Himalayas in the times of Econimic Downturn

Does the title sound something like "Love in the Time of Cholera", due acknoledgements to Gabriel García Márquez, one of my favorites, but what has Himalayas to do with Economic downturn....? or is it has become a habit to use this fancy words "Econonic Downturn", Slowdown and ofcourse how can I forget "Recession" ? Well not really, it all begin like this....

7-8 Years of working with European country makes an European...may not be with respect the eating, sleep, wearing habits....but suerly with respect to your vacation planning.

Come the year end, and mind starts thinking "Where to this year ?", "Himalayas Calling, where are you ?"

This year was no different, applied for leave and started thinking.....Booked the tickets to Delhi, thought of going to Himalayas, but then on second thoght...Economic Recession, Slowdown, should I go ? is it wise ? then came the answer NO, next moment I cancelled the tickets and decided to stay back in Bangalore itself.

But wait....., Who or What can come inbetween me and Himalayas....Nobody, Nothing, just before 3 days of begining of my holiday, booked the tickets again and I set out on the Journey to Shimla and Manali.

Reached Shimla on 25th Night, only to find that city is jam packed with people thanks to Long weekend around the Christmas, found some Hotel or should I say DEN and checked in at 12:00 AM in the night.

Morning started off to Kufri, all the hotels were packed even to have break fast, decided to try at kufri.

Surprisingly the road to the top of Kufri is quite bad, mostly has been kept bad to provide an Empolyment to locals, we have to take Horse to reach top, you see the huge stable on the top of the hill.

The view from the top, first sight of the snow covered mountains, could feel the adrenal rush, no sight like this, and the vacation starts....

On top of the hill some very femilier sight....Do you recognize this ?

Sorry I was confused, this is more femilier sight ;-), Only difference is one makes cotton and other makes Cotton Candy ;-)

A Nice stroll on the him, Brunch and back in hotel...and a nice sleep. Next day was long journney from Shimla to Manali, on the way is Kullu, Place to make your purse bit light before you climb the Mountain road to Manali :-), A nice place to buy some Warm Cloths. also a good place to try your hands on White water rafting in River Beas, but now no much water in the river.
Reached Manali at about 8:00 PM checked into hotel and Crashed.
Next day morning we decided to stroll around the city and visit a temple dedicated to Hidimba, Bhima's Damon wife. A nice 3 storied pagoda style building in the middle of forest.

Next to hidimba temple is a temple dedicated to her son Ghatotkach, the view of the mountain from the place is stunning.

One more stunning view

Next destination was club house, Behind Club house flows river Beas, you have a chance to expirence the river crossing...just as I did.

Any Direction you see the snow covered smile at you...

An Amazing wooden temple in the back drop of white mountain, Vishista temple this is place where you see the hot spring emerge in the cold region.

As we roamed around Manali, the gods were busy making a painting for us...a beautiful sight

Next was time to visit my dream destination "Rothang Pass" 3900 m high, but because of the snow fall, we had to stop well before we reached Rothang, but that does not dilute the beauty of the place..

Nither the things I had planned to do in Roghang

Just like Dr. Raj kumar sang...Naguveya Henne Nanu biluvaga...

You have snow all around you and you dont have a Snowman ? how can that be...we just made made our own snowman

Next destination was Solang Nala, a famous ski point of India after Auli, now it was time to try my hand at Paragliding

It was just a expirience of life time with 4 min in sky.

The journey was witness to some of the best creations of nature, but as always Man is always on quest to make his own best creations....

During the journey I witnessed two of the creations that really made me say "wow" at these..

1) Flyover over the city of Panipat, the longest flyover I have seen, this fly over flys over the whole citi in 3.4 Km, amazing construction by L&T.

Next man made wonder was the Second longest tunnel, The tunnel reduces the distance that was 16KM to just 2.8 KM.

Coming back to the title, economy slow, economy fast...does not matter Himalaya mountains always have this to teach us.....

Stand still as I stand and things will just pass by....