"Sahab, jara utar jao" (Sir, can you get down) said the rickshaw driver as his vehicle chugged and knocked out on the steep roads of Old Manali. We had reached Manali just a few minutes ago after an overnight bus journey from Delhi. We were blessed as there were no major hiccups in the travel given the treacherous Himalayan roads and our air travel to Delhi shortening our overall travel time to half! After the rickshaw picked up on the steep road, we jumped back in to get on our way to the hotel we were supposed to check in - Dragon Inn situated in Old Manali.
Tip: If you are planning a trip to Manali, look for hotels in Old Manali. Tons of options including economical home stays are abundant. OYO rooms further help reduce the lodging costs.
Once we checked in the hotel, it was time for some good hot water bath and a relaxing sleeping time to cope with our backlogs. Evening is when all were back to their senses when our companion & guide for the trip joined us in the hotel - Motu Bhai, is what he is called. An introduction with him was also a good ice-breaker for all the others too as most of them didn't knew each other prior to this trip. I, of course, on the other hand knew a couple of them given the coincidental meetup on the flight to Delhi. There were a couple more solo travelers like me in the group and all were super enthusiastic about the trip and what we had to look forward to. This was very well explained by our guide, which is here for your reference:
Day 1: Reach Manali and relax
Post the 12-16 hours of journey from your home town including an overnight journey, this day will be to get you to acclimatize to high altitudes. The day is meant to relax and not overexert in any condition. Nearby points of interest can be Manu Temple hot springs, innumerable cafes and their delectable coffees by the river.
Day 2: Manali to Kaza
An early morning start to an entire day's journey through one of the most challenging routes in the country to reach Kaza by evening. This route is filled with scenic beauties changing from the green valley of Manali to the desert region of Spiti and Lahaul. This 220 kms route takes about 10-12 hours depending on the road conditions and comfort. On the way, one passes through Rohtang, Kunzum La pass - both one of the highest and dangerous roads in India.
Day 3: Kaza to Key to Kibber and back to Kaza
Visits to the Key monastery and one of the most beautiful villages nestled in the hills - Kibber are the highlights of the day. This day is pretty relaxed given good tarmac roads for most part of the journey and a scenic village to add to the memories
Day 4: Kaza to Dhankar, Tabo and back to Kaza
The spiritual trip continues with visits to the 1000-year-old monastery at Tabo, followed by a monastery situated atop of a hill in the Dhankar village. If time permits, this day also includes a short trek to the serene Dhankar lake. The day ends back in Kaza.
Day 5: Langza - Hikkim - Komic - Langza
We pack our bags from Kaza and move towards Langza - one of the highest villages at 14,000 feet, a hamlet nestled just below a peak always covered in snow called the Chau Chau Kang Nilda peak (21,000 feet). We move one to visit Hikkim which has the highest post office of the country, hosted by a hospitable family. We move on to the highest habited village of 114 people and visit the Komic monastery. This village is situated at 15,087 feet. The day ends in a comfy Langza home stay.
Day 6: Langza to Chandrataal
This day brings you to the most serene location of this trip - the Chandrataal lake. Traversing through the most difficult roads I have ever been to, one reaches the base camp with tents setup. This is because the area becomes inhabitable for humans in the winter and the setup is only done for summers from July - October, which can be still chilly!!
Day 7: Back to Manali
This day is just includes backing up all photographs and reminiscing all the wonderful memories captured on this trip, while on your way back to Manali. The evening is free for you to visit the amazing cafes. Cafes like 1947, Drifeters Inn and Dylan's are famous amongst others in Old Manali.
To be continued with more magic..
Tip: If you are planning a trip to Manali, look for hotels in Old Manali. Tons of options including economical home stays are abundant. OYO rooms further help reduce the lodging costs.
Once we checked in the hotel, it was time for some good hot water bath and a relaxing sleeping time to cope with our backlogs. Evening is when all were back to their senses when our companion & guide for the trip joined us in the hotel - Motu Bhai, is what he is called. An introduction with him was also a good ice-breaker for all the others too as most of them didn't knew each other prior to this trip. I, of course, on the other hand knew a couple of them given the coincidental meetup on the flight to Delhi. There were a couple more solo travelers like me in the group and all were super enthusiastic about the trip and what we had to look forward to. This was very well explained by our guide, which is here for your reference:
Day 1: Reach Manali and relax
Post the 12-16 hours of journey from your home town including an overnight journey, this day will be to get you to acclimatize to high altitudes. The day is meant to relax and not overexert in any condition. Nearby points of interest can be Manu Temple hot springs, innumerable cafes and their delectable coffees by the river.
Day 2: Manali to Kaza
An early morning start to an entire day's journey through one of the most challenging routes in the country to reach Kaza by evening. This route is filled with scenic beauties changing from the green valley of Manali to the desert region of Spiti and Lahaul. This 220 kms route takes about 10-12 hours depending on the road conditions and comfort. On the way, one passes through Rohtang, Kunzum La pass - both one of the highest and dangerous roads in India.
Day 3: Kaza to Key to Kibber and back to Kaza
Visits to the Key monastery and one of the most beautiful villages nestled in the hills - Kibber are the highlights of the day. This day is pretty relaxed given good tarmac roads for most part of the journey and a scenic village to add to the memories
Day 4: Kaza to Dhankar, Tabo and back to Kaza
The spiritual trip continues with visits to the 1000-year-old monastery at Tabo, followed by a monastery situated atop of a hill in the Dhankar village. If time permits, this day also includes a short trek to the serene Dhankar lake. The day ends back in Kaza.
Day 5: Langza - Hikkim - Komic - Langza
We pack our bags from Kaza and move towards Langza - one of the highest villages at 14,000 feet, a hamlet nestled just below a peak always covered in snow called the Chau Chau Kang Nilda peak (21,000 feet). We move one to visit Hikkim which has the highest post office of the country, hosted by a hospitable family. We move on to the highest habited village of 114 people and visit the Komic monastery. This village is situated at 15,087 feet. The day ends in a comfy Langza home stay.
Day 6: Langza to Chandrataal
This day brings you to the most serene location of this trip - the Chandrataal lake. Traversing through the most difficult roads I have ever been to, one reaches the base camp with tents setup. This is because the area becomes inhabitable for humans in the winter and the setup is only done for summers from July - October, which can be still chilly!!
Day 7: Back to Manali
This day is just includes backing up all photographs and reminiscing all the wonderful memories captured on this trip, while on your way back to Manali. The evening is free for you to visit the amazing cafes. Cafes like 1947, Drifeters Inn and Dylan's are famous amongst others in Old Manali.
To be continued with more magic..
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