An endless, desolate moonscape thousands of metres above sea level, mammoth mountains guarding rugged terrains that call for adventurous detours, monasteries that hark back to Tibetan mores, and not a soul in sight for miles—Spiti is a wonderland.
DAY 1
“This is going to be about the journey,” I had declared before we hit the road to explore Spiti—a land that feels like a slice of Tibet marooned in India. But the thought of driving through scattered villages on an ever-changing, serrated moonscape—a turquoise-grey ribbon of the River Spiti and steep gorges the only constants—made us get through the relatively uneventful NH44 on an overnight journey from Delhi to Manali.
There wasn’t much of a road left once we crossed the main town of Manali. With our permits in place and the usual traž c snarls missing, crossing Rohtang Pass took little time. Past the proverbial gateway to Lahaul and Spiti, the landscape changed dramatically and the temperature plummeted. The honking of cars stopped, as did the chirping of cellphones. The greens of the mountains turned into solid greys and browns, and paved paths were replaced by rocky trails.
I had just started to curl up in the passenger seat when our Thar came to a screeching halt. Ahead of us, a convoy of cars, with their engines humming and windscreen wipers swinging, had queued up. A car was stuck in one of the notorious streams on the route. This was a common sight, I was told, at pagal nala—the ‘mad stream’ that runs alongside the Chenab River in Batal, its impish flow the bane of SUVs. After an hour of waiting, my friend Sumit—the man behind the steering wheel—took charge. Tethered to the stuck car with a rope, our fourwheel drive roared as its engine strained and the two rear wheels swayed up in the air. Both ba– ed and thrilled at once, I struggled to hang on to my seat as everything else was flung about inside the car. With a sudden thud, both cars were free, and a crowd of spectators cheered.
Bu hikaye Travel+Leisure India dergisinin May 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Travel+Leisure India dergisinin May 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
The Abode Of Gods
Paphos, the ancient home of Aphrodite, is steeped in folklore. A walk around the old town can turn into a journey to the past; all you need is a little imagination.
Chasing Joy On Rottnest Island
Blue waters, shimmering sandy beaches, and historic sites-Rottnest in Western Australia is the quintessential island getaway. But what truly captivated our cover star Rashmika Mandanna is the happy and laid-back life that the island offers.
AS TIME GOES BY
A decade and a half after a life-changing sojourn in Vietnam, a writer returns to track the country's transformations-and his own.
PARIS MATCH
Royal roots and boho cool, French trad and cosmopolitan flair: Thomas Chatterton Williams visits the Marais and finds the perfect mix.
Spotted in the Wild
Tracking down a creature as evasive as the cheetah is never guaranteed. Jeff Chu treks to southern Africa to find big cats and fulfill a long-held family promise.
Tastes Like History
With a lineage spanning millennia, Armenian cuisine is an alchemist's dream. Veidehi Gite samples iconic dishes that evoke memories of home.
Secrets of the Happy State
A road trip from Aizawl to Champhai along the Indo-Myanmar border leads to many revelations for Florina Soren.
Championing Cheer
Fostering mindful atmospheres within corporate environments, Dr Sharon Rajkumar stands as a beacon of positivity, guiding others towards a more fulfilling and balanced life. In a candid chat, the TEDx speaker shares her journey with Kiara Sengupta, on how serendipity led her to become the first happiness evangelist in India.
Doodling Up Joy
Turning embarrassing moments of daily life into comedic relief comes naturally to Neha Sharma. The CA-turned-doodle artist now harnesses the power of her paints to create relatable comics that mirror the everyday. In a hearty chat with Bayar Jain, the self-taught artist and storyteller outlines her journey and underlines the importance of art in bringing happiness.
A Novel Take On Happiness
With his 90th birthday on the horizon, India's most beloved author Ruskin Bond, talks to Eshita Srinivas about love affairs on ships, the excitement of train journeys, and his new book that he hopes will inspire young readers.