It all starts with looking for that one place that changes it all forever, stepping into the world of stories, embarking a new journey, along with the ideology of travelling across regions that resonate to the taste of the origin, a venture that transmutes experience into something beautiful.  Manali in Himachal Pradesh being one such place to redefine norms; nestled in the magnificent Kullu valley, is place of a lifetime. All the little elements that cumulates to something big; the soothing sound of the river Beas, the soft composure of woods, the old vintage stays inherent to the roots, the roads beyond chaos, an absolute lack of human population within the dense forests, a place where sorrows tend to cease and happiness amalgamates to something beyond sensory levels.Therefore, when the sun broke through the clouds, I knew it was time for me to leave. To pack my bags and embark a new journey, to a place that changes everything forever.

A Little Poem

Being led by a path chosen by nature
The clouds seem to tell me something
The clouds seem to tell me something
Perhaps the sun I’ve missed
And the road far away from chaos
Looking for a place to abolish sorrows
Where happiness amalgamates to something beyond the sensory levels
Enough to convince the soul,
A desire to hustle the right kind;
To hit the right chords
Even though the course unbeknown,
Demands a chance to be explored.

SOLANG VALLEY

With fog rolling down the mountains and heavy mist covering the lush meadows, accompanied by thundering waterfalls, Solang valley hosts the visitors with ease. The pleasant air, the flowers blooming as the sun shows up, with a general positive energy at large, is a perfect weekend getaway. The best way to deep dive into the nature’s best delight, with the textures of green, the soft composure of woods, pristine terrains and charming villages.

LAHAUL

Lahaul is a place that anticipates your arrival, the picturesque landscapes that waits to take your heart away.Those times when silence speaks and words can’t do justice to what has been experienced. The eyes glued to the intrinsic details. The urge to stand still, yet keep moving. Every curve inherent to a different weather, and adaptability. Entering into a land where the road leads to late-spring at one end, and an empty barren land at the other, the views tend to change in a matter of minutes. Ablend, of the right kind. A place dedicated to taking on adventures and telling stories about the same. Summed up beautifully in the words of Ruskin Bond, “The adventure is not in arriving, it’s in the on-the-way experience. It is not in the expected; it’s in the surprise.”

What the place has for all of us? To break free  from the mundane life, to witness oneself get lost. The wholesome solitude, the rejuvenation, to let the mountains consume you, to let moments turn into memories, to living a dream, yet bepresent in the moment. And in the end, to leave a part of you behind.

TOSH

Another day in the mountains, and clouds seem to show a pattern. The morning is foggy and chilly today. Those clouds have covered the snow capped mountains and it’s a treat to the eyes. The sun somehow makes it way, to throw some light but is hiding the best view yet. It’s time to say goodbye and these  delights of nature makes it hard to leave.If I were to sum it up, I would say that time that went by, the events I was bombarded with, the quiets of life and then the ever changing dynamics of the fast paced life, made me experience; experience life.

BIDDING WORDS

This is one trip in particular that is ingrained in my memory forever when it comes to travel and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The enchanting landscapes of Manali and Lahaul would never be forgotten because they signified a leap of faith towards something that felt unknown. This journey was undoubtedly a multitude of possibilities. This is what I learnt about travelling from the trip: to not seek what others are seeking, to not see from the eye of the other. To withhold what  feels personal to you, and get accustomed to the ability to surrender everything beautiful, when it’s time.