1. For this sunset at Dalhousie
Before heading to the Kalatop Widlife Sanctuary,
spend the previous evening staring at this with a steaming cup of tea cradled
in your freezing hands. I swear I could feel every atom in my body slowing down to keep
pace with the setting of the sun.
2. To soar with the eagles at Bir-Billing
You would think that paragliding, being an adventure
sport would give you an adrenaline rush. But it was an endless half an hour of
gently gliding through the air with an unexpected sense of calmness and oneness
with the Universe. I had never ever imagined I would have to look down to watch
an eagle/hawk (I am not sure what it was) soar by – surreal!
Bonus: On the way to Bir and Billing, you will pass by the famous and intricately carved Baijnath.
Bonus: On the way to Bir and Billing, you will pass by the famous and intricately carved Baijnath.
3. For this Majestic Ruins of Masroor Temples
This is a 8th century monolithic rock –cut
temple complex – about 15 temples are said to be cut out of a single rock. It
had been almost destroyed in the 1905 Earthquake that hit the Kangra Valley,
and now is being painstakingly restored.
The ceiling inside have survived though:
4. To breathe in the solitude and vastness of the Pong Dam
This dam built to store water mainly for hydel power
generation attracts hundreds and millions of birds. It is popular amongst bird-watchers,
mostly of foreign origins. It falls on the way to the Masroor Temple it
is a must-go-to place.
5. To witness the awesomeness of the Norbulinka Tibetan Institute
Established to preserve the Tibetan arts, it is an
testimony to the rich cultural heritage of the Tibetans. It provides training,
education and employment to the Tibetans in this region while serving as a
showcase for the Tibetan culture. Travellers can stay on this campus overnight and even enroll in
various workshops such as Thanka painting and Wood Carving.
6. To take in the rustic grandeur of the Chaurasi Temples at Bharmour
Nestled amongst the snowy peaks of the Himalayan Range at an altitude of 7000 ft, the Chaurasi temple complex housing a staggering 84 shrines, built around 1400 years back, in the scenic town of Bharmour. The vibrant reds, oranges and yellows contrast delightfully with the snowy surrounding and the entire area exudes a powerful sense the presence of the Almighty.
7. For an overnight stay at India’s Switzerland - Khajjiar
While most people drive
to Khajjiar as a day excursion, waking up to Khajjiar shrouded in mist, is a
heavenly feeling in itself. A walk around the path encircling the meadow, in
the morning mist, hopefully with freshly fallen snow on the side of the path, is enough to convince
even the worst cynic that Khajjiar is indeed a mini Switzerland.
8. For the immense Kangra Fort
The Kangra Fort, around
20 Kms from Dharamshala, is the largest Himalayan Fort and the oldest as well. It
has been mentioned in the war records of Alexander the Great around 4th
century and was later captured from the Katoch Dynasty by Mohammad bin Tughlaq
which subsequently passed onto Jahangir. It houses the intricately carved Laxmi
Narayan Temple.
9. For this view near Chamba
The winding paths in the entire journey offer breathtaking views at every turn. But as we were greeted by this view, we made a half an hour pit stop to take in this majestic view.
10. To drive through this incredible surprise called Jot
Nothing in the morning
would have prepared us for the quaint Himalayan village of Jot. Jot literally
means ‘crossing a hill from its top’ and even in the month of March was
generously covered in a blanket of snow. The entire village affords the most
astounding view of the Himalayan range.
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