There are a couple of places you can go to in India to learn how to ski – Auli in Uttarakhand, Gulmarg in Kashmir. I decided on Manali in Himachal Pradesh. After landing in Delhi, I caught a bus to Manali town. It’s an 12 hour overnight journey by bus, and the roads have some pretty sharp twists and bends. A lot of people had motion sickness, so if you’re going by road, take a domstal or similar anti-emetic to keep your lunch down! Alternatively you can fly to Manali.
It was February, and a thick layer of snow had fallen across the landscape, covering everything in a white blanket. I was glad I brought a thick parka jacket and boots! We were headed to Solang Ski Resort. 12 km away from Manali town, it is located at the highest point in the lap of the Himalayan mountain slopes called ‘Solang Valley’. It is a pretty looking resort, with basic amenities and rooms with with wooden flooring. We indulged in a hearty hot meal and retired for the night.
The instructors turned up the next morning with a variety of skis and boots. After trying on boots and getting the correct fit, they started to teach us how to ski, using the gradual slope behind the resort. The main (professional) slopes were close by, but once we had learned the basics they would take us there.
Despite all the snow and ice, it gets pretty hot in the afternoons One by one we found ourselves removing our layers till we were down to a single sweater. Also, did you know, you can get sunburnt while skiing! The white snow on the ground reflects the sunlight back up, so it’s important to wear sunscreen on your face to avoid getting burnt (I learned the hard way).
Skiing downhill is fun and easy once you learn the trick, but trudging back uphill is quite a task! I had some trouble learning how to stop, and would eventually just fall over to make myself stop. Waterproof pants are recommended, falling in the snow multiple times gives you wet jeans 😦
In the latter half of the day, we explored the area around the hotel. We came across a bridge over a brook. The snowy white river banks contrasted with the dark water, making a surreal scene.
That much exercise gives you a ravenous appetite! That night we drank a lot of hot tea, ate a lot, and one guy brought out his guitar and started playing songs after dinner.
The next day we trudged through calf-deep snow to get to the main slopes. This is when I realised that my boots were not as waterproof as I had believed. Soggy socks are no fun.
The professional slope has a chair lift, because it’s impossible to climb all the way to the top every time. getting on and off the chair lift with your skis on is quite tricky, and if you time it wrong, you land up skidding and falling into the snow (I’m used to it by now). The big slope was steep and not that easy. After one unsuccessful run I resigned myself to the lower half of the slope, trudging back up for more runs.
Solang Valley is also famous for paragliding, though this is more popular in the summer months, there were still some paragliders in the winter skies. You can go on a tandem paraglide ride or take a ride on a snowmobile.
The third day was also spent skiing. On the way back home we spent some time in Manali town. It was packed with tourists, the melting snow made the ground muddy and filthy, sellers were hassling tourists with useless wares. The only thing I bought was a colourful kullu-manali cap. I took some photos of the local scenes.
I guess many years ago it would have been a quiet town, now it was full of backpackers, honeymooners, foreigners and families. We had a meal at Johnson’s, famous for its good food and even better views.
After 3 days of crashing and rolling down slopes, I can say I’m more of a snowman than a skier, but it was fun to learn a new activity, and being in the snowy wonderland is a ‘cool’ experience!
Gypsea Trip 