Up Up & Away !!!

After a long gap the travel bug again had his share of luck and bite me nice and big... result was a trip to Manali. And then we(my wife & myself) booked for an over night volvo from HPTDC. At the end we found it better than any other pvt of HRTC bus service. On arrival at 8:30 a nice hotel Silmog Garden booked via cleartrip was awaiting us.

Once checked in we had a nice poori bhaji in the hotel itself(b'fast was part of pkg) and then went to explore nearby areas. Had a photosession with Yak and rabbit, impersonated as localites and saw temple of Bhim's wife, Hidamba devi.

Next day was the day of adventure sports, reached gulaba, infact the fartest point on the motor road before snow made it immpossible to go further. Played in snow for some time, before some heroics on the snow scooter..

From there begain the actual adventure. While comming back the road was occupied on both sides by the parked tourist vechicles literally leaving not even one lane to drive out. Hats off to all drivers driving their daily without getting frustated.

Reached Solang valley, their after long thinking decided to go for the paragliding from the top of the peak, little was known what was in store for us. Took ticket of a Km long steep ropeway reached the top, the instructur then informed that we had to go little further to reach the point from where paragliding can be done. This 10 min distance was the real adventure, with little support, we were walking on top of the mountain where the snow was as deep as 6" and at other places damp soil only. Had a couple of slides in the snow and that was right out of hindi movies.

Finally after reaching the point, we became birds and were literally on top of the world. That was something which pumped in back all the energy which was taken away by the tiresome journey to the paragliding point.

Next day we went to Jana waterfall, while most people come back from the fall, we explored a little more and discovered a point where we could actally take a bath. The water was coming straight from freshly melted snow. We listened to the advise of sanity and just played a little there. Had real authentic (as said but not true) Himachali food there.

As this is the time of year when you can actully see the apples in making, the orchids were beautiful.
The last day we decided to explore the jungle, and fould a place from where we could actually reach Beas. The river like a teen was young, restless and fast. The splashing sound was relaxing and the scenery beacutiful.

And the final comment of Vandy claiming the trip should have been longer, stamped what I was thinking. It was not tourism but memories in the making.