My travel diary: Manali

Day1: June 4^th: I made a check list of documents and tickets ready for long and arduous journey for next day. I took all the printout of e-tickets, including a Volvo bus ticket from Chandigarh to Manali. Smriti insisted that we should pack all the stuffs in one extra-large suitcase and squeeze that below the seat we would be allotted. But the luggages ran up to three large suitcases of same size. The train we were about to board was Hirakud Express which was booked 3 months earlier in order to ensure a confirmed ticket and good long break from stressful day to day Banking job. I also applied for SBI Holiday home at Manali in order to save accommodation cost and canvassed people who could help me to confirm my application but did not receive any booking confirmation  till the day I left Sambalpur for Manali.

Day2:June 5^th: I ensured to include some more important  things in my checklist. We reached Sambalpur station where we were supposed to board Hirakud Express up to Ambala cantonment. The train which was scheduled to arrive at 1.30 PM was almost 2 hours late! It was near impossible for me to wait under glaring sun with my family especially 18 months old son Ekansh. I looked for a place to shelter and moved to air conditioned waiting hall inside the platform.  Atlast the train showed up at 3.30 PM. We were again disappointed to see the seats we were allotted. One was near entrance and alongside the path and the other was upper berth. TTE even took Rs. 700 as the pending amount due to hike in train fare at the time of budget announcement. I foresaw the two long day’s journey is going to be exhausting and uncomfortable as well. What added to our miseries were worst kind of services by Railway service boys and inedible meals. The starting day of the journey was really really disappointing.

Day3:June 6^th: We reached Ambala Cantonment at 7 PM. My plan was to stay here for a day and catch a train to Chandigarh from where we would take a Volvo bus to Manali. We were approached by some liquor stinking Sardars who pestered us about taxi hiring. However, we managed to escape them and crossed the fly over just opposite the station. I scanned around for a hotel nearby. There were liquor shops all lined up. The place hardly guaranteed safety and security. However, my eyes caught a hotel named De Metropolis which was in decent location. The room tariffs were reasonable as well. The room we were allotted was a spacious as well as vintage one. The guy at reception told us that it is 1902s. Although it was air conditioned, we were not required to switch it on as the room was cool enough. There were Dhabas and liquors shops all lined up fifty metres away from hotel. This place is surely an alchoholic’s delight. It looks likes the city has a huge surplus of butter. They drop a big piece of butter cake on every steaming curry you order. There were huge rush in each and every dhaba. I am sure they must be earning in lakhs daily.

Day4:June 7^th: Every hotel has check out time of 12 Noon. So we have to plan our stay accordingly. Our overnight stay followed by further stay till evening ran our hotel bill double of original cost although we stayed for less than 24 hours. Ambala Cantonment is a junction and has more than half a dozen of platforms. Therefore, you cant do without hiring a porter. Unlike other stations, porters too maintain their dignity and they don’t pester you. Rather, you have to approach them to bargain. We had to board the train Jansathabdi Express up to Chandigarh which arrived much before scheduled time. Our journey was pleasant and peaceful till we reached Chandigarh. Chandigarh was the worst experience of the entire journey. We were accosted by a couple of taxi drivers as soon as we got off the train and made our way out of the station. There were roughly fifteen more taxi drivers waiting outside the station surrounded us. It was almost impossible to get rid of them. They kept ranting their starting fares and whereabouts of our dropping point destination. It was so irritating, with four heavy luggages and an infant baby, we stood closer to two patrolling police men who were in charge of protecting tourists from touts.  They hardly did a thing to protect us. Rather, they supported those taxi drivers and asked us to go ahead. But we took the advantage of the situation. One of the taxi driver quoted very low rate, far lower than fair price I had inquired in Government Tourist Inquiry counter. We hopped in to the auto and that was a huge relief from the hoards of taxi touts who were fuming  while we left. Auto experience up to bus stand was a joy ride though. The neat and clean city wide roads, well planned sectors, well managed traffics, luxury cars, etc. left me impressed. We checked in to a dormitory near bus stand for the four hours gap before arrival of the bus. Bus was late  and arrived at 11.45 PM. We got ourselves adjusted inside the bus and light cool breeze of air conditioner above my seat lulled me to sleep. I couldn’t resist peeping out in between and noticed the change in vegetation alongside the road as soon as bus made is way on to hilly regions.

Day5:June 8^th: Bus made a halt a dhaba for tea and breakfast. I noticed the change in climate as soon as I stepped down. Weather was chilly and breezy. Yet Manali was a more than a hundred kilometres away. Engine started roaring and bus rolled speedily. Soon the scenery outside was more and more picturesque. It was really beautiful indeed. I must say although the journey was long and exhausting, I loved each and every moment post morning. I looked below out of window. The river Beas flowed with smooth pace over rocky beds in between hills. It looked straight out of calendar/ greeting cards photos. I took out my mobile and captured few of sceneries. We reached Manali around 12 of Noon and checked in to the hotel. It was peak season and road was almost jammed. Narrow streets of the town could not afford ample space to the numbers of vehicles that migrated  from neighbouring states. Much to my delight, the hotel which I had booked in advance was in good location. It was on the bank of river Beas and ten steps away from Club House. Yet again, temperature of the town was less that 15 degree celcius, which made me feel as if the whole town is centrally air conditioned! We washed our face, had tiffin followed by dinner and slept like a log under the blanket.  

Day6:June 9^th: We decided to rest the whole day and explore the market in the evening. Market was at Mall Road. The market mostly sold Kullu Shawls, sweaters, hand painted wooden items, even they inscribe name on a single grain of rice. The street side foods were delicious and worth trying. Especially, Steaming Gulab Jamuns and Halwa. There were circus show on streets and kids perform for in exchange of pennies from crowds. There was a snake charmer too, who drew more crowds as well. In the evening we talked with Hotel guy to arrange a taxi for us the next day. We had to visit Rohatang Pass. The hotel guy informed us we will have to start early preferably at 4 AM as the road from Manali to Rohatang Pass would be packed with taxis and the 52 kilometers uphill road could take us around ten hours to reach Snow Point!

                                                                            

Day7:June 10^th: True to his words, although we moved up to the Snow Point without obstacle, it tooks us roughly five hours on our way back. Vehicles almost made a chain, all jammed and ran down the mountain in a snake like fashion. The uphill journey was a painful one though. I experienced pain at lower abdomen, with vomiting tendency followed by chest pain and difficulty while breathing. I saw snow field for the first time and inexplicable joy ran with in me. There were few stalls selling steaming cup of tea and Maggie. We tried our hand at Sking. I slipped for a couple of time and then gave up. We sat on Yak’s back. It was so warm and soothing. We stayed there for a couple of hours after which I experienced dizziness. I asked driver to take us to Manali. On our way back, the car moved at snail speed as the road was jammed. Himachal Government should re-consider starting a ropeway from Marhi to Snow Point to avoid jam. We made a halt at Marhi to have our lunch, after which we went back to hotel through Nehru Kund. I was overjoyed to see apple trees on both the side of the road. They were unripe though. Temperature variation as well as low pressure at high altitude did not suit mine as well as Smriti’s health and we stayed indoor till the day ended.

Day8:June 11^th: Although Manali was a nice place to be at, there were nothing much to see in the town. We decided to visit the places as much as we could and check out of the hotel to spend a day in Kullu. We went to Club house first, which was few steps walk from my hotel. The club house charged a nominal membership fees for which you will have the privilege to enjoy the activites inside the club house. There were boat ride, horror house, ropeway, videogames, and many other enjoyable things. There was a big hall selling Kullu Shawl and winter wears at discounted price. We  went to Buddhist Monastery from there. It was at Mall Road, around three kilometres from Club House. I thought it was geographically misplaced with markets and hotels surrounding it. I always thought Buddhist temples are located at lonely and quiet places. From there we went to Hidimba Temple. It was located at quiet and scenery surrounding unlike Buddhist Temple. There was a long queue of tourists for darshan. We were too tired to stand in queue and gave up. On our exit, few Himachali women asked us to take picture with rabbits for Rs.20/-. Rabbits were fat and cute. My son was happy at their sight. We took some photos and left the place. We  decided to check out of the hotel next day and started packing after few hours of rest. We had to spend a day at Kullu.

Day9:June 12^th: We made a halt on the way to Kullu at a Government Sponsored Shawl shop and bought few shawls. Road was narrow and jammed. We reached Kullu far later than estimated time. We found Kullu warmer than Manali. I had initially planned for river rafting and other adventure activities here. But I decided to save that for my next trip. My son would be a grown up kid then and I wanted to enjoy this together with my son. It was 3 PM and we had our lunch immediately after reaching the hotel. The room was good and it offered entire view of mountains as well as river Beas. When the sun went down, the lights from houses on the mountain looked beautiful. As we all were not feeling well, we decided to cancel Kullu’s local sight-seeing plan and arranged a taxi to our relative’s place at a place near Himachal Pradesh border.