Day 8 (Manali-Somewhere along Rohtang pass)

Day 8 (Manali-Somewhere before Rohtang)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

Click the pictures for more umphhh.

Route in red

First day at Manali and it was freezing cold. I would not move from from the bed and be in my cacoon of blankets. 

But Darshan was up early and took a stroll alone. Then I joined him to have a morning tea in cold Manali. It was 10-15ºC on the weather forecast.

Morning tea

We head back to the hotel and got ready for our day.

First thing to do on day one Manali was getting 2 Royal Enfields for our extra passengers from Shimla and also the ride up to Rohtang pass. This is because the obvious 150 cc Impulse bike won’t be powerful enough to handle two people at once. It would be slow and hard on the bike. And also to ride my first RE experience.

Joined by Amit’s friends in Manali, we head to Hardev Motors. They rent bikes to willing bikers for their harsh journey deep into the Himalayas and also conduct multiple yearly trips in 4 months span.

  Left my Impulse there in Hardev Motors then we head to the base of Rohtang.

 Went through the guard post, not paying any toll because the locals knew the guards and we were not going far. Just a picnic area I would say somewhere in the woods not far ascending to Rohtang pass.

 Then we head back down towards Solan pass. A tourist spot for skiing in Manali during winter. During summer and spring its all muddy and green giving space for zorbing, horse riding and paragliding.

Solan Valley, cable car for skiing in winter

By night fall, went back to the hotel. Manali town was a 10 minute walk from our hotel.

Yeti 

Not used to this cold weather

Beautiful night

Bushy happy dog

Being himachali but failed

After playing with the dogs(but not me) we retire to our beds to rest for our ride tomorrow ascending to the heavens.

Day 7 (Shimla-Manali)

Day 7 (Shimla-Manali)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Click the pictures to see it in more detail

The route is in black

 Day 7 was the second day we could pay our sleeping debt. Woke up late, had room service for breakfast and enjoy the cool weather. We head higher into the foots of the Himalayas.

Riding in the mountains needs a lot of skills and experience because the roads are winding and the buses might come from the opposite side on the blind side of the hairpin.

I didn't get to take pictures of puke(vomit) stains along the sides of the bus. Check for them if you head to the mountains and the buses are non AC.

Morning in Shimla seems hazy

City of Shimla

 Then we made our ride towards Manali. The best ride I have ever been. Like seriously, the best and the most beautiful.

Then we arrived at Mandi. We had lunch at 3.00 p.m. I think the area is a plateau in between Shimla and Manali because the breeze wasn’t strong and the climate was a bit warm.

 After Mandi, the best highway starts. Its 100 kilometers of road beside a glacial river.

Oh damn

Look Ma no guard rails

Beautiful

Can't describe with words

I can't brain buildings are erected on sheer cliffs

A small waterfall

All praises to God all mighty

Its already evening but we are hours from Manali.

We reached Kullu at 6.30. By then it was dark and no pictures were taken.  They said it is legal to posses weed in Kullu. I am not promoting smoking weed, but just be careful if anyone offers you one. There was a bad traffic congestion in Kullu which made one of the bikes stranded for an hour.

We rode till Manali, arrived at 8.30 p.m. Met again Shrikanth’s friends, Amit and Akshita. Plus, we got discounts for stay at a motel by the river.

The next few days we spend time in Manali.