One of the most popular sites in Manali was the pagoda shaped Dhoongri Temple dedicated to Hadimba, wife of Bheem of the epic Mahabharata.
Instead of driving up to the temple, we preferred to walk from Mall road. We loved the steep stairway trek meandering through the towering deodar tress.
This place was like a picnic spot. Festively decorated yaks and local women with rabbits waited outside the temple for tourists to take pictures. You had the option of being photographed in traditional Himachali attire by renting costumes. There were stalls selling chaat, cherries and strawberries in small baskets and even Kashmiri clothes.
About 50 meters away was the Ghatotkacha Temple (named after the brave son of Bheem and Hadimba). Unlike the Hadimba Temple, this place had no fanfare. The temple, which was under a banyan tree, had no structure or building around it and was decked with horns of slaughtered sheep. The guide told us devotees sacrifice goats in these temples when their wishes are fulfilled.
After our temple visit we walked back towards the main Mall road. We stopped at German Bakery (mostly full of foreigners) for a delicious meal of Momos and at a Tibetan shop for Buddhist prayer items, calendars, and greeting cards.
We also recommend Johnson's Café for their exquisite trout fish dishes and Sagar for some decent Indian food.
Text and photographs: Vidisha and Manish Gupta
Also read: Paradise is not that far away
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