Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai'

Tripoto
25th Aug 2016
Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George
Day 1

I believe I can fly

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

A helping hand

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Hum the anjaani raahon me

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Blending in

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Tu na jaane aas paas hai khuda

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

A Shaolin Ninja or A Monk?!

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George
Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Raahein

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Captures

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Sleepy bus journey

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Narnia?!

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Friends forever

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Chala main jahan le chala mujhe rasta

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Shivay

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Chunky - The Giant Bunny

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Shy li'l monk

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Solitude

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Blanker of clouds

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Dream

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Up and up

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Carpe diem

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Me Ladies!

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Chilling together since 2006

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Morning bliss

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

The view outside our room

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Karde mujhe mujh se hi riha

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

The Hault

Photo of Manali: Our Little 'Dil Chahta Hai' by Natasha George

Ever since we graduated from high school 5 years ago, we had decided to go on a trip together someday (thanks to Dil Chahta Hai). This year we started planning for this one trip we had dreamt about years ago. We were no longer the little high school teenage girls anymore; we had grown into independent strong women. The moment I told my male friends that I'm going on a trip with my bunch of school girl friends, the first thing that came to their mind was, "A trip without boys would be so boring and unsafe for you girls." *rolled my eyes*

We packed our bags for our first "Freedom Trip" (we went during the Independence Day weekend) and boarded our bus from Jhandewalan, New Delhi at 9:30PM.  The bus was full of testosterone pumping boys and the only girls without any male companion were the four of us.

Anyhow, the journey which should technically take 15-17 hours was made into a 22 hours tiresome road trip. Thanks to the driver who had no clue where Manali was, but the view compensated for the delay.

We checked into our Hotel - The Valerian. It was near the Hidimba Devi Temple and what a view that hotel held. #suchview #muchwow

The next day we booked a cab to go for our local site seeing. Monsoon had arrived in Himachal, so we didn't risk going to Rohtang Pass. Hence, we decided going on a local road trip to wherever the road leads us.

The enchanting Beas river, the breathtaking valley, beautiful apple orchards and the wonderful people  is what makes this place BEAUTIFUL.

While being driven around and resting my chin on the window, feeling the cold air brush through my face, I sensed the true meaning of FREEDOM. While Mohit Chauhan sang in the background -

"Kal pe sawaal hai,

jeena filhaal hai.

Khaanaabadoshiyon pe hi jaane kyun

Ilahi mera jee aaye aaye."

This trip made us learn more about each other and made us come closer.

Celebrating our 10 years of friendship amidst the mountains. Check.