Fifteen years ago, we undertook a trip to Manali, a picturesque hill station, nestling in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Unlike many resorts dotting the region, Manali has retained its pristine beauty and charm, says Ruchira, in this travelogue. An exclusive for Different Truths.

There is more to Himachal Pradesh than Shimla, the splendid summer capital of the erstwhile British rulers. Though the city still retains its pride of place, particularly among the elites, yet it has lost its former sheen, owing to factors like congestion, overpopulation, lack basic infrastructure, e.g., water supply et al. Hence, people associated with the tourism industry have looked elsewhere for more prospective and promising destinations. Lahaul-Spiti, Dalhousie, Dharamsala and Manali are now fast becoming major crowd pullers, attracting both domestic and foreign tourists.

The lofty coniferous trees, interspersed with fruit laden trees, craggy mountain peaks, verdant hill slopes, coupled with the sleepy subdued lifestyle of the place were indeed delightful.

One autumn, fifteen years ago, me and my partner undertook a trip to Manali, a picturesque hill station, nestling in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Unlike many resorts dotting the region, Manali has retained its pristine beauty and charm. The waters of the torrential Beas river, which noisily meanders through the town were crystal clear – a welcome change from the turbid waters of mightier rivers.  The lofty coniferous trees, interspersed with fruit laden trees (both in orchards and on waysides), craggy mountain peaks, verdant hill slopes, coupled with the sleepy subdued lifestyle of the place were indeed delightful.

Since we were much younger, with ample time on our hands, the two of us reveled in the beautiful ambience: the turbulent river’s banks strewn with boulders and pebbles, the pretty club house resting majestically on a hillock, and many dignified Buddhist monasteries nearby made it picture perfect! We adhered to the usual tourist itinerary of the place.

The Hadimba temple was majestic, set amidst serene woods. It was page torn off the great epic, Mahabharata

The Hadimba temple was majestic, set amidst serene woods. It was page torn off

the great epic, Mahabharata, since Hadimba was the wife of Bheem, the second Pandava. Solang Valley too proved immensely delightful. It is paradise for sports enthusiasts as the perfect place for hang gliding and skiing during winter months.

Also, on our list was Manikaran, a sparsely populated hamlet like place where the deafening roar of the frothy Parvati river shuts out all surrounding noise. The place boasts of Gurdwara Nanak Aye, reportedly visited by the venerated Sikh Guru, during one of his numerous travels, hence the name. The shrine has a Shiva temple, as its nearest neighbour.  An epitome of communal harmony,

A visit to the fabled Rohtang Pass, always accessed through Manali, was the crowning glory of our trip. The first glimpse of the pass was stunning, formidable. We were virtually in the midst of nowhere

A visit to the fabled Rohtang Pass, always accessed through Manali, was the crowning glory of our trip. The first glimpse of the pass was stunning, formidable. We were virtually in the midst of nowhere – miles and miles away from the human civilisation. The vast barren rocky terrain resembled the rugged, windswept Yorkshire moors, depicted in Emily Bronte’s immortal novel, Wuthering Heights. The all pervading silence and tranquility was uncanny, to say the least. It was a welcome and enriching experience – away from mundane realities of life.

While in Manali, one must mandatorily shop for the colourful shawls with the typical local motifs and designs. These shawls are pocket-friendly and may even double up as accessories. Also, look for statuettes, bric a bracs carved out of bones of yaks, which inhabit the valley. These will surely highlight the ambience of your drawing rooms.

Photos from the Internet