Vidur’s Travel Diary – 12 : Naggar & Manikaran [ Kullu ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           JUNE 30 , 2012           01.00 A.M.

As I have written in my travel diary of Manali , I had a lot of free time in Manali . I made good use of it and visited all the important places in and around Manali .

People told me about Naggar and Manikaran and I decided to visit these places also . So on March 29 , 2012 , when I had no work , I decided to go to Naggar . I hired a cab and started for my journey early in the morning . Naggar is in between Kullu and Manali . It is 22 km. from Manali and 26 km. from Kullu . Naggar was the capital of kings of Kullu for about 1400 years .

Road to Naggar is surrounded by snow – capped mountains and the castle , known as Naggar Castle , is awesome . It is now known as Castle Hotel . This magnificent building of stone and wood was constructed during the reign of Raja Sidh Singh .

Naggar : Surrounded by Snow – Capped Hills

At Naggar Castle

Naggar Castle

Naggar Castle

Naggar Castle

Naggar Castle

Naggar Castle

Naggar Castle – Main Entrance

Naggar Castle – Inner Courtyard

Naggar Castle – Inner Courtyard

Naggar Castle – Restaurant

Naggar Castle – Restaurant

Naggar Castle – Restaurant

Naggar Castle – At The Restaurant

Naggar Castle – The Temple

Naggar Castle – The Corridor

Naggar Castle – The Corridor

Naggar Castle – The Corridor

Naggar Castle – The Balcony

Snow – Capped Mountains As Seen From Naggar Castle

A little away from Naggar Castle , there is memorial of late Nicholas Roerich , the Russian painter . His villa is set in a beautiful garden and it houses many of his famous paintings . After Naggar Castle , I visited Roerich Art Gallery next .

For me Roerich Villa has an added attraction . Nicholas Roerich’s son Svetoslav Roerich , himself a famous painter , married Devika Rani . She , away from the hustle – bustle of Bombay Talkies and Bombay city , spent many years of her life here . I was eager to see her room , where she stayed whenever she visited Naggar . After death of her first husband Himanshu Rai , she left Bombay [ now Mumbai ] and lived either in Bangalore [ now Bengaluru ] or Naggar .

Road From Naggar Castle to Roerich Memorial

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ The Pathway ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Verandah ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Verandah ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Verandah ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Staircase ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Surrounding ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Surrounding ]

This main gate of the ground floor of Roerich Villa leads to the art gallery , where many precious and priceless paintings of Roerichs are displayed .

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Entrance ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

Svetoslav Roerich & Devika Rani Memorial – Naggar [ Roerich Paintings ]

I bought a coffee – table book about Devika Rani and surveyed the Villa for the last time and then proceeded for Manikaran . Situated in the Parvati Valley and on the banks of Parvatiriver , Manikaran is famous for its hot springs . You can easily cook food in the boiling hot water . These streams are very close to ice – cold Parvati River . It is one of the wonders of Kullu district .

Way To Manikaran

On Way To Manikaran

On Way To Manikaran

Gurudwara at Manikaran

Gurudwara at Manikaran

Gurudwara at Manikaran

Gurudwara at Manikaran

Hot Water Spring at Manikaran

Hot Water Spring at Manikaran

Hot Water Spring at Manikaran

At Hot Water Spring at Manikaran

I finished my visit after visiting the Manikaran gurudwara and proceeded for Manali .

These are remote places . Even if I visit Manali again , I am not sure whether I would be visiting Manikaran again or not . On my return journey to Manali , I remembered Agyeya‘s famous lines and reached my hotel in the late evening .

पार्श्व गिरि का नम्र चीड़ों में , डगर चढ़ती उमंगों सी ;

बिछी पैरों में नदी ज्यों दर्द की रेखा , विहग शिशु मौन नीड़ों में ; 

मैंने आँख भर देखा , दिया मन को दिलासा ; 

पुनः आऊँगा , भले ही बरस दिन , अनगिन युगों के बाद ;

क्षितिज ने पलक सी खोली , दमक कर दामिनी बोली ;

” अरे यायावर ! रहेगा याद ? “

………………………………………………..अज्ञेय 

[ Tenderness of mighty mountains reflected in pine trees ,

Upward moving pathways symbolizing my enthusiasm ,

River , flowing deep down like a line of pain ,

Tiny tots of birds sitting silently in their nest ,

I saw everything with contentment ,

Consoled myself , I would come again ,

After a year or may be after ages ……….

Horizon opened its eyes , lightning dazzled in the sky ,

As if saying ………………

O Wanderer ! Would you ever even remember ? ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

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