Care to join me for a walk through the woods in Kasauli? Through desolate, virginal paths waiting to be explored, over the thick carpet of fallen pine needle leaves, strewn with fallen flowers, and dried pine fruits. If we are lucky enough we might just see a jungle cat or a jackal slinking away. Otherwise, birds are abundant and gamboling hares as well.
We could climb some steep paths. If you tire, let me show you some handy little benches to relax on. And while you catch your lost breath, let the wafting aromas that the kachnars, the flame of the forests, and the pines emit intoxicate you.
I have many more reclusive corners(shrouded amongst wild roses and horse chestnuts)to show you. Throw your head back and let your eyes scale the never-ending lengths of the oaks and firs.
A little further, I'll show you Khushwant Singh's bungalow hidden amidst tall oaks, where he is known to take frequent retreats. Other writers known to have taken refuge in Kasauli's tranquil solitudes for a recharge are Salman Rushdie, Ruskin Bond and Gulshan Nanda.
You'll love the majestic views that Monkey Point offers. Glance below at the silvery path the Sutlej traces. See the snow capped Himalayan peaks beyond Simla, and before are the plains of Chandigarh.
Atop the hill, we can go to the fabled Hanuman temple. Here the monkey god is supposed to have rested his foot while returning from the Himalayas, after obtaining Sanjivanee for the injured Lakshman. Hence the foot shaped hilltop.
While we walk down from the highs back to the commercial area, why not take a quick look at the imposing Christ's Church, with its tall spires, stained glasses and its antique sundial.
Or let's stroll into those sprawling old wine cellars that now supply the cantonment. Or find the old time mailbox with a cast iron crown on top, a relic of the British Postal Service.
As the evening approaches, don an additional jacket as the nip in the air increases. We can catch some tea at The Ross Common (the spartan, yet tastefully comfortable state tourism board hotel)Exploring the town by foot will be done in an hour or so. (Going by foot is the only way to move about in Kasauli. No other mode of transport are allowed in the township, not even horses.)
At the somewhat steep Upper Mall going past the Kasauli Club, let's take a peek into Studio Art, a curious photo studio displaying sepia toned photographs of celebrities associated with Kasauli (Sanjay Dutt, Maneka Gandhi, Khushwant Singh, the cast and crew of the film Maya Memsaab, Pooja and Protima Bedi etc)
Come now to the cobbled paths of the Lower Mall. Take a seat at Anand Dhaba or Ashish Dhaba. We can tear into the tastiest butter chicken ever. Or even those thick gravy rajmahs and fiery hot mushroom chilly.
If you want to do some shopping, Kasauli is scarce, since it is plain, simple and left untouched by commercialization. Still want to buy something? Go for Gupta Brothers’ Preservative free Jams, Jellies and Marmalades. A man at the outlet in the Lower Mall, (presumably one of the Gupta brothers) informs that theirs is the only counter in the whole of India market these jams. (I put up my most convincing act of genuine interest and as an unfortunate consequence ended up buying two bottles of jam. Something I never eat)
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Come for lazy walks to Kasauli
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Kasauli remains clean, pristine and untouched, primarily because it is an army cantonment and deliberately kept devoid of city attractions.
It’s a quaint little small town (height 1,927m) developed by the British in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.
A must visit for nature lovers for its charming tranquility, its peaceful walks and its lush forests.
Want to stay the night over? English colonial style cottages for Rs.1200 and above are the best places. These include hotels like Maurice, Alasia, and Ross Common. For a budget stay there is the Public Works Department (PWD) rest house. Besides, clean functional guest houses for almost as low as Rs. 200 are aplenty. A minimum duration of one night two day stay is recommended.
6kms from here you can visit the monumental Lawrence School at Sanawar, the alma mater to a number of celebrities.
The closest airport is Chandigarh (70 kms). From Chandigarh it is a little more than an hour by road to Kasauli. Closest railway station is Kalkaji (36.5kms). From Kalkaji proceed by bus to Kasauli, less than an hour away.
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The Himalayan Queen
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If you have the time (like I had, two years' leave accumalated) take the Himalayan Queen, a toy train, from Kalkaji to Dharampur (15 kms from Kasauli)and get pleasantly surprised to find how luxurious its chair car is.
The Himalayan Queen offers a journey though some of the most postcard pretty locales going to and fro Kalkaji and Simla thrice a day.
As the softly chugging Himalayan Queen slowly carved its way between steep green hills, over plummeting valleys, through innumerable tunnels, I whiled my time looking bemused at the little stations en route, waving back at the little kids (I always feel silly doing it, but do it nevertheless).
Dharampur station is like the stuff toy stations were made of when we used to play with those model trains as kids. From here Kasauli is another 20minutes by taxi.
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Come to Kasauli during summers for a misty break. Or during the winters to walk amidst mild snow. Or come see the beautiful spring here, when zinnias, dahlias, balsams and morning glory carpet the hillsides.
Remember to take your heavy woolens during winter and light woolens in the summer.
And of course your walking shoes and a walking partner too.
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