Manali & Manikaran Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, India

Welcome!

This is the sixth and last posting of my trip to India in June. Manali, in the Kullu district is the town where everyone, who wants to travel through the Rhotang pass to Leh, hangs out. Manikaran Sahib is a very special Sikh Temple built on the wild river Parvati and on hot springs.

I hope you enjoy the photos. My trip to Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh was one of the most memorable. Apart from the stunning scenery and the lovely people, I had the most wonderful travelling companions. From the left in the photo above, Harvinder, Amrit, Naved and Bob. Next time I'll post photos of Florentine architecture from a little know Tuscan city called Pistoia.
















What a view to wake up to!
















Taken from our hotel in Manali
















We stayed in upper Manali, in the peace and
quiet away from the hustle and bustle of
downtown













Colourful houses up on the hills
















The river Beas is a great attraction
















The locals find ways to have fun
















The intrepid four waiting for the pass to open,
which it never did!
















Downtown Manali. This street is known as
"the Mall" (Mall Road). A great place for a
walk....















...or for just sitting and watching the world go by

















Mata Temple on the Mall
















I think he must be a craftsman, judging from
what he is carrying on the front of his bike






















Public ear cleaning!


















Thoughtful














Animated
















Giving. Sikhs give out free milk












Taking a rest

















A yak, gorgeous animal






















Didgeridoo player
















Manikaran Sahib on the Parvati river.
The temple is special to Sikhs because of its
association with Guru Nanak, who visited
Manikaran
















The wet weather with low cloud on the hills
together with the wild, racing river, created
a magical atmosphere, charged with energy
















You can see the steam from the hot springs
















There are three pools for people to bathe in. It
is said the water contains radioactive elements
like uranium. I wondered why I was glowing!
















One is outside






















The pool for the men is through
this main entrance to the right.
There is also a pool for the ladies.
The water is very hot! It was a great
experience bathing and then eating
in the temple. The Sikhs always
provide food for everyone
















On the right Harvinder. Me on the left
















The two of us with Bob

Thanks for coming. Come back to see a Tuscan
city called Pistoia, which is about 35 km from
Florence. I worked there from 1979 to 1983

Dharamsala - धर्मशाला - & Mcleod Ganj

Thanks for coming to visit my blog.

Going backwards on our trip to Leh we are now in Himachal Pradesh, having left Manali. Unable to take the Rohtang Pass to Leh because of snow and a landslide, we set out for Dharamsala, the seat of the Dalai Lama. This was a very special occasion for me and I felt blessed and honoured to have the opportunity to go there.

These photos show some scenes of the very beautiful trip to Dharamsala and then of Mcleod Ganj, the village where the Dalai Lama and the monks live and practice their Tibetan Buddhist religion. Next time will be the last posting of this fantastic trip to North India. I'll show you photos of Manali and an amazing Sikh temple built on the banks of a wild river. The temple is built over hot springs. The river in this first photo is much calmer as it winds its way between the cliffs.















Now why would you want to build here?
















Whatever it is, it is very striking.
















Took this shot as we were driving along
















What a great bridge. Looks a bit scary though!
















The beautiful late afternoon light on the
lovely hills of Himachal Pradesh
















Just gorgeous













Climbing higher now and rewarded by this
lovely view of the Himalayas















Sunset before we reached Dharamsala. We
still had several hours of driving before
we got there
















Early morning in Dharamsala. The view from
where we we stayed
















Very colourful, if a bit chaotic!
















Wouldn't you like to do that!






















Now we are in Mcleod Ganj,
upper Dharamsala





















A street on our way to the Dalai Lama temple
complex


















Tibetan ladies enjoying a simple task






















Morning prayers
















The entrance to the Dalai Lama temple complex
also called the Tsuglagkhang Temple complex.
With my friends Naved in orange and Bob in green
















Very simple in its design












We arrived just after the Dalai Lama had left
to visit Japan. There was a prayer vigil taking
place so the complex was full of people........














......and monks














View of the hills and Mcleaod Ganj from the
temple complex















Mani prayer wheels
















A young monk distracted by the chance of
having his photo taken!













The prayers are long and tiring













Devotional prostrations
















Hidden away in the hills across from the temple
complex



















Battle weary Havinder (left) and Amrit the
wounded (right)






















Walking back to the car






















I leave you with these
glorious chaps

Do come back in two weeks
for those photos of Manali
and a special Sikh Temple