The long hiatus from writing took its toll as the mind suddenly refused to work. The fodder for writing kept popping in mind but with so many things happening all of a sudden it became even more daunting to choose the pecking order! A holiday plan to Shimla was looked forward to and in the first week of June yet another vacation for a longer duration was lined up. Of some of the things that come to mind when encapsulating these memorable days, a few deserve mention.
The crowd of Delhi and NCR had not stopped following us or
maybe they too viewed it the same way as us. Never ending streams of cars and
taxis on the entry to the salubrious surroundings was an eyesore besides
delaying reaching the destination. Fortunately, as it was early, the traffic
had not built up to a menacing proportion.
The few places in Shimla like the India Coffee House are
stuck in the time wrap. One still finds office goers, and old friends chatting
endlessly over cups of freshly brewed coffee! The Chinese food at Aunty’s Dhaba
in Ram Bazar, the mithaiwalas churning out golden jalebis from early morning
hours till late in evening too have with stood the test of time as the crowds
never seem to fade away. Then there is a very neat joint that caters to the
tangy palate by selling pure ghee sweets, chats and much more for more than a
century
The best thing about Shimla is that one can walk out of the
hotel in any direction, virtually at any time of the day without worrying about
heat! A pleasant walk on the Mall Road, The Ridge , Lakkar Bazar, or even to
Jaku top keeps the spirits high!. The climb the Jaku needs more stamina but the
rest of the strolls are not tiring! It feels good the see how things have
changed with time at this lovely hill station for better. Despite the growing
number of tourists, the place has been kept relatively clean and the people
seem to pay more heed to posters urging them not to litter and throw used
plastic bags!
For some of the most stunning views from Shimla one needs to
climb atop Kalibari temple which is just about a kilometer away from the Mall
Road. The dance of the clouds, the cool breeze, the tall swaying trees and the
majestic snow clad Himalayas are a sight that cleanse the soul and refreshes
the mind. A constant chime of bells from the temple helps in bringing one step
closer to the creator!
There are some old
heritage buildings that have been locked and are decaying as apparently, their owners
are waiting for the prices to escalate before they make a kill and one finds a
new hotel in their place in the time to come.
Shimla too has changed with times as one can see even the
coolies and vegetable sellers glued to their mobiles as they negotiate with the
customers. The Chinese goods like torches, toys, blankets and even caricature
of gods are littered on the pavements of
the inner streets once again reminding of the world of their industrial might
of the neighboring nation!
Exotic flowers in Mashobra |
One pleasant morning we headed to Mashobra that is located
about 12 km away and the thick foliage and never ending beauty of small streams
and cottages built during colonial days add to the regal splendor! The long
walk in search of the apple orchards was paused with chirping of birds, a few
passing vehicles in the otherwise wild beauty. The final leg of trek was most
rewarding with glimpse of small green apples and amazing sight of wild flowers
A brief stopover a Chandi
Mandir Military cantonment brought back the memories of the quiet life
in the military cantonments in yesteryears! Even these places have modernized
with more spruced up theatres for entertainment and beauty parlors and eating
joints, rubbing shoulders with the outside world, besides the ever inviting
sights of lush green golf courses and well maintained tennis courts! The return
to Delhi was rewarded with spell of rains, and a wait for the next journey!
That must have been very enjoyable.It reminds me of my own.
ReplyDeleteIt sure was good fun!
DeleteLucky you. How many breaks do you take Rahul? :)
ReplyDeleteI went to Shimla as a teen and can't forget the monkeys at Jaku, Tibetan flea market, Solan, Barog and the toy train.
Ha ha , Alka that was good one! If I had my way I would always be on the move,:) thanks for reading and do visit Shimla if you can, once again!
DeleteI have not been to Shimla yet, but have travelled to Manali and Kullu a couple of times. I love hill stations anytime.
ReplyDeleteGood to read through your experience. I just love they way you kept me engrossed here, very few writings do that for me.
Thanks a lot Alok for your kind comment! Between you and Saru you can get to read the best of written blogs under the same roof:)
DeleteHave been to Shimla just once but have not explored it fully .... Should do it some time :D
ReplyDeleteShimla is adorable but nothing can beat Singapore, Jaishree:)
DeleteSounds like a wonderful place!
ReplyDeleteYes it is a beautiful place!
DeleteHad a good break from the daily grind, I see. I'm happy for you. Thank you for taking us along. It was a pleasant journey despite the crowds and all the modernisation. Long live the India Coffee Houses. :)
ReplyDeleteVery true Divya, it was good to rewind!the old world charm of places like Indian Coffee Houses is unique:)
DeleteSounds lovely. I have never been to Shimla but heard it is terribly commercialized now just like Ooty here. But they do offer a great break from the routine. Good to see you again.
ReplyDeleteShimla is well worth a visit but off season is perhaps a good time! Feels good to catch up on blog front!
DeleteSounds lovely. I have never been to Shimla but heard it is terribly commercialized now just like Ooty here. But they do offer a great break from the routine. Good to see you again.
ReplyDeleteMost popular hill stations have become sorry versions of their former-selves. But
ReplyDeletei guess they'll always be part of our cherished childhood memories.
Could'nt agree more but they o provide the much needed escape! A lot of memories are sure associated with these trips:)
DeleteI always want to visit this place, and someday I will... Hope you enjoyed the trip. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Nupur for reading! You must visit when you get time!The trip was good fun
DeleteAlways enjoyed reading your travel blogs. Enjoyed this one too :) Btw, where are the pics? How can you not post pics of all these beautiful descriptions? I have been through Shimla once but not really visited anything. Just stopped on the way to Kulu Manali. Would love to spend some time there. Waiting for your next trip updates :)
ReplyDeleteSo good to see you back Latha, with those ever adorable comments:) Next time onwards will post more pictures! Take some time off at Shimla if you can and am sure you will love it! Thanks a lot!
ReplyDelete