If there is something that we all would relate to is the saturation and monotony that 2020 cursed us with. Life had become redundant and void with nothing to look forward to. To add up to this, we had Work from Home sufficed with strict deadlines and targets. By the end of December when lockdown was being withdrawn, I along with a few friends of mine decided to take the long awaited Trip of Himachal. All thanks to those 7 days which changed my perspective towards life and me as a person.
On 17th December, 2020 I boarded the Sealdah Rajdhani Express from Sealdah and started off solo, waiting for my friends to hop in from Asansol. 10 minutes prior to the Asansol station, I got a call from my friend, who informed me that they had boarded the wrong train mistakenly. Little did I know that was just the commencement of surprises that awaited my way. Panicking is not something that a 2020 survivor would do. Thankfully they joined me from Dhanbad and my journey became merrier.
On our way, we had lots of fun in the train. Pretty sure that our fellow passengers were quite annoyed by us. I was taught to play Bluff, which is definitely not a game for a person like me who ends up laughing while lying. Due to covid and also our budget constraints, we got our dinner cooked from home. It was a mini picnic that we had in train.
We reached New Delhi on 18th, in the morning. We had pre booked a tempo Traveller which was supposed to do a round trip with us. It did cost us ₹36,000, in total for 5 days, which was to be split among eleven people. Hence, it was a comfortable and affordable option for us. There was news about Delhi borders being closed due to Farmers' Protest. However, we did not face any incovinience. Our overnight journey of 20 hours (with lots of halts) was super fun. We had converted our Tempo into a makeshift Disco with lots of party lights and music. We danced our way from the plains to the slopes.
Next morning when our eyes opened, we could see the sky painted with the hues of red, snow covered peaks surrounding us and Beas flowing adjacent to our way. Pretty tough to describe what my mortal eyes saw. I had seen mountains before, I had come to Himachal when I was 13. But this felt very different and surreal. May be this is what my heart was craving for since eternity. We had pre booked our hotel in Old Manali, which is Hotel Hadimba Palace. It was a comfortable stay, with affordable price. Although the service was average. We were lucky enough to get a room with a view anybody would die to wake up to. We dumped our luggage in our respective rooms. Some of us decided to take some rest, while the over energetic soul that I am, along with a few others decided to explore Manali.
We trekked our way to Hadimba Temple. It is an auspicious temple surrounded by tall and mighty Deodar trees. The only thing that I did not like was how commercialised and littered the place was. I prefer quite places where I can have some soulful interaction with nature.
Strolling through the alleys sufficed with hubbubs of tourists bargaining, we reached a spot some yards away from the market. No tour guide would bring you here, because it was no commercialised view point, but I am glad I discovered it. It was a barren space with a boundary- less edge, from where you could feel the mountains. Follow the drill with me- Sit near the edge, put on your soul song and plug in your earphones ( I used Phirse Udd Chala), pull down your mask, let the gust of mountain breeze hit your skin, take a deep breathe, and slowly let it out. Take a few more and repeat. It was surreal- I laughed and cried all at the same time.
Contrary to what most travel influencers say, I would not say that Mall Road is cheap. It is quite expensive if you are planning to get souvenirs for your family and friends. Do try suddu, which is somewhat like momo but in a bigger dimension, and softies, when in Manali. I regret not trying the brownies and pies from the cafes. However I keep that in my bucket list until next time. Fun Fact: If you make eye contact with someone for more than 10 seconds, they might try to sell you illegal stuffs. So, Beware or Be aware! xD
On 20th December, after having our morning tea gazing at the snow clad Himalayas, we set out for Solang. A beautiful surprise was waiting for us. We hired snow suits from a shop. We traversed through the picturesque paths, I was spell bound. Solang welcomed us with hues of rainbow painted across the blue skies. We had a bowl of hot maggie in the lap of snow covered Himalayas with a backdrop worth gazing. I hummed all my favourite tunes sitting on the edge of a snowy cliff and spoke my heart out to the Himalayas. The monotony of life had disappeared. All these sufferings over the years were healed. I decided to climb up the peak and have my Bhuta Parvat moment (just like YJHD). I would not suggest anybody to do so because it could have been dangerous, but I guess I was lucky. I climbed to the top, conquered the fear within, conquered myself.
In the afternoon, we started our Journey towards Kasol, the village where magic happens. By the evening we reached Kasol and stayed at a hotel called Woodward Magique. It was a very beautiful hotel, beside the Parvati River. We were welcomed with a cosy bonfire and trippy trance music. The staffs in the hotel were quite helpful and friendly, and the service was great. Genuinely nothing to complain about.
The morning of 21st was beautiful, with lots of surprises waiting for us. We were greeted with morning tea which we enjoyed while bathing in the glistening morning sun, listening to the burbling of Parvati River and cuddling the friendly mountain dogs. Using the contacts of our hotel authorities, we hired bikes which was supposed to be our ride for Tosh, that day.
Riding through the terrains is a different feeling altogether. I can not ride a bike, so I was a pillion rider. Ascending through the steep slopes is all about chills and thrills. After the ride of a lifetime, we reached a pedestrian bridge, where Tosh welcomed us. No motor vehicle could go beyond that bridge, hence we started our trek. The tiny alleys were quite slippery due to the melting snow. We had to be extra careful with our steps.
When I say I want to settle down in the mountains, open a small cafe or a workstation, live a simple but a happy life- I never really had a place in my mind. Now I guess, I do. Life in the mountains can be tough. You would get to see women carrying heavy loads in their back which would light up the oven at night, and simultaneously knitting wool while climbing up the steep slopes so that their pace is maintained and they don't get tired easily. Who taught them so? How do know so much more than us without getting any formal education? No matter how lucrative their life looks, they have their own obstacles and challenges. But the smile at their faces won't fade. There would be days they would be disconnected from the basic amenities like water and electricity because of landslide or heavy snow fall. Yet, I want to live there- burn the twigs to have bonfire with them every evening, wait till the snow melts to get water for daily use, wander through the forests for twigs, rear cattle with them. I came across a few kids in Tosh who taught us chaap chori, the game which is basically ekka dokka through the stairs or undulating slopes. It was a delight to learn about their village in their words. They showed us the place where panchayat was held, they told me about their school, how they had bonfire every evening. I was sipping through a coke can when a kid walked up to me asking where she could get one and handed me a few ten rupees notes requesting me to buy her one and that too with her own money. I was amazed to see the self respect the little one had. May be that's how the moutains teach people to be- self dependent and self reliant. I want to be a part of it all. Would you take me, Tosh? WOULD YOU?
While returning back from Tosh, we stopped at a cafe for some snacks. Now, this cafe was not any regular cafe. It was a cafe near a waterfall with chairs and tables set on the rocks over the flowing water. We had the best coffee and a plate of maggi with water flowing beneath our toes. We witnessed the sky changing its colors from sky to pink to red. It was amazing indeed.
The next morning we woke up and strolled around Kasol for a while. It was so refreshing. Then our tempo took us to Manikaran. Nature is so wonderful, isn't it? Manikaran is the kingdom of irony. With temperature around touching minus, you would find steamy hot springs which could burn your toes. With The Guru Granth Shahib being chanted inside the Gurudwara, one can keep sitting there for hours and forget the wordly issues. The food in the Langar is cooked from the steam of the hot spring, how wonderful is that? We visited the Manikaran Shivji ka Mandir, which is pious temple. It is said that if you whisper your wishes in Nandi's ear, they would surely come true. Legends say that Parvati had lost her earrings here, and that is why the place is named Manikaran. The confluence of two religion amplifies the beauty of the place.
In the evening, we decided upon exploring the markets of Kasol. The Market in Kasol is where you buy dreams. They sell magic in those tiny, dingy, yet colorful alleys. If you want Pahaadi souvenirs to gift your friends and families, that's the place for you. The beautiful amalgamation of Himalyan and Israeli amalgamation is worth the amaze. I got myself a pair of Israeli trousers, a rainbow scarf, a fancy clay ash tray, few wallets of Himalayan print weaved by the local craftsman and artisans. I got colorful dreadlock braids on my hair which I had wished for since a long time. If you wanna do crazy and trippy stuffs, Kasol is the place. It has a vibe of its own. You know what else Kasol is famous for!!
By the time we returned from the market after lots of shopping, there was a bonfire party ready for us at our hotel. We tripped over the heavy trance music and colors around. We danced, gossiped and chattered all night, without realising that was our last night in the colorful village of fantasies, Kasol.
Next morning as we boarded our ride, we bid adieu to the beautiful Himalayas. This trip changed me as a person. I escaped from the shackels of pessimistic thoughts, it gave me freedom. It made me realise how passionate I am about travelling and how I do not belong in the desk typing through the keyboard. I have rediscovered myself and that is my biggest take away from 2020. Thank You, Himachal!