Day 3 – Visit to Snow Point
Date: 21-Apr-14
This was undoubtedly the most exciting day of our trip. The highlight of the day was our visit to the famous Snow Point, where we would finally get the chance to experience snow up close and play in it for the very first time. We had been looking forward to this moment ever since we started planning our trip.
However, the day began with a small disappointment. During breakfast, Giri Singh informed us that the famous Rohtang Pass had been closed for a few days due to heavy snowfall. I had seen countless photographs and videos of Rohtang Pass and had eagerly hoped to visit it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. After a brief moment of disappointment, we decided to make the most of our day and focus on enjoying Snow Point instead.
Our driver advised us to leave early in the morning to avoid traffic and reach the higher sections before the crowds arrived. Taking his advice, we finished breakfast by 7:30 AM and left Apple Bud Cottages at exactly 8:00 AM. As we drove towards Snow Point, the excitement continued to build.
Renting snow gear
The temperatures near Snow Point were much lower than what our regular jackets could handle, so we needed proper snow clothing. On the way, we passed several rental shops offering jackets, gloves, boots, and snow suits. We asked our driver to take us to a good rental shop, assuming he would recommend a reasonably priced place.
That assumption turned out to be our first mistake of the day. At the shop he suggested, we were quoted ₹3,000 for a package that included a jacket, trousers, gloves, boots, and a guide who would supposedly assist us with skiing and help us explore the area. The price seemed excessive. When we hesitated, our driver negotiated with the shopkeeper and brought the price down to ₹2,500. Although it still felt expensive, we trusted his recommendation and assumed the guide would make the experience worthwhile. Looking back, we realized we had been a little too trusting. Once we changed into the rented outfits, we were not particularly impressed. The clothes were old, untidy, and far from what we had expected for the price. To make matters worse, as we continued our drive, we noticed several other shops renting similar clothing for a fraction of the cost (500 Rs and 1000 Rs). Our only hope was that the guide would somehow justify the amount we had paid. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case either.
Our first experience in the snow
The drive to Snow Point was spectacular. The mountain roads wound through breathtaking landscapes, and as we gained altitude, patches of snow began appearing alongside the road. Soon, the entire landscape transformed into a winter wonderland. We were finally travelling through the snow-covered roads we had seen so often in movies and travel shows. The temperature continued to drop as we climbed higher.
By the time we reached Snow Point at around 9:00 AM, the surroundings were completely blanketed in thick snow. The view was absolutely breathtaking. For the first few minutes, however, I struggled to enjoy it. The cold was intense, and the heavy snow boots made walking surprisingly difficult. While I was trying to adjust to the conditions, Thilak was already having the time of his life. His excitement only made me more aware of how uncomfortable I felt, and for a brief period, I wasn’t exactly in the best mood! Thankfully, it didn’t take long for both of us to settle in and start enjoying the experience.
Learning to ski
The snow point was buzzing with activity. Visitors were enjoying skiing, snow scooters, yak rides, photography sessions in traditional Kullu attire, and several other snow activities. Meanwhile, our so-called guide wasn’t particularly helpful. He offered very little information about the place, and we ended up exploring most of it on our own. Eventually, we asked him about skiing. Thilak was instantly excited. Within minutes, he was standing on skis with the guide helping him learn the basics. Watching him attempt his first few runs was both entertaining and impressive. Although he struggled initially, he was determined to master it and quickly began getting comfortable on the snow.
Then came my turn. I was terrified. The skis felt heavy, awkward, and impossible to control. I repeatedly told Thilak that I wasn’t interested, but he wasn’t willing to let me miss the experience. With encouragement from both him and the guide, I finally agreed. The first few attempts were difficult, but gradually I began to enjoy it. Before long, I had completed a couple of runs and was smiling just as much as Thilak. It turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of the trip.
After skiing, we enquired about other activities. That’s when we received another surprise. The guide informed us that every additional activity required separate payment and would cost at least ₹500 extra. We were disappointed. After paying such a large amount for the package, we had assumed that at least some of the activities would be included. It became clear that the guide added very little value and that our driver had likely been receiving commissions from the rental shop. For the first time during the trip, we felt let down by someone we had trusted. Rather than dwell on it, we decided to stop spending money on activities and simply enjoy the snow.
Fun in traditional Kullu attire
We spent the next hour walking through the snow, taking photographs, and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. One of the local women offered to dress us in traditional Kullu attire for photographs. After a bit of bargaining, she agreed to do it for ₹100. The entire process took only a few minutes.
Since the traditional clothes were worn over our bulky snow jackets, the final result looked quite funny. Nevertheless, it added to the fun, and we ended up with some memorable photographs and plenty of laughter.
Before leaving, Thilak squeezed in a few more skiing sessions, determined to get maximum value from the guide we had already paid for. At around 11:30 AM, we finally left Snow Point.
A quick stop at Solang Valley
Our next destination was Solang Valley. We reached there after a short drive of about thirty minutes.
To be honest, Solang Valley did not quite match the expectations we had built from photographs. While the setting was beautiful, the area felt more crowded and less maintained than we had imagined. Paragliding was one of the main attractions there, and many visitors were taking off from the surrounding hills.
Thilak was interested in trying it. However, after observing the landing area, which appeared muddy and crowded, we decided not to take the risk. Instead, we spent some time exploring the valley, taking photographs, and enjoying the mountain views before heading back.
An evening at Mall Road
After returning our rented snow gear, we reached Apple Bud Cottages at around 3:00 PM and had lunch. The day had been exciting, but we still had plenty of energy left. After a short afternoon nap, we decided to visit Mall Road on our own in the evening. At around 6:00 PM, we took an auto-rickshaw from the main road and headed into town. Our first stop was a South Indian restaurant where we enjoyed a comforting meal of dosa and upma. After spending the day in freezing temperatures, the warm food tasted especially good.
The evening turned out to be one of the most enjoyable parts of the day. We wandered through Mall Road, explored the shops, and observed the local culture. Having learned a valuable lesson from the morning’s overcharging incident, Thilak had suddenly become an expert negotiator. I was amazed to watch him bargain confidently with shopkeepers. He often started by offering less than half the quoted price and surprisingly, many times he succeeded. Eventually, he managed to buy woollen gloves for nearly half the original asking price. The experience taught us an important travel lesson: bargaining was not only common but often expected.
As we explored further, we admired the entrepreneurial spirit of the local people. Many had created small businesses around tourism like offering yak rides, photography sessions with giant rabbits, traditional costumes, handmade woollens, and much more. Many women sat in their shops knitting shawls, caps, socks, and sweaters while simultaneously managing their businesses. It was fascinating to watch.
We returned to the cottage at around 8:00 PM, tired but incredibly happy.
Travel snapshot
Our visit to Snow Point, the thrilling drive through the mountains, skiing for the first time, and the lively atmosphere of Mall Road made the day unforgettable. The only disappointing part was realizing that we had been overcharged for the snow gear and guide. However, even that experience taught us something valuable about travelling and dealing with tourist-oriented businesses.
In the end, the memories far outweighed the minor setbacks. Our first day in the snow had been everything we had hoped for and more.
- Route Travelled: Apple Bud Cottage > Snow point > Solang Valley > Apple Bud Cottage > Mall Road
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Beautifully written post. But why not share larger photos ? 🙂