Photo Essay – Beyond Manali – II

Travelling in Himachal in June – 2007
Shimla >> Manali >> Rohtang >> Chandratal >> Ki/Kibber/Tabo >> Kalpa >> Shimla
+ Previous: Solang Nala
+ Next: Beyond Manali – III
+ Go to beginning of the story or index page

After stopping briefly at the cave temple in Solang Nala, we decided to follow the stream and walk upwards.

We saw a riot of flowers all around as we walked.

A bridle path assisted us for a few minutes, which disappeared after a while. We were left to find our own way. But then, we weren’t really looking for a path taken but only wandering aimless.

We soon hit the snow line. It was old snow from the last winter, hard as concrete below the surface. But the surface was soft and melting slowly and was not all that hard to walk on it.

At places, the stream ran under a layer of hard snow and made a path where a man could easily go in! It was fun exploring it, though we did not go deep inside them. We eventually crossed the stream using the snow as bridge and walked up the mountain and away from the stream.

Continued at Beyond Manali – III


Photo Essay – Beyond Manali – I: Solang Nala

Travelling in Himachal in June – 2007
Shimla >> Manali >> Rohtang >> Chandratal >> Ki/Kibber/Tabo >> Kalpa >> Shimla
+ Previous: Discovering Manali
+ Next: Beyong Manali – II
+ Go to beginning of the story or index page

For next few posts, it is going to be less words and more pictures.

Despite the touristy looks of Manali, its mountain peaks gave me an indication that there is much to discover around the town. We spent just two days there, one of them wandering in the town and the second, exploring. In those eight hours we spent freewheeling beyond Manali, we discovered some spellbinding beauty that wasn’t discovered by tourists. same

Solang Nala near Manali
Solang is visited by many people; is touristy and has many activities to amuse its visitors.

We rented a bike a rode towards Solang Nala north of Manali on the second day. The meadows of Solnag Nala were touristy enough that I would rather speak less of it here.

Solang Nala, Manali
We biked to Solang Nala from Manali

The road ends at a place where the Indian Army is working on a tunnel to Rohtang Pass, which would eventually open the road to Ladakh year round. My friend opted to take a horse ride from here to a waterfall and a cave temple besides a stream, while I decided to walk the distance. It was an hour’s walk to the temple, and we climbed higher as we walked.

Solang Nala, Manali
Solang is a deviation on the road to Rohtang Pass, and is at a level higher than Manali. The higher we climb the better are the views.

Solang Nala
Solang Nala flows from the mountains..

Solang Nala

Continued at Beyong Manali – II