 You could hardly get a better start. The hostels of the Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Manali, nestled among tall deodars and a fabulous array of roses, are a bustle of activity as youngsters on climbing courses troupe for their nashta.

<tr><td><p class='TableClas'></p><P class='TableClas'><DIV CLASS=rightDiv><script language="JavaScript">
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		<script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
		</script> </DIV><p class='TableClas'>The road by the Beas, taking us to 13,000-feet Rohtang pass, a sort of gateway to Ladakh, is dotted by numbered tin shacks hiring out all kinds of high-altitude gear; mainly padded jump suits, long imitation-fur coats and high rubber boots 

<b>Subir Roy:</b> The road to Rohtang

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