Main Manali is located on the right bank of the Beas river. Since every hotel, lodge, restaurant on this side was bursting at its seams we chose to book ourselves at a hotel in Khaknal on the left bank, which was less crowded.
After checking in, we went for a walk to the nearby village. Walking on narrow lanes dotted with apple trees was simply enchanting. The fatigue of the overnight journey disappeared at the sight of apple orchards and snow-capped peaks.
A little further up we reached the Kartikeya Temple. The multicolored darchoks (prayer flags) wafted high above the village added more beauty to the wonderful scenery around us.
The pretty houses there reminded us of pictures we drew as kids. Or of Hindi films of the 1970s. Green mountains all around, little cottages with wild rose shrubs on one side, apple trees on the other, cattle close by and a well-fed dog (called gaddi dog) to guard the cattle!
We have been to quite a few hill stations, but it was only in Manali that we saw little streams of water at the back of almost every house. Could it be because Manali is a valley located between huge snow-covered mountains?
Text and photographs: Vidisha and Manish Gupta
Also read: The enchanting mists of Munnar
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