Bangalore-Mumbai Road trip

• Start as early as possible. The 600 miles between Bangalore and Mumbai is impossible to cover unless you start before 6 in the morning.
• Else start after breakfast, visit the beautiful fort of Chitradurga en route and stay overnight within a hundred miles. We stayed at Shigaon.
• Mumbai during rush hour is hell. Enter at noon or after 10PM.

The road that joins 'Bangalore the silicon valley' and 'Mumbai the commercial capital' is as engrossing as the life in these two cities. An exact 1000 km separates the two. We started for Mumbai on the afternoon. Both of us were scheduled to start our internship two days later.

Smooth roads, Bangalore - Pune Highway

McLeodganj

Trip: Dalhaousie - Khajjiar - Chamba - McLeodganj

- Book hotel in McLeodganj if you have come to enjoy the nightlife. New and better hotels have cropped up near Bhagsu Nag which make more sense.
- Dalai Lama’s residence is probably the most important place in the entire neighborhood. Dal lake is a good view. Enjoy the authentic tibetan food at the end of market at Pema Thang.
- Keep a day for Triund trek. It is worth the time and effort. Take cab to the foothill of the trek and ask the driver to pick you in the evening on call. Going to Dharmshala downhill is a waste.

Come to McL for leisure. From Dalhaousie we had come to McLeodganj, the haven for foreigners with its weather and stockpile of drugs. I was with four of my closest friends this time. It was bound to be fun. We started with the little marketplace.

Main Market @ McLeodganj

Chamba

Trip: Dalhaousie > Khajjiar > Chamba > McLeodganj

The town of Chamba has historical and administrative significance in the region. There is little for a tourist although a well developed marketplace and few nearby religious spots make it ideal halting place. It is said that in the month of August there is hardly space for parking in the town as pilgrims from around India come for the Manimahesh trek. A big festival is funded by the local government in this month.