North Holidays :)

Reason to Smile: A long weekend filled with holidays to come and no plans ! Hows that ever possible in my lifetime ?!?! :P Yes it was. About 9 days of super maddening holidays at a stretch and I absolutely had no plans for the holiday destinations I could have en-cashed on. Saw many tour plans, several packages but none that was accommodating all the days to the fullest. Groups, friends and travel freaks were busy packing their bags. So I stand alone at the junction of holidays with some solo plan to pomp on. Finally zeroed down to backpack North as the weather would be cool and safe to travel solo. What came next is a roller coaster ride !
They say you just start your journey alone, and like minded travelers have their attention caught on you and there begins a new journey with some great company.

First flight to Delhi and I knew nothing what to do next. No plans, no itenary as such and nothing pre-planned. This is when I realized how it is to "go with the flow" -  Literally ! :P
Took a bus to Chandigarh. It was pleasant and lovely there. Enjoyed the Rock Garden, Parks and Sukhna Lake there for half a day. Boarded to Amritsar to get totally mesmerized by the exclusive Golden Temple; Jallianwala Baug; Wagha Border, and a few Hindu Temples around. A day well spent with Amritsari Kulcha and lots of Paneer to my tummy, I was ready for my next destination - Kasol. Yah, well that's what I had on my mind. A dear friend suggested I board a bus from Jalandhar for Kasol. I may get some good options on the timings. Landed immediately at Jalandhar and checked there was a 2 am bus that goes to Dharamsala OR a 5 am bus that goes to Manali - where you align at Buntar and take another bus to Kasol. I had already eaten up 3 days and had about 5 days to my kitty for a fulfilling adventure. At Jalandhar Bus station, I realised that Kasol would have been tiring and eat up the remaining days in the road journey which would eliminate my other destinations - Dharamsala and Mcloedganj :) Its like a double click that takes place on your mind and plans changed ! A De-tour and I board a bus to Hoshiyarpur at 5 am that helps me take another bus to Dharamsala ! And from there another bus to Mcloedganj. Why? See below ;)

I love it when people keep a check in on FB. This is exactly how I knew some friends had already parked themselves at Mcloedganj and hence my trip just got doubled up with more people than just the solo roaming around. All thanks to Ashish, I found a new freak in Vedashree. And then the party begins ..!! :)

Mcloedganj, Dharamsala, Dalhousie, Khajjiar, Monastries, Lakes, Kangra Fort and beautifully snow lit mountains it is to your view while you just have a heads up for anything :) We also tried the Triund Trek that starts from Dharamkot but the rains up in the mountains suggested we roam around nearby and head back safely. Needless to mention, some great pics on Ved's DSLR camera and Amazing food - From Gobi Parathas to the count on how many Lassi's Ashish can drink; it was all great fun :)
From missing my favorite BB phone that I dropped at the airport and damaged, to completely sucking the patience out of Mitali by addressing her "Bhabhiji" because of some Punjabi Mundas we bumped at our Lunch spot for a challenge thrown at ADT (disqualified though:P), it was all a super fun road trip !!

Back to the hot city and routine life, I would recommend strongly these places for a nice holiday during the summers :) The pleasant weather, North Indian yummy food just gives you a great high.
Pics on FB... Keep Planning.. Keep Smiling :)

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