We've changed our travel plans because we're enjoying it here in Kullu so much! We've ditched Rishikesh to spend more time here.
Went on a day trip to Manali yesterday, a town 40km north of Kullu on the River Beas. It was very busy but worth the rather bumpy trip. We looked in the markets where people kept on coming up to us, asking us to ride their yaks and stroke their rabbits! We even got chased by a toothless python at one point! All just a ploy to get money out of us for taking photos. After lunch, we headed upstream to the Solang Valley, where we took an hour's horse ride (they looked suspiciously like donkeys though) even further uphill to the River bank. We felt really sorry for the horses/donkeys (ok maybe they were just small horses) cos it must have been hard work dragging all four of us up the hill! Pragya and Jo were holding on for dear life, however Pragya's cousin managed to skillfully talk on his mobile phone for part of the ride. On the way down, Pragya nearly fell off as her horse got jealous of the other horse taking over her so decided to run down the hill. Jo had her own problems as her horse was very old and liked jumping from rock to rock. We have now got sore thighs and bums but it was worth it as we got to see the whole valley and get much nearer to the snow capped mountains, which are very picturesque. We visited a nature park - just a load of Deodar trees - after having a snack of Jalebis (orange coloured swirly sugary sticky batter type things) and then went home, bouncing in the car all the way.
Today we went to Manikaran, a village famous for it's hot sulphurous springs. We visited a few temples (you can't go anywhere in India without 'visiting a few temples'
and the market. On the way home, we stopped in another village called Kasol, popular amongst Israeli hippies (there were millions of them) topping up on drugs. Don't worry though, we only went for the shopping (jewellry, not drugs).
We're in Kullu for a few more days so will hopefully get some photos up at some point. xx
