The hell with yoga. Skip the Taj Mahal. There are better things to do in India than grow spiritually and shop for gems. India is an adventure sports haven. My first trip there during Spring 2006, I went skiing, paragliding, trekking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, white-water rafting and rock climbing.
I was not expecting to have fun in India. As a flying trapeze enthusiast, the bar for fun in my life is set pretty high (30 feet, to be exact). Plus, everything I’d heard about India inspired me to keep my expectations low, and consider myself fortunate if I managed to avoid food poisoning and being robbed or harassed. Mission accomplished and then some.
My advice: avoid big cities and head up to the Himalayas. Manali is one giant adult playground. Trekking costs $40 US/day and includes sights right out of Lost Horizon. We skied at Rohtang Pass. The guide neglected to mention that, because of sudden, unpredictable snowstorms, Rohtang-la is called the “Pass of Death,” but I’m not holding that against him. Himalayan Journeys, adventure travel specialists, arranged everything and provided all equipment.
Our room in Johnson’s Lodge was elegantly appointed with a beautiful by any standards bathroom. But it was also pricey and very noisy. I recommend Dragon Guest House in Old Manali. Johnson’s Restaurant is definitely tops in town. Note to sweet tooth people: nothing in any bakery tastes anywhere near as good as it looks. My top pick: choco balls.
