Going Above and Beyond the Limits- Archana’s Family trip to Himachal
“Mother, if Hidimba was a demoness, then why does she have a temple for worshipping?”
My daughter kept on asking one question after another while we were relaxing in the hot springs of the Vashishth temple in Manali.
I was happy to answer, but her queries seemed to catch me off guard. I realised, even I don't know the answer to all her doubts.
It is strange how kids have the power to analyse and notice the things that we, being experienced adults, fail to see or knowingly overlook.
While I was thinking about all these things, my son called me from behind and asked me if we would go eat after this hot spring bath. I said yes, and asked him what he wished to eat.
“Something spicy and local…I am tired of Thukpa and Momos and Maggi”
Whispers of the Mountains
The crisp cold air urged us to wrap our mufflers tightly around our throats as we headed for lunch. Manali is a beautiful place- its old-world charm reminded us of the ancient villages that survived the lashes of time.
Although we were staying in New Manali, Old Manali seemed more cosy and homely. There were some amazing restaurants to try out the specialities of the region, which we savoured till the plates were squeaky clean.
As my husband licked the remaining soup off his fingertips, I told him,
“I think we should explore the evening markets. We can take back some things for home. We won't get much time in the next two days”
And immediately after I said this, I regretted it.
All the kids and teens jumped up with joy and started deciding on what they wish to buy. Thanks to the internet, researching local handicrafts and products is quite easy nowadays. They would not have to wait to see the unique things for themselves in the shop, touch them, and then decide if they want it or not.
But I was wrong.
Everything is not available over the internet. While exploring Manali’s markets, we came across so many products and designs that we had no clue they existed. I was happy that ‘old-fashioned’ shopping techniques were still working, even for the younger generations!
We got a Mohra for the house, a hemp jacket for myself, some handicrafts including a hairpin and a straw box, and a nice big dreamcatcher to place in the kid’s room. There were also other things in the shopping bag but these seemed to be the most special buys.
Shout Out Loud (SOL)
The kids never seemed to stop talking about their word lingo on the way from Manali to Kasol. Words like LOL, ROFL, did not get through my mind, so I resorted to the views outside the car window.
I could see the Beas snaking its way through the deep valleys, with the mountains guarding her sanctity with all their might. The view was interrupted by towering trees, and sometimes by the local houses. With each alternate turn, the scenery changed into a completely new form, with the great blue sky making the perfect background for the mountains.
We were supposed to keep our bags in Kasol and then head out for Solang Valley, and from there to Rohtang pass and back.
I did not estimate how the day would turn out until we reached Solang Valley.
There were so many adventure sports taking place at the same place at the same time that we were indeed in a state of confusion as to which one to try first.
After observing the melee, we decided to go for the river crossing activity using a zipline first. I was scared out of my wits to try this activity, but even after denying it for a long time, the kids convinced me to try it out. They said,
“This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Grab it!"
“You can do it, you are so fit and agile! COME ONNNN”
Even my husband gave in, saying, “We can try it together if you want”
And I finally had to say, “ok”.
I had to scrounge up a lot, A LOT of courage to go for the activity. But when I saw how much effort the trainers there were putting into making this a safe and enjoyable experience for us, I felt slightly comforted.
And at the end of the activity, with a racing heart and throbbing stomach, I felt awesome! I had done it! Everyone was cheering for me and I could not feel any better.
The next activity that we all tried was Zorbing! And trust me, it is nothing like the ones we try in our parks and paths…rolling down the slope of Solang Valley with the stunning views of the mountains was nothing less than enchanting! And while bouncing down, we could not contain our excitement, leading to shrill shouts, cries, howls, and what not!
A Snowy Affair
The best part of the trip was approaching and we had no clue about it.
By the time we left from Solang for Rohtang, It was already mid-day. We had lunch on the go, and as we crossed the Atal Tunnel to reach Rohtang, the vistas transformed into a snowy paradise!
The sides of the roads, wherever we looked, the peaks around, everything was quilted in thick layers of snow! We already had our jackets and windcheaters out, so we stopped the car at the nicest spot we could find. By the time I got out of the car, the kids had already dived in, with their faces straight into the snow!
We had such a fun time while snow-fighting and chasing each other on the slopes, and it looked like we were the happiest souls alive in the whole wide world!
Coming back to our Kasol camp stay, we found out that there were some issues with drinking water and the arrangements, so we had to wait for some time until we got our rooms. It was understandable, the fact that we were still getting such facilities like geyser water and electricity in such remote parts of Himachal meant a lot.
Anyway, the night passed, and so did the trip.
And it left us all with memories forever to grip!
Read More: Thrillophilia Himachal Reviews