My second tour had me travelling with Ashish Modi, who is more experienced than Ramit but much quiter. I was supposed to head out a day early and go directly to Mandi, but was dissuaded from the plan since I was relatively new to HP and it was Rakhi which meant loads of rush.
I was supposed to reach the bus station at 9 and would have reached earlier if not for our really really dumb receptionist who took about an hour to process my bills. I really would have flown off my handle if she wasn’t so cute :). Cute girls I have been told must be treated in a different manner and I am now into following advice.
Anyway I reach around 9:40 to find Modi looking very comfortable standing at the bus stand. It is after all one of the many target areas for terrorists. Realizing that I passed through Jammu station just a week before I realize that this is getting to be a habit. The image I had of these places and the ground reality is different. No one is wasting any time looking around. It is after all part of life.
Modi tells me that we missed the direct bus but there’s nothing to worry. We’ll catch a bus to Pathankhot and then head to Kangra. The first phase of the journey is spent in me trying to find out about the places we are going to visit while Modi is busy trying to keep a tab on all the happenings in his territory. I dare to think what a Sales guy did before cellphones came. Of course life was also more peaceful, say the experienced guys.
Anyway We found a bus to Kangra which was quite empty but had no luggage racks which meant my hiking bag was placed at the entrance (I swear this info is relevant) and we were seated quite happily. ½ way to Kangra the bus had a flat which meant we had a good one hour break. The journey then continued along roads which gave some of the most amazing views ever seen. The roads in some places were narrow enough to allow only a vehicle to pass at a time. The best moment was a road which was inclined such that we looked out from the window at the river bed below. The scenery here consists of waterfalls and rock filled river-beds.
Modi seemed quite amused at me being so excited at the views. We had just passed another exciting view when I caught a conversation between the conductor and a passenger who said that he thought something fell from the bus and the conductor ignoring him. I looked for our luggage to find my bag missing. My cam, shades n everything of value was in the lappy bag with me, but all my clothes were in the missing bag. We immediately stopped the bus and I half walked – half ran a few hundred metres to see some blue object lying on the road. Thankfully the bag had picked one of the few pockets of population (actually a small tea stall) to fall. A man picked the bag and placed it next to a tree in view of the road. I ran to the tree thanked the guy and jumped back, placing the bag close to me making sure I gave the conductor a dirty look.
We then finally reached Kangra, which is known more as an important stop on the route to Dharamshala or on the route to Kulu/Manali. It has a famous temple which we promptly visited in the evening after work. I got myself a Kangra Kada which requires the wearer not to drink or eat non veg, (easy :)).
It was impossible to reach Mumbai in time for my granny’s funeral which meant that I wanted to reach Mumbai on her thirteenth day ceremony. The problem was Kangra’s inaccessibility. Reaching Delhi (the closest major airport) from Kangra would be really difficult.
We (Modi, the Dist and me) then brainstormed over lunch on how best I could reach Mumbai. Finally we decided on me taking a Volvo from Dshala to Delhi. HP’s road n/ws required that I keep ample safety time. There was also the case of a bridge having fallen at Ranital which meant an hour and a half detour. But somehow the plan fell into place. I would take an overnight bus to Delhi, catch a flight to Mbai and take the same route back.
That done I decided to get most of my market done before my trip. We headed to Dshala, which is famous for the Buddhist monastery where the Dalai Lama resides. Dharamshala is amazingly beautiful. Paucity of time meant that we planned a quick market trip which meant we would visit the monastery later.
We first headed to Bhak Sunar where we also got a glimpse of the waterfalls though we couldn’t make it to the source. We then walked along the market till suddenly it began raining heavily. We decided to take shelter under a tree which was close to a Buddhist hostel. Here we met an Israeli tourist (a computer engineer) who was planning to make a trip to Lahaul Spiti (HP’s most inaccessible district) by himself. When the rains refused to stop we turned to the building nearby and suddenly realized that we were at the gate of the monastery. Drenched and dripping water, we entered the monastery to discover a serene atmosphere full of foreign tourists. In fact most of Dharamshala seems like it isn’t India at all. We then visited the monastery. Passed the prayer wheels. I made it a point to rotate each one. What I asked for I can’t say cos prayers are really too private to share. That done we looked out to see that the rain had stopped. Circumstances had conspired to ensure that I had visited Dharamshala monastery before I go to Mumbai.
Worship for me for long was a visit to my church on Wednesdays for Novena. The Kangra trip has ensured that I visit a temple and a monastery. Religion is after all as much a part of being Indian as anything else. Where else are so many religions practised with so much freedom.
We left Dharamshala happier because of the experience, with lighter pockets because of the wine I had purchased for dad and me apprehensive because there were too many uncertainties in me reaching Mumbai. It was time to visit home after a long time.
Time to visit home,
Time to pay my respects,
-Pranay
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