MY MANALI TREK

Hello Guys,

Welcome back to My Blogs,

Today the first official blog is been published, this blog contain My Experiences to the MANALI trek which I had done in DEC 2016 with my friend ANIRUDDHA CHAUDHARY. The trek was from 16^th to 20^th of Dec 2016.

This trip was plan as per the itinerary of the YOUTH HOSTEL ASSOCITION INDIA (YHAI) winter trek program was consisting of 5 days 4 nights in which first and the last day are introduction and resting respectively. Beside the itinerary was for three day from their side.     You can also plan for the first and last day as per your connivance.

How to Reach

By Road: - Delhi - Chandigarh - Manali

By Train: - The nearest train stations are Chandigarh and Ambala (350 km approx from Manali) 

By Air: - The nearest airport is at Bhuntar approx 50 km away from Manali. But go through Chandigarh airport and later by travel buses (recommended).                                     

Note: - There is NO direct train and air route so you have to take bus or Taxi to reach their anyhow.

All the expense is mention at the end of the blog along with the booking websites

14^th Dec 2016

Our journey started on the 14^th Dec from our native place Jalgaon by the train at 7.30 am in the morning we board the train (CSTM-Amritsar Express) it was a overnight journey to Ambala cantonment junction which was near to Chandigarh the journey was completely relaxing and joyful, we got the chance to get introduce to new people in our train which of some were from Jalgaon and some had board their train from Nasik. Which both of them were the soldiers in military. Talking to both of them was of the happiest part of journey as they were telling us about their training & the working process and the punctuality in defence services and their mission on which they have been.

15^th Dec 2016

Our train passes through the Delhi station in morning 8.00 am next day there we had a cup of tea it was refreshing morning. Then at almost 2.00pm we reached the Ambala cantonment junction. There we got of the railway station and then we headed towards the bus stop which is in front of the station from where we have to go Chandigarh. By the time we were hungry as we have not done our breakfast and so we saw the man making some nice chole and kulcha's, he was standing in the mid way of railway station and bus stand. BOY O BOY The kulcha was really amazing and good in its own way. There we had a one plate of chole and kulcha's each and then we boarded the bus running to Chandigarh which is just 60 km away.

Then finally we reached the Chandigarh at 4 O'clock in the evening and there is lot of time for us to explore, as the bus we booked for the Manali was at 9 O' clock at night from the same bus stand (sector 43 bus stand Chandigarh). For the first time in my life I have been spending almost 4/5 hours on the bus stand and by the time I had explored each & every corner of the bus stand, it was quite big bus stand I ever been seen  which is  almost 5 acres of land. Finally we got done with our dinner and then we boarded the bus at 9.30 O' clock at night and then The journey to Manali started………..!!

Before boarding the bus to manali

16^th Dec 2016 (Day 1)

Finally!!!

The day has come, when we woke up we were in the womb of the mountain covered with ice. & with the eye satisfying scenery around, with a sprinkled ice on the road side & river running along with. This view from the bus was breath taking and the most memorable movement of My Life. Finally we reached bus stand of Manali which is situated out off main city of Manali, it was around 7.30 O'clock in the morning. The temperature was around 8 degree Celsius, it was very cold for the guys like us who have the habit of 40 degree Celsius at our place.

Then we hired a rickshaw & reached hostel. It took us about 20 Minute to reach the hostel, then we were welcomed by AJIT Bhaiya who was camp leader of YHAI hostel and he allotted us the Room then we got settled and step down for breakfast in mess.

YHAI Hostel

View from  Room

The mess was really good and the food served was very nice. The people & the staff of Hostel were really good and humble. One of the rule I liked there is, you have to wash your own plates that teaches to be self responsible in many ways “Small things matter the most”. So today is our day to rest and our introduction session was arranged at 5.30 pm in the evening along with tea. As the sun went down the temperature has also begin to decrease down slowly. We really have fun spending time with people from various states and city. Later we had our dinner and went to sleep.

17^th Dec 2016 (Day 2)

Finally the day came we are all set to get go, we woke up early in the morning the temp was around 4/5 degree Celsius and we were literally shivering. Still somehow we gathered all the thing required and went down stairs for breakfast. We had lovely breakfast along with the friends we meet yesterday while introduction. And we were introduced with our trek guide “MONU Bhaiya”. He is a very good person and perfect character to the word bhaiya as he use to take care of us like our elder brother.

Morning view from room

There we discussed our plans with our guide and we went up stairs to gear up and got ready for trek. So first day as per itinerary plan was to visit the local market of Manali and the Hidimba temple which is most famous temple in Manali. So finally, we started walking towards, which is almost 5km from our hostel. It took us almost 1.15 hr to reach there. After that our trek guides gave us information about the temple and then we visited the temple and we spended nearly 1 hr exploring the nearby area. After that we went to Mall road which is only market in Manali. The market is full of variety of various authentic items from the region. From there we purchased a shawl for my mother and a nice traditional Cap for my father. Then we went to VAN VIHAR in which the temple was situated, the tall pine trees are looking magnificent with a huge radius of their branches.

Hidimba temple 

On the same day we gone through various local delicacy of the Manali called Momos and chowmins and they were awesome, with its own taste which is spicy, sweetness & sour sauce added the seven stars in them. Then we explored some of the shops nearby and then the journey back to hostel began in the evening at 6 O’clock.

Momos

18^th Dec 2016 (Day 3)

On second day of the trek, we were planned to visit the place a Naggar town in kullu which was just 20 km away from Manali. So we went by Bus in the morning and then we did a trek of about 5 km to see the Naggar palace which is situated on the top of the hill .This was one of the most famous palace in the naggar as there the shooting of 2/3 bollywood movies were done. The carving on the pillar was incredible with the old paintings in natural colors & many of the old stuff were preserving in that palace. That palace is also used as a hotel with the nice president suit which was setup in the mid of palace, it was a royal hotel. The overall courtyard of this palace was really amazing and nice place to rest after an exhausting walkup to hill. Then we looked up sides palaces from the top of the palace, with an amazing view of mountain with glacier. The mountains were looking like smooth ice bed and a fog on the top of it. Later we went downhill towards the best stop from where we had to board a bus back to hostel. We boarded a bus at 5O’clock in the evening and we reached the hostel by 6 O’clock.

courtyard of naggar palace

19^th Dec 2016 (Day 4)

            On third day were planned  again to Naggar town to visit Lord Krishna’s temple on opposite hill of palace hill and again we have to walk for 4 km from the bus stand to foot of hill. That was full of pebbles and stiff slope we are walking with our full power to cope up with this stiff slope after a long walk of about 1hr 25 min we reached temple. The temple was pleasant and the architecture of temple was so unique for me and the design of the top was very well decent.

Lord Krishana's Temple Naggar

It was a very quiet place and we had a meditation for 30 min in the surrounding of temple. Then we really felt refreshed as our all power was back in us and we had new enthusiasm. Then we went down and some localities told us to try the very famous food item “SIDDU”. Which  consist of a nice stuffing of groundnut & walnut (crushed) with some local seasoning and spices inside the batter of Maida and wheat flour and after that it was been steamed for 20 min in the steamer and then served hot on the table with some locally made red and green chilly sauces with it. If ever went there then is the most recommended item from my side to u guys, Must Try!!

Siddu

After all this third day’s schedule we went back hostel by bus. Then we were sitting in the lobby doing chit-chat with the friend as many of the people were going to leave the hostel early in the morning as it was the last day of our trek and we all are going to check-out from the hostel in morning 10am.so for us the farewell has been organize by the people of the hostel. And there we share our view about the trek. And then we had our last dinner together & went to our respective rooms to sleep.

20^th Dec 2016 (Day 5)

Today we were going to check out from hostel & Travel Bus was have booked in evening at 6O’clock. We got more time to explore by our own. So we have decided to hire a bike and planned to visit rothang pass which is about 30 km & 13000 ft above sea level & one of the highest motorable pass in India. So we hired a bike in the morning 9 O’clock from a local vendor at about price of 1000 rs/day excluding petrol. So on the way to rothang pass there was a solang valley which is famous for the temple of lord Shiva. There was a river originated from the glacier on the top of the hill in solang valley. The rock in that river was totally white in color which is rare in India. The solang valley is also famous for the ice sport and the paragliding.

On the way to solang valley

Ice in rothang pass

So after visiting a solang valley we headed toward’s the rothang pass. The temperature is extremely cold in the solang valley and as we climbed up, altitude increasesed & coldness as well and reached 2 degree Celsius. The sudden increase of altitude made us feel uncomfortable just u have to drink a small amount of water and rest a while if u feel like. From there Rothang pass is just 25 km from the solang valley which took us 45 min to reach there as the road to the pass was full of twist and blind turns.  The view from the pass was eyes pleasing. The atmosphere was awesome on the top. We almost spended 1 hr there taking so many picture and talking to some of the visitor and biker nearby. We are willing to spend some more time there but as lack of time. We have to catch our bus to Chandigarh so we have move back to the Manali early as possible. So we headed back to Manali and reached the Manali by 3.00pm in the afternoon and went to our hostel to pickup our bags from from the hostel.

Then we headed towards travel stand via market their we had our evening breakfast and shopping for some stuff for ours self and coincidencely we come across the street vendor who is selling “GULAB JAMUN” those were not like our traditional gulab jamun   they are small in size and look very fantastic when they were placed in the plate. It is most recommended dish from my side and must try they taste incredible.

Gulab Jamun

Finally we reached the travel stand and we had a tea before boarding a bus and then watching the movie in the bus, we slept  and then woke-up after reaching the Chandigarh  bus stand same as we board  from. Then we had a breakfast explore the nearby area   for some time and then we headed for the Ambala cantonment junction (21^st Dec 2016) from where we have to board the train at 3.45 pm (from Ambala to jalgaon by pathankot express).We reach back to Jalgaon by 8 pm on 22^nd of Dec 2016

Booking Details

Hostel: - www.yhaindia.org

Train: - www.irctc.co.in  

Bus: - www.redbus.com

My Expenses:-

Hostel: - 4500(5 days 4 night)

Train:-1200(journey both side)

Bus: - 1400(journey both side)

Other expenses:-2000/3000(as per your connivance)

Plz comment down about How u feel, & plz give u r valuable suggestion in comment section ,
This is a story type blog so if u wanted to be more point wise blog so for that let me know in comment section.😍