Hotel Woodpark Shimla

... of the region.<br><br>The drainage systems of Himachal Pradesh are Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Beas and Yamuna. This Hill Station experience three seasons hot weather season, cold weather season and rainy season. It is considered as a fruit bowl of the country. Himachal Pradesh is a well known habitat to a variety of animals. There are around 1200 bird and 359 animal species in the state. Himachal Pradesh is divided into 12 districts ...

... aggressive - and climbed to the monkey temple. Queued to be blessed by the holy man in the shrine - a saffron dot placed on our foreheads. The holyman paused in doing this only to take a call on his mobile - new India v old India cliche. <br><br>Leaving the temple we nearly were nearly caught in the cross fire of a turf war between a troop of monkeys and the local stray dogs. Much baring of teeth, shreaks and barks. It was unclear as to who won. <br>

... to the railway station. I spotted a sign saying booking reservation office so off I went down some steps. Came to a building Reservation office I asked? No further down, Down I went more steps - another bulding I could see railway tracks so I had to be close nope still further down. More steps, by this time the locals were finding it hilarious. Eventually a guy came and directed me as you had to go via a dark rather salubrious tunnel ...

... boarding platforms which were supposed to be filled with all kinds of craziness were rather calm. The only anomoly was quickly striking a friendships with an Indian chap who worked for Eli Lilli and spoke perfect english. While Jen ran around and procured dinner provisions for the train ride, Jeff stood guard of the bags and chatted with our new friend. By the time Jen had returned armed with dinner (masala-flavored potato chips, bananas and cookies), a curious ...

... It's actually being painted now and is not finished, but will look amazing. Higher up, much higher up, there is a cave. It wasn't worth the hour and a half climb, but behind it there is a forest of prayer flags that is quite impressive. I don't think I have ever seen so many in one spot. I went back down a bit faster and had a last thukpa (tibetan soup) before heading to the ugly city of Mandi (there was a forest fire there last night) and on the night bus to Delhi.

I finally made it out of Delhi! My escape was thanks to two friends from my days in South Ex, Navin and Ankush. They had gone to Raipur to work for a few months but were back for a few weeks for some project. They were travelling to Himachal Pradesh, one of the most northern states in India, for Christmas, and asked if I wanted to come. We got an overnight train from Old Delhi on the 20th. I characteristically bought my ticket at the last ...

... getting hustled by a 12 year old for some shotty stamps and some oval magnets - 90 Rs ($2.50) - learning about a wide array of spices from a toothless gentlemen who spoke perfect english - yoga at 8 AM each morning in the hotel As we were preparing to leave to fly to Delhi, once again the flight was cancelled. So we paired up with an older couple and shared a cab for the 4 hour winding, hilly drive to Chandigarh, where we caught a Jet Airways flight to Delhi, en route to Jaipur.

... astounding, no electricity, just a candle, some shoes and some grains...as you pass him on the road at 12,00 feet, he greets you and invites you to pray at the goddess in a stone, dots your forehead, gives you some sugar rock candy and sends you on your way...he has many visitors afterall.. The journey spanned the Hindustan-Tibetan Highway, which followed the Old Trade Route to Tibet, so we were very close to no-go zones, and I got a special permit to travel in these ...

... Delhi heat. My mind started imagining how cold it would be in Lahaul/Spiti. Suddenly, the jeep came to a cranking halt. I could see a long column of vehicles in the front. After a while, we got down to assess the situation. The traffic, both ways, had come to a halt as stones were dangerously coming down the hill adjoining the road. Incidentally, there was a monkey at the top, who was being shooed away by a dumb-head. Fearing for its life, the animal was jumping ...