Man...it's hot!
A very quiet night last night. No loud, crazy techno, psyhco music or whatever it is that attracts people to Kasol. Just a good night's sleep!
The morning started with our little chai man and we also ate one of his siddus too.
Next we searched for the start of our trekking trail. We crossed the river and looked to the right for the path. A little confused because the path led to the left! We stopped for a while and checked Maps.me. No path in sight!
Suddenly, 2 men appeared from the right clambering down a small cliff. We investigated a little closer and discovered this was indeed the path. The first part was a little tricky but it soon eased up and became a very pleasant walk along the river, amongst the forest with a few ups and downs. We walked through a small village, crossed a small river and were led most of the way by a variety of local dogs. A very beautiful walk and the reward was still to be had! The path led to the town of Manikaran, well known for its famous temples, Gurdwara and hot springs.
The first bridge on the approach was a little old school or at least the approach was. The second bridge was a little better and led us into a small temple with various hot pools. The water was steaming hot and people wer cooking some small white bags full of rice and peas. We continued to another pool inside and a sadhu (or at least an older man with dreads) was washing his feet in the hot therapeutic water. He was stripped down to his pants so Darryl thought he would do the same and go for a dip. No one else was near the pool, or in it and it soon became clear as to why not. It was hot, far too hot to get in. In fact one of the Sikh helper advised Darryl to sit on the edge and scoop water out of the pool rather than try to stand in it.
Clothes back on and time to eat. Chai and aloo paratha replaced the calories burnt on our trek but soon we decided to eat again. Veg thalis all around, we were very, very full now. Even the chai found it hard to work it's way down the gaps.
We explored another small temple, changed some big notes for smaller notes and started our was home along the road. Soon we came to another temple or as we believe, it is the same temple but the main entrance. Much bigger, more pools and even a hot cave to sit in. Food was also being served in the temple but we couldn't eat another thing.
As we crossed the bridge to leave, we noticed a crowd of people standing around a man lying on the bridge. On closer inspection he had collapsed. He was lying in the recovery position, unconscious but breathing. He appeared to have had a fit, possibly caused by the heat from the pools. He felt very warm to the touch ..
We waited and tried to find out more from the Indian bystanders. No one seemed to know him and no one seemed to know what to do. We think an ambulance had been called and a group of men had now started to carry him. We followed to see where they were taking him and very close by was a medical facility. It took a lot of them to hold him as he was no lightweight. They disappeared inside and we hoped he was now in capable hands.
We continued our journey down the road passing a number of cafes and accommodation. We arrived home and chilled out. When we were in need of chai, the chai man answered our call. We went out, followed the music we had heard to a live band. It was rather loud so we went and kept the chai man company, sat around his little fire pit drinking our chai.
We only found out from the news but quite recently 2 young Russian people were found dead near a hot spring in this area. We had been told by Raj, the jewellery maker and his Russian wife a few days before about them. They lived in the forest and were very young. Apparently, they had no money and Raj had helped them out and bought them some new clothes. Raj told us he was very shocked to hear the news and him and his wife cried all night when they found out. As of yet no one knows what happened, but evidence points towards a pact to end their lives together.
