To reduce space factor, Jaya and me visited Manali to buy peace
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After a round of discussions where to visit, to come out from daily hassles generally followed by skirmishes, Jaya , my better half and I closeted for nearly ten minutes without any utterance. Atmosphere of the room was tense. As if, dark clouds hovered over her face. I stood up and broke the pin drop silence.

“Now, where you want to visit”
“Who am I a dictate?”
I kept quiet. A phone call came and I overheard Jaya’s voice. Nearly, after fifteen minutes, she came to my room”
“Let us go to mountain”
“mountain””why not”
“ok, ok”


Finally, place decided for visit was Switzerland of India that is Manali. Distance of Manali from Delhi is 500kms. Initially, we decided to go by car enjoying the hilly roads, but dropped the plan to avoid 12hrs of journey. So we flew to Manali from Delhi. We ushered into the car at Kulumanali airport or Bhuntur airport as local people called, on 20th April 2008 morning at 10.00am. The car was speeded through the mountainous road, flanked by greeneries, temperature was very pleasant at 15 degree centigrade, of course, little chilled wind was blowing but manageable without any woollen clothes and my


goodness, what a scenic beauty? By enjoying greeneries, mountain pass, picturesque, we reached to the Manali heights resort at a level of 6000 ft after nearly two hours and dumped our luggage. Jaya was not in a mood to waste any time and we were out to see one of the beautiful valleys in the mountain at 14000 ft by the name “Sohang Valley”. When the car journey was more than through near the destination of Sohang, road closed sign was displayed by Para-military forces, as sudden snow fall covered the road and our journey was disrupted. We came back to the hotel Manali Resort, no choice but with a gloomy face.


On 21st April 2008, we started to visit Rohtang Pass, 52 kms from our hotel galloping scenic beauties of the places called Nehru Kund, Kothi, Gulaba Camp, Rayla falls, Beas Nala, Marhi and ultimately to Rohtang. Nehru Kund was in dilapidated condition because of wreckage of surrounding mountain rocks due to strong snow falls, nearly 6 months ago. At Kothi, we stopped the car to have a look to the mountain pass.

“I cried, do not look at the bottom.”
“Jaya retorted, I am not coward like you.”
“Coward dies many times before their death but I don’t want to make friendship with Mrs. Death immediately.””Why”
“Simple very simple, where will you get Mr. Live”
“What”
“Nothing”


We enjoyed the classic beauty of Kothi resort and proceeded for Gulaba Camp and then Rayla Falls. We saw a strip of white was affixed on the mountain in zigzag fashion like a snake was kissing the mountain. We were focused on the dazzling beauty of the static snow on the mountain. In the meantime, car driver brought two cups of real good coffee and also broke the unpalatable news of road blocked further upto Rohtang Pass. He advised a bit with smiling face to content our journey up to Marhi.

Jaya as usual got violent “What are all these happenings?”
“You should have consulted an astrologer before leaving.”
“I would not consult astrologer but insult not giving you company, henceforth.”
“Why”
“You are the most unlucky fellow may be under this sun, in this world.”



Somehow managed to reach Beas Nala from Rayla falls 16000 ft on the top, of course by a hand cart driven by roller arrangement pushed by two persons. Narrow road, uneven path, one side surrounded by hard rock snow and the other side straight down to ditches. I started chanting, Jaya got vivacious. After sometimes got down from the two seater typical two roller wooden handcart. Jaya jumped to the little higher level to the white ground full of snow. People were skating, driven by sledge car like in Eskimo. Photos were flashed
endlessly. Young couples were hugging, kissing what not they were doing. I was in another world of dream.



“What happened, why are you looking to those young couples, let them do whatever they like to do.”
“I am enjoying.”
“What”
“Snow and snow ball”
“At your age of mid 50, you must concentrate on snow and think for white means cleanliness.”


Driver Vijay was damn good, again brought two cups of coffee which we finished and glanced the beauty of surroundings with enlivenment. We were nearly two hours at this Beas Nala , 4kms down side to Marhi. From here, within another 20kms, the highest mountain of Himalaya mountain near Manali, is the Rohtang Pass. Some say, it is identical from beauty, scenic point of view to Jungfru of Interlaken, Switzerland.


We started declining by the wooden wheel car to our parked vehicle down to Beas Nala. Reached to the hotel within another two hours around 8.30 p.m. Next day, 22nd April was the departure day, Jaya was very morose as she could not see the Sohang Valley, Rohatang Pass only to get a promise from me for visit in the future and that is the way, I pacified her and buy peace for momentarily.