Last Christmas, I participated in the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) of India's Winter Trekking Expedition in Manali. I had been to Manali loads of times before, but never for an organized trek. Everyone told me that there was no point in going somewhere I had been before, but I am glad that I did. It is one of my most treasured experiences till date.
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| View of Solang Valley |
YHA Manali is located in picturesque Prini village, on the road leading to Naggar. The auto ride there was lovely, with snow clad mountains on either side. The early morning chilly air on my face was refreshing. After checking in, I went down for some left overs from breakfast as it was past the set time. That's when I realized that I must get into hostel mode quickly in order to not miss out on meals. The view from my room's balcony was breathtaking, overlooking snowy peaks including Solang Valley.
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| Icicles on the roof |
I went solo as none of my friends were feeling adventurous enough to brave the cold. Although I may have gone alone, I never felt alone there. My Maharashtrian room mates and I had a ball, playing cards/ board games, eating bhakarwadi and home made ladoos in the evenings, exhausted after our respective treks. It's always a good idea to carry snacks or sweets with you for a trek, for in between meals. The temperature would drop to -5 degrees celsius at night. Everybody was assigned a mattress, sleeping bag, a blanket and a pillow each. I froze the first night inspite of having slept in my sweater, 2 pairs of socks, gloves, scarf and a woolen cap! Luckily, somebody left a duvet behind the next day, which kept me warm for the next 4 nights.
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| Hostel from a distance |
Every morning, we would run down for hot tea at 6 am, get dressed and be ready with our tiffins for breakfast soon after. A few of us would actually go down for yoga at 5 am! I never did manage that. Mostly, because I wanted to be in the warmth of my bed for as long as possible. Initially, it seemed like boot camp but I soon realized how discipline was essential to the programme running smoothly. By 9 am, everybody was off for their respective treks, usually involving at least 10 kms of walking. In between, we would get time to rest, look around or just sit by the river in meditative silence to take in the panoramic view of Kullu valley. We would come back exhausted after the trek and then run down for pakoras and tea in the evenings. It was important to get to the dining hall as soon as the bell rang or risk getting no pakoras/ snacks.
My favourite trek was the one to a nearby village on the neighbouring mountain. We trekked up the mountain through deep snow and ice. Some of the people backed out, as they were not used to a steep climb. The rest of us carried on to the top and met a baba there. He had been living in isolation and was happy to see us. He sang and played a bhajan for us on his harmonium and gave us interesting insights into life in general. On our way back, some of the boys slid down the mountain as they couldn't keep their balance in the snow. It was a really funny sight. Soon enough, there was a snowball fight where I seemed to be the favourite target. We also got a chance to try some sledging on the icy road with locals, while passing through their village.
On the last night, we all exchanged contact details to keep in touch for any forthcoming treks. After all the group pictures had been taken, some of us went out to drink some wine and have sheesha under the clear, starlit sky. I saw two shooting stars that night and I wished for more times like these.
