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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Family trip to Himachal Pradesh, June 2011- I

My family of 4 made a trip to the enchanted state of Himachal Pradesh this month. Actually, I had booked a package on the net with Mr. Rajat Mahajan of Hotel Monal, Dalhousie, and had also sent him an advance to confirm my booking. In the event, the package was definitely substandard, and I would not advise any one to book this package that is advertised on the home page of his hotel's website (http://www.hotelmonal.com) under the button "Packages". Although the stated tour was attractive, the properties where he booked our stay were not up to the mark, except at a few locations.

Our itinerary was as under.

May 31: We depart by Golden Temple Mail from Mumbai-Central.
June 01: In the train through the day and most of the night.
June 02: Reach Jallandhar at dawn, and picked up by the package-arranged car to be transported to    Dalhousie (120 km, 4-5hrs). Spend the day looking around the place. Stay at Hotel Monal in a family suite.
June 03: Sightseeing of Sathdhara, Pajpulla (water-fall), Dainkund (valley of flowers), Kalatop (wild-life sanctuary). Evening free for leisure activities.
June 04: Sightseeing of Khajjiar (Mini-Swiss of India), Chamba (historical city), Ravi river bed point, Dam-view and rock-garden.
June 05: Departure for Dharamshala (140 km, 4-5hrs). Check-in at Grand Hills Hotel & relax. Visit to the Dalai Lama Temple. Sightseeing of Bhagsu, Naddi, Dal lake, Tibetian Handicraft Center. Evening free for shopping at the local market.
June 06: Departure for Palampur (50 km, 1-2hrs) enroute visit to Chamunda Devi Temple. Check-in at Camp-Dhauladhar, Stay ay Luxury Tents. Evening Bon-fire will be arranged.
June 07: Departure for Manali (270 km, 7-8hrs) visit enrouting Baijnath Temple, Kullu Market. On arrival at Manali, check-in at Hotel Kalinga International & rest.
June 08: Full day excursion to Rohtang Pass (13,500 ft asl, snow point) (50 km from Manali, 2hrs). Visit Solan Valley, Rahla Fall.
June 09: Visit to Hadimba Temple, Club house, Vasisth Bath. Eveing free to shopping in Manali.
June 10: Drop at Chandigarh (310 km, 8 hrs) for onwards journey. We return by an afternoon flight from Chandigarh to Mumbai via New Delhi. 

A late realisation that we would be unable to travel for 8 hours and yet reach Chandigarh airport by 2:00 p.m. on the last day made us reduce a day at Manali and we left for Chandigarh on the 9th of June, and spent the night at my wife Nishrin (a.k.a. Guddi)'s cousin Pinky Sohi's place.

More on this trip later. Hope you enjoyed reading this first post.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Read about your trip and await snaps of this trip.We have visited Kulu/Manali in 1995 and it is an awesome place.Rohtang pass is also great and the journey to the pass is adventurous.If time permits would want to visit Kulu/Manali once again as it has natural beauty in abudance.
Saleh Bookwala
Canada