in short reminded me each day.
    Its so gr8 to roam about all over the world.
    Jealous of u coz while u were between snow I was experiencing the worst summers ever.
    arey it would become a new blog post.
    I must stop.

    Cheers

    Nuts
    :)
    :)

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  13. Hi! Rohini,

    wow!beautiful pics of beaitful places,
    its nice u shared them
    :)

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  14. @ GA - thnx for enjoying the post...and yes i rem this sng..thnx...:)

    @ Ramesh - thnx for the comment and wishes :)

    @ Nipun - Thnx for the miny post...:)RP is so beautiful that it can make anyone praise its beauty anytime...so how's the climate there now...?

    @ RD - thnx for the comment...:)

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  15. @ Nipun - the no is 5 completed , 6 running :)

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  16. Rohini,

    First of all - BELATED HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. May you both have a very happy, healthy, successful, joyful and peaceful wedded life. Now on the post, you took me back by more than 2 decades. As I said in my comment in your previous post we had been visiting that area at least twice a year, in summers and winters. It is so beautiful, beyond words. We explored a lot of area around also. Once road between Mandi and Kullu was blocked due to landslide, so we took a detour from Mandi through back tracks. The drive through the hills and small villages was terrific. We saw so many rivelets and falls. It was rainy season, so you can well imagine. Thanks for showing photographs, it seems I am there once again.

    Take care

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  17. Rohini,

    Oh, I forgot to add, how I wish I could send e-card.

    Take care

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  18. @ Jack Sir - thnx sir , i m glad my post revived the wonderful memories of the beautiful place....u r time the road was blocked due to landsliding but in 1992 , when i first visited, the road was blocked coz of a protest of anti reservation....students blocked the road and we had a trn for Delhi that day...it was terrible tiem we had spend hrs in a village in a hut...thnx to that family who lend us food....but this journey was totally different....
    and yes thnx for an e-card...i assume i have got an e-card with ur wishes....thnx agn!!

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  19. Nice pics

    Seem to have a great time.

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  20. I have been there too! its not less then a paradise :)

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  21. @ Ramesh - hi to u tooo :)\\

    @ TS - fun....yes we had..thnx for the comment

    @ Neha - yes u r rite :)

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  22. those are some amazing pictures... u seem to have had a great time!!

    Btw u have been tagged...
    http://www.sensible-bakwas.com/2010/06/tagged-know-me.html

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  23. Me very J; ;) seems u had a gr8 time, cheers

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  24. Hey Rohini,

    Really nice pics. It is always fun to have family holidays in such beautiful places. Good to hear your descriptive account. And, wish you a belated happy anniversary as well.

    Take care

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  25. @ TC - thnx for the tag...i will complete it :)

    @ Bhagyareema - thnx for the comment:)

    @ Rachna - thnx a lot :)

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  26. Awesome journey..Beautiful photographs..Loved the description..Happy blogging..

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  27. Wow!! amazing..
    amazing...so you must have had an awesome time..
    I have scheduled a trek to Silent Vally after first week of July!!

    Hope it goes well as planned

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  28. @ Sorcerer - Trekking !!! sounds an intersting idea...but in monsoons...sounds more adventurous....wish u all best ..have a great journey....:)

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  29. blog is a blessing of course..otherwise i d not have come across a good friend like u.right?

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  30. Rohini,

    I don't know how I reached to your blog. But it is a wonderful blog.

    I plan to visit Manali in next two weeks so your blog becomes very handy.

    Pictures are beautiful....so as the description.

    One mistake:- I think you meant 31st May...but blog reads 31st June when you start talking about Sterling hotel. Sorry I read it all.

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  31. A- :) I had noticed this mistake few days after i posted this post..and found interesting that no one pointed out the odd thing out here...:)..Either bloggers missed out on this ..or they were nt so keen in rectifying this silly mistake...and i also dint act in correcting it..just coz i am very lazy these days in blogging...
    BUT Thnx to you ...thnx for reading the whole post keenly,...this made me feel good that my post are being read critically...
    Straight to correct it...ANd hey Welcome to this Blog..Hope to find u here again..with ur comments...thnx

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  32. I guessed right..
    How good I am at guessing..

    :)
    :)

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  33. @ Nipun - Clapping......:)

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  34. Rohini,

    I will be back to read you other posts after few weeks as I won't have access to internet in Manali etc.

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  35. @ A - Have a wonderful journey....!!

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  36. Rohini,

    Nice Post and Pictures there. and specially "Holding Cloud ?" This is really Creative photo.

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  37. @ Madhav - thnx for liking the pic...i too love that pic..and thnx for visiting the blog....

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  38. @ Swati - dhanyawad... apka is blog mein swagat hai...

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  39. Fantastic pics Rohini!!
    Really Superb!!

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    ReplyDelete