The Manali Experience
- Part 2 -

Prof E Bijoykumar Singh *

We were not really prepared for the snowy encounter in the Himalayas. As our vehicle took the winding upward drive we came closer and closer to heaps of snow everywhere. Only a narrow metalled road was there hemmed in by snow on both sides. As the road got narrower and narrower we decided to get down, got pairs of gum boots to walk in the snow in solang valley.

Snow equipments were easily available all along the route. We decided to take the short cut over snow and reached another clearing where hot tea was available, surprisingly, at Rs 10 per cup. At that temperature we would have paid much more willingly. We would have loved to stay there longer but evening was approaching fast and we had the same road back.

Even though we did not climb the peak, the trek back to our vehicle was equally exciting. I don't remember how many times we fell on the snow. We helped each other to remain standing. How similar it was with our lives' journey! The distance was short but highly memorable. I really wished we had come a few years earlier. It was an experience I had never anticipated. Dr Sharda and her family had a different experience at the insistence of their son. They went for skiing and riding snowmobiles at a higher place.

The last day at Manali was the day for shopping at the mall. We would be dropped at the mall and we had to be back at the Volvo bus depot by 3-30 pm. We had checked out from the resort by 10 a.m. and left the luggage in a makeshift clockroom. Our team decided to explore more of Manali on our own. On the way to the mall we requested Rakesh to take us to some tourist spots from where we would be able to come back to the bus stand by 3 -30 pm.

When we found a traffic jam on the way to the hot water spring, we turned back to the Hidamba temple. As soon as we got down, we saw a learning experience of entrepreneurship par excellence. A Himachali lady offered her white Angora rabbit for a Rs 50 per photo session. All we did was to hold the lovely animal and get photographed.

She earned Rs 350 in minutes. More was waiting for us. Huge yaks were also waiting for photo sessions. Each of us took turns to pose on the yaks. As soon as we finished the yak photo sessions, we changed into Himachali couples by hiring Himachali costumes and proceeded with another photo session. In the excitement, we did not realise that rabbits were again thrust in our arms. We had to pay for posing with the rabbits all over again.

Then we proceeded towards the temple. Hidimbi had married Bhim when the pandavas came to that place on exile. She did not join them when they returned. The temple dedicated to her was essentially a cave housing her footprints. One had to crawl for offering prayers.

Near the temple we found more yak entrepreneurs who taunted us for not riding snow colored yaks. One of them said "riding a black yak is like riding a cow." It was in the cedar forest near the temple that some memorable scenes of Mani Ratnam's Roja were shot. Then we proceeded to the hot water spring near the Manali fun spot. Water in such springs is said to have high curative power because of its high sulphur content.

When we reached there we found the whole set up unhygienic. It was essentially a public bath .our guide cum driver then took us to a secluded spot in the Beas river where there was a hot water spring. We had to cross a hanging bridge to get there. Unfortunately there also the little hole was packed with bathers. It was time to get back and we rushed to the Manali mall to have our lunch and the last shopping spree. We again bought shawls and other mementoes from the same shop. Rakesh dropped us at the bus depot just in time for the return journey to the resort.

The bus took us back to the resort and by 6 pm we left for Delhi and Chandigarh in two buses. We departed with unforgettable memories of Manali. Manali has managed to extract a promise to come back again. Someday, I would go back again to savour the beauty of Manali! How much of Manali we have managed to see?

I cannot help comparing it with Manipur. This is also one of the reasons of our visit. We have to develop our tourism resources imaginatively and do some hard selling. Our hills, waterfalls, lakes and war relics can be developed. Our heritage sites such as the royal palace and Kangla can be equally interesting.

Treks to Dzuko valley, Sirui hills and Kangkhui caves can be popularised. Dr. Zimik wondered if the natural setting in Ukhrul could be transformed into such assets. The area around the picnic spot at Sekmai can also be developed into a resort. The growing awareness of our tourism resources will work wonders.

The Himachalees have realised the value of tourism. Not only they were friendly to the tourists, they were also friendly with their natural resources. No litter was visible along the Beas. The forests looked barren because of winter. Though lakhs of tourists must have passed by, the surrounding seemed unspoilt. There are enormous possibilities.

The Northeast can return once we capitalise on such resources. Tourism can be the booster to launch us on a self sustaining growth path.

Concluded .. .