My Trip to Kullu Manali - Part VI

Part VI

After reaching in Manikaran, we crossed a huge torn-away bridge that was nice to cross but at the same time very scary to cross owing to its bad condition. Then we paid visit to a famous Gurudwara there and had langar, a system of having food sitting on floor in different rows. Then came the best part of the trip to Manikaran. We bought some potatoes and raw rice and tied them separately in different pieces of clothes. Now you must be wondering why were we doing all this. This was all done to see the great wonders of the naturally boiling waters at Manikaran.

Manikaran is known for its natural heaters that keep the water boiling and none there uses LPG gas or stove for cooking, all cooking is done simply by hanging food and utensils in small areas where there are boiling waters. My dad then hanged the cloth having potatoes in one such boiling water shallow well sort of an area. Being kids, we thought what a fun and when we saw the hot vapors rising out of the well and the boiled potatoes, we almost mistook it as a magic and wondered. But it was anyways-great fun.

Having done all these experiments again and again, we then strolled the market area and bought some jute hats and caps. After lunch we resumed our way back to Manali and saw other major attractions too. Later at night we returned to our hotel for a night stay. The next day we started on our way back home and here ended my trip to Kullu Manali and Manikaran!

My Trip to Kullu Manali - Part 5

Part V

The third day of my trip to Kullu Manali and Manikaran started with some fun. We all cousins got ready and went to the garden outside our rooms. As I wrote, we were very young that time, we thought do indulge in some pranks. We saw fully laden plum trees and thought to climb one of them and prick some plums. But could one expect from children of 12 to 14 years to climb huge trees? No, then what to do, then we thought to shake the tree with all our might and yes we got the reward, when quite a number of plums fell down. After collecting them as much as we could, we returned to our rooms to show our valor in collecting them to our parents.

Our parents laughed like anything, seeing our hands and pockets full of plums and in a couple of minutes, there was nothing one could see in our room but plums. That was one of the fondest memories of my trip to Kullu Manali and Manikaran. Then we started on our way to Manikaran, a place known for its naturally boiling waters. The way to Manikaran was very narrow and after the last day’s experience, when my uncle was about to meet an accident, we drove very carefully.

Check out Part 6 for what happened next…

My Trip to Kullu Manali - Part 4

Part IV

We quickly had some snaps there and though we planed to visit other nearby places too after reaching Rhotang Pass but due to bad weather and problematic car, we thought it wise to return back on time before it gets dark. We had dinner in between and resumed on our way back to Manali. The road was narrow and there were no proper street lighting and this made the visibility very unclear. My uncle could not see properly the truck coming from front and by God’s grace somehow turned the car to the right and saved his family from an accident. I must say it was a rare escape and we really couldn’t believe how he managed to save the car from been crushed under the truck.

After a day full of a series of accidents and happenings, we finally returned to our hotel back in Manali. Before sleeping, we all thanked God for saving us from so many difficulties. Here ended the first two days of my trip to Kullu Manali and Manikaran with my family. Get to know what happened next in the following part!!!

Check out Part 5 for what happened next…

My Trip to Kullu Manali - Part 4

Part III

The next day as decided, we went on our way to Manali and visited places like Hadimba Temple and Solang Valley. Having lunch, at noon we then started for Rhotang Pass, one of the major attractions of Manali situated at many meters above sea level. On our way to Rhotang Pass, we got heavy traffic with cars jammed and moving at a speed of 1 km per 30 minutes and even less. The reason for such a jam was that Bollywood debutants of those times, Bobby Deol and Twinkle Khanna were shooting for their debutant movie ‘Barsaat’ there. We took the opportunity to click them in our cameras but wondering who they were and why were we so excited to click them, as they were freshers and we knew nothing about them.

Then came another twist in the journey when our car halted and was not ready to move a single step ahead. My dad and brother somehow by pushing and sometimes by doing some tricks managed to take it to Rhotang Pass. To our surprise, when we reached Rhotang Pass it was evening and weather was stormy. But we all were adamant that since we reached there after so much difficulty, we must get at least few photographs within 15 minutes or so, so as to have a proof that we went there.

Check out Part IV for what happened next…

My Trip to Kullu Manali - Part 2

Part II

We started for Kullu in the morning and took our own vehicles. In between, we had lunch at some roadside dhabha and reached Kullu in around 8 to 9 hours somewhere around 10pm. Reaching so late we had difficulty in getting hotel rooms to stay but we finally got two after a series of efforts.

Tired of the journey, we slept as soon we laid on beds. Then we woke up early in the morning, as decided the previous night, we went on a sightseeing tour of Kullu. Having spent the whole day at Kullu Valley and visiting its attractions and doing some shopping, we planned to go to Manali the next day.

Check out Part III for what happened next…

Trip to Kullu Manali and Manikaran - Part 1

Part I
So, here I’m recalling about my family trip to Kullu Manali and Manikaran, when I was just 10 years old. It was a trip planned to make use of my summer vacations, when I was in class 5th. My and my maternal uncle’s family took a long time to decide where to go in the summer vacations and finally, they settled on the choice of going to Kullu Manali and Manikaran.

The thought of going out of station in the vacations filled me and my cousins with excitement. The reason for our excitement was double folded and very childish too. Firstly, we were excited as will be enjoying there and secondly, the thought of having now something to tell our teachers and friends at school that we went somewhere thrilled us like anything.

Check out Part II for what happened next…