Manali and on the road again

Manali was the perfect place for us to have some well deserved R & R! A pleasant, laid back and affluent hill station which at times reminded us of both Switzerland and the Lake District. 

The old town was particularly interesting to explore and one day we hiked up to a nearby waterfall. Along the way we found lots of puppies, newborn calves and even a yak! 

 Perhaps more surprisingly, we also stumbled across Manali's version of the X factor - a three day event complete with judging panel! 

Then it was back on the road (though this time actually a road!) for 11 hours to Amritsar. Perhaps worringly, our driver stopped off shortly after we left at a local temple and proceeded to annoint not only his forehead, but also the bonnet and the steering wheel..probably a good thing given the speeds at which he drove!