Exposure to innumerable races, which have settled in Himachal Pradesh from early times, has made the culture of this picturesque state very diverse. Besides being a multicultural state HP is also multilingual.  The vibrant hues of the heritage are exhibited by the locals through their attire, music and dance, celebrations, art and handicrafts and above all their simple but rich lifestyle.

Although Hindi is the official language, usage of Pahari is prevelant on a large scale. It has many dialects for instance; Mandiali(in Mandi), Kulvi(in Kullu), Chameali(In Chamba) and many more. What is common for all the dialects is that they all are of Sanskritic origin.

Costumes of each community are different, be it the Hindus, Rajputs or the tribals like Gaddis, Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangawals and Lahaulis. You get to see men in Dhoti Kurta,coat, waistcoat, turban(Pagri), Sherwani- Churidar pyjamas, long coat, starch stiffened turban. Women wear kurtas, Ghagra- lehenga- choli, rahide(crimson headscarf decorated with golden fringes). Western influence is visible in the dressing style of the youth.

Music and dance are an integral part of a Himachali’s existence. Music is not of classical genre but religion oriented wherein gods are invoked through songs. These mesmerizing songs are known as samskara songs and they use combination of only five notes namely: sa, re, ma, pa, ni.

Festivals, local fairs, social events and gatherings call for taking time off labour and losing oneself to the steps of dancing. Few of exclusive dance forms of HP are: Naati of Kullu, Karthi- a harvest dance, Burah—a martial dance, Kayang of Kinnaur, Sih and Bura -masked dance dramas narrating romantic and satirical topics.

Each month in the entire calendar year hosts one or the other fair or festival held either in honour of the deities worshipped in HP, or pertaining to sports or trade. To say it wisely; Life is celebrated every month by the locals.

Being geographically isolated has given an impetus to the process of evolution of Himachal’s unique tradition of art, architecture and handicraft. The list of specialization is endless; fine woodwork, traditional embroidery, engraved metalware, carpets and shawls depicting pahari designs, the beautiful Kohana-a wall hanging, brightly coloured bamboo household articles and not to forget the exquisite world famous pashmina shawl.

Crosscurrents of cultural and style exchange in hand with art being innovated locally can be viewed in the monuments of this abode of gods. These monuments emphasize on utility and beauty. The temple architecture is based on the availability of construction material. Hence the temples in the upper reaches of Himachal are made of wood and its design has a striking resemblance to Pagodas.

Besides Hinduism, Buddhism is practiced on a large scale here. Farming and livestock are the main occupations of Himachalis. Life here is mainly rural and full of challenges. Villages are mostly self-sufficient. Local shops take care of basic necessities of life.

What we as tourists see, is the commercial exploitation of the ethereal identity of the mountains. Life lies beyond it.

narkanda

Situated at an altitude of 2708 mtrs, Narkanda once was a small staging post along the old Hindustan Tibet Road (NH22). It led the vehicular traffic from Parwanoo to the Tibetan border. The credit of this town’s coming into existence goes to Lord Dalhousie. 65 Kms. From Shimla, this sleepy town is devoid of the frills and fancies of a regular holiday spot.

Narkanda with its fir and spruce forests and snow covered peaks was our destination for a quiet and rejuvenating weekend.  It caters to varied tastes.  If you are a nature lover then you have the breathtaking view of the snow clad Shivalik Ranges right from the verandah of your cottage. Sports enthusiasts must experience the Narkanda winter skiing. Besides soaking ourselves in the enchanting beauty of this tranquil hamlet we manged to do some sightseeing before we moved on.

8Km from Narkanda  surrounded by pine and spruce trees is Hatu Peak and ancient Hatu Temple having its roots in Pandavas vanya Prastha.  First six Kms was in the 4x4 but the remaining 2Kms. was a trek. It was worth the effort since the entire Himalayan range snow clad mountains seemed at arm’s length. After spending couple of quiet and peaceful hours at Tannu Jubbar Lake, we headed towards Shimla, but not via the route we had come.We were in the process of forming a perfect “Kreis”.  From Shimla to Kufri-Fagu-Theg-Narkanda on to the state highway to Rampur- Tattapani, Naldehra, Mashobra and finally Shimla to Delhi.The drive from Narkanda to Tattapani was a memorable one . Coursing our way along the Satluj on our right we witnessed many facets of this ancient river. At certain places its flow was the epitome of youth exuberance and at some places it acted mature having very small rapids. Tattapani is renowned for its hot water springs. It is located on the banks of Satluj.After feeling the hotness of Tattapani and chill of Satluj water we headed towards Naldehra., the site of the oldest golf course  in India, the brainchild of Lord Curzon. Sitting amidst the tall Deodar trees and facing the lush green golf course we devoured heaps of onion-tomato noodles and soda lime before hitting the road for Mashobra, our final halt en route Shimla. Mashobra is part of Shimla Reserve Forest Sanctuary and catchment area. The flora comprising of pine, Oak and cedar along with the fauna boosting of monkeys,baboons, jackal; make the area worth a halt.

To summarise I would say that it was a pleasant  long- drive from Delhi - Narkanda-Delhi.

Dhanaulti, Uttaranchal (Uttrakhand), INDIA

Amidst the Deodars

To retain one’s sanity and mental equilibrium, one needs to get away once in a while from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle into the lap of nature.

That is exactly where you feel you are,  once you reach Dhanolti. It is a small tourist hill station on Mussorie-Chamba Highway in District Tehri Garhwal of Uttarakhand. At an altitude of 2200mtrs, 30 Kms, ahead of Mussorie, this sleepy paradise has lots to offer in terms of serenity. Time stops still when you are in the midst of lush towering deodar trees. It seems God created Dhanolti to give humans an overview of what heaven has in offing for us.

After lot of deliberation and misgivings, we (a motley group of seven) headed towards Dhanolti leaving Mussorie hills behind us. Upon inquiring we came to know that places worth visiting in Dhanolti were mere two ecological parks. Therefore it was unanimously decided to spend no more than one hour there and then head for Mussorie well before sunset.

Upon parking our car and entering the first Eco park, the firm intent of departing early from that place started dwindling. From, sitting on a swing to trekking uphill, mistaking the sound made by leaves, when they came in contact with gentle breeze,  as the sound of a nearby located waterfall, artificial river crossing to drinking special local tea with lip smacking pakoras, it was indeed an unforgettable experience. Our next halt was the second eco park. This park was specially designed for adventure sports. Flying fox, Burma Bridge and Trampoling were, among many, the main highlights of this park.

After so much of exercise, it was time to satisfy the grumbling sounds coming from the stomachs of not one but of the entire lot. The hunt for a restaurant turned out to be a daunting task since nobody was keen on feeding  hungry tourists at 3.30 in late afternoon. One gentleman categorically refused to entertain us as he was busy entertaining himself through the medium of television. Another Dhaba was without its owner who was in no hurry to come back from wherever he had wandered off to. Finally we managed to find a place where we could eat a simple vegetarian lunch. The owner was very much present and willing to feed us. It was a rundown place and we had our reservations as to the quality and taste of the food being served, but did we have a choice?

On the contrary the food was filling and tasty. Hence with heavy stomachs, light hearts and a silent resolve  to come back again, we bundled into the vehicle and headed back to our hotel in Mussorie.

love your work and not your organisation