Traveling with an Unknown Group: My Best Travel Experience
Best way to explore oneself and experience new things.
One of my school friends started a travel business, taking groups of strangers on trips. She kept encouraging me, saying, you should sign up for this. It is important to take time for yourself. She mentioned a trip to Shangarh (located in Himachal Pradesh, India) scheduled for the end of March. Curious me, Googled everything about the location, saw pictures, and decided I wanted to go.
Then I started convincing my parents, which is pretty much than I thought. Still, they doubted what kind of people would be there and is it safe to go. As the days passed, I started collecting all the necessary articles and things, and finally, the day arrived. We all agreed to meet at the depot as the bus was about to leave at 8 PM. My whole family was so nervous, and they came to see me off. I reached where everyone was standing, and my friend introduced me to everyone. After waiting for 15 minutes, the bus arrived, and we all settled in and got ready for our journey to the mountains (Shangarh).
Being on a bus itself was a bit scary for me. I am the kind of traveller who stays awake the whole time as I love to see the journey. Everyone was dozing off and was haunted by the idea of a driver sleeping while driving.
After a 10-hour-long bus journey, we took a local cab to Shangarh. It is a 2-hour long journey but with breathtaking views. As the journey began, I saw beautiful valleys, cherry blossom trees and snow-covered mountains. We all were singing, laughing and mesmerised by the view. The way to reach our hostel was not easy because of the ongoing construction, but we all arrived safely.
It was one of the most beautiful and serene places I have ever visited. I sat in the middle of the meadows, immersed in my thoughts and closed my eyes. There was cold air, sunlight and greenery all in one frame. After sitting there for a while, I went to Shangchul Mahadev Temple, a temple of Lord Shiva that has spiritual significance.
As everyone was hungry, we all decided to go to a café which is famous in Chandigarh. I ordered a delicious Thukpa and also had Momos & Siddhu (Himachali cuisine). As I stepped outside the café, I realized it was raining outside and there was no electricity. We turned on our torches and headed towards our hostel. On our way, a cab driver offered us help and dropped a few of us, including me, at a location near our hostel. From there, it took us 20 minutes to reach our hostel. But the other members who are coming on their own also arrive. I still doubt how. And they all laugh at us.
I woke up at 6 AM to start my day with a meditation session organized by one of the group members. I chanted OM and learned new techniques that made me feel much lighter. I don’t know what kind of energy there is, but that helps me release negativity. Later, we went on a small trek to see the Barshangarh waterfall. I slipped a lot during the trek and thought I would not make it, but with the help of others, I reached and experienced the waterfall up close for the first time. The peace from hearing the sound of the water was indescribable. We took some photographs and headed back to the hostel.
We sat outside our dorms enjoying the weather, playing with local Pahadi kids. Some ordered Maggie and snacks while I decided to read a book. We all played games, talked and ate our dinner. As night fell, the temperature dropped significantly. I wrapped myself in two blankets and slept. The next day started with an unexpected snowfall in the nearby mountains and heavy rain, cancelling the planned activities. It was so cold I could not that after washing my hands, they fell numb.
The organizers arranged a knitting session where we designed our t-shirts. I made a colourful mushroom on mine. While we were doing this activity, the electricity went off due to weather conditions. When I stepped outside my dorm after some rest, there was no light in or around the area. The only light we are getting is from the stars, which are twinkling bright. That night, I saw some of the rarest constellations. After that, we started a bonfire, and many joined us, dancing, eating Pahadi curry and celebrating the end of an unforgettable trip.
The trip allowed me to make new friends, practice meditation, learn knitting, and experience new things I never imagined I could do. Despite the long journey and lack of electricity, I felt happy and learned to live without necessities. I am grateful to God, my parents, and especially my friend for encouraging me to go on this exciting trip. It made me realize the importance of taking time for myself.
