Welcome, adventure seekers! Get ready to embark on an exhilarating journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Himachal Pradesh alongside me, Chandrayee and my friend.
Route to Himachal Pradesh from Kolkata :
We began our journey in Kolkata, catching a flight to Delhi. The flight tickets cost us about Rs.7,000 per person, totalling Rs.28,000 for the round trip.
Upon arrival in Delhi, we hired a cab from the airport for seven days, which charged us Rs.32,000. Starting on Sunday night, we set off for Shimla in the cab, returning the following Sunday when the cab dropped us back at Delhi airport. Additionally, we incurred parking and toll charges amounting to approximately Rs. 1,200. Also, the car journey to Shimla took around 7-8 hours, including two stops along the way.
Exploring Mall Road and Choti Shimla: A Day 1 in Shimla
We arrived in Shimla in the morning and had breakfast at a café on Mall Road. Afterwards, we took a walk and then checked into our hotel. Our hotel, “Royal Cider”, was located a bit outside the main Shimla area in a place called ‘Choti Shimla’. Also, they charged us around Rs.2500 per day with check-in at noon and checkout at 11 AM. We opted to eat at the hotel, where each meal cost us around Rs.600, which was in our budget. On our first evening, we simply wandered around and explored the nearby areas around our hotel.
Exploring Kufri and Shimla: A Day 2 Trip Adventure
We set off for Kufri at 7 am. Upon arrival, we enjoyed a horseback ride to the main viewpoints, telescope viewpoints, and some apple orchards. Kufri itself boasts a few notable places to explore. By afternoon, we had finished our sightseeing. On our journey back, we made a stop at the Jakhoo Temple, conveniently located between Kufri and Shimla. Once at Shimla’s Mall Road, we visited the ViceRegal Lodge, the church, Kali Badi, and other famous spots nearby. Later in the evening, we returned to our hotel and had dinner.
Kasol Adventure: A Day 3 of Relaxation
The next day, we headed to Kasol, which was a journey of around 6-8 hours. Due to heavy traffic, it took us longer than expected to reach our destination. Originally, we planned to visit Manikaran on the same day, but because of the traffic and rain, we had to postpone our plans. We checked into our hotel, named Winter Line, which was a bit outside the main city, approximately 4 km away from Kasol near the main valley. After settling in, we freshened up and went to explore the main market. Also, we spent the entire day in Kasol, wandering around the market, visiting bakeries, and soaking in the atmosphere. Since there weren’t many activities planned for the day, it was a relaxed and casual day spent in Kasol. This marked the third day of our trip.
Snowy Getaways: A Day 4 of Manali’s Winter Wonderland
In the morning, we headed to Manali, which was about a 2-3 hour drive. Our hotel, Palchan, was situated a bit above the main town. The area had experienced snowfall a few days before our arrival, so everything was blanketed in snow. Our accommodation, Ride In, charged Rs.1600 per day. Also, the hotel also had a cafe on the top floor. Moreover, we spent the day exploring the immediate surroundings of the hotel, enjoying the snowy scenery without venturing too far.
Temple Routes and Waterfall Wonders: A Day 5 of Sightseeing in Manali
We started our day early again. Our first stops were the Hidimba Temple and Ghatotkach Temple in Manali itself. Afterwards, we headed to the Siyali Mahadev Temple and took a walk down Manali Mall Road, exploring the local sights. In the evening, we visited the Vashisht Temple and Jogini Falls. These places required a bit of travel time, although they weren’t very far from each other. Once we reached the parking area, it took us approximately half an hour to reach the actual sites. Along the way, we stopped to eat, spending around Rs.400 per person for each meal.
ATV Rides and Snowy Treks: A Day 6 of Adventure in Solang Valley
On the sixth day, we started early and visited the Solang Valley. There, we booked an ATV ride for around 1400 INR to explore higher altitudes inaccessible by vehicles due to heavy snow. After the ATV ride, we trekked to the Anjani Mahadev Temple, the second shivling made of snow, which was a major highlight. The trek took about 1-2 hours, covering a distance of 2.5 km. We returned to our hotel around 4 pm. Our hotel, situated near the river, offered beautiful surroundings, perfect for evening strolls. We had dinner at the hotel’s cafe, which offered various cuisines, albeit at slightly higher prices. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.
Wrapping Up: Our Journey from Manali to Delhi
On our last day, we left early in the morning and made stops at Naggar Castle and the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery on our way from Manali to Kullu. From Manali, we embarked on a long journey to reach Delhi airport, which took about 15-16 hours with two food stops along the way. We arrived at the airport around 1 am the following morning, concluding our trip with a tiring but memorable journey. And that’s all!
Himalayan Bliss: Ideal Seasons to visit Himachal Pradesh
The best time to visit Himachal is from February to June, during the spring and summer seasons. However, if you prefer cooler weather and snowfall, then the most pleasant and popular time to visit is from October to February, which is winter.
Himachal Travel Tips: Packing for Adventure
- Carry water bottles since the trip involves loads of trekking.
- Sunscreens are a must.
- ParleG for the enormous fluffy dogs on the way.
- Wear proper shoes for the hikes.
- Avoid eating non-veg food in roadside stalls.
- Stick to staple hilly food.
We said goodbye to the Himalayas, our hearts full of memories and gratitude. Our souls were enriched by the unforgettable experiences we had.Explore countless travel tales at https://sowl.in/stories/ for your wanderlust fix! Happy Travel !!!
