Manali - Popular Honeymoon Destination

Manali situated at 6398 ft in the Himalayas is a popular honeymoon destination and Mecca for adventure sports enthusiasts. Indians flock to the town even in winters lured by its snow covered peaks and slopes. Foreigners attracted by adventure sports options flock in large numbers to Manali.
Renowned for its snow-covered mountains, scenic beauty, history and culture, Manali, often referred to as the "Valley of the Gods", is situated in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is often considered a twin town of Kullu, 40 km away.
Manali rose to prominence as a pit-stop on the flower trail in the sixties and seventies. Hippies flocked in pursuit of their utopian dream and popularised Manali in the west.
Manali rose to prominence with the rise of turmoil in Kashmir. The hill town witnesses a rush of tourists during the peak season in summer and again during Christmas and New Year. Tariffs for rooms can more than triple coinciding with the tourist rush.
Manali is also the main jumping-off point for Ladakh, Spiti and Lahaul. Daily buses ply regularly to Leh, Keylong and Kaza from June to October.
Adventure Sports: In addition to temples, mountain landscapes and culture, Manali is a paradise for lovers of adventure sports. Mountaineering Institute is located three kms from Manali town. The Institute organises basic and advance training courses, in trekking, mountaineering, skiing and water sports.
Angling tours are organised in Tirthan and Sainj rivers. Trout and Mahseer found in the rivers are an angler’s delight. Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Department organises angling tournament in April and in September-October.

Trekking:  April to November is the best season for trekking in Manali. Lamadugh Meadows, Solang Valley, Koshla-Tree line are some of the popular treks. Most of the treks are one day journeys.
Manali has some of the finest stretches of white water. Though dangerous, hi-quality rafts and experienced and trained crew make the sport safe.

Paragliding in Manali is an unforgettable experience. Rohtang Pass, 51 km north and Solang valley, 13 km offer great opportunities for paragliding. Solang Nallah is suitable for short flights while Hallan is suitable for high flying. Operators also offer short tandem rides for novices.
Rock climbing, rappelling, Skiing, Ice Climbing, Snowboarding, Ski Touring are some of the adventure activities which can be indulged in Manali.

Tips

• Many tourists are also lured here by the famous Manali charas. Local police keeps a strict vigil which has brought the number of incidents.
• Old Manali and Vashisht close for winter from October to May.

History

Manali is named after the Hindu lawgiver Manu. Manali exactly means "the abode of Manu". Legend has it that sage Manu stepped off his ark in Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world.
Rakshas, the nomadic hunter tribe and shepherds from Kangra Valley are believed to be the earliest inhabitants of Manali. One of the most popular inhabitants of the city was the ‘nar’.  Manali was part of the erstwhile princely state of Mandi which merged with India in 1948.
Lord Raghunathji, a form of Lord Ram, was believed to be the ruler of Manali and the erstwhile princely rulers ruled the kingdom in trust for Raghunathji. How Raghunathji came to be ruler of Manali has an interesting legend associated with it.
Raja Jagat Singh, who ruled the valley in 17th century, contracted leprosy after he was cursed by a peasant. The remorseful king was advised to install an idol of Lord Raghunathji. As advised, the king brought an idol from Ayodhya and was cured of the disease. Jagat Singh installed Raghunathji on his throne and the Lord became the ruler of Manali.
However, modern Manali history began with the advent of the British. The British developed the land as a sanctuary from the oppressive heat of the plains during summer. They planted apple and released trouts in the rivers of Manali.
Manali was part of the princely state of Mandi, which merged with India in 1948.

Culture

Fairs and festivals are a vital part of life in Manali. Dassehra is celebrated in a grand way. Other festivals which are celebrated on a grand scale are Basant Panchami, Hadimba Devi fair and Winter Carnival.
Roerich Art Gallery houses paintings by Russian artist Nicholas Roerich. The gallery has also preserved original creations of the Himalayas done by Roerich.

Shopping

The region is known for its handicrafts and handlooms. Wood has traditionally remained a favorite item for handicrafts. Popular items for shopping in Manali are embroidered woolen shawls, Tibetan handicrafts, antiques, souvenirs and inlaid silver jewelry. The Mall Road is the best place for shopping in Manali. Fruit products, honey and apricot oil produced locally can also be purchased in the valley.

Where to stay

The Mall is lined with hotels and restaurants. Manali offers wide range in accommodation which includes luxury resorts, river-side cottages, deluxe hotels and 3-star budget properties. Manali also offers home stays which are a good option to enjoy nature and culture of the locals.

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A walk through the city of Seven Pagodas

Mahabalipuram is believed to have influenced temple architecture in Cambodia and Java too

The little girl runs and crouches behind the big boulder. She catches me smiling at her and puts a finger to her lips. It is a pleasant Saturday afternoon and the soft rays of the sun light up the sandy shores. l follow my gaze and see small hillocks, big boulders, rock cut temples and carved caves set amidst casuarina trees.
The blueness of the sky and the waves stand out against the sandy shores and the stony sculptures. A bunch of children are playing hide and seek. All of a sudden, I feel like a child again. The weight of three decades is removed from my shoulders as I go back to my childhood. We are a bunch of motley kids looking pretty in our uniforms and running and screaming wildly as we find freedom from our classrooms. It is the annual excursion to Mahabalipuram.
Several years later I am in Mahabalipuram again, lost in the sculptures. I am not seeking academic information or a place to picnic. It is an eagerness to explore, a childlike curiosity, a joy in discovering something new that overwhelms me.
The crowds soon gather. There are swarms of touts, tourists, vendors and visitors vying for attention at the historic site. The history of the coast, however, goes back to ancient times when maritime trade flourished here with Rome, China and other South East Asian countries.
Mahabalipuram became a thriving port during the Pallava reign between 6th-10th centuries. Referred to as Kadalmallai or Mammalapuram, after Pallava king Narasimhavarman 1, who was nicknamed Mammala or ‘wrestler’ it finds mention in works of ancient travelers and historians like Periplus, Ptolemy and Hiuen Tsang.

The structures at Mahabalipuram are among the oldest existing examples of Dravidian architecture

Interestingly it is documented in “Carta Cartalana”, a 14thcentury Spanish world map as “Setemelti” referring to “Sette Templi”, the obvious reference to the Seven Shore temples, of which only one remains today.
Standing tall against the ocean, the World heritage site, houses three shrines dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. A guide tries to lure me by narrating the tale of the “tsunami temple”, referring to some sculptures that were found under water after the tsunami. “Underwater excavations are still happening madam”, he says, adding that the locals believe there could be a city buried underneath the waters. A local gypsy walks with beads and necklaces on her arms, trying to grab my attention.
There are three temples of which two Shiva Temples face east and west respectively built by Narasimha Varman II. The third is the Vishnu Temple built by Narasimha Varman I. Carvings of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses, such as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi, Parvati, Ganesha, Skanda , Narasimha and Durga, are depicted here.
The central shrine is in the form of a rectangle. Here the sculpure of Vishnu is found reclining; hence, the deity is known as Sthala Shayana Perumal or Ananthasayana. It is said that Vishnu reclines on the floor listening silently to the sounds of names. It is pretty dark in there and one has to strain to catch the glimpse of the reclining God. The grand temple is surrounded by mandapas and compound walls.

Hundreds of highly skilled sculptors toiled to create the wonders at Mahabalipuram

Legend has it that a great flood consumed a city of the east coast of India, more than 1500 years ago when the Gods grew jealous of its beauty. The sea has its secrets and some were uncovered post the tsunami, when recent underwater excavations have shown some structures hidden under the waters.
Excavations on the shore revealed the remains of an ancient temple dedicated to Shiva located to the south of the shore temple. A beautiful ring-well made of terracotta, a shikara stone are among the others which were found within the temple complex. According to the local traditions these structures are the remains of one of the six temples believed to have submerged. More temples were unearthed and we went in search of them.
We walk over to the monolithic rathas which are carved out of a single boulder. A tribute to the Pandavas of the Mahabharath, the Pallavas have built five Rathas or chariots called Dharmaraja  (Yudhishthir), Bheem, Arjuna, Sahadev-Nakul and Draupadi. The monolithic temples are called locally as Rathas as they resemble the processional chariots of a temple. They were carved during the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I. Gods, kings, mortals and animals are sculpted on these temples as some of them are three storied like the Dharamaraja ratha and single storied like Draupadi ratha.

Erosion has taken a toll on several monuments but what remains, still speaks eloquently of the brilliance of Pallava architecture

I then see a beautiful bas relief which is sheer poetry on a single rock. I am looking at Arjuna’s  Penance which narrates the story of Arjuna as Kiratarjuniya obtaining the weapon Pasupatha from Shiva after a severe penance. Set on the banks of the river which depicts life running its own course through images of nature, wildlife, man, it is also interpreted as the story of the descent of the River Ganges.
We walk past more rathas, cave temples and mandapams and watch as more stories come alive. The Varaha Cave, the Mahishamardini Mandapam, the Trimurthi cave, Ganesh Ratha, Govardhanagiri Panel, Konheri Cave, the Pindari Rath, the Krishna Mandapa – one is lost in the world of sea, sand and sculptures. I head to Krishna’s Butter Ball near Ganesh Ratha. It stands out there as everyone loses their balance while attempting to pose against the rock, even as it balances precariously on its own. A bunch of children were playing hide and seek. All of a sudden, I felt like a child again lost in the past.

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In defence of train journeys

Nothing compares with the romance and thrill of a train journey

Whenever I tell friends or colleagues that I’m taking the train instead of flying within the country, they look at me as if I am insane. Why would anyone choose Indian Railways with its decrepit trains and smelly stations over newly-renovated airports and somewhat affordable low-cost airlines?
I have a simple answer: I love travelling by train; it makes me happy. Thanks to my adventures as a child while criss-crossing the country on the Indian Railways network along with my siblings and dog, I’ve always associated trains with leisure, with family, with adventure and with the journey being more important than the destination.

My earliest train memory is etched in my mind. It’s an image of my sisters and me screaming blue murder because a man who had turned up his eyelids to make it look like he was blind, barged into our coupe when my Armyman dad was away and tried to make off with a large basket containing our food supplies. Given that the family then comprised three hungry girls under 10, a bawling baby, an alarmed mother and a half-Bhutanese terrier, it’s not surprising that the potential thief dropped the basket and exited hastily after being hit with our reaction.

Train journeys have come to be associated with leisure and old world charm

What is it about train travel that makes it so special? A close friend articulated it well recently. She looks at train travel as time she gets exclusively for herself. It’s ‘me’ time. She’s right. Train travel is like meditation. I can spend hours daydreaming during my journey; I read, stare out of the windows or into nothingness and finally fall asleep to the somewhat reassuring clacking of the wheels.
Being on a train alone is almost like being in a cocoon. I feel insulated from the demands of family and friends; from worries of the workplace; from the entrapments of the digital age and from the urban cacophony that is a vital, but unwanted, part of my daily life. I will, however, admit that you need a high level of tolerance for the deteriorating level of hygiene in trains and stations to be able to
enjoy a train journey.
In contrast, air travel is more about the destination. It holds no charm for me. It’s impersonal and clinical. It’s literally and figuratively cold. It generates no warm, fuzzy feeling within me. Airports have no character; they are clones, giant pods of humanity in a rush to get to their destinations.

Rail journey is an expedition through cultures and across lands

At the end of a holiday, I’d rather take a train back to work than fly because a train journey eases me into reality gently. It gives me a buffer of a few hours of peace between hectic holidays and hectic work. It allows me to come to terms with the fact that my break is over. Importantly, it allows me to stretch my legs. Air travel does no such thing. Given that many of us fly to save time in order to join work upon landing, air travel brings me back to reality cruelly and suddenly. There’s no waiting time, no easing in, no time to readjust before the fun ends and work begins.

The article was first published in the English daily DNA.

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