Kulu Manali

If you go by road, prepare for a long ride through curving mountainous regions passing the Beas River now and then. But Kulu is probably the high point of my trip in India.

It is India's Switzerland, with mountains tops covered in snow, a beautiful snow view from the rooms of the Manali Inn .

It had actually snowed the day before I arrived and the snow was still lying around. The weather in winter can dip real low but I went in winter to catch the snow. But be in for a shock if you expect the Beas at this high point to be totally unpolluted.

The Indians have poor river discipline and I saw clothes floating down. Somebody's laundry, perhaps.

But go in winter if you want to experience a real change in weather. It is off-season. You get hotels at half rate. And the duplex at the Manali Inn ( 2 levels with bed upper and sofa cum bed lower can take in at least 8 people. And they have all the stuff you need to boil water etc. But cooking was not in the tour plan. I mean the meals at the Shere -e-Punjab up in town were totally delicious and worth every rupee paid. Thank goodness I went in winter. In summer the place is packed with the Delhi crowd running away from the oppressive heat. Nothing like getting away from it all.

And bring along a torchlight. While I was there was a blackout in town ever so often.There is an Emergency Generator but all this power going and coming can get on your nerves.