Day 0: We start at ISBT Delhi and head to Bhuntar in HimachalDay1: It's a long bus ride. We stop for breakfast while entering the Shivalik raHimachal is enveloped by the outer and lesser Himalayas in the form of ShivaliksWe get down at Bhuntar and gorge on delicious food at this Dhaba rn by a warm PuDay 1: We take a bus from Bhuntar and head to Kasol with a bunch of people traveKasol is a small town crowded with Isrealis at this time of the year. It's a popWe gorge on food.One love.Psychedic art and Kurt Cobain. Boom.Some more food. Schnitzel with hummus and PitaIn the evening we walk towards the sound of the river swelling up, and across trThe river in its mightThis shop had huge psychedelic paintings of visionsDay 2: Rahul baba arrives. We head to Shiva mama cafe, but the food would have lAfter hogging again, we take a bus to Jarri from where we start trekking to MalaThis is the start of a soul shattering trek that we'd never imagined we would beCome as you are...Malana was cut off from civilization for ages. The powerplant project has given We follow the pipeline for a shorter routeDay 2: On the way we meet Bindu, a Malana local who was bringing in sheep from M"Aur khayega Biriyani?". 6 km down and the weight of the rucksack now kicks inLoTR-ishAfter 8-9 km, we finally spot the dam and it's huge. Malana, however is nowhere Streams on the way"Aaj to ghus gaye"After about 13-14 km, we see the Malana gate. It's 3 km more of steep uphill treIt's getting dark and we are nowhere near Malana. It's already been 7 hr of hikiWe somehow manage to reach Malana at 2130. I feel my body revolting - it's been Day 3: The next morning - cramps and the viewDay 3: We decide to spend some time at Malana and let our bodies get back to norThe last house standingWe head to this small place called Cafe Muzik to grab some food and chill. MalanStories have it that when Alexander came to India, a small part of his army settWe reach Cafe Muzik after a small hike. Few local boys come along with us.We are hungry and feast on this local dish called Siddu. And we order again, andCAFE MUZIK - nice cozy placeDay 4: We take another route through Malana village to climb down the hill. TherWe trek down to the road on the last mountain that you can see.The water is ice cold.We reach the other mountain. You can see the village far away.From Malana, we head to Bhunter, and stop by at the Dhaba from last time. The foKullu reminds me of ShillongWe head to Kullu from Bhuntar, which is 11 km from there. And take a night bus tThere are candlelight marches for the Nepal earthquake. You have a large Nepali And buses have swag names like thisBad dhaba food at MandiWe reach Dharamsala at 0300, and head to McLeodganj. We walk around the entire tDay 5: There are interesting shops in McLeodganj. I love the place for its vibraWe gorge on some Tibetan food.We hike up to Bhagsu Nag fallsAnd we head up to Shiva CafeWe reach Shiva Cafe at the upper side of the fallsShiva Cafe has cheap food and is frquented by hippies and families alikeHas browns againWe head back down the hill, and head to Gyuto monastery where Dalai Lama staysWord.The next Panchen Lama was abducted at the age of six by the Chinese. He's still McLeodganj has evenings full of concerts and movie screenings about Tibet and thWe spend some time at this nice little coffee shop outside the monasteryRahul bab tries some herbal teaOn our way back, at the main square there's kickass Isreali guy doing some stuntHooked to Tangkha paintings. I meet Daniel later who gives us some good info aboDay 6: We get up early morning, grab some momos and start trekking towards TriunMcLeodganjWe start trekking from the Gallu Devi temple. The trail cuts through a jungle anAnd we get a view of the DhauladharsYou can hear hndreds of birds chirp. There is dense foliage.Waste Warriors doing a trmendous job of keeping the mountains clean.Chai biskoot and some viewAur kitna upar hai beyThe dog enjoys the view now.It starts raining. Just what we were dreading. The trail gets slippery and muddyLife is all bout Neon raincoatsAnd when we finally reach the peak. The Dhauladhars!Mightiness and meaninglessnessIt starts raining heavily and the temperature drops suddenly. It's freezing coldWe meet two girls from Canada and discuss about the government, education, and hI love flags at the top of the mountains. So much power. So much grit.Full power.The nothingness of our existence.Following The Hippie Trail In Himachal Pradesh New DelhiHimachal PradeshHimalayasBhunterKasol HillsParvati ValleyLittle Italy RestaurantShiva Mama CafeMalanaMalana VillageCAFE MUZIK