Shimla

A complete log-jam in the car park greeted our arrival at Shimla station, but it cleared pretty quickly once all the passengers had been picked up and we had about a 45 min transfer to our hotel, which is situated about 15km outside Shimla amongst the trees of the largest coniferous forest in Asia. It was dark by the time we arrived so after check in, drinks and dinner we retired for the night and waited to see what we would wake up to in the morning.

Well, we woke up to quite a view and enjoyed breakfast on the terrace. We are situated at 2,500m above sea level, in the foothills of the Himalayas and the temperature peaks at about 15 degrees here and falls close to zero at night. However, the sun is bright and as long as you’re not in the shade, it doesn’t feel cold.

For our first day here, we’d arranged a guide and driver via the hotel to take us on a tour of colonial Shimla. We started at the Viceregal Lodge, build for Lord Dufferin in the 1880s and then enjoyed a stroll along the Mall, passing Clarkes Hotel (currently under renovation), the Gaiety Theatre and the Town Hall.

Then along the Ridge to Christ Church, for a very long time painted yellow but currently being painted white. The whole area is pedestrianised and it made for a lovely wander in the sunshine.

Then up Jakhu hill (one of the seven hills on which Shimla is built) to visit the Jakhu temple, dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey god (you can see his statue peeping out of the trees in the picture above). We had to remove our shoes, not unexpected, but also our glasses as the monkeys which live around the temple have developed a trick of snatching them from people’s heads and only giving them back when they are plied with food.

Then back to the hotel, where we wandered the lovely grounds before nightfall.

Today, Saturday, was planned as a more relaxed day, enjoying the hotel and its immediate surroundings. This morning we enjoyed a short walk to visit the Presidential House at Mashobra, one of two summer houses and one winter house available to India’s president, in addition to the main residence in Delhi.

Then a couple of hours by the hotel’s pool and steaming outside jacuzzi. We are joining a short nature walk through the forest at 4pm and then the history talk at 5.30pm before we enjoy our final night in this lovely hotel. On to Mumbai tomorrow.