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Hello! I’ve spent the last 10 days freezin’ my ass off in the Himalayas, but it’s been worth it!
After a 13 hour drive from Delhi, our first stop was Dharmasala, where we stayed in an area called McLeodganj just north of the town, which is home to the Dalai Lama. It was interesting to go to the Dalai Lama Palace & temple which were just behind our hotel, although we were only allowed to observe them from the outside. We visited the Tibetan Museum, where I learnt about how China has completely taken over Tibet & is actively destroying its culture & heritage – we weren’t even aware this was going on & couldn’t believe it! As a result of what has happened to Tibet, many Tibetans have fled their own country & sought refuge in other countries. Many WALKED across the Himalayas to escape, & this is still happening today. The woman we spoke to at the museum said it took her 24 days to cross the Himalayas by foot! Dharmasala is just one of the places where many Tibetans have settled, including the Dalai Lama & the exiled Tibetan government.
On the way to Manali, our next stop, we stopped for lunch at a dhaba (local restaurant) on a quiet road, where I had the best Saag Paneer curry since I’ve been in India! Whilst sat having lunch, a truck load of people pulled up & descended on the dhaba. They didn’t notice me at first, except some of the kids who I could only say “hello” to & shook their hands. Just as I was leaving, I was spotted! One person asked for a photo with me, so I got back out of the car…. & within seconds I was surrounded by the whole truck load of people! Everyone wanted a photo with me, so in the end I just had to leave! It was funny though & they were all really friendly; it felt strange, like I was a “tourist attraction” for them!!
The drive to Manali was slow because of heavy snow, but it gave us the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful scenery & admire the spectacular views of the Himalayas. We were freezing in our hotel room because the rooms don’t have any heaters – so we had to sleep in thermals, fleeces, hat, gloves etc, as well as 4 blankets each!! We were also confined to our room the next day because of the Hindu festival Holi, which meant it was too dangerous for us to go out – so we stayed in bed watching telly all day because it was too cold to move, & just ordered room service! We did venture out in the evening for a walk, before jumping back under our blankets!
Manali was lovely though, even though we couldn’t get to see everything because of the heavy snow. We walked from our hotel in New Manali to the temple at the top of the hill in Old Manali; this area was much more interesting because many Tibetans have settled there. The walk up the steep hill proved difficult though due to the snow & ice, but it was worthwhile for the lovely views once we reached the top.
Our tour ended in Shimla, which to our relief, was much warmer than Manali! We didn’t spend much time in the town of Shimla itself; instead we travelled out of the town to find some interesting walks amongst the impressive scenery.
In Naldehra our guide took us on a long walk up in the hills, which was fantastic, but highlighted to us just how unfit we have become! Although in our defence, most tourists go up on horses, but I didn’t want to do this. It was good exercise though & we were rewarded with amazing views of the Himalayas once we got to the very top of the hill.
We enjoyed the walk so much that we asked the same guide to take us on another one. This time he took us across the hills in the next valley, & through tiny villages where the locals have probably never seen a white person before (this explained the funny looks as I walked by!). We felt very privileged to see such lovely scenery which most tourists miss out on, & we also thoroughly enjoyed being able to get some more exercise!
Overall I absolutely loved the Himalayas, despite the freezing cold weather! I would go as far as to say that it is my favourite area of India because the views were breathtaking. Definitely a “must see” for anyone thinking of visiting India!
Rach xx
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Aditya Shimla, the Himachal capital and also the summer capital during the British reign is a beautiful destination to holiday with your family. The steep hilly regions and the valleys provide a picturesque holiday and a popular tourist destination in India. - https://www.tourtravelworld.com/india/shimla/