From our walk of life…..we slowly but wisely learn that “Not everything is destined to go as per your plan….you may have to revisit the things sometime”. However, Wiseman say in such an adverse situation you have to remain positive and find a way ahead somehow and believe that- Everything happens for a reason….and usually it is for the good in the long run.
We planned and landed at Manali (already dreamt ourselves amongst the snowfall) in end Dec-2016 to celebrate the year-end….but finding no snowfall & dry weather, only to reset the target instinctively. What lied ahead in coming few days was Jaw-dropping encounter with Barot valley & enthralling Kasol & the holy Manikaran.
Much water had flown under the bridge since we had our last adventurous journey into the mountains. It was close to a year when we walk around the Dalhousies, Khajjihars in Himachal last year. Felt like there was another call from the high lands when the idea of playing with snows at Manali came to our mind.
The Preparation:
With the 2016 year-end approaching, we (me & my wify) both had our last minute approval of our leaves from our respective organization. We were having a track for snowfall forecast in Himachal and were quite excited to see the prediction on 27th & 28th Dec-2016 at Manali. Our little pocket dynamite (son Jagrav) was ready to explode again with the snow.
Notably, this was our second trip to Manali, but first in the winters. As we usually do before any road trip, a quick vehicle servicing, woolens for the hills & checked out the beloved Shot Gun (SLR). Thanks to no thanks to Mr. Modiji, we somehow managed to gather some hard cash within the hovac of the demonetization period.
Day-1: (Noida/Delhi to Sundernagar-Himachal)
We started from our Noida residence at 6-30 AM. Expectation was to reach Kullu by the dying Sun. It was little foggy morning but visibility was decent. The first sign of unexpected! I tried to find my USB memory stick to live-up the car stereo. Then I realized I forgot to pick it after I loaded it. I enquired my wife if she had a one. She handed a memory stick filled with the Pink Floyds & the Scorpions. (She was finding some grooves with these evergreen bands of late).
Not bad at all! The first number came out of the stereo-Holiday (Scorpion). ”Let me take you far away you would like…. a Holiday”. It set the mood for the proceedings. May be after a break of 10 years, the Scorpions waved into my mind again. And then slowly but surely Pink Floyd effect (the Psychedelic delay tone) shown its impact in my driving too. We were in a very relaxed and enjoying state as we were surfing ups and downs with PFloyd numbers like Comfortably numb, Us & them, Another brick in the walls etc. etc. End-day result was- as the Sun was going down, we were another 90 odd kms away from our initial target Kullu. We decided for a night halt at Sundernagar. The day ended with a very good dinner experience with varieties of local pulses, green veggie recipes and hilly style Chilly chicken (spicy).
We heard from locals that there was a snowfall at Shimla region the previous day (X-mas day). So, we were pretty upbeat about getting such experience in Manali too, in coming days….woww.
Day-2: (Manali)
It was a freezy and a lazy morning for us! We started from the shelter at 9-00 AM. By the last night, I filled the memory stick with some available songs from my laptop….so the driving was back to my original style again in the hills (a decent speed with alertness required in the winding roads). A few in-between halts, finally we reached Manali by 1-30 PM. Search for a good hotel started. Honestly, we preferred to stay away from busy places like mall road and market areas. Last time, we had a very good experience to stay at a hotel by the Beas river. So, we checked out the options. We were lucky again to find a good accommodation at Hotel Lord Residency. The room was facing the Beas river and it was really pleasing and serene as the melody of the flowing water of the Beas reaching our ears.
As we had visited major spots during last tour of Manali (in 2012), so we were pre-decided this time only for a snowfall encounter. During evening hours, we had a walk around the Mall Road. It was full packed. New year’s eve, as expected. Further, it was stormed with loud disposable Bollywood music.
When you want to buy your piece of happiness, there is nothing more painful than spending your hard earned cash only to witness countless numbers of heads and lost in the crowd. However, our purpose was different! That was to play in the snowfall & we were waiting for that to happen as per forecasted.
But, Weather God had different plans! Forget snow, it was bright and sunny during the day, no fog, it was just little windy, that’s it. Believe us! Delhi/ Noida, from where we started was more freezing. Even locals said that it’s not been raining since last 4 months and no snowfall is anticipated in next few days. May be in the first week on the new year 2017! But our vacation was not going to be that long to sustain.
Day-3: (Manali)
Waiting……waiting for the snow-flake! Still no signs! Again a rosy bright sunny, clear sky day. Where do go now? Sweet child o’mine? Even the road to the Rohtang pass was forced to close at a place called Gulaba. With nothing going as per plan, we decided- Lets move towards Rohtang road. May be we will get some snow from where road is closed. We reached Gulaba, it was very windy and we were informed that nearest snow point is around 1.5 kms walking distance away from the road. It was not appealing to us as we went there last time…moreover the walkway always remains slippery.
Then, during return to Manali, we turned towards the Solang valley. Its just a 13 kms away from Manali. OMG! It was horribly crowded with massive Traffic on the road. Some people were seen paragliding. It was dusty all around as the Tunnel work (which will be connecting to Spiti-Lahaul valley directly) was ongoing. The Tunnel is expected to be operational by 2018. This was very good news! Once the tunnel starts, Spiti-Lahaul valley will be accessible throughout the year. As of now, during winters, due to heavy snow fall at Rohtang pass it remains disconnected for few months in a year.
We were down and dusted! But, not out! Back to the hotel by afternoon- we put our minds together and tried to remodel the target. Finally, a quick blueprint was made as Plan-B, covering Kasol, Manikaran & Barot.
Day 4: (Kasol, Manikaran and Barot)
We had a bellyful breakfast and started for Kasol & Manikaran at 8-30 AM. We were required to come back to Kullu and from Kullu another road that diverts to Kasol (37 kms from Kullu). This area is also known as Parvati valley as the road moves along the river Parvati. The way itself is very scenic although in some patches the road is not well maintained. After Kasol, another 2 kms it is Manikaran. There is a Gurudwara at Manikaran. It is having Hot water springs. There is bathing arrangement too in the Gurudwara.
After spending the a few hours in the tiny Manikaran town & the Gurudwara, we headed towards Kasol.
Kasol is well known for Israeli tourists and a place for weed & Ganja lovers, as these are easily available. Even one can see these plants along the road. Hotels and restaurants also provide the option to serve you different Israeli cuisines. We tried a special cuisine called “Shakshuka” prepared with Eggs. Needless to say it was too delicious. Enjoy your weed & Ganja and relax here if you have ample time. A total disconnection from everything else.
Anyway, we wound up our date with Kasol by 4-30 PM. The target was to reach Barot. We had a rough idea that we are required to move through Mandi town. Difficulty in internet connectivity was not helping. At 6-00 PM, we were around Mandi, with the Sun going under the hilly blanket, the light was fading fast. I decided called up my collegue Anmol (who is also travel-choholic) to get the right road direction. Thanks to his quick backend support, we found the right direction to catch the road towards Jogindernagar. Barot was another 66 kms from Mandi. Before Jogindernagar, there is a place called Ghatasani, from where another road turns towards right to Barot (another 25 kms). But good part was, till Ghatasani the road was well maintained. However, the last 25 kms from thereon, was just pathetic but drivable.
On the way, we had a quick snack break at 7-00 pm before Ghatasani. We have to admire that these people were so adorable and affectionate. We were given Akhrut (Wall nut) free handedly, which would cost INR 500 for sure in Delhi, may be more. Also, unlike Delhi/ NCR, ATMs were not queued up, one can get cash so easily while it was war like scene (in current demonetization period) in the banks & ATMs at Delhi region.
Never the less, we were at Barot by 8-00 PM. Where to stay now? I heard about the rest House at Barot. It’s a British erected structure, more than 100+ years old. However, one needs to book it at PWD office-Mandi town. We had not time to book, also we crossed Mandi at 6-00 PM. So, no question of prior booking. Decided to try out our luck. Otherwise there are a few hotels around too.
For Prior booking one may try PWD office Mandi: EE Padhar Tel: 01905-222151 (ee-mandiv1-hp@nic.in). As per my information, booking can be done by phone also.
We approached the caretaker. There were two persons, who were busy cooking food for the guests in the nearby small hut. That is used as a kitchen. They were amused to see us so late in the evening. We were informed that there are 2 family suites in the main building and we can have one. The other one was already occupied.
What was the cost? I was enquired if I was a Govt. employee or from Himachal. I said neither! He said if it were the former case (Govt. employee or from Himachal) the rate would had been INR 350 per night. Now that we fall in the second, applicable rate will be higher…that is INR 450/ night. Whoaaaa! Voiiiila! I thought, if feasible I would have book it for 10 days….hahaha.
We were advised to take food from a nearby Hotel as we were too late to arrive.
The Trout fish experience:
Barot is well known for its Trout fish culture. This once British brought fish is cultured here with the help of natural flowing water from the nearby river, the Uhl. The average size of a mature fish is around 300~350 gms. One can buy this fish from there (rate approx. INR 350/Kg) and get it cooked at Rest house or any hotel nearby.
We went to the hotel as advised and ordered a Trout fish recipe along with regular foods available. While we were exchanging our discussions with the other attendees in the hotels, food was ready within 30 mins.
People do love to shovel up hot food in cool winter and then show off their expertise on the bigger things happening around the globe….like American Presidency change, Demonetization, Global fuel price ups & downs and the very common & frequent barking like hell on the local Govt activities… Don’t they???
How could we be different!!!!
Day 5:
Good morning! After a blissful nap in the Royal suite, we woke up around 7-00 AM. The old man (Care taker) served us morning tea as per his commitment last night! We had the fresh cup of tea and then started exploring the beautiful cozy building. The Uhl river flows beside the building makes the ambience more scenic and romantic as well.
These moments certainly deserved poetic justice. Goodness me!! A Poem! I am no way close to it. Something remained with my mother exclusively, not passed on to me by GOD. Had he been here, Shakespeare would have crafted some more romantic poetry, there is no doubt.
There are a few waterfalls nearby as informed by the locals. We explored them too. After eventful few hours, we decided to return to Delhi. Although our minds were still hungry, but other things needed to be accounted too.
Time to bid adieu to the age-less beauty with a desire to date some another day. We left Barot around 11-30 AM for Delhi as we targeted to be at Home before 31st-2016.
The Final inside out:
As we recollect the memories of this journey which is a distant ship smoke on the horizon by now. There were some good takeaways too.
It is not always possible to get what we wish for! It is rightly said- If one door is closed, there are many others that get opened. There is always a tomorrow to make it count!
An unplanned & unexpected event sometimes brings joy too. This exotic Barot thing would not have happened if we had found snowfall in Manali for sure!
We just can’t let the fear to overpower and stop us from doing things that we always wanted to do. We are the believer of-Do whatever you always once dreamt of as a child….taste the food you wanted to have, travel to the place that you always wanted to explore, play with the shallow-water in the wild river (but be careful)….climb a tree once-again because you did it long back….angle a fish to win a small battle….sky-up a kite cause you have never experienced it….dance like a crazy ‘cause you always wished to do….joke with your friends and belly-laugh till you can bear, because now is our time and it’s not gonna last forever.
Let us celebrate this event called life. Of course, you still ought to know where the brake paddle is! And being a mature human it is not that too difficult by now.
This rejuvenating little trip to Kasol, Manikaran & specially Barot will go down as yet another page in my book of life to keep it remained folded with a tag to revisit some another day.
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