Himachal derives its name from the Sanskrit words hima (snow) and chal (land), which says a lot about how this landscape looks, especially in the cooler months. With its beautiful valleys, rugged mountains, and free-flowing lakes, this state is the best destination for those who love adventure.

A few friends and I decided to explore the beautiful scenery for ourselves. In total, six of us set out from our home city of Mumbai – joining me were Neelam, Karina, Ishita, Swapnil and Suneha, as well as four-year-old Aarna, the daughter of Swapnil and Suneha.

After trekking for about 1.5km, we reached the top of the peak, which had a glorious view. From there, not too far away lies Pholani Devi, a modest but fascinating temple. It is a rather unique temple in Himachal and in fact all of India because there are no images of any particular deity. We were especially lucky while we were there as we got to see a beautiful wedding that was taking place – what a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding!