The plan for this two day trip was to sit back, relax and do nothing but enjoy the benefits of solitude
The plan for this two day trip was to sit back, relax and do nothing but enjoy the benefits of solitude
Whenever the stress and strain of urban life makes you feel like you are living a straitjacketed life, there comes that extended weekend holiday which rejuvenates you and gives you the much deserved break. It was during one such extended weekend getaway that I decided to revisit one of my old favouritesu00a0-- Manali. The reasons for choosing Manali were my familiarity with the hill station, the ease of identifying the place to stay and finally to explore the unexplored, if any.
Being the late night traveller, I started off at dusk and was soon zooming past the boundaries of National Capital Region. A few hours of drive and I was at Karnal and soon I was stepping inside the Haveli Dhaba, one of the landmarks en route Manali. A quick dinner amidst the village backdrop and I was ready for the rest of the drive ahead.
We were amongst mountains as soon as we crossed Chandigarh and then we went up and down the hills and crossed one to the other. With the sunrise we realised that the scenery was extremely beautiful as Beas river was running parallel and we understood the reason way it is called the paradise of Himachal.
The plan for the two day trip was to sit back, relax and do nothing and thus enjoy the benefits of solitude and few moments of introspection. Of course, the more enthusiastic visitor can also decide to visit nearby popular venues like Rohtang Pass or Solang Valley.
The other favourite activity that I decided to indulge myself in was to take leisurely walks on the mall road and unwind by shopping at the local Tibetan market. For the avid shopper, Manali offers a variety of choices from handmade winter garments and much more while for the gastronomically inclined there are those delightfully tasty eatables like momos et al.
The Baikunth Magnolia offers a perfect leisure holiday
Manali has a bouquet of hotels to offer to its visitors depending on the requirement and budget. We chose to stay at the Baikunth Magnolia, which is one of those little hideaways that you always imagine should be there in the hillsu00a0-- but very rarely are. Originally designed in 1965 as a family townhouse surrounded by gardens and greenery, it was acquired by the Baikunth brand and tastefully redone.
There are 10 rooms on offer in a townhouse setting, each with its own private balconyu00a0-- except for two that have a courtyard instead. The colours are a soothing muted white offset by the dark wood beams and light brown wood of the floors. The hotel itself is surrounded by a small pool of greenery.
After a punishing 600km ride from New Delhi, the one thing that appealed to me was a bath. Raj, the manager, had thoughtfully turned on the geyser before we arrived and, as I enjoyed the hot shower, feeling the tiredness being washed and replaced by a comfortable sense of accomplishment. And very much like the place, its interiors are far larger than you would expect, giving you a sense of grandness within, without ostentation outside.
I took a short nap on the large fluffy double bed, which had switches on both sides to make the mattresses warm. This was something very new and amazing. The menu here is fairly diverse, with both Indian and Continental choices.
Moreover, the chef is a dab hand at both types of food, so whether it is a lightly spiced dal tadka and chicken curry meal you are in the mood for, or a chicken penne. The staff are happy to bring your food wherever you want, and weather permitsu00a0-- your personal balcony, on the lawns, or in the cosy drawing/dining room in the hotel. We spent the day relaxing in the sun, playing carom in the little room set aside for the game and reading books. About the only complaint that I could think of is that I wish I had more time to spend there. It was a lovely escape.
At: Baikunth Magnolia, Circuit House Road, the Mall, Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Price: Rs 4,500 Per night
Ring: 01902 250118
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