Himachal Pradesh and the Punjab

I am in Delhi now and think back to the wonderful time I had in Himachal Pradesh and the Punjab some days back..

Mountains, rivers, food, people, bird-life, bustling villages and towns and peaceful temples are all vivid memories. I especially enjoyed exploring a few of the mountain streams and rivers and looking at the ice carved and water worn rocks that have been shaped over millions of years. See photo below.

The event that marred the start of the visit was when I got the news last Sunday, that my boss and friend, Alistiar Henley, died of a heart-attack while our walking in the hills near Kuala Lumpur. Alistair was Director of the Asia and Pacific region for the Red Cross (IFRC), but as i wrote in an earlier post, A Tribute to Alistair Henley, I was able farewell him in a fitting manner.

http://bobmckerrow.blogspot.com/2010/11/tribute-to-alistair-henley-red-cross.html

Anuj Bahri and I did quite a lot of walking in the foothills of the Dhaula Dar and visited Dharamsala and McLeodganj, the home of the Dalai Lama and many Tibetans in exile.

Mcleodganj

My travelling companion Anuj Bahri outside the money changer in Mcleeodganf. Photo: Bob McKerrow

As we left Dharmsala for Delhi, we witnessed a marvellous sunset. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Rather than return the usual route through Una, Anandpur and Ropar to Umbella, we took the route into heartland Punjab via Jullunder and Ludhiana and then onto Umbella.

The vegetarian Thali in my favourite food when dining in the Punjab. The taste and variety is so moorish. Photo: Bob McKerrow

We stopped at a roadside  Havelli near Ludhiana and found this rather impressive Sikh inviting us in. Photo:

Punjabi brassware: Photo Bob McKerrow