A 7 hours drive from Delhi. That's it!
Sitting on the beautiful, albeit, small lawn of the Hotel Ros Common, Kasauli, Himachal, my eyes had a grand feast of an incredible scene. Soon we shall be leaving this town situated at the height of 6500 ft above the sea level. It was cold but a pleasant morning. The sun had risen over the distant eastern mountains. There was a breeze. The sun rays were filtering through the branches of pine trees playing taunt, moving light on the round polished stone table top. There were islands of cemented floor surrounded by plants with blooming yellow flowers dancing with the breeze.
In front of me, I could see through morning haze the road at a distance across the valley on the ridge of the mountain. A bus and a car behind negotiating the turn. We had to leave through that road, soon to our next destination...what a disappointment!
We had arrived in Kasauli two days back after a grueling drive from Delhi, courtesy heavy traffic on the way all through. We had passed through the northern towns of Panipat, Karnal, Ambala, Kalka and could see the hectic activities of development, prosperity and of course, hundreds of people on the roads. We crossed Himachal Pradesh check post and entered into a different kind of change. The looming hills around the town of Parwanoo, a sudden drop in the temperature, narrow winding roads and smiling faces of it's inhabitants. Before the town of Dharampur we took to the left towards Kasauli, a 12km ascend.
It was early in the night when we arrived at kasauli. After crossing the barrier, we entered the town. A queer quietness greeted us. Tommy Singh, my friend with some anxiety sensing that shops may shut soon, forced me to go out to get a bottle of booze. We parked the car in front of what seemed to me a Victorian gate of a large silhouette of a church. The lanes were poorly lit. I crossed the road and passed through some shops.
A thought struck me. Tranquility!
I found the shop, got the stuff and returned quickly. Inquiring our way we reached at the gate of our hotel, Ros common. It was a bungalow with a porch.
' You got the best cozy room, sir, at the back'. said the receptionist with a seemingly mischievous smile while handing keys.
What the hell...is he thinking are we gay? I thought.
Tommy stared hard at him.
'I mean it's nice, warm and brightly lit' hurriedly he added.
We were really tired. So without any further discussions went to our rooms, had a couple of shots, enjoyed the dinner of hot and spicy curry of cottage cheese cubes in spinach curry with buttered Indian bread (Parathas) and hit the beds. Soon we drifted into a different world.
Next day in the morning we were in the small garden of the hotel. The place was on the edge of a mountain. Below was a valley, behind was a forest on the hill and a road next to the hotel. We started walking towards the so called lower mall and soon reached to the spot where we had parked the car. I looked keenly at the Victorian gate of the church. On the left pillar was inscribed:
'Christ Church'.
On the right:
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one come to the father except through me. John_14:6
My sight found the church beyond the gate. A massive, old structure with an astonishing architecture of the colonial era. Mystic and Grand!
We continued our walk through a small market with grocery stores, shops of driftwood pieces and metal knick-knacks. Further up, from an army post (it has a cantonment), where a Gurkha soldier guards the entry, we took a left towards upper mall. As we climbed up slowly on a well maintained road, the scene changed dramatically! The foliage changed from the trees of pines, Himalayan oak and robust horse-chestnuts to the majesty of cedars. The town's colonial ambiance now was truly visible with gabbled houses, charming facades and neat little gardens with beds of geraniums and hydrangea. Wow!
There were few people on the road. We two of us mostly with the company of silence and a nature. We passed the distant views of beautiful valleys and mountains. Then a TV tower at the top of a hill over our head, perhaps the highest point on that road! The Kasauli club, Army holiday home ... we were lost in the surroundings and finally lost our way! We crossed the sunset point...then we saw the two mortal souls coming from the opposite direction. They guided us towards the lower mall. A road from the left to the post box. It was a steep down gradient.
It was 3 in the afternoon when we reached at the hotel mesmerized with our walk. We realized that the town lives in a delightful time wrap that belonged to a century now gone. Kasauli is a place to soothe your nerves. To rejuvenate your soul. It's not a place of gastronomic delights, loud music, casinos and sex. Kasauli is a destination for those who are seeking a friend in nature. Who want to talk to nature and walk with nature.
Other attractions:
- Monkey Point-for an excellent view
- Baba Balak NathTemple- for a spiritual journey
- Degshai-A sleepy village on Shimla road
Recommended Hotels:
Kasauli Resorts-91-1792-273651/4
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