a reminiscence

Manali; a mystical romantic marvel

M

anali is like a high-school romance. You discover it, go for it, embrace it for a while and then leave it. Mostly, your heart says no. But your obligations force you to part with the warmth of the persons arms. The memory however stays forever in your heart-and it’s always a fond one. Manali is a magical city. One visit is enough to fill your heart with never ending memories for a lifetime. The people there have those ‘rosy cheeks’ which we mostly read about in Aesop’s fables; there are dogs with unbeknown breed roaming around {if they see you trekking, they will follow you till the end}. The drains are so clean that tourists mistake them for waterfalls, the life so untouched, so new, that you cant help but sneeze{the air is so fresh!}

The views are breath-taking, the lanes never-ending and the opportunities to explore, unlimited. In the end, it all boils down to one thing: Manali blows you away, completely. The high mountains, the green valleys, the wildlife, the culture and the heavenly cold compared to the sweltering heat down south! The place is practically utopia!! You can come armed with basic necessities and trek along; you can stay in a lavish hotel and follow a tour map; you can rent a homestay and shop on the streets while enjoying the local puchka! The only thing you need in fact, is just a long, long, lazy summer to spend in this beautiful city and enjoy it while it lasts.

Manali is number one in hospitality. The people are kind, warm and welcoming. They entertain with their local cultural songs and dance and coax you to try on their pretty costumes. The overwhelming amount of salespersons in the street, hoping you’ll come and buy their wares will fantasize you no end. Manali has its own mystical, rural charm to it and as we try to preserve it, tourists come to discover why their friends are raving about this particular city. There are many cities in this world, cities with more touristy places, cities with more archaeological wonder, cities with more controlled weather, but Manali is its own world-the city is a mystical romantic marvel.

              A memory is a memory for life;

              But a good one remains for long after…