Manali | Lost and found [Part 1]

And so, began the journey – on the night of November 4, 2018. It was after a blissful 5 months of internship in Shimla with as adventurous begins as I could wish to meet in this lifetime, and here is a particular Latin phrase for them [Neha – chirpy roommate, Bhagyashree – considerate persona, and Prachee – an introvert of my liking] ‘In Omnia Paratus’ [ready for anything]. Well, Neha didn’t join us in this final chapter of our insane decision making, but the madness remained.

We left for the bus stop from mall road, at this point of time we had nothing planned, not even had our tickets booked, it all depended on the mercy of no. Of other travelers boarding the only bus to Manali. And not that we reached early in this panic, instead we took our sweet, even walked to the bus stop with our luggage [backpack, of course!] On our shoulders, taking in the light that now defined the form of our beloved mountains. Well, with some luck I guess, we got the last of the tickets but seats were crooked – and we made do, it was the adventure that we were seeking rather than the comfort.

So after settling with the disobeying seats, we got to finally booking our stay, yet it was the excitement of staying in a homestay/hostel rather than the pure requirement aspect of it. We soon found one, but we never in the entire trip solid booked anything, instead we just informed of our staying a few hours in night before arrival, and no we were not looking forward to sleeping on the sidewalk as a consequence!

We reached Manali earlier than what we thought of, it was still dark, but getting a taxi proved easier and great enough that he already knew the location. Upon reaching, we knocked and knocked and knocked for a while longer, while embracing the view of the valley in front of us and by this time the taxi left and we there wrapped in the silence of night, both amazed and impatient. And finally calling the stay that we came to know that the location was right but not the altitude, where we were at the top of the mountain and the stay was way down in the valley. Getting any ride was out of option now, so we walked with a strange thing of every street light ahead of us blinking out and entirely empty road downhill. Google maps didn’t exactly help and neither did the dogs lying here and there.

This was tiring enough, but our troubles were just starting when a group of at least 10 dogs started barking at us, and all we had was a thin – thin light pole to hide behind. And so we did, all three of us behind that light pole, quite funny though, shutting off the flashlight of our phones, wondering about our escape. It took all of our strength to run back to the road we came from, it was a coincidence that we came across another way ahead earlier and headed back to it, though it was narrow and unsure and with steps. But the escape did work and soon we found the bridge that the owner of the stay ‘The Crazy Indian Pad’ asked to look for, but we were still lost, and the sun wasn’t coming up soon. So, we wandered around, came across ‘Moustache hostel’ with its gate closed and we didn’t try to get in though [would have been easier than to find the one where we booked].

It was then that it became clear that we weren’t supposed to cross the bridge, but walk beside the river edge on the same path that the steps lead us to. But finding ‘The Crazy Indian Pad’ was no easy task, for we stumbled upon a house that we thought our resting place, with its staircase outside to approach we checked it out only to find that it wasn’t what we were looking for while a dog came out barking, so we ran upwards to the sight of another house – got disappointed again and came back down.

Started following the water channel, and finally came across a little settlement, sat outside another house – looked about it to find whether we were on the right location or not which of course wasn’t. Finally, the owner of the homestay came out after another call and waved at us, but again the barking of the dogs followed, so we increased our pace towards the stay. Upon reaching was the comfort and sight of a beautiful dorm room that made the adventure worth encountering, and the sun wasn’t up yet.

After a much needed sleep, we woke to the enchanting views surrounding The Crazy Indian Pad, set in a valley – open to the snow caped mountain top with a vast ground enveloping it. What more could a wanderer want beside hot chocolate. And we were after a while of admiring the beauty of our temporary location set off to explore Manali on foot with the mercy of google maps that made clear our morning journey to exploring the mall road. On the way our troubles earlier with the way to the stay became clear and it was the most beautiful path besides the river running below, and furthermore towards the mall road, each part became enchanting.

Got a few rings and diaries – perfect souvenirs while exploring the mall road. Later we set off to the Hadimba temple – walking all the way up there revealed Manali a little more, we even came across the warmest clothing store [buying felt more mandatory]. The location of the temple and architecture of it was beautiful, we wandered about it, and Bhagyashree interacted with a rabbit! The way back, we lingered on the way a little more than before, and finally decided to take an auto to another temple in Old Manali. And we were glad, for the slope was high and mighty.

Again, we were mesmerized by the location of the temple, and after a few moments of gazing at the surroundings we left to explore the settlement along the slope. And it was a satisfaction to walk around the pretty houses. As the sun went farther down, we made our way back too, and landed on the coziest café for dinner, set besides now familiar river running, with hanging lanterns and the sound of the river made the atmosphere besides the meal a delight. Walking back in the dark now, was more of a pleasure than a hurried conscious, and the night was beautiful.

"Lost in the light - Bahamas"