The fourth part of the story was long due.
It was time to move out of the State Capital and romp towards the northern Himachal, 300KMs from Shimla, to a famous tourist destination called Manali. (Not Manila, as many flips their tongue!)
Manali is beautiful, no doubt, but this post is based on the beauty that the roads towards Manali that holds the lens (eye/camera), pop out of the window; throughout the journey. Residing at the foothills of the Upper Shivaliks, near the meet point of Beas, Manali is like Haridwar for Beas. For more than 70% of the journey, which took a good 6 hours in the Alto, we traced River Beas. The pebbles of the river bed executed some of the colours, close to nature.
The river had its own succulent nature. It accelerates suddenly, while slows down the flat valley. On either side lies the barren apple orchards. sibce we visit just after the apple's season, we missed the fruit from heaven, hanging, just like a common "wild" fruit around! Our driver was caring enough to tell us the geographic nature of the place and advised us that Manali and Shimla has two well defined seasons. One must visit in both the seasons, to savor the taste of Himachal. Its April-September (Apple and Sunny time) and November - February (Snow time). I hope to visit on the later part soon.
The vitality of the trip was fresh air and soothing feel. On the way, we went through a newly made tunnel, that was dark, adventorous, four lane big, bypassing underneath the Himalayas. Its 3.1Km long, but thanks to the fading memory and age catching up, I just dont remember the name.
But, the most interesting and beautiful place that I saw in this whole drive of 6 hours was 20KM away from the Manali township. Inexplicable; that's why, I allow my pictures to talk for what I mean!
Lovely!
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