Off-beat Winter Trek to Bijlimahadev: Conquering Slippery Ice Stairs and Untouched Snow Fields!!

Dancing with Snowflakes: My Magical Winter Trek Across Himachal Pradesh was pure magic.

January 2016 gifted me one of the most soul-stirring adventures of my life - a winter trek across the serene landscapes of Himachal Pradesh.

It wasn’t just another trip; it was a journey woven with friendships, laughter, breathtaking snowscapes, and moments that would stay etched in my heart forever!

Manali: An Old Friend Revisited

Manali has always held a special place in my heart.

In 2012, I first rode into its hills as a pillion rider during a Ladakh bike trip with friends. Later came a solo journey in 2014 - my Hampta Pass trek - which became a life-changing experience. Back then, overwhelmed by the chaos of city life, I sought peace, and the Himalayas answered my call. I found healing, strength, and unexpected friendships, including two incredible trek leaders - one of whom remains my closest friend even today.

Fast forward to 2016, the mountains called again, but for a different reason.

My close friend and colleague, Veena, had never seen snow! So, I planned a winter escape with her, carefully timing it for the third week of January to maximize our chances of witnessing a snowy wonderland.

The Adventure Begins: Chandigarh to Manali!

We landed in Chandigarh, where my dear friend Hari Thakur came all the way from Kullu just to pick us up. Reuniting with him after two years was heartwarming.

After a nostalgic drive filled with laughter and a hearty meal, we finally reached our cozy riverside stay near Manali late at night. The biting cold couldn’t dampen our excitement.

Slippery Steps and Frozen Shrines:

The next morning, Sanjeev Thakur - another beloved friend and trek lead from my Hampta Pass days - joined us. He had just launched his own trekking company, Hima Expedition, and would be guiding us on this magical journey.

Our acclimatization hike was to Anjani Mahadev, near Solang Valley.

The adventure started with climbing over 100 steps completely blanketed in slippery, frozen ice! Hari guided me carefully while Sanjeev helped Veena. Despite it being her first experience with snow, Veena’s vibrant spirit shone through - she laughed, danced, and even slid her way up the treacherous icy stairs. Watching Sanjeev and Veena almost dance on the ice will forever remain one of the funniest memories of the trip!

At the top, we were rewarded with a breathtaking sight: a natural ice Shivling formed by a frozen waterfall - pure, sacred, and awe-inspiring.

That night, we stayed at Valley Camp, a beautiful riverside campsite with luxury tents and a warm, homely vibe near Kullu. We spent hours around the bonfire under the full moon, sharing life stories. Veena and Hari were such good listeners that I could speak my heart out, feeling completely at peace.

Village Walks and Hidden Sunsets:

After a delicious breakfast of paranthas and chai, we basked in the morning sun at the camp, playing with a cute little maimna (baby goat).

Later, we began a day hike to a nearby village - preparing ourselves for the longer 3-day trek ahead. We wandered through apple orchards, garlic farms, and bustling local festivities. At the summit, we reached a small temple, catching glimpses of the snowy ranges we would soon hike. Although there wasn’t any snow yet, our excitement remained undiminished.

In the evening, we arrived at Soil Village and stayed at Bulet Baba’s Homestay - a stunning place overlooking the entire Kullu Valley and Beas River. The homestay, with its castle-like rooms and panoramic views, felt like a dream.

We cooked dinner together in the kitchen, shared laughter over bonfires, and listened to Baba’s fascinating life stories. His storytelling transported us into another world - so heartfelt and moving.

Into the Wild: Kais Wildlife Sanctuary

The real trek began the next morning as we entered Kais Wildlife Sanctuary.

As we ascended towards our campsite at Matikochar, snow patches started appearing, and the excitement in our group was palpable. Joining us was Ayush, Hari’s young, witty nephew, who entertained us endlessly by mimicking political figures and sharing hilarious stories.

There were plenty of slips and falls along the way, including one unforgettable fall of mine that had Ayush teasing me for the rest of the trip. Hari and Veena laughed their hearts out, and honestly, I did too – it was one of those rare moments where none of life’s worries mattered. We were simply living in the moment, laughing uncontrollably, feeling pure joy. It was so funny and heartwarming that we couldn’t stop smiling, completely immersed in the madness and magic of it all.

By 4 PM, we reached Matikochar, greeted with steaming hot Maggi and tea by the amazing camp staff - Sanju, Bholu, and Tara.

We reached our campsite around 4 PM, tired yet thrilled after the long hike. As we dropped our backpacks, the aroma of hot maggi and chai welcomed us – a sight (and smell) we were desperately craving. I grabbed my plate eagerly, my stomach rumbling after the day’s adventure. But just as I settled down to take the first bite, my eyes wandered toward the horizon and I froze.

The sky had erupted into the most mesmerizing colors I had ever seen. Shades of orange, pink, and purple danced across the mountain peaks, with sun slowly sinking behind the mountains, casting a golden glow over everything around us. It was pure magic.

Despite how hungry I was, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from that breathtaking sight. Without a second thought, I put the maggi aside, grabbed my camera, and ran toward the clearing. I clicked away furiously, trying to capture every second, every shade, every feeling of that surreal moment.

In that instant, food and fatigue were forgotten. It was just me, my camera, and the mountains setting themselves on fire in the most beautiful farewell to the day. It remains one of the most unforgettable sunsets of my life – a moment where time stood still and my heart felt completely full.

Later that night, as the chill deepened and the mountains grew silent under the starry sky, we all huddled around a roaring bonfire. It was just the five of us - two trekkers, two trek leads, and three supporting staff - with nothing but the vast wilderness around us. The whole scene felt so intimate and magical, like we were the only ones in the world.

As laughter echoed through the camp, Bholu, one of our kitchen staff, began narrating his unforgettable encounter with a Himalayan bear - or Bhalu, as they’re called in Hindi. His story had everything: danger, humor, and a touch of fame. After surviving the bear attack in the Kais Wildlife Sanctuary, he had become a local celebrity, with villagers pointing at him and whispering, “He’s the one who fought the Bhalu!”

The way Bholu animatedly recounted the incident - adding funny twists and acting it all out - had all of us doubled over with laughter. Under that endless, starlit sky, it was one of those rare moments where joy felt pure, shared, and unfiltered.

Above us, the heavens glittered - a million stars shining so brightly that it felt as if we could simply reach up and pluck them from the sky. Hari, ever the mountain man, smiled and said if luck favored us, we might even see snowfall in the next day or two. The kitchen team, meanwhile, decided to create their own little wonder: diverting a leaking water pipe toward a barren tree branch, hoping that the dripping water would freeze overnight into a natural ice sculpture.

Later, snug inside our tents, we were given a strict warning: do not wander out alone, because this was true bear territory. I tried to sleep, but sometime during the night, I was startled awake by the sound of soft, cautious footsteps outside the tent. My heart raced - convinced it was a bear sniffing around our camp. I held my breath, listening intently, too afraid to even peek outside.

Morning revealed the truth - it wasn’t a bear at all, but Hari doing a security round to make sure we were all safe. We all had a good laugh about it over breakfast, relieved and grateful.

A Dream Come True: Snowfall at Futasor Peak

At dawn, shivering but exhilarated, we gathered around the bonfire site - still cold from the night - and soaked in the beauty of a new day.

And then came the news we had secretly been wishing for: it had snowed heavily at higher altitudes overnight!

After a hearty and healthy breakfast, we packed up and started our hike towards Futasor Peak. Very soon, the trail transformed - we found ourselves walking through two feet of untouched, pristine snow, shimmering like a sheet of diamonds under the soft, golden mountain light. It truly felt like stepping into a living fairytale.

Veena was absolutely ecstatic - sliding, falling, laughing like a child experiencing snow for the first time. Her joy was contagious. I too felt a rare, deep happiness - like all my worries had melted away, leaving only pure, unburdened laughter behind.

And then, just when we thought it couldn’t get any more magical, it began snowing again. As we paused for lunch - munching on warm rotis (which Sanjeev fondly called as Agni rotis) and soya sabzi around a tiny bonfire - delicate snowflakes floated gently down around us, turning the entire landscape into a living dream. It was a moment so beautiful; it felt straight out of a Bollywood movie - but this time, we were the stars.

The descent back to our camp was pure madness - filled with childlike slides down snowy slopes, uncontrollable laughter, countless falls, and endless teasing. Every stumble, every giggle added another thread to the tapestry of memories we were weaving - a story so vivid that even years later, it would feel like just yesterday.

Sacred Silence: Bijli Mahadev Temple

The next day, we hiked towards the legendary Bijli Mahadev Temple.

Due to a family emergency, Hari had to leave early, so it was just me, Veena, and Sanjeev.

The trail wound through enchanting pine forests, and even our simple packed lunch of boiled potatoes and boiled eggs tasted divine after the long trek.

Reaching Bijli Mahadev felt like entering another world.

We stood in front of the sacred temple, surrounded by a 360-degree panorama of majestic, snow-clad ranges, with not a soul around - just us and the serene whispers of the mountains.

Legend says the temple’s Shivling is shattered by lightning every year and magically reforms - a symbol of faith, resilience, and divine power.

Standing there, I felt a deep, silent connection with something bigger than myself - the mountains, the divine, and perhaps, my own soul.

Snowfall Blessings at Jana Waterfalls

The next day, we woke up to bad weather - It was drizzling, misty, and very cold.

We decided to just chill out - went to Sanjeev’s office, had momos, and kept chatting. Around noon, we decided to make a small trip to Jana Falls. Sanjeev’s friend Rakesh ji - a local village head - came with his small auto car and offered to drive us there.

And oh my God, as soon as we started driving - it started snowing again!

It was like the universe itself was blessing us.

The drive became a magical ride - soft snow falling all around, the car playing Rakesh ji’s amazing playlist of old Hindi songs - it was pure, blissful magic. We reached Jana Falls while it was still snowing. There were no tourists around.

We danced right on the road, laughing in the snow, in the middle of the tiny village streets!

For someone like me - a little introverted - dancing in the snow on a village street felt like a brand-new kind of happiness.

Next to the waterfalls, there’s a small dhaba called Manik’s Dhaba. They served a fresh, hot Kullu thali cooked on firewood. It was one of the best meals we had - simple, rustic, warm food on a cold snowy day. After lunch, we visited the Mall Road, explored a bit more, and by evening, we drove to Manali and stayed the night.

Farewell to the Snowy Wonderland

Next day, it was time to start our journey back to Chandigarh - and from there, back to Bangalore. It was hard to say goodbye.

The mountains had shown us their best side - fresh snow, snowfall, sunshine, breathtaking sunsets - and above all, amazing people.

We hugged Hari, Sanjeev, and all our new friends tightly, promising to come back again. And we returned home - carrying memories for a lifetime.

Heart Full of Snowflakes!!

This trek wasn’t just about chasing snow. This trek was much more than just a physical journey - it was an emotional and spiritual one.

It was about friendships deepened by laughter, the shared wonder of first snowfalls, silent moments under starry skies, and mountains embracing us like old friends.

Despite our early fears of a snowless trek, nature surprised and blessed us beyond imagination. The memories of falling snow, joyous laughter, slippery ice dances, and glowing sunsets are now treasures tucked safely inside my heart - and there they will stay, forever.

The mountains once again healed my soul, the snow brought childlike wonder, and the beautiful moments shared with kindred spirits made it unforgettable.

This winter hiking trip reminded me that the best adventures happen when you embrace uncertainty with open arms, laugh at your falls, and keep moving forward - one step, one snowflake, one memory at a time.

Thank you, Himachal, for another chapter of magic. Until we meet again…