Reminiscing Parvati

by Raj Purkayastha (India)

Making a local connection India

Don't know where to start from, each and every memories are worth reminiscing. So lets go back to the month of December, the peak time of winters in the Northern Mountain Ranges,i.e. Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh. I was travelling with my friends. This was the first time were going to Kasol (one part of Parvati Valley). The first day when we arrived in Kasol we could felt the chillness in the breeze and could feel that the mountains are wishing us with all its heart. Yes we realized there is a lot more to the trip than we were thinking before reaching. Then after some refreshments we started our walk and we walked for roughly 30-40mins and reached our guest house. That day we took rest in the guest house. Now the next day arises with some good Israeli food and yes hot chocolate. Then after our breakfast we started our trek to a place called Rasol. We were told that it was a 3hrs trek so better do it while its still day because at night it might get risky because of the mountain animals and ofcourse the weather. When we started our trek we even met a dog and guess what he was so cute and he did the trek along with us. It was like the dog was our travel guide. It was a very fascinating trek. All the places you pass through or the places you see little far, you can just be aww-struck. After 4hrs of trek we finally reached Rasol and it got very late for us to reach there so we stayed there in a guest house and chilled over there. Again the next morning's sun comes up and the first thing we saw was very big big snow capped mountains. Didn't realize that we'll be witnessing such a great morning the other evening because it was so dark, nothing was visible. There was even a small waterfall near our guesthouse so we went there and spent our afternoon and before getting dark we got some booze and went back to guest house. The booze helped us to stay warm in that freezing night. That cold can even be felt now. After chilling out we slept early because we had to get up the next day soon because we had to trek our way back down and we were thinking to go to a different place now named Tosh. The next day got up fast, had our breakfast and started our trek down to Kasol and guess what the tour guide we had while trekking up was now guiding us again. Yes I dont have any clue but that same dog accompanied us while trekking down. After 3hrs or so we reached Kasol. After reaching there we took a bus for Tosh. It was around 9pm and we reached Tosh. It was -15°C. Thas was my first time in this extreme cold. After reaching we rushed to a cafe for some hot chocolate. Then we freshened up and again came back to cafe for sitting near the heater afterall it was cold. Then we ordered some hash brownies and it was the first time I was having hash brownies so yes this was THE NIGHT! After finishing the brownies we went for stargazing and believe it or not it was the best trip ever for me and the brownies were good so obviously I was tripping balls. After some stargazing we went back to bed. The next morning we got up and saw how Tosh was from inside. After seeing Tosh we came down a little by a cab and then went to another place called Kalga. That was the first place where we reached on time, i.e. before getting dark. After reaching there we tried our hand on hot thukpa. It was one of the tastiest thukpa I've ever had and that cold weather amplified the taste of the thukpa ten times. In the evening we sat in the cafe and for the first time chilled with other hotel people. Chillums were burning in the name of Lord Shiva. Little did I know unknown faces can also chill together.