We were super excited about our trip to Manali, so we left Delhi around midnight on a Friday night. It was a holiday weekend, and we hoped to avoid traffic, but we didn’t. Instead, it took us five hours to get out of Delhi! Finally, the roads cleared somewhere around daybreak, and we welcomed the clearing air, blue skies, and quaint villages, along with the first dawn of our nine-day vacation. We drove through the cute towns of Mandi and Kullu, where we stopped at a fruit stand to buy some fresh apples. I eventually took my turn at the wheel so Kirti could take some much-deserved rest before navigating the steep, winding roads of the Himalayan Mountains. Finally, 18.5 hours later, we arrived in Manali. Little did we know that Manali is a little town full of big surprises.
Independence Day ceremony
We checked into our hotel, White Meadows, somewhere around 9:00 PM. Feeling exhausted and road-weary, we settled into a well-deserved night in luxury. The next day was India’s Independence Day. One of the country’s traditions is to stand at attention during a flag-raising ceremony, so we joined other hotel guests and staff to participate. Afterward, we sat on a swing in the beautiful hotel gardens before heading out to enjoy the town.
Amazing shopping
The first thing that caught my attention in Manali was the shopping! Wow! The beautiful and unique handicrafts made it hard to decide what to buy. From quality leather goods to amazing antiques, I recognized the opportunity to purchase such products was probably a once-in-a-lifetime event and wasted no time. We bought things from Kashmir, Nepal, and other parts of India. Each shopkeeper showed such pride in their work and gleamed with genuine happiness at our interest in their goods. It was a fun morning, and soon, some of these handicrafts will be available for my friends and family to enjoy. Watch my Facebook page for more information.
Delightful Dhabas
Early in the afternoon, we rested at an interesting family-run dhaba. A dhaba is what they call a budget cafe in India, and we found a quiet but colorful one with outdoor seating. The server didn’t take long to offer us some hashish dumplings along with the usual menu. Shortly after that, I noticed that the weeds growing beside the washroom really was weed, as in marijuana! I began to like the place even more! After several drinks and some delicious food, we decided to check out the forest park in the heart of downtown.
Peaceful park
The park was vast and peaceful. Giant pine trees lined the rain-swollen Beas River, and birds of all kinds were gleefully singing their songs. We sat and enjoyed the beauty for a while before heading into old Manali and checking into a cheaper place for the night. We stopped and watched a snake charmer work his magic along the way. Before long, I entertaining myself and a small crowd by holding two Cobras and another smaller snake. I found myself enchanted by their dancing and elusiveness. Kirti watched in horror but took some good pics of the experience.
Accommodations
Our hotel for the night was a simple little place called Drifters Inn and Cafe. We paid about 1200 rupees or USD 20 for the night. Inside the cafe, they had hookah for us to smoke and board games, so we relaxed while I taught Kirti how to play Battleship. He’s a quick learner because he beat me two games in a row!!
No Cash in the ATMs
We intended to leave early the following day for Chandra Taal. Unfortunately, after trying about ten different ATMs, all out of cash, we realized we would have to wait until we could withdraw some money. Imagine a tourist town being out of cash on a holiday weekend! It would be unbelievable in the States, but it’s a common hassle in India. The next day, we headed back into the village and watched in fascination as mountain people took their cows and sheep for a morning walk. I found the idea of walking your domestic livestock entertaining! The ATMs were still out of cash, but that’s when I remembered I had about USD 80, so we found a small shop that exchanged it for us and saved our ass!
The following day, we would be heading up to an elevation of 14,000 feet through Rohtang Pass and to one of India’s most remote destinations! Follow my next blog for the details of an experience I will never forget!!!!
