Nahan – Just chill!

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The everyday driving to office was taking a toll on my back, but the urge to travel was even more strong. So as another long weekend dawned upon us, we decided to go to some place nearer. After much searching on the net we zeroed upon Nahan a small hill station in Himachal just five hours from Delhi. Since our main objective was relaxation, we chose a resort which had a spa – Grand View Resort. This time we were …

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Lansdowne – nature at its best

Ideally they say it’s not safe to take the highways in north India during winters. The fog is thick and stays almost throughout the day. But then when you have to go, you have to go. So in November-December we had to go…and the reasons for this trip to Lansdowne in Uttaranchal were manifold. Firstly we were getting restless to hit the highway and secondly, our God daughter was in town so we decided to take her on a vacation. …

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Tips for travel in the snowing Himachal hills

If you are keen for some adventure in the hills of Himachal Pradesh in the winter snow, here are a few tips: 1. Make sure your trip is planned well in advance. Check on general road conditions and confirm whether the high mountain passes are open. 2. Most of the picturesque destinations in Kinnaur, Chamba, Lahaul and Spiti and Kullu districts are at high altitudes. During winter and monsoon, you must carry heavy woollens, jackets and some eatables as you …

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About Barog

On the Kalka-Shimla Highway, Barog (height: 1680m) has grown from a mere stopover to a full-fledged destination. Surrounded by pine and oak forests, Barog has a commanding setting. Barog makes a conveniently accessible destination and a travel stopover to or from Shimla. HOW TO REACH: The closest airport is at Jubbar-Hatti, 65 km away. The nearest narrow gauge railhead is at Barog itself. By road Chandigarh is 62 km and Shimla is 55. CLIMATE: In winter, the temperature can drop …

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What the doc ordered – 3 days in Barog-Sarahan!

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The wait for long weekends never seems to end. But then it did…after a couple of months of waiting we were restless again to hit the road. This time our itinerary was Barog – a little-known place in Himachal’s tourist circuit. But then what’s the big deal about going to a place where everyone rushes to? That’s, of course, what we thought till we reached Barog. As usual it was an impromptu decision and so we had to work rather …

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Manali…2

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Day 3 dawned bright and clear and off we went to visit the 16th century Hidimba temple barely 2-3 km from where we were. This temple has featured in many Bollywood films so we kind of knew what to expect but nothing prepared us for what we actually felt there. Tucked away on the slopes amidst majestic, towering deodar trees, the entire atmosphere permeates one’s being. From the moment one enters through the small iron gates down the concrete path leading …

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Rohtang Pass: Playground of the Winds

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Replete with Kanshi Ram’s breakfast, we set off for a slice of the great Rohtang experience. It’s roughly 51 km from Manali and the drive can take about 3 hours since it’s uphill all the way. It may take longer as the road’s narrow and in pretty bad shape making traffic jams a common feature. So if you don’t want to get stuck, start early. The road is maintained by the BRO (Border Road Organization) and it serves as an …

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Manali…1

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As is fast becoming the norm rather than the exception with us, it was almost a last minute decision… to spend the Dussehra break in Manali. There was a frantic search on the net for suitable lodgings and there were quite a few that were offering good deals. But we were yet to zero in on any one. A chance visit to Mintu’s site (bharathomestay) decided it for us. He called up the contact person of Manali Cottages and booked …

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On the Kufri-Mashobra Trail

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Another of those long weekends peeked around the corner and there was no way we’d let it go waste. We decided on Kufri, and maybe Shimla, although the latter wasn’t an exciting prospect as it has been done to death. Of course it went without saying that we’d drive up in our Spark. So before break of day (at about 4.30 a.m.) on Aug 14, we were off on NH 24 while Delhi was just waking. As soon as we …

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On the Kufri-Mashobra Trail – 2

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Woke up on Independence Day 2008 in Kufri. We’d decided to leave after breakfast so we got dressed quickly and descended to the restaurant. There was a lot of activity going on as the resort was being decorated for the evening celebrations. We chose a place by the window overlooking the valley from where the view was awesome. There was just one other occupant in that hall tucking into his breakfast. Soon we got talking and came to know that …

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