When Travel Turns into Passion…

Shoja is a small village near Jalori Pass (5 KM) having very less population. Basically, there is nothing much to do at Shoja but it is famous for its postcard style vistas covering thick forests of Oak trees everywhere. Main highlight of the place is its calmness and chill topped with snow in winters. People visit Jalori Pass (3125 Meters in altitude) to witness Snow and this small village acts as the base for the same. As I said the population is very less so are the options for accommodation. There aren’t many hotels or guest houses in this village, which serve as base camp of snow vistas and offer beautiful views to tourists. If I remember correctly there is ever famous and ever costly Banjara Retreat, a never reliable and disgusting PWD Guest House, few home stay options and Raja Guest House where we stayed on our trip to Tirthan Valley. If interested kindly check the trip log at this link  Delhi to Kinnaur & Tirthan Valley

Overall, Raja Guest house is economic considering the remote conditions and cost incurred to keep it running with man and material. The owner along with his family run the guest house and I feel they do a pretty good job.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Goa is a place in India where you can enjoy beaches with lots of parties to the core of the night. The environment runs mainly by the tourists alongside the beach areas. Hence, there is no lack of Hotels, Guest Houses etc. But, what would be more better than a place to stay from where you have beach just at the walking distance and a street full of exotic dine/restaurants on the gate itself. Great!!! I would say. But, I know you would be thinking that there would be tones of places in Goa but they are most like to dig a big hole in your pocket/wallet. But, there exist a similar place at Candolim Beach, Goa which won’t be heavy on your pocket and do provide a very, very comfortable stay. The place is called Ezue Bia Guest House, run by an old lady which is just 200 odd Meters from Candolim Beach. On our trip to Goa we stayed at his place for three days and we really enjoyed it. Check my trip at Delhi to Goa | Valentine’s Trip

Candolim Beach Road…

Popularity: 1% [?]

Destination Point:  Manali

One of the most popular tourist places in Northern India situated along side Beas River is called Manali, Valley of Gods. The term stands for Manu (Manu Rishi) + Aali (Home) and I bet you his home (Manali ) is just MAGICAL in nature. Manali is one of the oldest towns of Kullu Valley. The place surrounds with the the aura of ROMANCE everywhere, right from the hustle-bustle of mall road to the very calm, traditional, firang (foreigners) dominated old Manali to the woods/villages around/beyond Manu temple to the walk path around Hadimba temple. It can easily be called one of the ROMANTIC destinations of India. The place is ideal for families as well as young couple looking for some hide and seek with the flavor of romance on top of it. Manali is largely visited by the honeymoon couples (me did so Read story Snow at Manali and Naggar | Honeymoon Trip ) and in summers people from all walks of life (children to old) run to seek pleasant weather from low hot burning lands of Northern India. The Hadimba goddess runs the Manali town and is the center of worship of the people living at Manali. The almighty goddess also governs the tall mountains along with raw nature and it’s only after her permission that one gets to enjoy this beautiful place to the core. When people think of Manali the second keyword that comes is of course Rohtang Pass which no doubt is a must visit place if you go to Manali.

Some views of Manali…

Popularity: 6% [?]

After a long long time of my life almost 26 years , this is the year in which I would finally have a chance to materialize my dream, the drive to Leh Ladakh. The plan is to leave on 30^th July, 2010 but weather is freak this season. Rains, floods, snow, landslides, road blocks, curfews, turmoil, hoodlums etc all are in the way of me and Ladakh. But, despite of all these facts the plan to leave towards Leh Ladakh is kept final. I know on the trip there would be a lot of changes but here is the finalized itinerary of the trip…

Night 1 July 30, 2010 / Day 1 July 31, 2010

Delhi – Ambala – Ludhiana – Jalandhar – Pathankot – Jammu – DayalaChak – Chalaan – Udhampur

Day 2 August 1, 2010

Udhampur – Jawahar Tunnel – Khanabal – Srinagar Bypass – Ganderbal – Sonamarg

Day 3 August 2, 2010

Sonamarg – Zozila – Drass – Kargil – Mulbek – Namik La – Fotu La – Lamayoru – Hangro Loops – Nimmu – Leh

Day 4 August 3,2010

Leh (Permits early morning) – Khardung La – (Nubra Valley) Hunder – Diskit

Day 5 August 4,2010

Diskit – Turtuk – Diskit – Hunder

Day 6 August 5,2010

Hunder – Agham – Shakti – Chang La – Tanksey – Lukung – Spangmik (Pangong Tso)

Day 7 August 6,2010

Spangmik – Lukung – Tanksey – Chang La – Shakti – Karu – Shey – Leh

Day 8 August 7,2010

Leh – Upshi – Pang – Sarchu/Darcha/Keylong

Day 9 August 8,2010

Sarchu/Darcha/Keylong – Tandi – Khoksar – Rohtang La – Manali

Day 10 August 9,2010

Manali – Mandi – Sunder Nagar – Ropar – Chandigarh – Ambala – Delhi

Although Plan B is to come back via Srinagar only if the road conditions of Rohtang still remain same as of today.

Popularity: 1% [?]

It’s McLeod Ganj  this time, which is 10 KMs uphill from Dharamshala. With this trip log I present the last of the Nostalgic Moments series, in which I traveled with my friends with everything planned, with booked rooms, no places in mind to see just the destination was known, an unknown tourist without any knowledge of the place, where everything was supposed to be a holiday with least preference to adventure. But, as everything has it’s own significance so did these trips which were as good for me as today’s trip which are full of adventure and unknowns . It was a great pleasure sharing these trips with you guys and I know the friends involved in the series did really liked them. If any chance you missed the previous trips, here is a list below.

• Delhi to Manali | Nostalgic Moments – 3
• Delhi to Shivpuri | Nostalgic Moments – 2
• Delhi to Nainitaal | Nostalgic Moments – 1

Well as I told you throughout the series, I didn’t recall much of the moments and would be sharing mostly the pictures but of course it was a 3 day trip in June 2007 to beat the scorching heat of Delhi Summer.

Trek to Laka Glacier…

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