Chug - chug - koo!

The Rail Museum, New Delhi

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Naggar - a delightful hamlet

Perhaps it was because we happened to visit the place on a Monday. One of the attractions, an art gallery, is closed Mondays. So it seemed to us that we had the whole hillside village to ourselves.
At 17 km from Manali, Naggar is just a short drive away, and the Himachal Pradesh tourism department includes it in its regular circuits.
The Naggar palace (castle), with a very interesting history from pre-colonial and colonial times. The palace is now a heritage hotel with a restaurant, an outlet for woollen things, a museum and the Jagatipatt (Shiva) temple within the palace.
(The courtyard was the venue of a popular number of the likeable Hindi film 'Jab We Met').

The Shiva temple within the palace. The wooden pieces that hang ornately make the most soothingly delightful sounds when there is a breeze around.
An ancient Vishnu temple adjacent to the palace.



An even older Gauri Sankar temple a short walk away.
(If you wish to see and buy purses, caps, shawls and coatees made of rabbit wool, just visit the second shop from the palace gates. We were very impressed with the presentable young owner, who was evidently proud of his produce).

See more visions from around the world in My World Tuesday
More posts on Manali
Seeing is believing - hot springs of Manali
Interesting local items
Yak's hair
Manali snow in February

Shelf-hopping, window-shopping

Accompanied a neighbour to a function at our children's school, and we stopped on our way back for her to look for purposeful gift items. You'll be glad I had my camera by me, won't you?Lord Krishna in brass
A brass conch used during puja (worship) (You can guess how over-zealous my camera was!)
A low chair...
...that can easily be folded to stow away. (noted the hooks at the sides in the previous image?)
Typical musician set
Complete living room needs!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

When in Manali...

When in Manali - get familiar with local stuff.
Angoora (rabbit wool) shawls. It's possible to see busy looms weaving away if you visit on week-days.
The finest of these shawls can easily pass through a finger-ring, and cost upwards of Rs 80,000.
One of the older factories at KulluThe shop at Naggar palace, where Subhash cheerfully shared secrets of the different varieties of shawls and cautioned "Take care to look for genuine local produce, not bulk items shipped up from factories in the nearest cities"
Another showroom on the way to Manikaran
The traditional headgear Manali native - of late, the sunglasses are part of the costume. Several ladies like Bimla carry a set of costumes including traditional jewellery for couples to try out. (Be wary - rates vary from Rs 10 in the late evenings to Rs 250 to the gullible non-native)We are dismal shoppers, but very happy to watch the items on offer, and gave in to some fascinating palate-ticklers at a cooperative outlet on the main street at Manali.Sun-dried apple - can be used along with other vegetable preparations, we were told.
Apple pickle - once I got over the taste of mustard oil that is a favourite in North India, I didn't mind the mildly sweet flavour.
Lingri pickle - Lingri is a fern variety and is a popular local vegetable. We initially saw only 1/2 kg bottles; at our third visit, the lad finally consented to part with smaller packs.
Handmade jute-and-wool footwear (Rs 60 a pair) Take a leisurely world tour here

Luxurious tresses!

The yak's hair is of much use in Central Asian regions. See the source -




The duster-like Chauri used in Sikh temples (Gurdwaras) is a fan made of yak hair.



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Under a white blanket in February - Snow Point, Manali

You still enjoying white winters? or warmer climes?
Here are pictures of my first-ever view of snow brand new!
Finally! Got to see snow in winter. Manali had had the season's heaviest snowfall (about 3 feet) early February, and the road to Solang Valley (14 km from Manali, on the route to spectacular Rohtang Pass), was blocked, nay, jammed. The highest we could reach was Snow Point (that was high enough, thanks!).
Looks as though cotton grows in apple trees in winter?
The snowfall was rather unexpected, and all kinds of vehicles were taken by surprise.


This is where work on a ropeway is underway.My son was keen on making a snowman - he did, too - can you make out the sprawled figure?
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Sunbathing in winter

Manali, nestled in the Western Himalayas, 'enjoyed' season's heaviest snowfall early February, a day or two before we reached the town. That's when - just below the lowered snow line - we got to see a lot of winter sunbathers.




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