From Campus Life to Mountain Peaks, My Spontaneous Himachal Adventure

Hello beautiful humans,

I just returned from what might be the most unplanned yet life changing week of my life. What started as routine Term 2 activities at ISDM transformed into a solo Himalayan expedition that I'm still processing. Here's how 83,795 steps changed everything.

The Academic Setup (Sept 29-30)

Term 2 launched at ISDM with our PLC rooms getting a new identity: "Guftgu." Shivika and Mona organized an incredible Garba celebration,

while our Term 1 gallery walk had me drowning in nostalgia, so many memories already packed into our journey here.

Between RI (Realising India) planning sessions for our November field immersion and birthday celebrations for our September and November babies, the energy was infectious.

We made grand plans for holiday destinations: J&K, Ladakh, West Bengal, Shimla. None worked out.

Sometimes the universe has better plans.

🌊 The Pivot → From Plans to Pure Spontaneity (Oct 1)

October 1st was designated self-care day (thanks for the reminder, Udaya!). Evening found me at CR Park for my first Delhi Durga Puja experience. Watching the colors, energy, and devotion unfold, something shifted inside me.

Sitting there among the celebrations, I made a decision that would reshape my entire week:

"I'm going to Manali."

No plan. No booking. I didn't even know which bus to catch. Just pure impulse driving me toward the mountains.

The Journey: Delhi → Chandigarh → Mandi → Kullu (figured it out as I went)
Fitbit: 368 steps (the calm before the storm)

Serendipity Strikes → The Festival Discovery (Oct 2)

Picture this: I'm on a bus to Kullu when the passenger beside me casually mentions today marks Day 1 of Kullu's famous 7-day Dussehra festival. My curiosity ignited.

What followed was pure magic. I witnessed the gods' procession to the main ground and felt deeply connected to traditions I'd never experienced.

Fitbit: 0 steps (full travel day, but my soul walked miles)

⛰️ Solo Adventure Peak→ Atal Tunnel & Beyond (Oct 3)

I woke to sunshine painting the mountains gold and decided to bike to Sissu via the Atal Tunnel. Alone. Fearless.

This wasn't just a bike ride, it was a conversation with myself at 10,000+ feet. The Atal Tunnel, India's longest high-altitude tunnel, felt like a portal to a different version of me. Solo adventures strip everything down to what actually matters.

Fitbit: 19,305 steps, 14 km, 21 active zone minutes

That night, I processed the day's intensity during the bus ride to Shimla.

The Shimla Gang & Unexpected Connections (Oct 4)

Shimla's cold morning welcome transformed into the warmest experience when two Delhi friends joined me. We became the "Shimla Gangsters" (yes, that's our official name).

The real magic happened when I bumped into Jahnavi, our ISDM cohort member, who became our unofficial tour guide and cultural historian.

The day unfolded beautifully:

• 3 km morning walk hunting accommodation

• IIAS visit featuring fascinating discussions on Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea water laws

• Mall Road exploration with local insights

• PLC RI meeting at Wake & Bake Cafe (academic life finds a way!)

• Evening immersion in Shimla's history and culture through Jahnavi's stories

Fitbit: 42,412 steps, 29.7 km, 77 active zone minutes (My personal record!)

Rainy Day Revelations & Mountain Goodbyes (Oct 5)

Shimla's rainy morning called for Chai Churi and their legendary butter cheese Maggi. Then we tackled 6km of mountain hiking to Kufri, exploring every nearby spot we could find.

As I prepared for the night journey back to campus, with loads of readings waiting. I realized this wasn't just a spontaneous trip. It was a lesson in saying yes to the unknown.

Fitbit: 21,395 steps, 14.56 km, 80 active zone minutes

The Journey in Numbers

• Total Steps: 83,795 across 6 days

• Total Distance: 58.74 km of walking/hiking

• Peak Day: 42,412 steps in Shimla

• Active Zone Minutes: 178 minutes of intense activity

• Cultural Events: Garba, Durga Puja, Kullu Dussehra

• New Connections: Fellow travelers, local guides, the Shimla gang

What This Week Taught Me

On Spontaneity: The best adventures often begin with "I don't know how, but I'm going."

On Solo Travel: Mountains teach lessons no classroom can.

On Community: ISDM connections extend everywhere, finding Jahnavi in Shimla felt like the universe winking.

On Balance: You can attend PLC meetings in mountain cafes while staying fully present for both academic and adventure life.

Looking Ahead

I'm back to Term 2 with mountain air still in my lungs and 83,795 steps worth of stories. The Realising India program in November suddenly feels different, I've tasted what it means to truly explore this country.

Gratitude flows to everyone who made this week possible: Shivika & Mona for campus celebrations, Uday for the self-care reminder, the anonymous bus passenger who shared the Kullu festival tip, Jahnavi for being the perfect surprise guide, and the Shimla Gangsters for unforgettable memories.

Until Next Time

Sometimes you plan a quiet holiday. Sometimes you walk 42,412 steps through mountain streets, discover festivals, conquer tunnels, and form gangs with strangers who become friends.

Both are valid. Both are necessary.

Next week brings a return to readings, but now with mountain stories fueling the academic journey.

Keep wandering (planned or unplanned),
Nami 🏔️

P.S. - My Fitbit says I burned 15,877 calories this week. I say I gained infinite memories. We're both right.