Day 4 has arrived. Last day for me in Manali, trip was going to end and I had some hours only to cover some of the places which were still still left from Bucket list. Had to catch my bus in the evening and checkout from hotel by 10.00 AM.

I left my luggage with hotel staff and just carried my backpack and umbrella and moved out to explore some more. My first destination was club house,Manali.

I had read about this place in some magazines and I was very curious to go there. I had plenty of time today and just few places to cover so I skipped hiring a car and relied on my legs.Though it was a typical sunny day and a sunny day in hilly region is worse than the summers of Delhi, more chances of getting skin burn. First I reached Club house which was just 1km from my hotel.

Just outside of club house was a board, marking the name of my next Destination. La Plaze just 900 mts from club house. Me and my wife kept on moving towards La Plaze Manali , I had never expected this would be such a nice walk.

 

Walking on the street on the edge of mountains, river flowing on the right and Apple farms on the left, what else would I expect. But I do gave it a thought and I am pretty sure it was not 900 mts which I traveled that day or maybe the heat of the sun had exhausted me like I have travelled miles.

After some 20min from club house I reached LA PLAZE. A restaurant of which I had heard and I was dying to visit and atlast I was there.

 

Simple board outside and a small entry gate, but once entered it was something else. I could the feel the efforts which the owners have put in to make this place as something which would leave its imprints on one’s memory.

 

Built like a cottage home in a European stlye,  a small shed passage leading you to the entry of the main sitting area which comprise of indoor as well as open air sitting. Some 4-5 umbrella were placed in the open area and some 6-7 table sitting in the indoor area.

Two couples sitting and talking in one of the umbrella and on seeing me one of them approached me and welcomed me very warmly. This gesture of them had already impressed me. Though my 1^st words to them were “ Are Sure it is Only 900 mts “ from club house, he said , they have a full time auto rikshaw to give pick up service to people who are visiting La Plaze , pick up point being club house though I was not lucky enough and came by foot only.

Preferred to sit outside only and ordered something to drink and a pasta. Till the time my order is served it was time to click some picks.

 

 

 

Surrounded by Apple farms though no apple was hanging,  snow valley covering the back of the restaurant like a painting and on the right mountain from where huge water fall was flowing. A scene which was serene and calm in itself , I was just loving the location of the restaurant.

My order was to be served and I was roaming here and there just doing the Reiki of the place, there owner Shivani came to  us and invited us for the opening party of this season of them. They had opened this restaurant last year only and they have maintained this tradition to give an opening party to their friends and all. I told them I have to leave today only and wont be able to attend but their gesture had struck me and I was too impressed by this.

We had a long chat, she told me how she planned to open a restaurant in Manali. She runs a restaurant by same name La plaze which means “ The Beach “ in French, its like Feel the Beach in Manali just visit La Plaze. She showed me the inside of the restaurant and how she planned and designed every inch of there, it took her a month to decide the location and height of the Smoke chimney in the main dining hall. She had brought some carpenters specially from Goa who were building a small bamboo shop in the open courtyard, as they carpenters of Manali don’t know how to build from Bamboo so she had arranged some people from Goa.

I spent there and hour or so. I was too much satisfied from my visit there and infact I was too happy that I had chosen this place and my decision to add it in my bucket list was correct.

A place , one must visit if he wants to spend some lovely time with the loveliest of Ambience and a host who makes you feel comfortable like a childhood friend and has known your choices like their own.

Just loved visiting La Plaze….

 

Visiting a Heritage property is in itself an experience. I had heard a lot about it and i was lucky that this place was just some 5min walk from my hotel.

Johnson Hotel & Cafe has been a land mark of Manali. Since 1917 standing there and maintaining its charm. A hotel built in early 1900 by Col. C.R.Johnson. In the starting was built as a family residence for himself but later on after some decades converted in a hotel. Now it comprises of 4 service apartments each having 2 bedrooms separate dining room and kitchen.

I had heard of this place but it was never in my list to visit there. A walk after dinner could turn into an experience, this must have happened with many and it turned into visit to Johnson cafe for me.

I just wanted to know some about this place so stopped there for a cup of coffee. This visit would turn out so good i never expected.

Had the best of hot coffee, perfectly blended with not a single hitch in making. A single sip had made me so happy that i was giggling and had decided that this single sip deserves a blog.

Had been to many pubs and cafe’s in Delhi and this place is not at all below standards if i compare to best of i have visited in Delhi. Struck by its location, its Ambience and service, all being 10 on 10.

Its bar had all the brands of liqour you think off. All wooden architecture , well carved designs and a very elegant wood chimney which was the best thing which attracted me most and i am sorry to say something happened to camera that time and i blurred its pic very badly so couldnt post it here, Mishappenings do happen.

As it was night time so i couldnt roam around much and not being a guest also i didnt even bothered to request for a permission as it was too late when i had reached there.

How could i miss this board while entering into the cafe. But for humanity’s sake i do had a click of it for others. I know this would attract a lot of you all guys. But something which is not written here that i would tell you all. “There is no VAT ” and its not here only infact in whole manali.

Ya this thing happened with me when i asked for bill and i was looking for VAT charges as we Delhites are used too of paying VAT and the first thing we look in our bill. That day i realised What it feels when you ask why No VAT.

So enjoy guys and do visit this Heritage resort if you plan for manali in future. Best of Hotel,Best of Stay & Best of Liquor….No VAT…Johnson Hotel & Cafe.

Though being quite expensive for a stay but for a short visit to its cafe its a sure must place.

Lets tour

Returning from Manikaran Sahib, it was pre scheduled to stop at Kasol. A place which is known as Backpackers paradise in Manali region other than old manali.

I had decided to stop for a while there when returning back from Manikaran sahib. a place situated just 20min away from Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara.

 

Its location was in itself which was the reason for giving it a tag of Paradise. Known for its night parties of Backpackers had a large number of foreign tourist, typically in backpacker style roaming there.

A very small town located on the bank of river with all the amenities which a backpacker need. I could see there while roaming around. I had not seen so much of backpackers in my whole trip, the number i saw in just 15min of my stay. something which i found, Kasol is very costly place in every sense. Though if one search well and is good in bargaining will get a good deal. But may be i was new there thats why i felt like this otherwise one wont find enough backpackers there if the place is going to be too costly.

 

Had a nice visit of their just doing some window shopping though the shops were without windows. Tried some bargaining also but in the end didnt buy, as much of the things were not needed by me. But still i would rate this place a nice destination for backpackers, a place to must visit and  if your are a trekking person then this place is an ideal stopover.

         You call it a Ghetto or typical home of hilly regions but this what backpackers delight is. I went in and asked for the tariff card which as expected was not available but they do told me there price list. Room started from Rs 800/day and ended at Rs 1500 , but after some 5 min only and trying my bargaining skill i was able to bring them down to Rs 500, may be if somebody is more better would be able to gain more.

Every place has its own pros and cons so was with Kasol. At one side it was too costly and on other side its reach was wide. One would find food joints in ample amount and that too serving almost all which you wish for whether its an Indian delight or looking for something international. I saw one German Bakery there which had so much of varities bread that at a moment i started reading there ingredients but then i thought its going to take hours, so i left.

If one is a backpacker then do visit Kasol.

If one visits Manali then do visit Kasol.

In any sense it is worth to take out time for this place. Just loved my 15 minutes.

Lets see when again.

There was something which was most unusual about Manikaran sahib gurudwara. It is most famously known for its “Hot Spring ponds“.

In Manikaran sahib it was same hot spring lik it is at other places in India or world over but its purpose was different , which gave me the reason to dedicate a fresh blog on it.

 

This pond of hot spring is just in front of Ram mandir which is adjacent to Manikaran sahib. These ponds are used for cooking food,”Yes you read it right, they do cook food in them”.

That was the day when i saw for first time how food could be cooked without using any Gas or wood fire. Here in Manikaran sahib whole food given in Langar of Gurudwara is cooked in these hot springs.

 

 

Right in front of my eyes , people came and placed some metal pots in the hot springs. These pots were filled with Rice and lentils. I asked somebody standing there what are these , he told me that these rice and lentils would be served to the pilgrims coming to Manikaran Sahib. After some 20 min they came back and took away these pots, Rice were ready to eat. It is not allowed to put hands in water.

I saw one person selling small packets filled with rice, people buy these packets and boil them in these ponds and take them to their home.

Every day some 20,000 people visit this place and almost everybody eats there. Whole food cooked in these hot springs.

Something which i could never believe , i saw from my eyes.

But story was not over here, even oil is heated in a container by keeping it in this ponds and later on just to keep it hot gas is used, compared to normal usage only 10% gas used for frying the food.

Even big ponds are there which are used by pilgrims to bath before they enter into main hall of Manikaran sahib.

That day i witnessed how nature has served to its best to this place. Call it a scientific phenomenon or some sacred thing, But in the end it has been doing good for the humanity from Decades.

 

 

River rafting over, Now time to move. Car started for Manikaran sahib Gurudwara, it was still some 2hrs away.

Weather was awesome, little bit of drizzling whole the time. But my Driver was too perfect and car was going non stop on the speed of 40km/hr which is considered quite a nice speed when one is in hilly region.

I could see many Sikh guys coming back from Manikaran sahib wearing orange turbans and raising flags envisaging Sikh symbol. My driver told me it is their daily routine, they go to Manikaran sahib on their bikes and take the blessings and help their serving food in langar.

Clouds touching the mountain peaks , clouds sprinkling was the common thing in my whole trip of Manali but during this route for Manikaran it was something different.

Clouds were much nearer even at times passed inside our car. Drizzling had made it foggy and was getting risky.

After some 2hrs after Rafting we reached there. A big building comprising gurudwara touching the river Parvati.

It was a pious feeling while entering Manikaran sahib gurudwara. Keeping your Handkerchief over your head is must to enter into a Gurudwara. Suddenly the mode of being a backpacker had shifted.

Orange and yellow shade have some very common relation with sikh religion.

It was not the first time when i was visitiing a gurudwara and watching these  two colours being used so much in decoration.

We went inside to main hall where Guru Granth Sahib has been placed. Sat there for sometime. It was very calm feeling , all our tiredness had vanished. We felt ourselve rejuvenated again.

Next step was towards the Langar ( where food is served ) hall. Its is said anytime of day you can find food prepared atleast for 20,000 people.

Manikaran Sahib gurudwara is known for its Hot water springs coming out from underneath the earth. When we entered that time only we had felt the warmth. floor was hot due to them, though it was raining and outside it was chilly but inside it was nothing like that.People were taking bath in hot water pond.

This cave had a window opening , and it was very suffocating for me to be there. It was mentioned there,if you feel headache or suffocation kindly leave this room.

This place had something very surprising.

Wanted to spend more time there but i was in hurry and had to move for onward journey.