Known for its pristine landscape, Manali held new meaning for Rakesh Kumar as he prayed for clear skies to enjoy his sojourn

Rain in the mountains is a selling point for all hill resorts. Yet, as I planned a trip to Manali, I prayed for clear skies. What’s the point of spending the few days snatched from the daily grind holed up in a hotel room? Not to mention what rains can set off in the hills ~ tough driving at the very least and, if one is unlucky, landslides, blocked roads and traffic jam. As family and friends learnt of my planned trip, disbelief turned to concern and I was bombarded with back-packs of advice. Luckily for me, the rains stayed away and my 14-hour overnight drive from Delhi took me past the rolling green fields of Haryana and Punjab, ubiquitous dhabas that beckoned travelers to stop by, pristine Gurudwaras of Punjab and finally the stunning mountain terrain of Himachal Pradesh. It was around 4.00 am when we entered the hill territory and we were left in wonder as each turn of the road unfolded a sight more wondrous than the previous one. This left us wondering, if the path was so attractive, what would the actual destination, Manali, be like.

Also read: Gangtok: a pristine land (travellernook.com)

Valley of Gods

Manali is often referred to as the "Valley of the Gods". The name Manali ~ Manu Alaya (the abode of sage Manu) ~ has some historicalconnection too. It is believed Manu stepped off his ark in Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world. In keeping with this belief, one found a temple of Sage Manu in Old Manali. At around 9.00 am, a little away from the town of Mandi, we took a small tea break. While we were partaking hot tea and cookies, our driver informed us that we would be encountering a 3 km-long tunnel just a few kilometers away from there. After crossing the long and dark tunnel that appeared to stretch on and on, we found ourselves with a new partner, River Beas. The river stayed with us right through our stay in Manali and trips to nearby areas. After a two-hour drive from the tunnel, we entered the town of Kullu, from where it took almost an hour to reach Manali. We stayed at theTall Trees Resort, which is 14 km away from the bustling of city Manali, but situated in a pristine environment surrounded by forest and the river. A place closer to nature would be hard to find. The friendly resort staff served us with a welcome drink and escorted us to our room. While heading to our room, we spotted a natural stream flowing through the resort. Needless to mention, the gurgling sound of the stream was mesmerizing, giving us a feeling of being one with nature. The owner of the property, Harjinder Kavel Singh Mokha, informed us the place was just three-years-old, and the choice of the location provided a retreat far from madding crowd of the city. By the time we settled in our room, it was a lunch time. A sumptuous lunch in the room later, even the lure of the nature outside couldn’t prevent us from crashing out after our 15-hour road trip.

Also read: Mandawa: A desert jewel (travellernook.com)

Walking around 

Our first day began with a packed itinerary, covering Old Manali, Hidamba Temple, Vashist Temple and a walk to the Mall Road. We began our trip with the centuries-old Vashist temple, a 3-km walk up from the Mall Road. The temple is situated in a crowded and congested lane lined with shops selling a variety of goods. But the most popular article being vended was a blanket that the locals called “sparrow”. The most interesting part of the temple is its natural hot spring. From there we headed to Hidamba Temple near Old Manali. This is an ancient temple made of mud-washed stone and intricately carved wood with a four layered pyramidal top. It traces its origin to the
Mahabharata era and is dedicated to Hidimba, the wife of Bhima and mother of Ghatotkacha. The temple is enclosed by pine trees and has an enormous rock ~ a good place to take pictures. Our next destination was Old Manali. As its name lets out, this part of Manali has some really old-world charm. To one side of Old Manali
flows the River Beas and on the other side is a street lined with cafes bearing modern names such as German Bakery, Dylan Toasted and Roasted and Riverside Cafe. It was quite an idyllic place, perfect for those who want to spend some time in serene environment. Our day ended with a visit to Mall Road ~ a market place abuzz with tourists. Like its namesake in other hill resorts, the place is filled with shops, eateries and roadside attractions. One can get good Kashmiri articles here at good price. If one is not inclined to shop, one can spend hours window- shopping.

Also read: Wyanad: Idyllic nature (travellernook.com)

High point

They say a trip to Manali is incomplete without a visit to Rohtang Pass. Therefore, the next day saw us vending owards Rohtang Pass. It is the highest point in Kullu, and connects the Kullu Valley with Manali-Leh Highway. We started very early for our three- hour journey to Rohtang Pass, meeting bikers, mostly foreigners riding Bullet bikes heading towards Ladakh. The route overlooked some breathtaking landscape, covering beautiful hills and streams. Most of the time Rohtang Pass is covered with snow and people come here for various sport activities ~ skiing, ice-biking and paragliding. Though there was no snow when reached there, we enjoyed the sights nevertheless. Our most thrilling moment was seeing the originating point of River Beas. Our sojourn didn't end here as the resort had planned various activities such as fishing, nature walks, treks and a jeep safari. In the evening a special visit was arranged to the nearest village, with a local guide. The most memorable part of the village trip was plucking apples and devouring them fresh from the tree. And, thankfully, rain did not play spoil-sport!