A Trip to Himachal with Archana’s Adventure-loving Family
“No family trip is complete without an adventure.”
Archana and her family had started on a Himachal tour when they were discussing just this thing. Every year they travel to a destination, and they come back with a bag full of souvenirs and memories.
Interestingly, the souvenirs are not always something they bought from the market- some were pressed flowers, some glistening rocks, and other strange findings always made it to their house. Some ended between the pages of a diary, while some ended up in the gardens or showcases.
Just before the trip, they were talking over WhatsApp with Thrillophilia’s representatives in their group chat (yes, they had made a group for easy exchange of details and itineraries with the customers). The professional approach of Thrillophilia had impressed the family; they were hopeful for an exciting trip through the dreamy landscapes of Himachal Pradesh.
Just before wrapping up the conversation, Archana’s daughter asked- “Can we bring pine cones from there? Pine trees always fascinate me, I could grow a plant here and savor some pine seeds!”
Laughing, the entire group affirmed her query.
Exploring Manali
On the way from Delhi to Manali, they could see the terrain change gradually, entering forested areas, then slowly ascending the low inclination, until they could see the mountains and the car finally took a sharp turn and started climbing the mountains.
It was their first trip to Himachal and none of them knew what exactly to expect. They have been to the mountains before, once in Sikkim and once in Nagaland. But as Apoorva informed them, they knew what the terrain would be like.
Their journey to Manali was fine, even the stay there was top-notch. The Hotel Manali Heavens is a good property with all modern facilities, provided good insulation to keep away the cold, and their services were up to the mark as well.
They also met the rest of their batchmates for the trip, some of whom grew really close to them! There was just one family, and the rest of them were bachelors, so one can gauge how energising the trip was going to be!
They went to Solang Valley from there the next day for a fascinating adventure session. As we all know, Solang Valley is famous for offering a wide range of activities for tourists, like paragliding, Zorbing, Zip Lining and much more.
Archana and her family were very interested in trying Zip Lining and Bungee Jumping. They all woke up early in the morning and were supposed to leave after having breakfast. They were served aloo-puri for the same, and they enjoyed every bite. However, Archana’s husband was not a very big fan of fried dishes in the morning, so he asked the hotel staff to get some eggs and curd for him. They did so without a complaint, and finally, they left for Solang.
The family had a wonderful time trying all the adventure sports. They went for Zorbing and Ziplining at first, then they tried paragliding and rocket bungee jumping as well! After a whole day of activities, they wanted to relax somewhere nice and have lunch. So their driver/guide took them to Ride Inn Cafe which offered not just the magnificent scenery of the Himalayas, but also a stunning open-roof area. They had some hearty lunch there and then moved to the hotel.
A downpour of events
The next day’s sightseeing tour was delayed a bit by a drizzle. Archana and the kids did not mind, instead, they enjoyed how the scenery changed from clear and bright to cloudy and magical… but her husband was a bit put off by the rain.
Fortunately, it subsided within some time and they could go out for the sightseeing tour of Manali. They visited the Himdimba Devi temple and also tried the traditional dress of Manali to take some pictures. It was a perfect family trip to the mountains.
On their way to Rohtang Pass, they witnessed the famous Atal Tunnel and took stops at various spots for either a bowl of Maggi and corn or a cup of tea to soak in the cold. The temperature was dropping fast, and at one point they had to stop to take out the heavy winter clothes. Slowly, they entered the snowy paradise of Rohtang.
They were mesmerised to see the snow-covered peaks and landscapes…immediately they all got out of the car and started to make snowballs to throw at each other. They had immense fun, enjoying a random playful time with each other, the children especially were way too thrilled to see snow!
But, this adventure delayed their schedule. The driver did not complain nor did he make any comments. Instead, he helped the family take some amazing photographs! They arrived late at the hotel as well. It was very helpful of the staff who took care of the luggage, no one had to instruct them where to take what. By the time the guests reached their rooms to freshen up, all the luggage would be in their respective places.
The food in the hotel of Rohtang Pass was delicious, although a bit spicy. The spice aided in tackling the cold weather. They thought that this hotel could do a bit better with its infrastructure, but finding a place to stay in such a remote place was a blessing.
Crossing fright, emerging bold
There was a river in Rohtang that they had to cross for our sightseeing tour. All permits were on point, but some arrangements seemed risky. Archana was downright scared, she did not want to go any further. She said she would rather stay in the hotel and explore the nearby areas on foot. But she was convinced by the local people who stood there to help them cross the bridge.
Then she saw the first person cross it, and her fear got reduced by a notch. Then she saw the second person and third person do it, and she thought she could do it too. She went fifth, and it was a piece of cake!
She was flattered by the way Thrillophilia handled this trip. They knew no one was that elderly that they would not be able to cross the river, and so they curated the itinerary just like that! It was an awesome experience for all of them.
By the time they came back to the hotel, it was dusk. They had a long way ahead of them the next day, they were returning home.
With slight moroseness and slight happiness, they went to bed for a peaceful sleep, their last one in the enchanting land of Himachal Pradesh.
Read More: Thrillophilia Himachal Reviews