Travel: Tea Garden Near Dhramshala, Himachal Pradesh

With it's lush greenery and uneven surface... Tea Gardens almost look like a nicely woven green carpet. Munnar in Southern part of India no doubt is the paradise for such landscape lovers, also for photographers. Unlike many locations in South, North has hardly any option to enjoy such beauty. And did I forget to mention the Darjeeling stretch and Assam!!! Though the travel freaks from that part curse Northern guys for being at such close proximity to Himalayan range... anyways.
Himachal Pradesh offers glimpses of tea gardens in Palampur. Recently, I found a small stretch just 3-4 kilometers down Dharamshala during my visit and did spend quite some time roaming around and clicking few images. What I loved most about this small patch was, the light and shadow play of the trees poping up in between tea estate.
This 'MANN Tea Estate' is on Narghota Road.

Travel: Monsoon Drive to Himachal

Monsoon no doubt is the best time to go deep into the hills. At least to me though it involves little risk because of the weather and land slides. I remember each of my monsoon ride bit by bit from the old biking days. With the changing priorities of life, biking has taken the back seat and so is the leisure travel to the hills. Either I will be travelling to the hills for work or just rushing somewhere near by just for the shake of the love of the Himalayas, that to caged. Being caged is not a complaint but comparison of the satisfaction level, particularly when you want to be wonder lust. Each of the earlier monsoon bike ride has given me the adventure of a life time to remember. And that crazy feeling pulls me always somewhere into the Himalays to feel the mist and to absorb my favorite shades of green and to get soaked in mother nature.

With the occasional rain here in the capital town, it reminded me of the nice drive to the North-West of Himachal, till Khajjiar. And to utter surprise, I did not even check the photographs since then which were lying somewhere deep inside a hard disc drive.

Khajjiar Panorama...

Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh

Khajjiar meadows in Monsoon...


Route: Delhi-Karnal-Ambala(take diversion)-Kharar-Rupnagar-Hoshiarpur-Pathankot-Nurpur-Khajjiar
Suggested Return Route: Khajjiar-Dalhousie-Banikhet-Pathakot-Batala-Amritsar (Golden Temple)-Jalandhar-Ludhiana-Ambala-Delhi (via Grand Trunk Road)
Where to Stay: 'HPTDC Devdar' has the best facility there if you are not looking for luxury. Neat and clean spacious rooms with nice view of the meadow and lake. Very hospitable staff. Specific food can be arranged if informed in prior advance (Mutton etc.).
Contact Number: 01899-236333
Email: khajjiar@hptdc.in