Himachal Diaries, 1850 hours, Day 2, 6th March, 2016:

It was 2 degrees centigrade, drizzling, with chilly winds criss-crossing across the roads when we arrived at The Tethys in Narkanda on Day 2 of our Himachal drive.

Rain (maybe snow) storm over the Churdhaar mountains, view from the Kufri to Chail road; Photo: sanjay mukherjee

Winter rains are intoxicating; intoxicating because it is chilled, cold, and you feel alive, and naturally high. Koti village wore a wet look as we passed on our way to Narkanda. Photo: sanjay mukherjee

The Hatu Peak and its surroundings were shrouded in dense fog when we arrived at The Tethys in Narkanda. Photo: sanjay mukherjee

The Tethys resort in Narkanda is a traveller’s dream with its fleet of Royal Enfield bikes, Ambassador cars, Mountain Bikes, and Mahindra Thar vehicles. Photo: sanjay mukherjee

Our first view of our rooms at The Tethys in Narkanda. Photo: sanjay mukherjee

Royal Enfields greeted us at the entrance to The Tethys in Narkanda. Photo: sanjay mukherjee

Trying to catch a glimpse of the Hatu and the Dogra village from our room. Photo: sanjay mukherjee

The Hatu Peak mountains and the Dogra village looked inviting, mysterious, and exciting in the last light of day. Photo: sanjay mukherjee

Did I mention it was raining in Narkanda when we arrived? And that it was cold? Cold, cold? As in Cold cold, brrr brr cold cold?

Well, it’s beautiful outside … so long as you are inside on this side of the glass window. And it’s very chilly due to the wind, but it’s very quiet, so quiet that you can hear the rain drops, dripping onto the pine needles and then lazily drip, drip, and dropping to the grass below.

It’s gonna snow i’d say. Any time now. (well, i am hoping it snows; Ameen and Kaushal and the hotel staff are saying it is going to snow soon).

I wonder how it will be climbing Hatu in the snow…