Flowing rivers
Unending mountain ranges with clouds hovering over
Arrays of tall wise pine trees just flashing across your eyes
The pretty-as-a-postcard view of the houses stacked on the valley
Sitting inside the car and enjoying the serene beauty of the journey towards Kasol makes one realize the utter clutter that city life imbibes and how just a few hours in the lap of nature are enough to bring down the stress level. Some images during the course of the journey leave an unforgettable trail - the misty mountains in the early morning, the roadside coloured with a variety of wild flowers, the smiles of the simple village folks coming out with their share of the day’s work, the shepherd with his herd of sheep trying to make inroads for him and his partners alike.
The sudden slowness in everything around you makes way for a quest, a search for that indefinable something for which people, particularly the working, all-weekdays-busied people, plan weekend getaways. Perhaps this quest is an attempt to washout the rust that the daily life and its mundaneness let seep into you. That’s when you need places to go to for those perfect escapades, to while away a short but quality time, to break free from the clutches of the restive, drudgery weekdays, to breathe in a different air, of a different place, to sink in the happy thoughts and feelings, once and for all.
Nowadays, people who seek such solace and a necessary break are spoilt with options. And if you are someone who lives in the capital city, it’s high time to get acquainted with the tiny village of Kasol. Two hours away from Manali, this district in Kullu stands out as the perfect land to escape to. At a height of 1,640 metres stuck between the fiery Parvati River and the valley with the same name, filled with the firs, deodars, chir pines and surrounded by the coniferous forests, Kasol is as refreshing and original as can be.
Tucked between narrow band of reserve forest on one side and the roaring Parvati River on the other, Alpine Guest House serves as the perfect amalgamation of comfort and charm, both qualities which are synonymous with even Kasol. Tall pine trees, practically shadowing the entrance with its magnanimous leaves, welcome you to the guest house. If that is not enough, one can find oneself being swept away by the inherent aroma of the firs and pine creating a tantalizing effect all together. The rejuvenation kicks off from right there. But that said; that’s not all. The tranquility and serenity of the Alpine Guest House won me over and I realized that if I ever wanted a place where I could connect with my inner self, leaving behind the grindings of regular routine life, this has to be it.
One of the first things that catch your attention at Alpine Guest House is the splendid and breathtakingly beautiful Parvati flowing with uproar, with the large white stones sitting in between the rapids and the valley at an almost touching distance right across it. You realize right at that instant that you HAVE left the blaring city life quite behind. The tables and chairs arranged besides the railing by the side of the river remind you of the roadside cafes of Paris but here, instead of people, you will be surrounded by the bewitching smell of mountains and rivers and the natural sounds that practically feel like music to the ears, sounds which are non-existent in the city. And the realization that this marks merely the preface, the probability of the unending discovery of the numerous delights just makes the ‘happiness-o-meter’ rise.
Standing by the railing, the spectacular view of the mighty vales with the swirling roads reaffirms the promise of the very satisfying days ahead, both in terms of the place of stay and the place of visit. When one walks down the steps leading to the river, you literally feel the ice cold water splashing your feet, the white sands below, almost weighing down under the pressure of the water. There’s so much one can do, one can take away from nature, the possibilities spoil you; they do. Just then, you look right and find the hanging bridge that will take you to the valley yonder, the word enough ceases to exist because this place gives you more of everything.
For early risers, such as me, the best time would be the mornings when the sights and sounds of the valley are even more mesmerizing with mountains at their misty best, curled and covered up in the swaying clouds which forever seem to hover over the Parvati Valley. If you are an avid reader then getting your favourite books and re-reading them sitting on the front yard of the Alpine Guest House facing the valley and the river with the warm sunlight above will increase the pleasure of reading manifolds.
One of the best things about places such as Kasol is that they act as a heaven of sorts for adventure freaks and solitary pursuers alike. All trekkers will be aware that the Himalayan Valley, and Himachal Pradesh in particular, is famous for the trekking terrains; Kasol is no different. One just needs to step out of your room at the Alpine Guest House to explore all that the place has to offer in its full glory. Walking through the woods of the valley, I was reminded of the forests of Brothers Grimm that I used to imagine during my childhood days. Unwinding had never felt better. Moreover, the smokes arising from the hot spring just by the river bank helped in creating that orphic milieu.
For the introspective kind too, this place is apt as it allows you to stroll, read, or just do your thing taking all your time, because life feels and becomes so much easier and laidback in these serene surroundings. I am reminded of a fellow guest at the Alpine Guest House, a Korean woman who used to come down every morning with her yoga mat, unroll it over a plain surface of a large stone amidst the river, sit down for her regular yoga routine.
Even the accommodation of the Alpine Guest House deserves a worthy mention. With 15 double bedded rooms and a family suite, all extremely moderately priced; it is spacious, cozy and comfy. All the rooms come with attached modern tiled bath with hot and cold water available round the clock. Add to it room service and laundry facilities and a comfortable stay is definitely assured.
Most of the time, it is the simplest of things, like the ambience, facilities and food that makes one’s experience even more worthwhile - to feel like home, even in a different place, no matter for how short a duration, is not something easy to come by. Alpine Guest House, with its amazing location, ambience and friendly staff, actually ended up feeling like a home away from home. For the foodies, it is welcome news that most of the resorts in and around Kullu provide all kinds of cuisine, be it Indian, Israeli, Italian, Continental or Chinese. The same goes for the Alpine Guest House which also has a dining area where breakfast, beverages and meals are available to one’s choice. The fact that the guest house’s dining hall is open-air makes the entire dining experience an unforgettable treat.
In this instance, these immortal lines by Robert Frost come to mind:
“The woods are lovely dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep”
On leaving Alpine Guest House and the village on the fourth day, it finally hit me that the sojourn was coming to an end. Wonder how three days just flew by, literally. And one is again convinced that like all goods things, even this trip had come to an end. Memorable is a tame word when one would like to sum up the entire experience of holidaying in Kasol and particularly, at the Alpine Guest House. Few extremely well-spent days, bereft of the ordinary and everyday thoughts, into nature’s most naked form, one is bound to feel more than just blessed. My only suggestion (if you want to call it that) would be to be there and do (or not do) anything that you want to do, from exploring, to trekking, to reading, to angling, to strolling, to simply have a great time. Come to Kasol, come to Alpine. And for the few days of your stay just let the place sink inside you, feel the breath of the winds rapture the otherwise quotidian, everyday existence. Feel blessed and just have the most of this breathtakingly beautiful place in the place best to stay.
For Alpine Guest House: Contact+91 1902 273710, +91 98162 71067
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