Finally, the Span Hotel, our home for two nights. Located a little north of Katrain and about 15 miles from Manali, there are a total of 24 rooms in two blocks of 12 cottages each, along the River Beas. The altitude is around 5,000'. I loved a line in their information packet..."you are requested not to allow your personal attendants, maids, etc. to enter the public areas." Fortunately, or unfortunately, we don't have that problem!

The Span is another wonderful hotel to add on my "come-back" list. Excellent food and service in a beautiful location. Hotels don't get much better than the Span. View image

The next day, we drove over one those those all-too-familiar, mini-lane swinging bridges over the river. These swinging bridges for vehicles are a standard in Pakistan but this was the first one we'd seen in India.

On the other side of the river, a walk through some villages. Apple growing is the big business in Kullu but almost the entire crop had been picked by now. They also grow Plums which were picked in May. A surprise? Lots and lots of wild marijuana growing alongside the road. Jagdish pointed it out to us...it is definitely illegal to grow and sell in India, but.... Even though the Kullu area gets snow and is cold in the winter, there were also cacti growing ...along with abundant marijuana...what a combination...apples and marijuana...

Tomorrow...on to Manali....

Last Minute Getaways

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