Musings of a travelbug

Living in Kerala and other areas of South India, snow is something we’ve only seen in movies or some other visual media. We have heard of hail that occasionally falls but the actual pure, white snow is something we can’t ever see anywhere in these areas even if we go to nearby hill stations.

So just like any other kid who has grown up around here, I’ve always to wanted to see and feel the snow. Seeing kids playing around in the snow, making snowmen, and having snowball fights in movies and all those visuals made it out to be a dreamy experience and that’s exactly why I decided to go see the snow at the place most famous for it in India.

So many times I had planned to visit Manali but they did not materialize. After lots of failed plans, I finally set out to Manali to fulfill that wish and to experience what it is to see and touch snow in real life.

So it was quite unfortunate that I picked an off-season time and there was no snow there at all. Even without the blanket of snow, the place was amazingly beautiful and I enjoyed looking out into and exploring the ethereal landscape.

I enjoyed the trip but I was also determined to come back to see the place when it will be covered in snow.

More adamant than ever now, I started researching the season times, weather forecasts, and anything relevant to my planning. After meticulous research and monitoring, I found a time feasible for me to go and get that wish checked off my bucket list and planned my trip on that time. Made my way to Manali again through the usual transportation methods. And when I got there, the scenery was very familiarly plain and snowless. I felt a slight twinge in my heart and concluded that I’m not gonna see snow this time either.

I decided to come to terms with it and enjoy the place however it is. And with that thought, I called it a day and went to bed.

In the morning, I woke up feeling a sharp cold piercing my skin and I didn’t know what to make of it at first. After a few moments of rubbing my eyes and wondering where I was, the realization finally struck me.

Excited, I ran over to the window and looked outside and what a sight it was!

There it was. The thick, white powder covering the plain land I saw yesterday and more snow falling on top of it making it even thicker. It was like a dream come true and I was almost crying. It was much more beautiful than I had imagined and almost looked other-worldly and too good to be true. I was happier than ever and had to go out and roll around in the snow then itself.

As a budget-conscious traveler, I stayed in zostel.

Zostel is the best for travel freaks like myself as they’re not heavy on your pockets, they offer fairly good living amenities and you get to meet lots more people who think and see the world like you.

I also met a few like-minded people who were my companions for the rest of that trip.

We planned to go to Solang Valley together to enjoy its beauty.

I hadn’t brought any thick jackets which I know is surprising considering I came all the way here to see snow but it was because I didn’t have any space to pack them in as well. There are rental jacket services available which I decided to make use of and found a cozy one for myself.

Subsequently, we made our way to Solang Valley via truck and thoroughly enjoyed the rugged trip as well as the view.

When it was time to return, the news was broken to us that a blizzard had covered the way back and there would be no vehicles to commute us back.

With no other choice left, we walked around 16 kilometers to get back to our place of stay in the freezing climate.

That’s when I realized that however beautiful the snow is, our southern climate is the most comfortable for us to live in. But on the upside, you don’t get tired or sweat much. So, ignoring the feeling of a hundred needles pricking the inside of your nose and back of your head every time you take a breath, it was not that bad.

Finally, made my way back home and I felt like going back immediately. The vibe and the feeling that those places gave me are unmatched as of yet and I’m not sure if any other place can even match it going forward.

I’m looking forward to going there again. If you haven’t been there you should chart a trip too because it’s not something to be missed in one’s lifetime.

The best thing about this country is that whatever kind of place you want to visit, it provides them all; be it snowy valleys, desert plains, sandy beaches, calm lakes, or monuments of historical significance. They’re all right here and you just have to get up and get there!