India is a place well endowed by nature. I belon
g to a hilly state in the northern region. It is a state named Himachal Pradesh. Located in the lower ranges ( Shivalik range) of the great Himalayas. My state, principally a collection of small villages has many breathtaking sceneries and views, making it a delight for bikers. We have stories and legends related to each and every village here. Local gods and local deities have a strong hold on the minds of people. This is evident in the temples devoted to these local deities , built in the most remote and inaccessible areas. Roads to these far flung temples make for an adventurous trip. The lush green surroundings, rustic villages lonely silent mountains…… all of this is what I would like to call as a bikers’ paradise. One such temple is the temple devoted to rishi Prasher. It is a serene temple located at the height of 2730 mts above sea level. Mandi the last major town is around 50 km from the main temple. As the roads get from bad to worse, biking goes from better to never better. It is a peaceful ride winding through the hilly areas of the Mandi district. As the altitude rises, the jungle cover gets thicker. Riding through the woods is a remarkable experience. The shimmering light through the pine leaves offers the visual treat one longs for. It is like flying when you stand at the peak of a small hill and stare in to the depths of the valleys. The roadside scenery gets clearer at higher altitudes as the jungles start to vanish. The dry terrain is breathtaking. Road is made all the more challenging by the occasional snow. Making our trip through all the turns and the hurdles in the way, we reach the temple. It is an ancient hindu temple made in simple wood and stone. Situated near a lake, the temple is a magnet for thousands of devotees every year. The lake has a mini floating island in it. This journey was tough given the net distance from my home coupled with the bad roads. But that has never stopped a biker from venturing into new venues. Having reached the beautiful place I felt the joy known only to kindred souls. I wouldn’t be anywhere else but here, cruising my way on those twisting and turning roads, with a promise of a awesome scenery at every other corner.
