A cold night and a warm sunrise amidst the mountains

I became an instant fan of the Dhauladhar range as soon as I got their first glimpse, I had to.We reached Naddi (H.P) at 9:30 p.m and we were all set to saunter in the lively market of Mc Leodgunj. Packed in 4 layers on an extremely cold early December night, we left the hotel. The market had an overwhelming and seductive fragrance of Chinese food. Hell yeah, we were hungry! So went went to this really nice Tibetan restaurant called Norling. They serve the best Chinese food I'v ever had in my entire life, seriously! Thukpa (pronounced thupka, see picture) was the winner. 

We'd driven five hours from Kathua to reach here n hence slept like babies.

 I woke up to a really bright light which I thought to be a street light but turned out to be the Moon. Yes full moon, so close I could almost touch it. Ah Lord! what a splendid sight it was.

I check my cell phone and It was 5 a.m. I was eager to go out for a stroll but it was deadly silent outside and I couldn't sense any activity of any kind. It had been ages since i was in that kind of timeless phase so I left for a walk accompanied by really friendly mountain dogs. 

Man! was I in heaven or what? Bliss was an understatement. The refreshing sound of a distant waterfall and the sweet song of a koyal and the birds chirping a welcome symphony. Oh the mighty mountains were a sight! I felt so tiny and insignificant walking parallel to them. And the Sun, it was hiding behind this huge mountain(picture) making it glow with a golden halo and radiating its warmth all around.

Even clicking a picture was an unnecessary noise but anyhow i couldn't resist the pristine scenery and the most beautiful horizon. (see pic)

The early morning breeze was the best thing that you could feel on your face. A few steps downhill was an Ashram and it  marked one end of the mountain we were on. There were huge empty halls meant for meditation and foreigners flocked in early in the morning and sat for hours amidst this beautiful spectacle God created so tastefully and at leisure.

"Himalayas is my father and i cannot express my feeling on coming here except to recall the glory of my Father. Himalaya is the Sahasrara Mother Earth created for us. It should be worshiped. I cannot feel anything here but vibrations, just like fish in the water. These vibrations are spread around so beautifully and are joy giving that it cannot be expressed in words"- This is exactly how one feels there.

I sat there, facing the mighty Dhauladhars, completely mystified by them. Awed by their might and absorbing each glorious detail that I could about thousands of years of their history. I didn't feel like going back to the monotonous city life, with our screwed priorities now seeming insignificant, wondering- if one day here can do this to me, how amazing would it be to actually belong here!