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| My first ever solo trip! |
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| "Some journeys can only be traveled alone"-Kein Poirol |
The trip that
encouraged me to travel more often: The Story
Juggling between the regular 9-5 schedule and living in a
crowded city Delhi, I always feel like running from the chaotic life. Listening
to the boss, meeting deadlines, adjusting with personal issues, my life became chaos. For quite some time Kasol has been on the bucket list of most
travelers. This place has never disappointed anybody who has planned a trip
based on the suggestion of fellow travelers, friends and travel bloggers. Those
were the days when I was single and the only thing that goes on my mind was
where I should travel next. It was 2015 when the earlier months of the year
has been harsh on me. After going through a rough patch in a relationship and
looking for a new job, hardships took a toll on my mental health. A Facebook
update by my college junior caught my attention. A travel group named ‘We
Travel Solo’ was organizing a 3 day trip to Kasol. I was convincing a lot of
people to come along with me saying it will be fun. But, nobody got convinced. Then,
I decided to go alone all the way from Delhi to Kasol.
I started my journey on 21st October, 2015, it
was a long weekend of Dussehra. The bus was full of people from the age group
of 18-25. Everybody was unknown to each other. I was meeting people from all
age groups, listening to their stories, what they do, what made them decide
traveling to Kasol. Deep inside, I was wondering how my trip will be.
I do not know how many of you have felt that something
inside you was about to change. But, for me, it was a life-changing experience.
Somewhat like looking back in the later part of life that makes you say, “Yes,
that was the moment when it all changed.” My first ever solo trip to Kasol was
one such moment in my life.
Until that solo trip, every trip I did included staying in
lavish hotels, taking a beach walk and dining at plush eateries. Those family
trips were exciting, but honestly, they never triggered the joyful feeling I now
feel whenever I travel.
It was on Wednesday on 21st October when I started my journey.
I was curious to stay awake and see the route until I reached Kasol. The
transition from roads to mountains was beautiful. I was capturing every moment
that came my way. Passing through all the small villages, the way en route Kasol
was not less than a treat to my soul. Trust me, I didn’t regret for a second
why I traveled alone. Instead, if I would not have decided to travel it would
have been a bad decision. That was the most wonderful ride to the hills I ever
had. Driving down the slopes of hills through the open windows and capturing
the mountains, it was the freedom I believe. It was a wonderful feeling, and I feel
the same every time I travel to a new destination.
We reached in the evening of 22nd October,
tired and with no energy left. We finally headed to The Evergreen Café for some
snacks and coffee. This café is one of the oldest cafes in Kasol. It has
options for both indoor and outdoor seating making it an ideal spot for fine
dining.
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| The view from The Evergreen Cafe |
After the camps were allotted everybody decided to sit for a
bonfire. Bonfire in a winter evening is always a good idea. I interacted with a
lot of people and exploring the nearby places. Our camp was located beside
a river. The gushing sound of the flowing river and the tranquility of the
mountains was a joyous experience that I have been craving for.
Waking up the next morning in the tent to the sound of birds
and the fresh rays of the sun were pure bliss. I took a camera in my hand and head to trekking through the
nearby hills. I made friends with a couple of people who came from Delhi. Some
people decided to explore Tosh, while I headed to Manikaran. I went to
Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib, a pilgrimage for Sikhs and Hindus. It is mainly
famous for hot springs and beautiful views.
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| The view outside Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib |
The next day, I along with the fellow travelers headed to
Chalal. The trek was extensive and tiring. But the in-between views of the village,
listening to other people’s experience and gazing at beautiful sunsets took
away all the fatigue.
Travel memories are forever
Trekking to Chalal village was one of the places I fell in love
with. I realized it was the place where spending an entire day was less. It was
a quaint village surrounded by splendid beauty. I clicked a lot of pictures
wherever I found a spot. I along with my fellow travelers walked along from
Chalal to Choch village. In between, there was away from where the river was
flowing extremely close to the rocks. Soaking my feet into the cold water gave
me immense pleasure. I am a Pahari, although I have been brought up in North
India I never got a chance to explore hills extensively. Therefore, I am doing
that now.
Seeing the gushing flow of the river, I feel like touching its
waves. That moment, I felt like a different version of myself. I want to
indulge in this feeling often.
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| "I hope the fathers and mothers of little girls will look at them and say 'yes, women can"-Dilma Roussef |
In this place I found my inspiration to travel the world. I
realized how much I love traveling. For those three days, everything seemed
to be perfect. This trip changed me for good. It made me realize that there was
so much to do in life: exploring beautiful places, meeting interesting people
and above all not depending on anybody else. It was altogether a great
experience. I have traveled to so many places since then, it changed me
altogether as a person and helped me to figure out what I want in my life. I am
grateful that I took a decision to travel to Kasol alone. This trip gave me so
much knowledge about how people are living their lives, it made me open-minded
and broadened my perspective about life. This trip helped in figuring out
things on my own, and it made me confident about life.
Well, that was
one my first trip that was an overall good experience. Is there any such trip
that has changed your perspective about life?
