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Published: April 1st 2013
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Himachal Pradesh:
The journey by bus has been challenging. It is difficult to sleep when your bus is passing through narrow roads, driving by night towards the mountain and facing some traffic jam at 2am! Go for a good Volvo AC bus managed by a well-rated company as the journey is bouncy and you need some comfort.
This region is spectacular with mountains views and river valleys. Famous for trekking, rafting, paraglading and skiing if you visit around March. We found some traditional villages where people bring up food and others items on their back towards the hill village. The homes are made in wood, stone and carving wood around the windows. Animals have their litter by the entrance of the house. On the upper-level will be the main living area with the kitchen and on the second floor the rooms. They will dry the grass for the coming winter to feed theirs animals, corn and other wheat. The landscape is a lush green and full of cedar trees and apple trees. They produce the most finest apple of India, which also procure a very sweet apple cider.
The Parvati Valley offers a
great scenery and some great escape from the burning sun of Hampi. Some great walks around the village brings you to waterfalls, beautiful mountains scenery and a good dose fresh air!
31/08 to 09/09: Manali / Vashisht / Malana
Vashist is a little village a bit higher up than Manali and quieter. The view from our balcony is fantastic: We can see the village and faced the mountains. We visited old-Manali which is more touristic and hippy-style but got his charms. It is so nice to breath fresh air and to be among nature. The region is famous for it's Charas (Hashish) and lots of tourists come here to relax and smoke.
We did a one-day trek to the mountain village of Malana: some part of the village burned in 2008 and have been replaced by cubes of cement instead of the traditional wood and stone houses. This village is unique as it has his own caste system and are the world oldest democracy. Charas is an integral part of their religious practices. There is rules for the outsider: you are not allowed to touch people, buildings, belongings, home or you will be fined and they will
have to process to a washing ritual. They don't want to be soiled by the impure hands of low-caste or non-Hindus. Nevertheless, you still can find guest-houses and have a meal.
10/09 to 17/09: Kasol :
Spread out along the lovely Parvati River and with mountain views, it is a small village and has been a place of laziness and leisure bars mainly for a lot of young Israelies, off-duty from their 2 years of army or in search of sense for their life.
A day trek to Manikaran, offered a nice walk along the river and small hot springs. Nearby the Temple, locals cook their bags of potatoes from the water emerging from the holes. The Sri Guru Nank Ji Gurdwara Temple has bathing pools. Hindus and Sikhs come here for pilgrimage.
We recommend a stay at The Royal Orchards Guest-house. Our host Rita & Rajish were very friendly and good fun to with... The service & cleanliness of their guesthouse is extremely rare to find in India....!
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