Himachal Pradesh - In the realm of snow-capped dreams

Boarded a morning flight at 9:35 to Chandigarh, arriving at 12:30. From there, we were picked up by Gurpreet Singh in Ladi Gill's Innova and began our journey to Manali. After three halts, we reached Manali at 9 PM and checked into Renest River Country hotel, just below the town, closer to mall road. We stayed here for four nights.

Woke up to the breathtaking sight of snow-clad mountains overlooking a flowing river below. In the morning, we prepared for a snowy tour of Manali city. Due to recent heavy snowfall in the higher areas, the landscape was beautifully blanketed in snow. We visited Vasishta temple and Manu temple, skipping the club house. These places had accumulated a good amount of snow, providing a perfect setting for some playful moments in the snow, especially at Manu temple. Afterward, we returned to the hotel to rest. In the evening we went Mall road to chill.

On day 3, we embarked on an adventurous journey to Naggar Castle and Manikaran. The narrow and sometimes rough roads made the trip quite thrilling for our driver. Naggar Castle offered breathtaking scenic views of the snow-clad mountains, making it a must-visit destination.

From there, we proceeded to Manikaran, a journey that took us four hours. Upon arrival, we visited the Gurudwara and experienced the tranquility of the natural hot springs. At the Gurudwara, there was a spot with hot stones, where sitting for a while supposedly relieved pain in any body part within a week's time. After exploring Manikaran, we stopped by Kasol on our way back.

Feeling hungry, we indulged in a delicious meal at 'The Happy Uncle', where I had the best burger I've ever tasted. They also offered good Jain food options. Finally, it took us three hours to return to the hotel, where we enjoyed dinner and retired for the night

With the snowfall ceasing and the weather clearing up, we seized the opportunity to finally visit the much-awaited Solang Valley. Despite previous attempts being foiled due to heavy snow, we set out from our hotel around 11 AM. Upon reaching a certain point, private cars were not allowed, and only 4X4 vehicles could proceed. Consequently, we had to hire one, initially quoted at around Rs5000-5500. However, after some negotiation, we managed to secure a Tata Sumo for Rs3500.Upon arrival at Solang Valley, we rented gumboots for Rs100 and had to purchase socks for an additional Rs100. Winter jumpsuits were also available for rent at Rs250. Engaging in various snow activities such as ATV rides, tuberides, zip-lining, and skiing, we had an absolute blast. My 5-year-old daughter eagerly participated in all the activities, joining me in the fun. These activities cost us Rs1500 per couple. Returning to our vehicle with cherished memories, we deemed this excursion the highlight of our trip, having fulfilled our desire to experience the snow. After freshening up at the hotel, we eagerly sat down for dinner, recounting the day's adventures.

In the morning, we embarked on our journey to Dharamshala. Our stay in Dharamshala was at the Lemon Tree Hotel, located at the edge of McLeod Ganj. Despite being the last hotel in the area, it offered a stunning view of the snowy mountains. Departing at around 11 AM, we arrived at our destination around 5:30 in the evening. The remainder of the day was dedicated to rest and relaxation.

On this day, we explored several attractions in Dharamshala. Our itinerary included visits to the Johnson Church, Bagsu Nag Temple, Dalai Lama Temple, and Naddi Sunset Point. The Dalai Lama Temple offered a serene atmosphere, and we cherished our time spent there. Additionally, we indulged in some shopping near the Bagsu Nag Temple area.Unfortunately, we missed out on visiting the War Memorial as it closes at 5 PM. One of the primary reasons for our visit to Dharamshala was to see the stadium, but we had to forego this opportunity due to the India versus England test match. Despite this, we thoroughly enjoyed our day exploring the cultural and natural wonders of Dharamshala.

Since we missed visiting the War Memorial the previous day, we decided to stop by in the morning before checking out from the hotel and heading to Dalhousie. The War Memorial had a nominal entry fee of Rs25 and provided valuable insights into our nation's war history.
After this, on the way to Dalhousie we visited Kangra fort just to do darshan of a Jain idol which had a historic significance.

Afterwards, we continued our journey to Dalhousie, where we planned for a leisurely day. Upon arrival, we checked in at the Grand View Hotel. This hotel offered various entertainment programs such as bonfires, karaoke, and housie nights, both before and during dinner.

A tip for travelers in Dharamshala: You can opt to skip visiting Naddi Point as you can witness the sunset from any location, and also consider skipping Dal Lake.

On this day, after a long journey from Dharamshala to Dalhousie, we woke up late and decided to visit Chamera Lake. However, due to the late start, we had to skip it as it was a 2.5-hour drive one way. It didn't make sense to leave at 12:30 just for one location. Instead, we opted to go to Kalatop, which was only 0.5 hours away. Upon arrival, we found it to be a jungle trek with a well-marked trail of 3 km one way. Although it was challenging with our kids, we managed to complete it.

After descending, we headed to Gandhi Chowk and enjoyed a meal at a pure vegetarian restaurant. Gandhi Chowk also offers access to Mall Road. Upon returning to the hotel, the rest of the day was leisurely.

We decided to start our day early and set out for Khajjiar, known as 'The Mini Switzerland', as it typically takes the whole day to explore. Leaving around 10:30, we reached Khajjiar with high hopes of playing in the snow. However, to our disappointment, there was no snow.

Nonetheless, we stumbled upon an exciting activity for kids - a form of parasailing where four men ran with the chute instead of a boat. Our kids were thrilled and eagerly participated in this activity, which cost Rs. 400 per child. Next, we enjoyed horse riding with our kids and asked the riders to drop us at Zorbing Point. Horse riding cost us Rs. 300 per horse. Following this, one of our kids tried zorbing, which cost Rs. 500.

Afterward, we indulged in paragliding, a must-do activity in Khajjiar. After some bargaining, we managed to book a 20-minute flight for three people at Rs. 7000, with an additional Rs. 500 per person for a video. Paragliding was an exhilarating experience for both kids and adults, checking off a bucket list item and leaving us with unforgettable memories.

Returning to Gandhi Chowk, we returned to the same hotel, had snacks, and then returned to our hotel to freshen up. In the evening, we enjoyed a game of Housie and danced to the tunes of the DJ at the hotel at 7:30. After playing and winning, we savored dinner and retired for the night. This marked our last day in Dalhousie, filled with adventure and excitement.

We woke up early and set off for Amritsar. Upon arrival, we checked into Hotel Regenta on 8GT Road. Unfortunately, the standard rooms were not up to our expectations, so we decided to upgrade to executive rooms. We didn't want to end our journey on a sour note after experiencing great hotel rooms throughout our trip.

After freshening up, we headed to Jallianwala Bagh and then proceeded to the Golden Temple. Due to it being a Sunday evening, the darshan at the Golden Temple took about 2 hours. Both locations are situated close to each other, and there is a shopping area outside. After completing our darshan, we went for dinner and then retired for the night, wrapping up our journey on a peaceful note.

The following morning, we got ready and embarked on a shopping excursion before enjoying a leisurely lunch at 2:30. Afterwards, we headed to the Wagah border. It's advisable to register 1-2 days in advance to secure a proper seat near the India-Pakistan gate. Without prior registration, you may end up in the crowded general public area. We immersed ourselves in the patriotic fervor at the Wagah border, experiencing the peak of national pride. Upon returning, we gathered our bags and indulged in dinner at the renowned "Kesar da Dhaba". Their ferni and rasmalai are must-try delicacies.After dinner, we made our way to the airport, bidding farewell to our journey with an abundance of cherished memories from the hills.