Don't know where to start from, each and every memory is worth reminiscing. So lets go back to the month of December, the peak time of winters in the Northern Mountain Ranges, i.e. Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh. I was travelling with my friends. This was the first time we were going to Kasol (a part of Parvati Valley). The first day we arrived to Kasol, we could feel the chill in the breeze and felt that the mountains were greeting us with all their might. We then realized there is a lot more to the trip than we were thinking before. After some refreshments we started a small trek of roughly 30-40mins and reached our guest house where we rested the night. The next day greeted us with some good Israeli food and some serious good hot chocolate. After breakfast, we started a trek to a place called Rasol. We were told that it was a 3hrs trek so it'd be better to do it in the day than at night because of the mountain animals and harsh weather. When we started our trek we met an adorable dog that accompanied us throughout. It seemed as if the dog was our travel guide. The trek was as fascinating as it could get. All the places you pass by and the places that you see as far as your eyes can go, you are just left aww-struck. After trekking for 5hrs we finally reached Rasol. It got very late so we stayed in a guest house and chilled. Literally. The next morning's sun came up and the first thing we saw were enormous snow capped mountains. As I was stirring the hot chocolate on the balcony, I could see the snow falling softly on the mountains and the realization dawned upon me how perfect the moment was. That was it. That was serenity at its finest, in all its splendor. Didn't realize that we'd be witnessing such a great morning given that the previous night was so dark that anything was barely visible. Near our guesthouse was a small waterfall where we spent our afternoon. Before nightfall we got ourselves booze that helped us stay warm in the freezing cold night. I can still feel the chill on my skin. That night, we slept early as we had a long day ahead of us. Journey to the valley of Tosh. The next day we started our trek down to Kasol accompanied by our adorable tour guide. After 3hrs or so we reached Kasol and took a cab for Tosh. It was around 9pm when we reached and the temperature was a spinechilling -15°C. This was the first time I had witnessed such extreme weather. We then rushed to a cafe for some hot chocolate after which we freshened up, went back to the cafe and ordered some hash brownies. It was for the first time that I was having hash brownies so this was THE NIGHT for me. After the brownies we were up for some stargazing which I thought would be lowkey but little did I know that I was aligned to witness something so majestic, so vast and dynamic that, for a moment I felt that I had found purpose. The next morning we came down to Barshaini and from there went off to Kalga. After reaching there we tried our hand on hot thukpa which was the tastiest that I've ever had; the cold weather amplified the taste ten times. The evening seemed surreal to be surrounded by sleepy mountains, translucent fog and chillums burning in the name of Lord Shiva. There was a moment of realization that unknown faces can also lighten up an ambience to a whole new level and makes you lose track of time. The next morning came pretty early or so I felt as it was the day we were to leave. Trying to capture the fleeting moments of elixir and beauty I found myself going on a photography spree. Towards the evening we got ourselves a cab and left for Kasol where we had a bus waiting for Delhi. We bid adieu with heavy hearts but equally being grateful, we went off.
