Shimla is too crowded.
Mashobra is already explored.
So where now?
Then occurred the eureka moment and I was like,
“Wait, what about Kasauli?”
The weekend was round the corner and for the past few weekends Shera, Abhishek and I hadn’t been on the road together. So it was an unspoken dare that made this trip mandatory, that is if we at all cared for the traveler tag. We clearly did.
We expanded our gang to a team of 5, including our dear friends, Shashank and Aarti and were so excited that we decided to start at night itself.
We quickly bundled some clothes into our backpacks and started for our destination. The four of us and our cutie pie Shera teamed up like a house on fire. Thanks to our incredible sojourns to Himachal, we were well acquainted with the roads by now.
Taking a break at Murthal was mandatory. But this time we opted for Pehalwan Dhabha, instead of our favorite Amrit Sukhdev. We were a bit disappointed with the food. Anyhow post the parantha break we continued with our journey. It takes close to 6 hours to reach Kasauli from Delhi and we were bang on time.
Delhites Most Guarded Secret
It was close to 5 a.m. when we first caught the view of the Shivalik range. Kasauli is a well-guarded secret of Delhites. In stark contrast to Shimla, which has been loathsomely commercialized, Kasauli lies untouched by the hustle-bustle of city life. Perched in the lesser Himalayas, Kasauli, a small town in Himachal Pradesh is located at an altitude of 1927 meters
Kasauli was one of the many hill stations of India developed by the British in the pre-independence era. However, the legend has multiple tales to narrate. One says that the town derived its name from a mountain stream called Kausalya, while according to ancient Hindu texts, it is said to be the resting place of Lord Hanuman while he was looking for the life-restoring herb-Sanjeevni Booti.
Records also state that the Rajput kings from Rewari owned the land and sold it to the British in the 19th century. Kasauli was established as a British cantonment town in 1842 and later developed by the British Empire during its peak period in India.
Things to Do
TBH, Kasauli is the ideal place to laze around. Just lying on a hammock, with a book and a cup of coffee and staring at the green hills, will give you enough travelgasms. When you feel like exploring the place, its serene trails and walks in nature will help you de-stress and discover the beauty all around.
a) The Upper Mall and Lower Mall- The upper and lower mall road houses many shops and the popular Kasauli Club. Both the Kasauli Club and the mall date back to the British era. One shouldn’t miss a walk to these roads as they house several numerous eating joints. The posh Upper Mall also offers scenic views and historic buildings. It is a sheer delight for the photographers and nature lovers alike, as they relish every inch of sunset point.
2) Monkey Point- Monkey Point is the highest point in this place and is just 2 miles from the bus stand. Hike up to this point to have a breathtaking view of the Sutlej River and the verdant forests
There is a small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman that sits on this hill. On a clear night, the place offers a charming view of Chandigarh.
3) Christ Church- Also called as Anglican Church, Christ Church is one of the most striking monuments in the town. It was erected in the year 1884 and showcases the gothic style of architecture.
4) Baba Balak Nath Temple – The temple is devoted to Baba Balak Nath Shrine, a dedicated admirer of Lord Shiva. It is easily reachable by taxi or car. There is a belief that if barren couple prays at this temple, their wishes of an offspring come true.
5) Kasauli Club: Established in 1880, it ranks amongst the most prestigious clubs of India. The Kasauli Club has eminent scholars and scientists, administrators, businessmen, educationists and legal professionals as its members.
Home Stay
The biggest mistake that we did on this trip was not booking our stay beforehand. So we wasted almost an hour deciding where to stay. But thankfully the place that we finally chose turned out to be bliss- Kasauli Residency. Overlooking the hills with beautifully done verandas and cozy well-furnished rooms, the homestay was a haven for the exhausted souls like us. We lied on the hammocks, gazing at the hills and nature, playing cards and chit-chatting the day away.
The food options were limited but good in taste. In the evening we strolled up to the mall and indulged in the yummy bun samosas – a must-have at Kasauli.
We were awestruck by the beauty of the mall but decided to ditch any shopping plans and chose to gaze at the stars at the sunset point instead.
On the second day, we hiked down to the Monkey Point. One of the highest peaks in Kasauli is Monkey Point that falls at a distance of 4 km from Kasauli bus stop. Located in ‘The Air Force Station’ close to the Lower Mall region, the point offers breathtaking views of Chandigarh and the Sutlej River. There is a small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman that sits on this hill. As per a legend of the Ramayana, when Lord Hanuman was returning from the Himalayas after acquiring the magical herb ‘Sanjivani Booti’, his foot touched Kasauli’s hilltop and this is how the place earned the name- Monkey Point.
Post our monkey point sojourn we came back to our hotel and had a good night sleep to start off early. Of course, our hearts wanted us to do otherwise. But the mind played a spoiler. In hindsight, Kasauli is a place I would like to visit again for a weekend break maybe. But this time I would just lie there lazing at the hills.
