My First Solo Trip: The perfect birthday gift!

25/11/2017 :

Sitting in my office, I was thinking what I would do on my birthday (coming up in a few days). My roommate was out of town and my friends were busy with their jobs. I had planned to go on a road trip with a few friends but no one was available.

All kinds of thoughts were crossing my mind when it struck me, why not go on a solo trip to a place I hadn't been before. It would also be the perfect birthday gift to myself.

So I decided to go to Kasol, a long awaited destination on my 'To Visit' list. I booked my bus tickets hostel room online, put all my stuff in a bag pack, and headed to catch my bus.

Left Delhi at around 10:30 PM on 25/11/2018.

26/11/2017:

After boarding the bus, I put on my earphones and went to sleep. Woke up the next day when the bus halted at Mandi, and the view was something right out of a dream. Also, since it was November, the weather was pretty cold.

It took a few hours more to reach Bhuntar, from where one has to take a local bus upto Kasol and further. I reached Bhuntar at around 10:00 AM the next day, and saw Parvati River for the first time. I was taken aback by the blue color of the the water. It was looking like a preface for the upcoming chapters of my journey.

I boarded a local bus and reached Kasol at around 12:00 PM and checked in The Hosteller.
The hostel was an eye catcher, with funky graffiti on all the walls. And the room was just perfect, with a window right next to my bed. I decided to take a bath to release the stress of the journey and took a shower with the chilled water, straight out of the faucet. To be honest, it was super cold, but all my fatigue just vanished after that.

And from the same window, was the view of the iconic snow clad mountain visible from Kasol.

When I saw the view, I knew I had made the right decision of coming here.

Spent the next few hours exploring the Kasol market and trying delicacies from the many German  bakeries present there.

The sound of the Parvati River flowing right along the market lured me towards it and I decided to take a walk along the river. The water, the trees, sounds of birds chirping, the cool breeze and the bright sunshine were all adding up to my first experience of a solo trip. Simply put, as far as your eyes could see on all sides, everything was beautiful.

Returned to my room after the stroll and found my roommate there. He was from Mumbai and also on his maiden solo trip. Later we went to Evergreen Cafe for dinner. They specialize in Israeli cuisine (as do most cafes in Kasol), but it's highly recommended for a sumptuous meal. The food is absolutely delicious and it's budget friendly also.

The weather in Kasol was pleasant during the day, and a bit too cold during the night. The sun shone brightly during the days with a light cold breeze infused with the smell of pines drifting across the town. And during the nights, the temperature would drop to around 2-3 degree Celsius. I had to request extra blankets from the hostel as it used to get extremely cold.

27/11/2017:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me!

I woke up in a new place, with no friends or family around and the first person to wish me good was a complete stranger whom I had met just a day ago. It was a completely different feeling. The kind I had never had before in my life.

I decided to walk upto Manikaran (just 5 kilometers ahead of Kasol), and witnessed some amazing views along the way.

As I walked back, the sun began to set and a beautiful peach-ish hue took over the majestic snow peaks. It was a view to die for.

28/11/2017:

Last day of my trip, I was advised to visit Jim Morrison cafe before leaving the town.

I did, and it didn't disappoint. The Cafe is situated between pine trees, like a small hamlet. The interiors are beautifully done to give it a trippy vibe. And the food is amazing, though they serve only vegetarian dishes.

As the time to head back to Delhi was nearing, I decided to take one last stroll along the river.

I headed back to Delhi later that night and reached my home the next morning. Looking back at the pictures of the trip, I felt really glad that I decided to give myself this gift of a solo trip.

The sounds of the valley still resonate in my ears. I'm planning to go back soon. You should visit it too.