Himachal (while we head to Manikaran and Kasol)

After a breath of fresh air across Mandi and Revalsar ,Our next destination was Kasol and since Manikaran was just about 20 mins drive from kasol ,we decided to go with it and now when i look back i feel that was one of the best things that i did. I would like to mention here that a lot of people go to kasol but not everyone visits Manikaran. I don't know if  its for everyone but i totally fell in love with the place and this is definitely one place which i would like to visit again and to all the people undergoing worldly nags ,pack your bags and spend a week here like seriously.
Situated on the foothills Manikaran is a sacred place for sikhs and hindus and both have their respective legends.The myths have have it that Shiva and Parvati meditated here for eleven thousand yrs....yessss!!

As for me, my quest  for the Shiva i envisioned in my mind really did satiate my soul after the image i came across here. Call it the shiva triology series in a fiction blend or the legends of Shiva that has always captured my attention for this mighty Mahadev .
The image of Shiva in his form with the fury of hot smoke clouding him  beneath the super hot spring was captivating. I did manage to take some pictures which i would be posting but the effect of the hot spring and my own lousy camera skills may not totally justify the pictures.

well....thereafter we head to kasol and its fun and food and beauty and blisssss......
i should stop here and post pictures now
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xx 

                                         

                                       

                                        while we tried to experiment with our hair

                                                       the beautiful apple valley resort

Himachal (trotting around Mandi)

While continuing with my journey to Himachal my little sister planned a quick getaway to Mandi before we headed to kasol.
I was initially not so enthusiastic about it as it was supposed to be a visit to the annual fair and just as we landed Mandi and battled ourselves with the frantic crowd at the fair i was quite amazed at the amount of people who had actually turned up and the number of stalls that existed not forgetting the uncountable joy rides for people to enjoy, for a moment it brought back  childhood memories of fairs in my own hometown except this one was huge .
On inquiring further i got to know that this was called the 'Mandi Shivratri Fair'' .The festival's popularity is so widespread that it is also known as an international festival.
The Mandi festival or the fair is famous as the special fair transforms Mandi town into a venue of grand celebration when all the gods and goddessess,said to be more than 200 deities of the Mandi district assemble here.
We just happened to be present right on time when these deities were being carried off to their respective places and the number of deities all around and some in their rythmic  movements was a compelling sight. we did manage to join the procession for a brief time period  and it was wonderful.

on exploring the town ,i got glimpses of the city's old and rustic beauty comprising of its unique architectural designs and the river beas flowing across the town makes it more scenic. It so reminded me of the city of york in the united kingdom just so ancient and gorgeous. Mandi used to be a princely state until 1948.

moving toward the pictures............

                               

                                                            few of the deities..........

                                     
                             managing a quick picture while on procession

                           variety of indian sweets on display...

more until the next post
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Himachal (mesmerising Revalsar)

The so called spring break of my univ. wasn't much of a spring break for me (the ones who know me well enough probably understand what i mean to say) nevertheless, i totally made it a full fledged spring break by planning out an unexpected travel plan to one of the states i absolutely adore i.e. Himachal pradesh and this time the travel wasn't just about treating my eyes and soul with scenic beauties or adventure thrills like the last time in Manali and Rohtang pass.
While dwelling upon the massive beauties the state has to offer,it was my good fortune to come across the religion diversity as well and u have to agree there couldn't be a more appropriate situation to get myself more inclined upon these things as to feeling  it and experiencing it first hand rather than a thick book guiding you or else somebody preaching you about sinners and saints.
My first day began with a visit to the majestic 'Tso pema' lake in Revalsar which falls in Mandi disrict of himachal. This place holds a great significance to the hindus,sikhs and  buddhists and each of these religion has a surprisingly quite marvelling history to it.......

                         
                             The beautiful 'Tso Pema' lake also known as the 'lotus lake'

             
                    one of the numerous carvings right below the giant statue of guru Padmashambhava

                           
                               and that is how it looks like standing on the banks of Tso Pema lake.


more details of my journey until the next post....
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