Sat by the Ganges under clear skies (finally!) back in the warm sun I am writing from Rishikesh, home of yoga and all things new age. My last few weeks however have been spent chattering my teeth up India’s breathtaking mountains, in both McLeod Ganj and Manali. Here’s the view as I saw it, with further write ups to follow…

McLeod Ganj – Himachal Pradesh, 1770m

Home of the exiled Dali Lama a bumpy 12 hours ride from Delhi, McLeod Ganj is a peaceful Tibetan enclave nestled next to the Dhauladhar mountain range.

Room with a view

Afternoon stroll

High street…

Day Trek to Triund, 2895m, with complimentary dog spirit guides..

Being reasonably fit I thought this day trek of 20k would be a doddle. Ha, not so when it’s all uphill and starts to snow! Luckily I had some furry friends to give me a nudge of encouragement along the way.

Halfway up

Keeping watch

Victory!!

Back at ground level under pink sky

Manali – Himachal Pradesh, 2050m

Mountains, fast flowing rivers, pine trees and hot springs. A true natural beauty had mostly to myself, as temperatures dipped sending most in search of beaches.

Mountain roads

Exploring by bike

The Beas River

India’s premier winter wonderland…

Going higher

Next on the bucket list, Nepal….