Hill Stations in INDIA

Witnessing early snow this year!

Shimla,
With most parts of the state experiencing snowfall early in the season, the tourism industry is expected to witness a steep rise in the number of tourists coming to the state for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

In the recent years More Details

Labels: Hill stations, india tourism, shimla, snow, Travel

Posted by Gypsy@Work, Dec 13, 2006 10:35 PM | 0 comments |

Are you planning for Kullu-Manali??

Kullu-Manali-Rohtang Pass!

So how you are traveling?
How many days are you going to say?
What about accommodation?
Places to visit?
Best season to visit?
Wanna do shopping there?
What are the precautions to be taken?
I have answers for all. Let’s see from the first question-

So how you are traveling?
If you are starting from Delhi, I would suggest you to travel in a cab.
I will bet it will be an exciting journey for you.
If you are traveling as a group just book a MUV-a Scorpio, Innova etc which accommodates up to 8 persons (if you are 6, it will be comfortable to you).
From Delhi to Manali-602 km (what my Scorpio meter showed me) but worth traveling If you have already decided to go by road you will reach Manali after 12 hours-Including stoppages for food & other things.
If you know any travel agency then book your vehicle @ 6/- per km which I can say is the best deal. Start with loads of packaged food-chips, bhujia’s etc & off course music cd’s, woolens if traveling in September to Feb.
Note: Select a driver who has driving experience on Ghat roads because you will travel at least for 6 hours-nearly 200kms will be ghat road.
I will suggest you to start from Delhi in the evening i.e. at 11 pm so that you can have a glimpse of the hills & other beautiful picturesque in the morning.
You will reach manali at 11am or at least 12. Manali is 42 km from Kullu. You can visit some temples & do water rafting stuff in kullu.
Beas river shows you the way all over from kullu to manali.
Have a stoppage at Kullu & click your digi cams-suggested to capture the beautiful locations. If you have less time to spend then book your Air tickets, you will reach there with in an hour.

How many days are you going to stay?
Ah, already I have taken you to manali, so decide how many days you want to see.
Taking about my case, after reaching there, I decided to stay there at least for 5 days, previously I decided to stay for 2 nights.
I have never been to the place in the past, after seeing the snowy hills all around definitely I am not under control, It will be the same scene with you also, if you haven’t visited the place before. Take out some time & plan before starting itself to stay at least 5 days.

“Ok I think you have decided how many days you want to stay there’

What about Accommodation?
If you are a budget traveler, there are lots of budget hotels in manali.
So go & ask the receptionist in the hotel, if they say you 400 rupees per day, say them you can pay 200/- after couple of minute’s discussion you will get the room at your budget. There’s only one main road in manali, all the hotels are located near by that road itself.
Note: Normally the check out time in manali is 12 pm on any given day, so plan accordingly.
So I hope you are set with the accommodation now.
As you reached manali at 12-1 pm first have your lunch.
You will get some good hotels on the same road which I talked before.
Are you from south India don’t bother, there are good number of hotels which provides south Indian food, costs around 60-70/- per thali.
North Indians don’t bother as they get their rotis.
If you want to taste some good Chinese cuisines, you will get that too.
Have your lunch & take rest for at least couple of hours so that you can cover some places in the evening.
Ever thing is set &

What are the places to visit?
Hadimba temple
Manu temple
Famou gurudwara
Buddhist monasteries
Vashist temple etc..
Visit some of the places & start your next day journey to Rohtang pass

Best season to visit
Want to see snow hills then the best season to visit Manali, Rohtang pass (roads will be blocked if heavy snow falls) is September to January.
I visited in October, I celebrated diwali in rohtang pass.
Rohtang pass is 61 km from Manali. It will take 1 ½ hr to reach there.
On the way to rohtang there are lots of shops which gives long woolen coats & rubber shoes on rent, you can try those stuff.
After ½ hr the live moments of the journey comes, as your vehicles passes through the mountains completely covered with snow. Have some snaps on the way for you memories. At last you will reach Rohtang pass where you will find a thick layer of at least 3 foot.
My vehicle was stopped 11 km before rohtang pass because of heavy snow fall, roads are blocked & tourist vehicles are never allowed under that circumstances.
A local jeep river offered me a ride to rohtang pass for 1500/- to & fro-22 kms.
I don’t suggest you to put that much amount for that as mostly it will be the stuff you will find there.
If you are traveling in any other season you can have a look of Rohtang pass.
Forgot to tell you if can arrange a camcorder for you self, it will be a good idea. So that you can record your finest moment of your life.

Have a look at some of the snaps I have taken in that trip.
Really, I cannot forget the trip. I have seen so many places but this one is for a life time remembrance. I was mesmerized as I haven’t seen snow mountains-(have seen in movies).
Spend time till 4 pm & start there for safer return.

Wanna do shopping there?
I haven’t found any special things to buy there- you have a try.
Mostly the things available there are woolens, belts etc.
You can get the best deal in sorojininagar, palika bazaar than in Manali.

Visit the uncovered places-with the help of local tourist guide.
Don’t hesitate to visit temples.
You will see/get some interesting stuff there.

What are the precautions (for your safety) to be taken?
As discussed some of the points above,
Experienced driver-Must
Woolen clothes- depends on your visiting time.
Try to have your vehicle’s back seat in straight-not understood, leave it.
Do not travel when it was raining, land slides, heavy snow fall etc.

Finally, I hope the above things will help you some thing to know about the place.

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Labels: Accommodation, food, kullu, Manali, Places to visit, precautions, rohtang pass, shopping, snow, temples, Travel

Posted by Gypsy@Work, Nov 10, 2006 4:48 AM | 120 comments |

Witnessing early snow this year!

Are you planning for Kullu-Manali??

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Witnessing early snow this year!

Are you planning for Kullu-Manali??