CHANDIGARH-MANALI-KULLU-DALHOUSIE-AMRITSAR (10 days - 11
nights)
"A journey once again
we dwell,
Listen carefully, what I’m going to tell,
Everyone filled with high exuberance spell,
The journey has ended with sweet memories as a caramel."
Planning-Shopping-Packing:
As the trend of alternate IV destinations goes on in our
college between Royal Rajasthan and Chilled Manali, it was our final year and
the destination was Manali(Himachal Pradesh). Our excitement was at its peak
but there were many hurdles which we had to cross before our final IV meeting.
In this meeting to our surprise, we had got Citrus Resort at Manali for which
had requested earlier. The reason behind this will be explained later in the
blog. The shopping lists were being ticked and our suitcases were packed.
There were a minimum of two fully packed bags with everyone because of the
woolens.
Train Journey to
Chandigarh:
The day had finally arrived. We boarded the 12217 Sampark
Kranthi Express for Chandigarh at 10.55 am from Panvel Station. After settling
down we started with cards and all other games. Everyone had brought enough
snacks and food to last us for our entire journey. We made sandwiches for
dinner. At midnight we started with creepypastas in dim light. We were about to
miss our train at Delhi station because it started without giving a horn. At
Ambala Cantt we ordered Dominos pizzas for everyone. Then we reached Chandigarh
Station.
Chandigarh is a shining example of what India will become in
the future as it becomes more and more developed. It's clean, wide, perfectly
paved and parallel streets resemble a North American city far more than an
Indian one.
At Clarion Inn:
The climate was dull with light showers yet refreshing. We
checked in at Clarion Inn Hotel and freshened up to take photos and have
dinner. The food at this hotel was of average quality. But we enjoyed the most
at this hotel with different games, dance and horror pranks.
The next day after breakfast we checked out for our
Industrial Visit and Chandigarh sightseeing. First, we visited the Inter Solar
Company and learned the entire making of the Solar system. They provide round
the clock services related to solar panels manufacturing, solar system
manufacturing, solar water heating system manufacturing and all other solar EPC
products across India. Around the industrial area, there were beautiful farms of
wheat crop. We had a few clicks here.
Rock Garden:
After lunch, we were on our way to the Rock Garden. It a
spectacular landscaped Garden made out of recycled and organic materials,
started years and years ago by Nek Chand. The weather was extremely pleasant
and chill. We started our photoshoot being spellbound by the Dreamland of Nek
Chand. But the photos cannot do justice to this beautiful place. Because of
photography, we missed out the heart of this garden. So a piece of advice for all those
who plan a visit here would be to see the entire garden first and then click
photos.
Sukhna Lake:
Next, our stop was the Sukhna Lake - The only prominent
waterbody in Chandigarh with calm water and abundant nature within the city
limits. Here you can take a walk with your friends on the peripherals, do
boating or simply admire the Shivalik hills form the backdrop of the lake
reminding you that you are in the foothills of the Himalayas. We tried some
food from the eateries beside the lake. The Tandoori Soya Chaap and Veg Momos
with several sauces were extremely tasty. Then we headed for some shopping at
the local Gandhi Market. Many students took pineapple barfi for family and
tried the local chaat of Chandigarh.
That night after dinner we headed for Manali. At our first
break everyone had fallen cold and hence took hot tea and shook a leg to warm
up. Taking anti Vomiting medicines we all fell asleep and opened our eyes to
the dawn of Manali. Luckily no one had experienced motion sickness on this long
journey. We halted at a riverside restaurant for our morning breakfast. The
weather was so cold that in spite of wearing 4 layers of clothes still, we were
feeling the chills.
Manali at its best
"The Sky hug the Hills
warm and tight,
Clad in a robe shining in golden white,
Unfolding Nature’s treasures of Might,
Manali has mesmerizing, gorgeous Sight!!"
One of the most popular hill stations in India, Manali is amidst the snow cladded laps of Himalayan mountain slopes, with spell-binding
views, charming streams of the mighty Beas dominating the landscapes throughout,
fairy-tale-like fog surrounding little hidden cottages and a lingering scent of
pines and freshness. The surrounding
areas are still relatively untouched. The air always smells nice because it’s
pure, the water always tastes good, because in most of the places, it comes
from waterfalls that emerge out of glaciers. This is one place that should
definitely be on your bucket list.
Citrus Resort Manali:
After a long journey we checked in at the hotel we were most
excited for. Citrus Resort - Manali nestled amidst the panoramic views of the
beautiful snow clad mountains, gurgling Beas river, vast acres of orchards,
deodar groves and a lush valley promises to offer a soothing experience to its
guests. Let go off your burden and unwind in the ornately crafted facades,
trendy rooms with a touch of nature in its wooden flooring overlooking the
scenic river, rich and stunningly designed interiors or sit by the river and
savor the delicious cuisine or laze around by the outdoor terrace and garden
admiring the views; nothing can compensate to a stay at Citrus Manali. We boys
were extremely fortunate to get to live in a beautiful villa at citrus which
made our stay more memorable but at the same time many of friends got rooms
with the central heaters not working and despite multiple complaints to the
hotel staff the problem wasn't fixed. Many also changed their rooms because of
the same issue since it is difficult to survive the chills of Manali especially
at night.
Hidimba Temple:
Post lunch we were told to visit the Mall road at our own
cost but we had decided to cover the Hidimba Temple too that evening itself
because of the proximity. We caught the Himalayan State Transport bus and
reached the mall road in 10rs from our hotel. From here we trekked for the Hidimba
Temple. The air was thin and we were panting on our climb. Packed full of thick
deodar trees and surrounded by the Himalayas sits Hadimba a serene looking
temple, safely tucked away in a forest of the lovely hill station. After the
construction of this temple, the hand of the chief carver was cut off, so that
he could never create anything that beautiful again. Finally, a temple where
one sees no idol but the very footmark of their beloved Goddess. The unadorned
walls of mud are covered with stonework in contrast with the wooden doorway,
which is elaborately decorated with miniature depictions of Goddess,
attendants, animals and stylized foliation. At the temple, we took some photos
with the fluffy rabbits, the traditional Himalayan dress and sitting on the
Yak.
After praying at the temple we headed for shopping at the
mall road. The temperature fell and we were shivering while shopping at the
market. We took woolens and gloves to beat the cold. Also tried some local
delicacies. They were simply lip smacking. You have to bargain at this market
to prevent a hole in your pocket.
Solang Valley:
The next day after a short yet extremely picturesque drive
from our hotel we reached the Solang valley which brings to you another world
full of surprises. We rented the coats and gumboots for this adventure from a
nearby shop for 250 rs. After getting down of our vans we
Turned into a child once again, and let loose as we played
in the snow. Now we headed for the snow activities which we got at rs 600 after
bargaining for 4 activities including tube slide, zip line, quad bike and
skiing. We had our Dream Maggie in Solang valley enjoying the beautiful views.
There are multiple other options which you can explore here including skiddo,
ropeway (rs 650) and paragliding. Due to time constraints, we couldn't cover it
all. After all, that is what travel is all about.
In the evening, we again visited the Mall road while many rested
at the hotel. Often referred to as the heart of the town, the Mall Road in Manali
is the focal point of this popular hill destination. Lined with multiple
hotels, restaurants and bars, this busy commercial center also houses numerous
shops and emporiums. We mostly shopped for shawls and leather jackets for 200
and 900 rs approximately. If you look beyond the obvious you will find numerous
trails all around Manali and if anyone looks inviting, just ask any local about
it. Find where it leads to, how easy or difficult it is. And armed with this
information, just follow your heart.
At night there was DJ for us at hotel. Forgetting everything
around us we danced with our souls and not our mind, with all our energy in the
blinding lights and deafening sound. Everyone showcased their special moves and
just danced till we dropped.
This day everyone woke up early and clicked some snaps in
the beautiful back lawns and riverside. After checkout, we went to the Gadhan
Thekchhokling Gompa Monastery. It was again near the mall road so our bus
dropped us till Manali Inn hotel from where we enjoyed the walk upto this
monastery. Capturing the Tibetan culture many adorned the Kashmiri traditional
dress here too. The little Nepali kids playing around the Monastery were
extremely cute.
Kullu:
The remaining shopping was completed this day at our final
visit to mall road after which we headed for lunch in Kullu. It was surprising lunch this day where we crossed the surging river Beas in a cart enjoying yet
another adventure. We had our afternoon lunch perched prettily on the lawns
over this river as the gushing river made music with birdsong. After lunch, we
got mesmerized in the traditional Kashmiri dance and music which was performed
for us by the locals. Later they invited us to join them and we showed our
unity through the coordination required for their dance moves. We also sat
around the bonfire at the campsite and soaked in the warmth. The clouds had
gathered and it started pouring down. At night we reached the Aar Kay Shawl
Factory which was exorbitantly priced. It was a waste of time to travel here.
Then we proceeded to our dinner at Mandi. It was a really long journey but we
played Antakshari the entire way and ended up with all the songs which possibly
strike our minds. We had our dinner late that night. After dinner, we bade
goodbye to our friends from EXTC Department who were on their return journey.
Enroute Dalhousie:
We now took the road for Dalhousie. Already the students
were frightened because of the long journey to this beautiful hill station. We
distributed the Vomit bags to those who generally experience nausea. Early
morning we arrived at Dharamshala. Deep in sleep, we didn't realize until 7.00
AM that we had halted here since 5.00 am
for our breakfast and the driver had taken a nap after bringing us safely to
this point. After breakfast, we continued our journey to Dalhousie from
Dharamshala. It was a long route through twisting ghats and slopes across
mountain ranges. The curving road and the jaw-dropping cliff on one side of the
road did nothing to assuage our troubled hearts. We experienced a high adrenaline
rush as we traveled on these roads.
Dalhousie at its Best:
Dalhousie, which is blessed with enchanting beauty, certain tranquility of its ambiance and the serenity and sacredness of its
culture. Thick forests of pine and deodar covered the hill slopes with the
trunks of the trees easily a few feet wide. The serenity of Dalhousie is only disturbed by twittering birds and the
sound of the gusting winds.
Snow Point:
Finally, we checked in at the Dalhousie Heights hotel.
Unfortunately, there were no heaters provided in any room. We had to pay 300 rs
extra for the heater. Some students did take it because the room was freezing cold.
In groups of 10, we sat in a van and headed for the snow point at Saach Pass. We
intended to go to Khajjiar popularly known as the mini Switzerland of India but
it was closed due to roads being blocked by snow. Everyone was very much
disappointed because our main aim of the visit to Dalhousie was to see this amazing
place. Still, our agent wanted us to enjoy at the snow point so he started with
the snow fight and slowly all joined in. We enjoyed time with each other in
snow which we couldn't at Solang valley because of the activities which kept us
busy. At a small hut, we sat for some tea and Maggie with small bonfire lit.
Sunset at its best:
On our way back from snow point we witnessed the most
magical sunset of our lifetime - one from above the clouds. Usually, the sun
disappears behinds the mountains. But now we were on the tallest mountains and
the sunset could not escape our eyes. We were intrigued by this marvelous sight
and even if we failed to capture it in our cameras we did capture it in our
heart. To describe it in best words.
As the sun went down it began to fling his parting rays
across all the sky, from horizon to zenith. It painted the clouds with his
fiery pigments, and they glowed with gorgeous colors from the lake to river. Golden
and yellow near the track of his disappearance, the hues change to boundless
masses of pink, and crimson, and scarlet, and purple, further up the dome of
the sky. Gold changed to crimson, crimson deepened to purple, and soon the
glory of the heavens passed away. We all were left spellbound with this
mystical beauty of mother nature.
Panchpula:
At Panchpula there was a park for small children, few shops
and local eateries. We trekked the waterfall in this region and enjoyed the
gustling streams which flow down the mountain. After spending some time here we
went to shop at the Mall Road. We specially wanted to taste the momos here but
they weren't up to our expectations. We explored the city church and Tibetian
market near it. We walked back to our hotel on the curvy roads of Dalhousie.
After dinner, we gathered up to play some games.
Golden Temple at its
best:
Next day we checked out early and left for Amritsar - The
final location in our itinerary. We reached here in the afternoon after taking a couple of stops at Pathankot. Freshening up we changed in our traditional
outfits for our visit to Golden temple. At sunset, we reached the golden temple
and witnessed the Glittering and Sparkling temple in between the holy water
surrounding it from four sides. At night the beauty reaches its peak when the
temple lits up with Powerful LEDs, Chandeliers and Golden lights. A Walk
through the main entrance of the Golden Temple – the holiest temple for the
Sikh religion. And try not to be blown away by the beautiful mix
of colors all around you as well, by the traditional music (kirtan) being
played over the entire complex and by the happy and friendly Sikhs strolling
along the marble walkway that surrounds the main temple (parikrama of
pathway-four rectangular cubicles). You can spend hours inside the Golden
Temple without ever getting bored of the unique atmosphere. You can even eat a
free meal at the langar hall (pilgrimage dining hall) and you can also spend a
night or two at one of the temple’s Gurdwaras (pilgrim guesthouses). The long
wait in the queue to get inside the Golden Temple is totally worth it. Have
patience as the queue slowly but steadily inches forward. Because The insides
have to be seen to be believed. Photography isn’t permitted inside. You have to
store in your memory the beauty that accosts you. It is two floors of sheer
brilliance. Take all your time to soak in the art around you. This place
invokes spirituality in many of its visitors. We were lucky to have enough time
to enjoy the Golden temple. Returning from the Golden temple we stopped by the
local chaat and tasted the Aloo Tikki Burger - A Punjabi Version of it. It was
our last night stay at the hotel so we gathered up that night to recollect the
beautiful time we spent in the entire IV and celebrated the Birthdays of two of
friends.
Jallianwala Bagh and
Shopping:
On the last day of
Amritsar we had an amazing breakfast and Lunch. We visited the
Jallianwala Bagh which marks one of the major heinous political crimes
committed by the Britishers during the twentieth century. It houses a memorial
of national importance portraying the Bravery of Indians who Jumped into a well
to not be killed at the hands of the ruthless British. Paying a tribute to the
deceased we went for shopping at Amritsar. The shops are close-knit. Everyone
took Kadaas (special Bangle worn by Sikhs), juttis (Amritsari shoes), fulkari
materials, patialas and sweets for our family. We tasted the Amritsari Lassi,
Punjabi Kulfi and Phirni.
Wagha Border at its
best:
Post Lunch we left for Wagha border - flag retreat
ceremony. Some People drew temporary
tattoos of the Indian Flag on their cheeks to showcase their love for the motherland. This was the best and most awaited places in our entire IV. We
found front seats to enjoy the ceremony. Popular Patriotic music blasted
through the speakers in front of our stand and females started to walk to the
center of the “stage”. They bore the flag proudly and ran across the stage like
a torch race. Soon enough all were slowly moving their bodies to the music and
when more women joined them, they broke out into a cheerful dance. It was
electrifying – women were dancing, hollering, and radiating their pride for the
country. Only women were allowed to join the party while men watched from the
stands with their smartphones and cameras aloft. Next began the competitive
cheering between the two nations, with each shout getting louder than the
previous, giving us chills. The atmosphere was intense and filled with
nationalistic fervour. As our skins shrivelled and sweat dripped from our
foreheads, the Indian and Pakistani soldiers had it worse with their thick,
pressed uniforms and ostentatiously colourful headgear. From where we are
sitting, soldiers marched and display strength via their exaggerated movements.
They marched into neat formations and often kicked their legs high up as a way
of displaying strength. The parade was really grand and exhibited the
discipline of the soldiers guarding the border. It was also to show Pakistan
how united India is. Finally the flags of both nations were brought down and
the the ceremony came to an end with it. The Wagah Border Ceremony, was
definitely something we had never seen before.
Train Journey to
Mumbai:
At night we had dinner on our own and caught the 12904
Golden Temple Mail for our return Journey to Mumbai at 9.25 pm. The seats were
scattered and somehow we managed to sit in our groups as much as we could.
Resting at night we enjoyed the next day playing games. I was however busy with
ordering afternoon lunch for everyone. As it was holi the train food ordering
app service was closed. We ordered from a local restaurant at Kota Junction
whose contact I got from my one of my friends. The food was tasty and the
service was too good. Everyone enjoyed their meal. You can contact the
restaurant (AMAR PUNJABI DHABA) on +91 77280 44455. In the evening at Ratlam
Junction we ordered from Dominos. We enjoyed the last few hours of our train
journey like no one could imagine. We played chor police, Hide and seek and so
many other games. As it was Holi night all those who were asleep were colored
by some mischievous friends amongst us. The train arrived at Dadar station at
4.41 am. We had started sweating again in the humid climate of Mumbai. We
caught early morning local and reached our sweet homes with even sweeter
memories. It was a perfect chilled out
vacation.
“Ocean of talks” done
in a small way,
There everyone wanted to stay,
But responsibilities can’t be kept away,
We did collect memories from there and kept it locked for years away."
