Describe a Family Picnic or Tour you have had Cue Card

Where you went?

At the time we were staying at Punatsangchhu valley in Bhutan, thus, it was easier for us to commute to Punakha Valley. I remember the day like it was yesterday. Punakha Valley is situated approximately at an altitude of 4000 feet and has around 100 stupas, marking the entry to the Punakha Valley. One of the intriguing features of this valley is the intersection of Mo Chuu and Po Chuu rivers. The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungthang Dewa chhenbi Phodrang, a natural architecture of the world, is located at the intersection of the two rivers. We started our journey in the morning and reached the valley within 2-3 hours. With a perfect backdrop of the two rivers Punakha Dzong I immediately fell in love with this place.

What you did?

Another reason I loved this spot was that I am an adrenaline junkie and we had heard about river rafting in Po Chuu. As we had reached early, we planned for river rafting after lunch. After reaching the spot, we found a spot where we laid down our mats, and the picnic baskets we had brought along. Watching the picturesque valley, while sitting by the river was tantalizing. We enjoyed the snacks and chatted for a while. Me and my siblings then went for river rafting.

Explain if this was a memorable event or not?

As it was my first experience I was a bit nervous, however, the instructor was quite assuring. Also, as the river stream was flowing swiftly it made me more anxious. I somehow overcame my fear and put on the life jacket. We rafted for about 15-20 minutes, but it was an exhilarating experience. We could witness the beautiful views around and the architecture marvel Punakha Dzong. After rafting we again sat for quick bites and then travelled back to Punagsanctchu. It was a fun, memorable and exhilarating experience all together.

Where you went?

I wanted to make the most of this tour. We planned the picnic on a weekend and also asked our family friends to tag along. We started our journey on a Saturday morning. It was about 25-30 kilometers from our place. We commuted in our private vehicles.

What you did?

We had stayed in the city for about ten years but never had an opportunity to visit the Elephanta Caves. I had heard that the Elephanta Caves had both Buddhist and Hindu caves and held numerous rock-cut sculptures. Most of the sculptures are dedicated to Lord Shiva. We started our journey in the morning and reached there by 11.00 AM. I was amazed by the ambiance and the scriptures carved on the wall of the caves.

Explain if this was a memorable event or not?

Everyone was quite impressed by the location as no one had previously visited the Caves. We laid down our mats and picnic baskets at one spot and also cooked a few meals. Even though cooking at the premises wasn’t allowed we took permission from the authorities beforehand. It was an unforgettable experience for us. Firstly, as the ambiance was serene and away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It definitely gave all of us an opportunity to take a break from our daily routine. We reached back home at night but felt rejuvenated. From then on after every six months, we plan an outing or a picnic to refresh our minds and break the monotony.

Where you went?

We were staying in Delhi at the time, but had some of our extended family residing in Himachal. I had never got a chance to visit Himachal, and wanted to make the most of this tour. We planned our trip in December so that we could enjoy the winters in Himachal. We embarked our journey from Delhi on 23rd December, as we had decided to spend Christmas and New Years in Manali. Also, we were hoping to witness snowfall.

What you did?

We also decided to visit some of the nearby places like Kullu, Kasol, Shimla etc. We booked a Volvo from Delhi to Manali. I enjoyed the journey especially after exiting Chandigarh, as we could see hills. We had booked a homestay in Manali near Solang Valley. The next day we went to enjoy the different activities in Solang Valley like paragliding, zorbing etc. We then went to Rohtang valley but unfortunately due to heavy snowfall it was closed for visitors.

Explain if this was a memorable event or not?

On our way back to our homestay it had started snowing. It was the most beautiful experience ever, as I had never witnessed snowfall before. At night we lit up a bonfire and drank cups of hot chocolate. The next day we visited the Manali Mall road, and further went to Kullu. We couldn’t go to Kasol due to time constraints. We then proceeded to Shimla. I wanted to see the famous Hanuman Temple and the Mall road in Shimla. As we reached Shimla, we could see the town covered in snow. The localities informed us that it had snowed two days ago. We roamed on the Mall road and bought a few souvenirs from our friends. The entire trip was unforgettable and fun-filled. Witnessing snowfall was the highlight of the entire trip.