|
Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi.
|
|
|
|
|
Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi. A closer view at the inscription above the arch in the picture above.
|
|
|
|
|
Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi.
|
|
Terakotta pottery, Dilli Haat, New Delhi.
|
|
Rajasthani and other paintings, with their proud salesman in front. Dilli Haat, New Delhi.
|
|
We took this beautiful tourist train - the Kangra Queen Shatabdi Express - from Pathankot to Palampur. Narrow gauge, too!
|
|
From the engine room of the Kangra Queen Shatabdi Express.
|
|
The nice, small guest house we stayed at during our stay at Palampur, courtesy of Institute of Himalayan Biotechnology Research Institute.
|
|
Cultivation along the Himalayas - view form Palampur.
|
|
After waiting a good 2 hours, sunrise in Palampur was just about as interesting as any other. Except for the added reflections from the snow.
|
|
Laxminarayan temple of Chamba
|
|
|
|
|
Some children who gathered around us as we trekked to the helipad at Bharmour, about 500 feet above the temple area. My sister at the very end.
|
|
The river Ravi, en-route to Bharmour. After a steep climb.
|
|
|
|
|
River Ravi, en-route to Bharmour. The road pretty much follows the river throughout the route.
|
|
The helipad area of Bharmour, being the top of the hill, is a very pretty place.
|
|
|
|
|
The Kailash range of mountains. Bharmour is the end of the road - from here, trekking routes start off towards Kailash, a month long trail.
|
|
|
|
|
A particularly active kid at the Bharmour helipad area.
|
|
|
|
|
Chamba valley, at night, from the Chamunda temple.
|
|
|
|
|
Chamba dam catchment area. From the route to Dharamshala.
|
|
There's little that's more colorful than these trinklet stalls that surround most Indian temples. In this case, Chamunda temple, near Dharamshala.
|
|
|
|
|
Trekking along the daisies - near Ajit Singh Smadhi, Dalhousie.
|
|
Just another scenic snap. En route to Dharamshala, overlooking the Chamba Dam.
|
|
The head monk at the monastry, Dharamshala.
|
|
The lonely monk and the tree. Somebody should write a story on this. Reminds me of the vague pictures we had to write stories about way back in school.
|
|
Buddhist praying wheels (drums) - these rotating drums have a mantra (prayer) written inside them, and each rotation amounts to one chanting of the entire script. Once you take a look at the length of the script, you'll understand how time saving a route to Nirvana this is.
|
|
|
|
|
A view of the praying room in the monastry, Dharamshala.
|
|
|
|
|
An interesting all-stone temple - higher up the road from Dharamshala monastry.
|
|
|
|
|
A Konark-style temple at the top of the range of Jwalamukhi temples.
|
|
|
|
|
A hindu Sadhu reading his way through. Jwalamukhi.
|
|
|
|
|
View of the entire lower temple cluster from above. Jwalamukhi.
|
|
|
|
|
The kids at Khajjiar who showed us the way along a small trekking route into the woods and beyond.
|
|
Khajjiar - the Switzerland of India. A flat patch of land surrounded on all sides by high mountains, and a shallow lake in the center of it all.
|
|
View from the trekking route, Khajjiar.
|
|
The town of Khajjiar, from a distance.
|
|
|
|
|
The walking path we took for these awesome views from Khajjiar. Far away from the maddening crowd.
|
|
|
|
|
Himalayan vegetation up close. Khajjiar.
|
|
|
|
|
Just some of the lofty trees along the walking path, Khajjiar.
|
|
View of the mountains through the blanket of trees. Khajjiar.
|
|
The mall, Manali. We stopped for a break here on our way to ohtang Pass from Kullu.
|
|
Manikaran - close to the source of Ravi. A huge hot spring area, with the water on a turbulent boil. Shops were selling rice-in-a-bag that one can cook simply by keeping it in this natural heat source.
|
|
Guest house, Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Bajoura, some 14 km from Kullu, 4km from the Kullu airport.
|
|
Cars and buses snaking their way down the mountain. En-route to Rohtang Pass.
|
|
|
|
|
5-layer roads - the Indian / Himalayan way. We had to snake our way around through all this to reach Rohtang, the highest roadway in the world.
|
|
Rohtang Pass.
|
|
View of the town of Mardi from higher up the route to Rohtang Pass.
|
|
|
|
|
A temple at Mardi. Probably among the highest temples of the world.
|
|
|
|
|
Rohtang Pass.
|
|
Rohtang Pass.
|
|
View of Rohtang Pass (the valley region) from Mardi (the village at the base).
|
|
Goats and sheep who were making their way across Rohtang Pass. Apparently, they pay as much road tax as cars, and so have equal priority.
|
|
My parents and sister. Rohtang Pass.
|