paulclanonwheels

Every married people head towards hill station for their honeymoon trip.. We, also like everyone headed towards Manali with a twist.. As a wedding gift, one of our cousins booked the hotel in Manali. So, our final destination of honeymoon became Manali. We opted for public transport since we didn’t own a car at that time.

We booked the railway reservations and started our exciting trip by boarding the train from old Delhi to Chandigarh. In Chandigarh we went to one of our friends home and stayed there and in early morning we stepped into the train till Kalka.

Kalka.. From where the very famous toy train starts. Yes, we had to catch up a toy train to Shimla. Finally, boarded it and begun our mesmerizing tour through the hills.. There was an unexpected snow falls that spiced up the new adventure.

The en route was so gorgeous. While we crossed each villages the local kids threw snow balls into the windows.

We reached Shimla by noon. We put our luggage in clock room of railway station and stroll around the Mall road. Meanwhile, booked our bus ticket to Manali from there. Snowfall made Shimla more elegant.

Finally we walked towards the bus stop and boarded the bus. When we reach Kulu our bus driver stopped and told everyone that it would not go further as roads were blocked by snowfall. It was around 3 am and we were shocked and confused about what to do next. Husband argued and negotiated with the conductor and finally he arranged a hotel to stay till morning near the bus stand. A room that only have basic facilities.. a bed and a stinking bathroom. We had no other option and we stayed there till the first sun ray came to the valley.

Then we went to the bus stand for any chance to go to Manali.. Only local buses were going.. that also till 4 km down from Manali.. We have no choices and we started again the journey in a local bus that also sitting on the engine..

When we get down from the bus luckily we got shared taxi till Manali. But our hotel is 4 km up from Manali and cabs were not going due to snow fall and the traffic jam. So again problem.. But we had the luck factor. The person who was in taxi with us told that his car is waiting 1 km up from Manali and he would drop us, if we can walk through snow for 1 km. We agreed and started walking with our luggage through the slippery snow. And finally the struggle came to an end with a beautiful breath taking view from our hotel.

Snow fall had made every thing stand still.. No transportation.. Stuck in the middle of ice.. We decided to explore Manali on foot. So we wore the boots given from hotel and started our expedition. The road was very slippery due to sun and my husband is falling like anything..

We walked 4 km down the Manali and laze around Mall road and Hidimba temple.. It was spectacular to see snow clad bulidings and pine trees..

We enjoyed the local cuisines and snow falls for 2 more days and returned to Delhi in direct bus.