Here I am going to write about my most special and most awaited trip. Special and awaited because This was the first time we sisters had planned a trip to Manali with our Family and This was our first family trip. Although few members couldn’t join, yet most of family members joined and we had a lot of fun.
Let’s start.
I and my sister, Parul were wanted to take our parents on some vacation, and we decided to celebrate new year in snow. So we decided to go to Manali. Four families agreed to our plan and we were 14 people. We decided to start on 29/Dec/2021 from Delhi. We all gathered in Delhi, at Parul’s place on 28/Dec/2021. We had to leave by 3AM on 29/Dec/2021. We had booked whole traveler that was supposed to come by 3AM at our place. But that traveler got stuck in traffic and it was able to reach by 11AM. Here everything started getting delayed. Since we started our journey at 12PM, we reached Manali at 4AM. We didn’t expect that this journey is going to be so tiring, all because of this delay. We youngsters tried to keep everyone energetic, but after 10-11 hours, we were also tired and frustrated. By then, I started getting little worried for our elders, because it was peak winter and all were tired by sitting continously in traveler. Also, it was time to sleep for everyone. But nothing was in our hand, so we just kept quiet and tried to be patient.
here are some pictures we clicked on the way:
Finally we reached our hotel by 5AM and since everyone needed to take proper rest before we proceed to explore Manali. It was 30/Dec/2021. We decided to visit Hidimba Temple, Vashisht Temple and to explore local market. We decided to meet at 12PM. First we decided to go to Vashisht Temple.
Let me give a brief of both the places.
Vashisht Kund and Temple: Vashisht Temple is located in a beautiful small village at the east of the Beas River. This is believed to be more than 4000years old and is t sehe source of spreading the energy of positivity and a true paradise for backpackers. Also, this place gives a beautiful view of nature and visitors get an inner satisfaction deep in the sole. This temple has great significance to the heritage Indian Hindu culture. Rishi Vashisht is one of the Saptrishi. He had stayed at this place for sometimes. There is a hot water spring known as Vashisht Kund. When Rishi Vashisht got to know that his children were killed by Vishwamitra, he tried to commit suicide, but the river refused to kill him. Therefore, This River is known as Vipasha, “freedom from bondage”. It was later shortened to Beas River. After this, Rishi Vashisht began mediating and vowed to start his new life.
There is an ancient stone temple of Lord Rama, adjacent to the Vashisht temple and is and important Hindu Pilgrimage center. It is believed that the hot spring of the village was created by Lakshman, because Lakshman didn’t want Rishi Vashisht to walk too far for a bath. He shot an arrow into the ground and the hot spring emerged. This place treats visitors with a beautiful view of Beas River and Old Manali. The river spread below at sunset gives an mesmerizing sight and perfect for photography.
We had to park our traveler at the base of climb and from there we had to walk for around 1km. It is narrow climb, we can’t take large vehicle. Small cars and auto rickshaw can go up to the temple. There is a small local market near to the temple to roam around and to check out local stuffs.
check out some clicks we captured while walking to Rishi Vashisht temple:
One thing that I love about Indian historical and religious places that they are beautifully crafted, doesn't matter if it is wood, stone or marble. It is nearly impossible that you visit any Indian temple or historical monument and you don't find beautifull art crafted on walls and roofs.
Here are some pics of such art in Rishi Vashisht temple:
Next we started for Hidimba temple.
Hidimba Devi Temple: This is locally known as Dhungari temple, dedicated to Hidimba Devi. Hidimba Devi was wife of Bhima, a figure in the Indian epic Mahabharata. It is an ancient cave temple, surrounded by a forest called Dhungiri Van Vihar. The structure was built in 1553 by Maharaja Bahadur Singh.
This temple is built around a cave, where Devi Hidimba performed meditation. There she used to live with her brother, Hidimb. There is not much information available about their parents. They belong to Rakshasa family. She had vowed that she would marry one who would defeat her brother. During the Pandava’s exile, they visited Manali; Bhimaa killed Hidimb. After that, Hidimba married to Bhima and gave birth to their son Ghatotkacha.
During Navaratri, people in Manali worship Hidimba Devi; a huge crowd can be seen in the temple during Navaratri. Also, every year during spring, Hidimba Devi fair is celebrated by the locals. The temple has complexly carved wooden doors and a 24-meter-tall wooden tower above the sanctuary. The tower consists of three square roofs, covered with timber tiles and a fourth brass cone-shaped roof at the top. An enormous rock occupies the inside of the temple and only a 7.5cm tall brass image representing goddess Hidimba Devi. A rope hangs down in front of the rock. It is said that religious activists would tie the hands of sinners by the rope and then swing them against the rock.
There is a temple of Ghatotkacha, about 70 meters away from Hidimba Devi temple. The most reassuring feature of the temple is the fact that the imprint of the feet of the Goddess carved on a block of stone is worshipped.
The route to the Hidimba Devi temple is a climb of around 2 km and it could be difficult for aged people to walk. We went by our traveler, as we all were very tired to walk.
At both the places, local market and local food stalls are available. Near Hidimba temple, some local fun activities are available where children can enjoy. Some local ladies carries very furry rabbits, they offer tourists and visitors to carry the rabbit and get clicked picture with those white fur animals. Of course, they charge for this. It’s their business. Some ladies also provide their local dress and jewelry to wear and click pictures in local costumes. Some locals are there with their Yalk. They are very furry, and I guess that’s how they are able to survive in peak winters. Tourists can get clicked their pictures with Yalk also. There is some small shooting and other small fun game activities for children. All are chargable activities as this is the possible way of earning for locals.
We all had fun there, some get pictures clicked with Yalk; some participated in shooting game.
We clicked many pictures in forest also. The forest near the temple offers tourists a beautiful scenery to feel the warmth of nature and to click the beautiful pictures.
By the time, we all started starving, as we didn’t had lunch. The famous mall road is near the Hidimba temple, so we youngsters decided to stop at mall road and all elders decided to go to hotel for dinner.
We were 8, all were starving. First we went to a local stall and ordered different types of momos and coffee. After that, we decided to try local dishes: laphing and Siddu. We ordered one plate of Siddhu Unfortunately, we couldn’t find laphing.
After spending approx 2-3 hours in mall road market, we went back to hotel, had dinner and departed to our room. It was a great day and a great time with the family.
Stay tuned to know about our next day in Manali.
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