It started with Wife complaining about not taking her anywhere for a break from routine life.(even though we had undertaken a trip to see taj one month back, and a trip to wagha border & golden temple two months back)
I decided to go to a hill station for a weekend break. Started searching the net and mouthshut came as a rescuer. I read the review about upadhyay family owned cottage house. googled for their number and spoke to them. Booked a tent house accomodation(only that was available) for one night - saturday. Here again wife convinced me to take a leave on friday and book it for friday night as well.
Now about the experience.
*Getting there** - This place - Tree house cottages - is at katrain, which is between Kullu and Manali. 22 kms(45 mins) from Kullu. We booked a volvo bus for manali which starts from Delhi at 6 pm(thursday) and reaches next morning(fri) at 8 am at katrain.- too long, try to avoid. Book a train to chandigarh and then take a bus.
Once you get down at katrain, the owner’s son comes and picks you up. Their place is 5 mins drive from bus stop.
*The accomodation - **It is actually a tent but is fully equipped. Electricity, beds, clean toilet, geyser, heater. carpetted, cosy and clean. However the owners son told us - dont get scared if you see a snake, they are non poisonous. thankfully no snake decided to visit us.
The tent house is pitched in a apple garden. nice sitting place outside.
The price is very reasonable - Rs1000 per day. One small family hisbnad wife and one small kid can comfortably stay.
They also have a tree house cottage, one 2 bedroom cottage and one 3 bedroom cottage.
*The Food - **There is no other option but to eat what the upadhyay family serves. they serve home cooked veg food - simple - what they have at their home. roti, one vegetable and Dal. However you can decide whether to have it or not. In case you decide not to have it, then eat outside - where you go for sightseeing.
*The sightseeing -
Day 1 - Fri -** The family recommednded us to go to Jalla waterfalls - 20 kms away from katrain. Not many people know about this and hence it is not crowded. Good place. We had local Himachal food there. it was simply amazing. Trekked uphill along the side of the waterfall and sat on the top. After this we went to local sightseeing in a town called Naggar. Went to Roerich meusuem and local palace.
*Day 2 - sat - **Started early at 6 am to go to Rohtang pass. It takes 4 hours to reach there. on the way hired long overcoats and gum boots as it is a ice laden mountain. And to our pleasant surprise we got snowfall for some time on the way. absolutely splendid. The driver told us we were lucky to get snowfall in the month of june. we did a lot of activities at point zero at Rohtang pass - skiing, climbing up a mountain and coming down on a inflated tube on snow, yak riding, snow scooter. Had hot tea and freshly made bhutta.
on the way back stopped at manali for customary local shopping. came back absolutely thrilled and tired.
*Day 3 - Sun - **Local Manali sightseeing. Hidimba temple, Vashishta spring. did river crossing on ropes.
started back for Delhi at 4pm. reached monday early morning at 6am. Volvo bus.
Overall a good holiday.