Himachal yatra

In our family none of us have seen snow.So,we decided that we will go to the north for a visit & experience snow.I was all for Kashmir but my hubby would hear none of it as he fears for our safety.So,we opted for Himachal Pradesh.But we asked the tour operator umpteen times about being able to see & feel snow in May in Himachal.

Being assured & reassured,we packed & flew to New Delhi.From there,our tour operator took us by bus to Chandigarh after some hassles.In Chandigarh,we halted at night & morning we left for Shimla.Enroute we visited the Pinjore Garden.It is landscaped like the Vrindavan gardens.All of us enthusiastiaclly took lots of snaps.We then restarted for Shimla.We reached in the night dead tired but having enjoyed all the lovely scenic beauty of the mountains & the valleys on the way.The next two days,we visited various places like the Mall road,Kufri,Himalyan zoo.My kid enjoyed the zoo very much looking at a variety of animals who are found in the Himalayas.The weather was just right with a nip in the air.We did some shopping at the Mall road.We also took turns identifying places wherein the film 3 Idiots had been filmed.It drizzled every now & then making us shiver !

The tall pine trees all over the place give shade & seem to stand steady watching us look up to them !One just wishes that we could imbibe some of their features.We then left for Manali.Enroute we stopped at a shawl factory at Kullu.All along the route,we got to see picture post card views ! The green pastures with cattle grazing & local Himachali ladies tending to their fields is just etched in our minds ! No photograph can do justice to those beautiful scenes ! We got some shawls,some woolen jackets,stoles ,etc from the shawl factory store.Actually,the items are very difficult to choose as all are too pretty.But we remembered that buying too many pieces will serve no purpose as we reside in a hot & humid place.Some of the pieces we brought were for gifting.

We reached Manali which was colder & we could feel the winter chill & that too in May .We felt blessed to be in Himachal as we were enjoying winter in May !The next day,we visited Hidimba temple -so ancient & made from wood ! It is carved fantastically & stands shaded amongst tall pine trees.My daughter got herself clicjked twice-once riding  a yak & another carrying a rabbit in her hands ! She was simply too thrilled for words ! We also visited Gayatri Mata mandir where we were pleasantly surprised to see a woman as a priestess ! Himachali women are an empowered lot !

The next day,we were to finally play in snow at Rohtang pass.At last,we were to achieve the purpose of  this journey.We equipped ourselves with all protective gear en route & landed at Rohtang pass.It was bitterly cold.We were barely able to speak or hear.As we tried to walk on the snow,our gum boots would get struck & snow seemed to be getting into our boots.It was getting scary.My kid was afraid & she started yelling that she wanted to return to the hotel.We some how managed to get back into our vehicle which was parked some distance away.We rushed back to the warmth of the hotel.So,this snow was a big dampener !

On the way back to the hotel from Rohtang snow point,we saw some people throwing plastic wrappers & bottles from their vehicles ! All places seem to be dumping grounds for plastic & other kinds of trash.The retail revolution in sachets is making us generate trash in wholesale ! This is a sorry state of affairs.We ought & should not litter around.As tourists,it is our duty to let the beauty of the place shine through .If not,very soon,all will turn into trash cans .

The next day,we left for Chandigarh.We flew back from Chandigarh to our homes as were too tired to travel by bus from Chandigarh to Delhi.

All in all,it was a memorable trip.We  have so many snaps to look up whenever we get nostalgic ! Travelling is a learning experience .It is relaxing as well making us take a break from our monotonous life ! I am sure,this yatra will evoke happy memories for my daughter as she grows up !