“I asked God for all things in life so that I may enjoy life. He gave me life so that I enjoyed all things .” Divine Grace 💐 🙏
The mighty Himalayas hold profound spiritual significance for me. Hence, this trip to Manali was an essential item on my bucket list— more than a mere tick to the worldly bucket list, but a shift in my spiritual journey.
- We reached Chandigarh on the 17th and stayed overnight (this deserves a different post)
- On the 18th, we took off early in the morning by road. There was no other option 😃 as the airport at Kullu is not yet for commercial use.
BTW, the Kullu airport seemes to be build on the riverbed 😳
- Would air connectivity help attract wealthy tourists? Maybe chopper services?
- The drive was perfect on the plains with great highways 🛣️ The roads on the hills are getting better with a lot of work, including tunnels. Better connectivity is on the horizon indeed. We can count on Gadkari ji for that.
There were several areas that are prone to landslides. How do we balance development with the fragile environment is a big challenge!
The feel of the terrain is gradual as the climb is not steep, and there are not many hairpin bends.
Our first stop was a tea break along the highway. The Beas River makes a majestic appearance. It gets better as we head towards Manali.
Lok Sabha Polls: Mandi weighs options as candidates sweat it out in cool climes EconomicTimes
After a quick break, we headed towards Mandi. This well-known city is now getting more focus during the election season, with actress Kangana fighting against a popular local leader. At the ground level, the fight is low-key.
It was a pleasant surprise to see there were hardly any flex banners across the space. Grateful to all who have prevented a #flexbanner impact on the sensitive environment. 🙏
The drive on the hilly terrain continued. The roads are good, though the driving was generally aggressive. There was aggressive overtaking, much honking, and disrespect for fellow commuters and drivers.
All licence tests should include an emotional intelligence test. Continued training on EQ should be provided to keep the driving licence alive at renewals!
Life is a journey from IQ to EQ to SQ. We need a lot of empathy on the roads. The larning should start from our schools.
Travelling in small groups is also a source of learning and deep reflection, especially with fellow coaches from diverse backgrounds who are all on the spiritual path.
We discussed everything from geography (being close to Bakra Nangal dam) to politics, leadership, coaching, mentoring, healing, parenting, gardening, dogs 🐕 to spirituality.
Lunch @ Mandi:
We stopped by for lunch at a vegetarian restaurant seemingly owned by Sunny Deol, the actor! The vegetarian part was a pleasant surprise, and the food was good. Our limited search for a veggie-only restaurant in Chandigarh yielded no results, so we had to settle for a Sagar Ratna!
We kept driving, cruising along the river Beas, talking, reflecting, and, in silence, I started my chanting.
As the route gets more elevation, the river flow strengthens, and the atmosphere becomes relaxing.
Tea ☕️ Time
(Zoom & check those quotes; spend some time reflecting. Let me know what comes up)
We stopped again to stretch our backs and legs. The other driver chose the restaurant, and his choice was good. The roadside restaurant had inspiring quotes on all the walls. But the real bonus was behind.
The river in its original form—the rocky terrain, rushing cold and clean waters—was unlike the rivers in the plains, where the sand mafia had stripped the river beds off the sand, irreparably damaging the rivers, which were a veritable lifeline.
All earlier civilisations came up along the rivers. Beas is no different.
#SaveCauvery is such a noble initiative, just as #SaveSoil. We got to find ways to restore all rivers and other water bodies to their original glory. Our future depends on it!
Manali, finally:
The last lap was not a good drive. It was getting dark. We took a road parallel to the main road (Naggar Road) as our resort was on it. It was a long drive. But the excitement of reaching the resort was there, too. And in good company!
The journey, the destination & the company – all 3 makes it a good experience
At the resort, finally
Once I checked in and got into the room with a magnificent view of the valley, the beauty of the valley sank in. As I got familiar with the space, the energy was felt.
It is indeed a very different experience at the energy level!
The first thing I did as I entered the room was to put one of the chairs facing the valley. The snow-clad mountains in the background, the deodar forests, the apple 🍎 orchards, many birds, including the Himalayan crows, the Beas river with all the sound effects, the city with colourful roofs… beautiful!
I could just sit there… eternally, doing ‘nothing’! The magical energy 🙏
The Spiritual Retreat
We were there for a purpose. To be part of a spiritual retreat. To re-set the Pancha Kosas!
We assembled in the evening at the conference room. The best conference room, the view I mean 😀
I was distracted by the view again😃
Online sessions have its own advantages. But offline, immersive experience is something very different.
By evening, the temperature dropped significantly and also the view:
We retired after a light dinner for a lot of action over the next 4 days!
‘The Rose by any other name…’
Pretty much everything about the hills and mountains is magic—more so in the Himalayas! The roses in the Himalayas have this enhanced glory. Roses belong to the mountains, not the plains, and are not even at a higher altitude than in Bangalore!
Trees of the Himalayas — Deodar
…and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine ( from “When I Am Among the Trees” by Mary Oliver)
Cedrus deodara, the deodar cedar, Himalayan cedar, or deodar, is a cedar native to the Himalayas. – Wikipedia
They stand firm, going up and defying the landscape, weather, and other environmental challenges.
Saving the environment 🙏
Apart from the majestic deodar trees, there were apple orchards too.
You can see tiny apples on the tree! Apples are not yet big or ripe to pluck & eat :)
Rushing water, seeker
Every time I was at the river Beas, I was fascinated by the rush of the water. The flow was very fast, making water rafting popular there.
I remembered one of the messages from my Guru. (paraphrased)
‘Just as every drop of water is rushing towards the ocean, the ocean is also eagerly waiting… the master is waiting for the disciples too.’
Came across this story by Sri M:
Dogs
There were many dogs, many strays, and they all looked quite different from the strays we see on the plains! They were all very friendly 💕 Many did not seem well-fed. They all needed a shower, for sure! Pet parents should give them regular showers.
Interestingly, some tourists were carrying their pet dogs around, some literally in their arms, not holding them well (very inconvenient for the dogs)🐕
I saw Yaks being used for kids to ride 😥 Also, elderly women offering tourists to hold rabbits 🐰 🐇 Poor things. 😥
Can we let them free and allow them to BE!
Mall Road Market
There was a ‘road’, and that was the mall. Vehicles were not allowed, only pedestrians. It was a small area, but well done. The Atal Ji statue added to the energy of the space.
Talking of a politician who was loved and respected across the party lines, we went beyond Manali via the newly built, magnificent Atal tunnel and spent some time near the snow-clad mountains.
We left early, at 5 AM, to beat the traffic. We walked a lot, did some yoga, had one session on Pancha Kosa, and had a light breakfast we had packed from the resort. As we returned at 11 AM, many people had arrived, and there was chaos. They were littering a lot :((
This was my first trip to the Himalayas. It was just out of this world. There was a lot of time for deep reflection. All those personal reflections & photos in the next blog :)
Picture abhi baaki hai!
