Exclusive: ‘I loved the authentic Himachali food spread we gorged on at Hampta,’ says Taha Shah

Taha Shah in Himachal Pradesh

Taha Shah speaks to mid-day.com as he plans a trip to Himachal Pradesh that is a perfect weekend getaway! Join him on the ride.

Where are you off to today?
Holidays are a time to let go off daily routines, take a break and rewind, repair oneself and your loved ones, and what better way to do that than escape from the bustling city life to the pristine and chilly mountain ranges! My go to place would be Himachal Pradesh. The place is breath-taking and the people simple and down to earth and for someone who loves the thrill and adventure of life, the perfect place to explore a mix of wilderness and adrenaline fuelled activities.

What's on the itinerary?
I love to Paraglide and go water rafting and when one has a bunch of friends with the same gusto, it's all the more exciting. I loved trekking the hills, especially our night trek in Chalal, which makes one literally breathless as one gets to the heights.

What's on the menu?
Try some Chinese dishes at the Manali mall road (it's yummy), head out with a tour guide in the snow and experience the truly amazing weather and heavenly scenery the place presents. If you are the sporty, adventurous kinds, kick off your day exploring the hills with a trek or paraglide or even better, water raft if that is what you love. Make sure all safety is in place before you jump all in. If you are in a mood to simply chill, you can always hop in to Jim Morrison café, German bakery, Pink Floyd café or Johnsons Bar. I loved the authentic Himachali food spread we gorged on at Hampta, can still feel the taste of Chana Madra and Chha Gosht and would definitely eat it again. There are great options for Tibetan cuisine as well for those who would savour it. and then before heading up to the hills, we took a pit stop at Haveli for some authentic Punjabi food, Makki di roti te sarson da saag was a natural option for me and breaking all self-imposed rules. I must say I did enjoy eating some steaming hot Maggi and eggs prepped at a stall while we waited on the landslide to clear at one point. The taste of food in the hills is truly divine and sharing it with your near and dear ones makes every meal absolutely delicious.

What's on the itinerary?
Himachal doesn't allow you to watch your watch, it is as breath-taking and enticing as anything could be. The waking up without alarms, cozying up around bonfires, friends making you strum tunes on the guitar in the nights or simply lying on the snow and watching the starry nights trying to figure constellations and getting them wrong (most times).

What are you packing for the trip?
Jackets, Warmers, Wind Cheaters, Rain Jacket, Woollen socks and the usual ones, trekking shoes, earmuffs, hats/caps, hoodies, warm vests and leg warmers, mufflers, a basic kit containing your toiletries and a first aid kit, basic meds for cold, fever and stomach upsets (just like any other tourism spot), and now that its Covid times, PPE masks and of course, boost your body with Covid Shots as per the Government Mandate and only then head out!

Your holiday playlist?
When we feel young (the gangs favourite song), Sit next to me, All Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara tracks, Calvin Harris - Summer, The Weeknd - Take My Breath, Gallan Ghodiyan - Dil Dhadakne Do, Mike Posner, Prateek Kuhad and Lauv.

Your fondest memories of Himachal Pradesh?
The clichéd but extremely amazing snowball fights in Hampta especially when you get to slide one in you friends backs and watch them run like headless chicken, or trying the gymnasts flagpole on an iron clad bridge crossing (personally don't recommend that one to anybody) or standing shirtless during snowfall outside of our cottage as part of the truth or dare game.

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