After a red eye flight to Chandigarh from Mumbai, we decided to not take a bus or cab but instead hire a self drive car to Gopalpur, a small hamlet near Palampur. Courtesy Zoom car, this was fairly simple and we had a really cool Swift at our disposal.
The drive from Chandigarh to Gopalpur was super relaxing. Driving through Punjab, you are bound to see some dreamy fields. With some good music and people this will surely be one of those memorable road trips for anyone.
It takes about 5 and half to 6 hours from Chandigarh. There are many Dhabas and orange juice thellas on the way to keep your belly full. Do stop over and enjoy a yummy glass of orange juice by the fields. Once you cross the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh border you will also see umpteen Chole Kulcha stalls and boy are they delicious or what!
Around 4 pm we were driving through Kangra and all of a sudden out of nowhere I could see snow at a distance! I really thought I was imagining something until I saw the mighty Dhauladhar range bang in front me! A tower of snow capped mountains stood tall before me as though waiting to welcome me into their arms. I am well travelled and have seen a lot of snow capped mountains but this was a different feeling. I felt like I could just reach out to them with my bare hands and I would be able to touch them.
With the Dhauladhar to now keep us company we reached Gopalpur in no time. As we got off the main road to turn towards our home stay, I saw golden fields and white tall mountains. There was an expanse of just this view with absolutely no interruption. Right then I knew that this was going to be a therapeutic experience. This stay was going to help me rejuvenate, slow down and recharge just the way I wanted to.
A short 200 meters down the road brought us to one of the most beautiful home stays that I have ever been too. Nestled in the lap of the mighty Dhauladhar with acres of fields around it, this tiny, earthy, comfy mud house was the perfect place for a couple looking for some quality time together. The Red Cedar Cottage, had steps lined with some gorgeous flowers leading to a wooden deck that had the perfect view! Tall glass windows ensured that no matter where you turn all you would see is nature! To top it all, there was a little tree growing inside the room. This place is the dose of Dopamine that we all need!
Our homestay manger helped us settle in comfortably. It was almost nearing sunset and all we wanted to do now was sit back and relax with a cup of hot ginger lemon honey tea and some pakodas!
The purple sky during sunset took my breath away! The entire day's tiredness vanished in a second. I could hear the birds chirping as they rushed back to their nest. We were already in our little nest, cosy and happy.
We decided to get a good night's sleep after a humble meal of some dal and rice. I slept so peacefully after a long time :)
After a good night's sleep we woke up naturally at 6.30 am. I love it when you wake up without any alarms and still feel so well rested! We woke up to a majestic sunrise. The first ray of light falling on the fresh snow atop the mountains was a view to behold! The early morning positive vibes set the tone for the day.
We decided to explore Dharamshala which was a mere 30 minute drive from our homestay. With Lucky Ali songs playing we drove through the streets of Gopalpur towards Dharamshala. There is something special about seeing a lazy town wake up and go about it's daily routine. I also genuinely believe that early mornings are the best time to explore mountain life.
In no time we were at Dharamshala. We started the day with some delicious breakfast at the Humming bird cafe. This quiet and breezy cafe is situated inside the Norbulingka Institute. Surrounded by greenery all around, we were the first ones at the cafe. This meant that the entire place was like our own personal backyard. There was no one to rush us or disturb the peaceful vibe of this place. We had the English breakfast and Continental breakfast with some juice.
Post breakfast we took a stroll inside the institute. Due to COVID some of their usual activities were not being conducted but the walk inside in itself is worth the visit. The place had a very calming effect on me. I admired the architecture, read a little about their history and prayed around the lovely prayer wheels. I highly recommend starting your day at this place. It will surely give you good vibes and make it a pleasant start to your day.
After spending some time at the institute we headed further up towards Mcleodganj. It was a Sunday and I very desperately wanted to attend church. St. John in the wilderness was the answer to my prayers. The name of this church is simply perfect. It is indeed located in the wilderness amongst tall Deodar trees and a splendid valley view. You can feel the peace and power of this church from a distance. The path leading upto the church makes you feel like you are transported into a fairy tale. The church service was underway and tourists were not allowed to enter inside at that time to avoid disturbance. I was happy to sit on a bench outside and pray. We walked around the church and saw a small cemetery. Oh what I would give to be laid to rest in a place as scenic as this!
We usually hate going to places that are packed or overcrowded. When in Dharamshala/Mcleodganj it is hard to escape the crowd and the mad rush. We still tried our best which meant that we would skip some of the famous points that people usually visit. After engaging in some street shopping at the main market, we decided to head to the main Dalai Lama temple. Unfortunately we were not allowed to enter due to COVID restrictions. A local person nearby suggested that we do the parikrama around the temple. We were sceptical about walking so much but he encouraged us and said that we would not regret it. I am so glad we took his advice! The walk around the temple is a must do for all visiting. Lined by prayer flags and tall trees, the path of the parikrama will help you appreciate nature and the stillness of the mountains. The Dhauladhar again made an appearance again and accompanied us on this walk. In places the path was steep but it was totally worth it. We had some mountain doggies walking with us and local monks who have us an encouraging smile. Every few miles there were cute little benches where you could sit and catch your breath. The warm ray of sunshine through the cold winter breeze was so comforting. For many this was spiritual but to me it was also a tad bit romantic. It is a perfect date to have with your partner or loved one.
After all the walking we had definitely worked up an appetite! We decided to try some traditional tibetian food. We decided that our late lunch was going to be at Tibet Kitchen. This place has been there in Dharamshala since time immemorial. In our excitement we over ate! We were definitely in food coma! We ordered some flat noodle thukpa and a veg and non veg Tibetian thali. The spread was incredible. I will highly recommend this place to anyone who loves momos and thukpa. They also have some interesting Bhutanese dishes on their menu which we hope to try next time.
By the time we were done with lunch it was almost evening! We bought some lovely Himachali jackets and fridge magnets and headed back to our car. We drove back towards Gopalpur with one stop on the way to see the sunset. Naddi view point gives you an amazing sunset experience but we decided to instead stop at a random nook of the road from where we were able to see a purple sky. With the joys of this amazing day in our hearts, we headed back to our cottage to unwind with some tadke wali dal, chicken tikka and jeera rice :)
The next morning we decided to keep things simple. We drove down to Baijnath temple early in the morning for some quiet time. Walking barefoot in the temple grounds was truly therapeutic in the cold weather. It was a clear sky and the Dhauladhar range could be seen right behind the temple in all its glory. The architecture and view from the temple is splendid. There is a little garden around the temple where you can sit back and have some peaceful time with your self. This is a must visit not just for those who are inclined to experience it's religious significance but also for those who like to see traditional Indian architecture.
Post the temple visit we had some samosas and kachori for breakfast and drove towards a quaint little village called Bhattu. Bhattu is lush and green with fields for miles together. Standing in the fields you will witness tall Deodar trees on one side and the Dhauladhar range on the other. If you find a good parking spot, I would definitely recommend taking a stroll in this village and chilling in the fields. I sure did that and simply loved it.
After some chill time at Bhattu we drove further up to the gorgeous Sherbalinga Monestry. Due to COVID we could not enter the main Monestry but boy did we witness the most gorgeous stupas! Lined one after another, walking around the stupas is a different experience. Each stupa has some intricate carvings and significance and gives you a great insight into Buddhist history.
After our visit to the Monestry we drove down to Bir. We did not want to go for paragliding during this trip so we instead decided to just relax at Bir in the Northern Cafe after a quick stop over at Chokaling Monestry. Northern Cafe is a vibe! With probably the best view of the paragliding landing sight, Northern Cafe is the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon eating some delicious food and soak in some spectacular views. If you can stick around this place till sunset you will see the most beautiful purple sky! Watching unknown paragliders fly through the sky with the sun setting in the background is spellbounding! The place is pet friendly so you will also meet some cute doggies here :)
