Life is a long road we travel towards Manali- the beauty of himachal Pradesh. From experiencing the beauty of path filled with flowers to continue the journey with hard rocks beneath our legs. Many a times there is an uncertainty in our way with different taste. Sometimes sweet and some times bitter
Well, in my case the roads turned out into a sweet thrilling one. There was a great gush of with every moment. As my bus started its travel on its way to Manali. There was a feeling of excitement as the dream of going on a long journey was finally coming true. The fact that my family still supposed that I should do my internship in Delhi.
As bus continued on its way taking sharp turns every other minute. There were some beautiful yet scary face of nature. Which was welcoming me and was even challenging me with narrow roads and deep valleys. The long boredom of my internship finally brought me here.
I felt wondered at how the ‘untouched’ songs from the playlist of my cell phone are. Making me feel amazed as if revealing their beauty to which I finally surrendered to sleep.”Cherry lenge bhaiya, Himachal ki special he” broke my sleep. I saw a group of mature women standing beside my seat in the bus. Who were as energetic as the chilling morning winds and their face as red. Welcoming as the cherries they were selling. It was 7 AM in the morning and I was 80 kilometers away from Manali. Just a 40 Km from the Kullu Valley. Soon as the time passed, I reached Manali beauty of himachal pradesh.
A serene town located mountains of the Himalayas. Manali had everything that takes to describe ‘someones’ beauty. In this case the indefinite pronoun was a city where my shoes had just stepped in. I checked-in at a Backpacker hostel ‘The Lost Tribe’. After a refreshing breakfast, I started my journey. On my expedition to explore Himalayas.
I turned my way towards Hidimba temple a 2 Km long trek from my place. The ancient temple named after Hidimba Devi, the wife of brave Pandava ‘Bhima’ and the mother of ‘Ghatotkach’. A three storeyed building built with rocks and wood, it stood proudly with skeletons of many animals on its wall.
Thoughts of YJHD were being recollected in my mind. So then I made the way to ‘Clubhouse’. Like any other clubhouse, it had video games, disc and indoor sports. The only thing I liked was boating as excluding that, all things there seemed mundane.
The hostel indeed was awesome to have a rest and enjoy the nature. After the dinner, I sat around a bonfire sharing stories with all people around there. The guy next to me was a Canadian who explained the beauty of India he experiencedintwo months long journey. There were stories from a Hyderabadi Guy. Who was on a mission to finish visiting all the states of India before turning thirty. Then to a young Irish couple who were expressing their love in a unique way, by traveling. Stories continued from a group of ‘Royal Enfield’ travelers. Who returned from their Ladakh trip to my story of coming alone after leaving my internship in between.
The night grew darker and the beats of the songs with headphones on my ears was even louder. Indeed perfect view was there in front of me looking like a perfect scenery. Light of the huts flickering in the dark backgrounds of the mountains. Its looking like a perfect bouquet of lights like showing many colors of life. Some vibrant, some dull but in the end. A very beautiful picture soothing my eyes. The songs of ‘Cold play’ and ‘The Beatles’ echoed in silence. While probably other couples in Manali were making out love that night, I made peace relaxing out in the nature.
Second day started with full of energy as I made my way towards the Beas River. Sitting by the riverside and contemplating the mountains was the best feeling I ever had. The cold water kept flowing as if telling to never stop, but to move on. The sun rose from the mountains and the quote ‘Rise and Shine’ never felt that real earlier. The great Himalayas stood high resembling the might and power it held within. Yet very gentle and humble giving shelter to a prolific wildlife. The precious stones along the riverside were shining brightly on my behalf. Giving this precious gift from God, ‘Life’
.I continued exploring Manali and went to Solang valley for paragliding. It was as amazing as how we felt in childhood when birds could fly. We even wondered as if we had wings. It came true for me as I jumped from a breathtaking height. Those few moments in the sky were moments of thrill and adventure in my life. As if the time had stopped and I stood up high, up above the world. It was incredible looking down from such a height. Seeing myself float above the Earth, suspended by nothing but a canopy and harness.
Finally my evening visit to the beautiful Buddhist monasteries. The Gadhan Tekchoking Gompa situated on Mall road. If you still were not connected to the nature, this is the place to find your soul. The beautiful idol of Lord Buddha with aromatic fragrance of the Tibetan incense. Laid an enchanting charm on me which made me visit the place again.
The next day was probably the brightest of all. As I said, people here have something different,something beautiful within them. How could luck so favor me, that I met a girl Shivani. A girl in her mid-twenties whose eyes sparkled like a diamond as if celebrating.Every moment of being alive, talking non-stop . An accident meeting at first place, she helped me to visit old Manali. An enthralling village that has beautiful cafes with sophisticated names and local shops lined on both sides of the road. Many foreigners gravitates towards the beauty of Old Manali beauty of himachal pradesh.
A tranquil place located amidst snow capped mountains which had apple orchards. Even the traditional houses made out of mud and woods. Sloshing river adds more to the feeling of solace. She made me visit many cafes, ambiance of all of those was unique in their own way. It’s amazing when you meet a girl who exactly resembles with the one whom you loved so much. In every way from her gentle yet captivating smile to her ‘non stop talking’. Way in which she defined the beauty of Manali to me. That day made me nostalgic and it was one of the best days of my life. We still talk, though on texts.
Finally it was the time for me to leave the wonderful place. Which will dominate my mind for a long time. I came from Manali but probably left a little piece of mine there. New learnings, some cool friends was all that Manali gifted me. You travel to let your soul free, finding the real peace. A travel bug had bitten me, whose things still brings a smile on my face.
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