Dharamshala

Dharamshala is the capital of Kangra District. Kangra Valley and hence Dharamshala was supposed to be the Summer Capital of India during British times, but in 1905 an earthquake here killed approx 20,000 people hence the Summer Capital was shifted to Shimla. Dharamshala has religious importance to Buddhists (especially the ones from Tibet) as it is the home to 14th Dalai Lama who took refugee in India in 1959 after being exiled from Tibet.









Route to Dharamshala: Pleasant mountains which looked folded due to buildup of roads was visible on our path to Dharamshala. A pleasant sight against river Beas flowing by.













Tea Gardens: These were located on the route. Around 22 acres of land is occupied by the gardens. The tea leaves from here are purchased by brand companies and blended with other tea leaves (mainly that of Darjeeling).













Kangra Valley: A view of the beautiful valley in day time.


















Sunset: An evening view of the valley from my window.

























Old Buddhist Temple and Stupa: Currently under renovation it is mainly known for its prayer wheels.


















Namgyal Monastery: This is The Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso's personal monastery. It is especially privileged and honored to perform annually the sacred rites and rituals established by the successive Dalai Lama for the temporal and spiritual benefits and prosperity of Tibet and its people, and for world peace in general.

The monastery has nearly two hundred monks and younger monks are engaged in study of the major texts of Buddhist Sutras and Tantras while at the same time pursuing the modern studies of both Tibetan and English Language. Their curriculum includes the study of Sutra and Tantra texts, Buddhist Philosophy, practicing debate as well as making butter sculptures, torma offerings, sand mandalas, playing various ritual musical instruments, ritual chanting, and dances.









The "Om Mani Padma Hum" wheel: "Om Mani Padma Hum" literally means "Jewel in Lotus". The wheels have this Mantra written on them and rotating them equals humming the mantra itself. It means that in dependence on the practice which is in indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.









Dal Lake: This was our last destination at Dharamshala. It has a beautiful sight surrounded by long deodar trees. You will find a lot of crowd in the evenings for boating.

The Not So Mannerful Lions.

Saw a documentary on National Geography today. A very good one.

It highlighted the gastronomical aspect of lions in Africa.

The lioness gave birth to eight new cubs in the family with seven male cubs. While the female cub would remain a part of the family the males would be asked to leave as they grew up.

Everyday is a struggle to survive for the new cubs as they learn the art of attacking and mauling their victim slowly but steadily. The victims normally are baby elephants or wild buffaloes.

On one such scene where a baby elephant hurt while a hubbub took place in jungle was left by its herd to die. It couldn't keep pace with its herd. It moved slowly throughout the night to be seen by the pride of lions in the day time. Nothing could save the poor baby elephant.

The lions slowly attacked. It's the mother lion who takes lead while hunting the prey. Usually she kills the animal caught by biting on the nerve on its neck. But unusually she leaves the prey alive with tremendous hurt while her cubs learn to chew on the victim and eat it without killing. The baby elephant went into coma while the lions began feasting on it.

A terrible scene for normal human being but perhaps uncommon for the not so mannerful lions. To eat an animal while it is still alive really showed the not so mannerfulness of the lions. Perhaps that's the way it prefers things sometimes. But it tried to save its energy on preying and killing the baby elephant hard when it was such a soft target.

Now that looked very similar to many a human beings . Atleast the lions are wild what about humans? Hurting, causing mayhem, killing soft targets are also done by humans. What differentiates a human being from an animal are his instincts, his highly developed mind and his ability to think superior than other animals. But you would still find that there remains a great similarity between animals and humans . While we have come up a lot as a developed society but you can still hear instances of animal instincts in human beings. Perhaps because human beings have evolved from animals. And humans are most brilliant but cunning animals.

The cubs of lions grew up to learn that soft targets are very few and to feed themselves in future they will have to depend highly on preying. They cannot always afford to be not so mannerful and will have to systematically prey. They learn the art from their mother for two years before they part to other parts of jungle to establish their own rule.

But if I ponder on the way one would differentiate them, at times the lions looked better than humans.

Manali

"Ye Haseen Wadiya, Ye Khula Aasman..." reminds us of one of the most beautiful valleys with snow clad mountains - Manali. Located at an average height of 8600ft, Manali took up prominently as a vacation spot after militancy became rampant in Kashmir.

To experience its beauty you should once be there. Till that time you can enjoy the below intimate escapes with Manali.








Bhakra Dam - It falls on the route to Manali via Shimla. It is one of the major suppliers of water and electricity to Himachal.












Beas River - The sight of the river is beautiful and soothing to the eye. It rises in Rohtang Pass at the Himalayas and then joins the Satluj river in Punjab. It mainly carries water which is molten ice from the Himalayas.
Rarely do you see yourself moving parallel to a cool river flowing by your side. But Beas gives you that experience throughout your route to Manali.













Tibetan Monastery - It is very close to Manali market area. It has several small monasteries and a main one which depicts tankha paintings on the life of Lord Buddha. It is also a home to a 20ft Buddha Statue.













Rohtang Paas - In Persian Rohtang means "Pyre of Dead Bodies". It got its name due to numerous vehicle accidents while passing through this route that moves forward towards Leh-Ladhak. It is open for visitors between May - Nov. We couldn't actually land up at the paas as it was closed during the time that we had been there, but the pics are of a place called Gulaba which is on the route to the paas. This stretch is one place where all round the year there is snowfall and you will always see the mountains ice cream topped with snow.












Rahala Waterfalls - Located around 27km from Manali on the route to Rohtang Paas and at a total height of 2500m this beautiful waterfalls has been made kind of a picnic spot amidst the snow.













Solang Valley - This place is a main attraction during winters for skiing and during summers for paragliding , horse riding and zorbing (its a big ball where 2 people can fit in and take a whole round 200m from a height at Solang) . You can have a beautiful view of glaciers and snow from this spot. I captured these trees at Solang Valley that looked maple red in color due to drying in summer but they indeed looked very romantic.











Vashisht Temple - This temple located in Vashisht area (named behind a local sage) is mainly known for the hot water sulphur springs that flow through this area. It is supposed to have healing properties.
You can find better hot water springs at Manikaran which is about 86km from Manali. It is well known for the cold water running near by simultaneously with the hot springs. The main attraction there is free kar seva done at the langar close by Manikaran. We skipped the spot after having hot spring darshan at Vashist.












Guess what may this be?
A waterfall?
A Spring?
A gush of water?
No... This is a gutter... Now aren't you surprised? Even the gutters in Himalayas are so clean. Perhaps BMC should learn something. :)










Hadimba Temple - It is the most ancient temple built in 16th century as a worship to Hadima Devi (wife of Bhim). It is declared as a heritage structure by HP govt. This four storeyed pagoda made up of wood and stone rests quietly amidst long trees of deodar. It is also a spot of daily bread for people with Yaks, Lambs and Rabbits waiting for you to take pics with them.










Manu Temple - This too is a very old temple built in memory of Manu Rishi.












Van Vihar - The last spot of our journey to Manali. This is a deliberately maintained area by HP govt to conserve trees. One is located just close to the market area of Manali and one is located next to Hadimba temple we had seen above. Each of the Van Vihar has more than 2500 Deodar trees and all above the height of 20ft.
The sun that can be seen from here in the pic felt so friendly due to protective trees. We could barely feel the sunrays but for sure the weather in the vihar made us enjoy the cool breeze and pleasant air.
You would experience ultimate bliss sitting in the vihar. It might just remind you of the poem by Rober Frost..
"These woods are lovely dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep.
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep ....."

शब्द नसतील त्या ओठांना कोण काय सांगे ?

बोलके ते डोळे आणि त्यातुनी जे दिसे,
पण मज कडेना ते मज काय म्हणत असे.

वाट पाहत ते कुठल्या क्षणाची असे काही प्रश्न पडले,
कडेना त्यातल काही, तरीही मनाला ते आवडले.

भिजलेल्या त्या डोळयांखाली कापणारे ओठ,
दोघे सुंदर - देखणे , कौतुकच मोठ.

काय विचार तडमडी त्या ओठांवर कोण जाने,
शब्द नसतील त्या ओठांना कोण काय सांगे ?

ओंजळ्भर पाण्यानी जो चेहरा नीट पुसला,
ओठानवरचा भाव आता डोळ्यांवर लपला.

खुप कही दडलेले त्यात न बोलता,
काही दाखवण्याचा प्रयत्न करत ते काही न सांगता.

पण डोळ्यांचे ते म्हनने मला नुसतेच प्रश्नात टाके,
आणि शब्द नसतील त्या ओठांना कोण काय सांगे ?

Shimla

The summer capital of Britishers - Shimla was called "The Queen of Hills". Located roughly 7000 ft above sea level it's a quiet and a beautiful hill station which attracts lacs of tourists the whole year. It gets covered with snow in winters and is pleasant with soft sunrays, that can be experienced in the afternoon, during summer.

Presenting you a glimpse of the city in its summers.

Green Valley
(Evergreen Forests)

Shimla view from The Ridge

Mall road- This is really like a mall with small shops on ones side of the road. It is divided into Upper and Lower Bazar. You wont find vehicles loitering around honking horns. Smoking and littering is strictly prohibited and fined. And yes, the policemen mean it even if you are any politician's kid. People can peacefully stroll on the roads. The dogs here are nice healthy and fury compared to those in Mumbai.

St. Michael's church is close to The Ridge Area, which is in the heart of the Mall Road. The route is a huge stretch of beauty with clean, cool & natural air and pathway.








The Municipal Corporation Building- Gothic structure located on the Mall road.









High Court of Shimla- This building too is an ancient heritage which was converted to high court.








Indira Gandhi Institute of Advanced studies- Another ancient structure, the interiors of which are intact since British times. As the interiors are mainly wooden, the roof of the building has multiple water storage tanks and corners of walls are sealed with wax so that anytime the wood catches fire, the wax melts to quench it. This all in 17th century. Marvellous, isn't it?

The clock inside one of the rooms, is about 250 yrs old and still requires to be winded only once a day to get ready to work. The photograph to the left side of the clock is that of Queen Victoria.






Kufri- This place used to be mainly well known in winters for ice sports. This is how its path looks in summer. In the picture you can see people carrying tourists on horse as you can't climb beyond this stretch for 4kms height. The entire area is snow filled in winters. That's actually a time one should visit it.

There is a zoo close by, maintained by HP Govt., which is where we could see Black Bears (one in the pic), Brown Bears, Sambar, Barking Deers and exotic birds.








Jakkhu Temple- This is one of the most ancient temples at highest altitude of Shimla. It is believed that Hanuman had taken rest at this place while flying with Sanjeeving booti to Lanka for Laxman. You will find too many monkeys here who manage to terrorize you by snatching your belongings, especially your specs and goggles, in exchange of food.










Langur - Last but not the least.... The lone specie of his kind we found in Shimla. He was sitting upright with a perfect pose just for the pic.