KASAULI - Travelogue

We were destined to visit Kasauli in mid June. But it was cancelled due to some unforeseen happenings in our life. The hope was kept alive as Kasauli Castle did not allow for cancellation of the booking at such a late stage and hence was postponed to an weekend in the end of July. So it was on 23rd of July, 2011, and on the wee hours of the morning of the Saturday, we started off. The weekdays were full of turmoil, and hence at the start of our journey we were a bit taken by surpise. That is to say the typical excitement of having managed to break free on a weekend was not there.The feel was more like going off on a business trip. The exception, though, was Debarghya. He came in terms with the fact that a weekend trip was happening as soon as he saw the bags being packed. So, mentally he was leading our pack of three to the station.

But as we reached the station, the mood inside changed automatically. The everlasting persistant hustle in the platforms, the mechanical hushes and gushes of the machinery in the stationed engines, the ever moving crowd around, all of them on their way to some place or the other brought us back to our senses. We were also travelling. A small kid from inside came out, and with him he brought a fresh sense of enthusiasm from my childhood days. Holiday, free from the day to day routine of our mundane life. 'Hurray', he shouted, and we were all awake after that.

We moved in to our comfortable seats in the Kalka Shatabdi. And the train started to roll on time, but the start was not very smooth. even before we could exit Old Delhi proper, we were delayed by 10-15 minutes. But the good part was that it did not increase and stayed that way till the end of the journey.

The journey was happy, accompanied by a sumptuous breakfast in between. The car sent by the hotel was waiting for us at the station. And Kuldip, the driver turned out to be a friendly young man. Hence, he and his Swift Dezire stayed with us all through out our stay in Kasuali, for our day long trip, small excursions in the evening and the trip back to Kalka.

As we started our drive from the station, a pleasant surprise was presented to us in the form of the news that incessant rain in Kasauli and around had driven the temperatures in the area way below normal. And we definitely were not prepared for it, especially with respect to the clothing department. So we made a quick stop at the market near the stataion and literally grabbed at a few full sleeve T-shirts and a pair of pyjamas for Debarghya; while Sushree opted for the wait and watch approach. I was confident that I would weather the weather in Kasauli with the summer wear I was carrying.

We reached Kasauli Castle at about 1 in the afternoon, after a very pleasant drive along the hills of the Sivalik range. Debarghya and Sushree skipped going in for a bath to adjust to the chill in the air. And in reality the air had a sharp nip in it. And it was misty all around, with very poor visibilty. I freshened up with a hot shower and ordered a heavy lunch.

Kasauli's first impression to any casual traveller like us is its tranquility. It is sweet and serene. And even in the peak of the vacation period for escapades in to the hill side, it was relatively less crowded. And that was our idea when we selected Kasauli for our vacation, and hence Kasauli actually met our expectation on that count. The weather was very pleasant, cool, misty and was like a dream sequence from any bollywood blockbuster.

After a short rest in the afternoon, we were out again. We were taken to the Pine Mall, where the most of the hustle bustle happens in Kasauli with all the little shops selling souveniers, snacks and otherwise. Sushree by the time had decided that she would require some amount of extra protection to tackle the Kasauli chill. After a bit of rendezvous in the the local shops, she opted for a Khadi Shawl, a tried and tested solution as a remedy. After a bit of snacks and a stroll, we were back at the hotel and ready to wind up for the day, with a sense of pleasure and contentment.

Next morning, we started the day with continental breakfast. And after a quick shower was out with Kuldip for the day. we travelled around Kasauli, touching the major tourist attarctions. The trip started with the Manki point.

(About Manki Point: The highest point in Kasauli called Manki Point. Its just 4 Kms from the Kasauli bus stand. A small temple is also situated on the top of the hill, which is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. According to a legend, when Lord Hanuman was returning from the Himalayas after obtaining Sanjivani Booti, his foot touched the hill and thus the top of hill is in a foot shape.)

The trip to the top of the mountain was hectic to say the least. The car left us about a kilometer away from the steps, as the area was heavily protected by the Indian Military. Then the rise to the top was very challenging, and for common people like us it was scaling the Mount Everest. And each time we stopped to catch our breath, the people coming down the stairs would automatically spell out words of encouragement stating that we were almost there, and it will be a few more steps only! At last we made it to the top. The view was ecstatic. As if the whole of the horizon opened up in front of us. The extent of vision suddenly increased by leaps and bounds. But the joy lasted for a very short period, as clouds gathered around us fast to block out everything around us. The temple was simple, and relatively clean. And having a helipad on the top of the mountain made it clear why the security was kept so tight by the military. Although, I could not check whether the top of the hill was shaped like a foot or not!

The descent was rather painful. It seemed Debarghya was actually terrified by the view from the top, and the general sense of altitude. And all the time while climbing down the stairs, he was crying continuously in the mode of "Jaa, porey gelo!" His way of describing that something has or will fall down. So it made us feel that it was the fear of the heights that created the fear in him.

It was hence a relief for us to reach back to the car after our "trekking" expedition, and the whole trip took us almost one and a half hours. By the way, no photos, as no cameras are allowed inside, not even mobile phones!

We headed back to the Pine Mall. And took the break for lunch. It was a free for all activity for the next hour. We stationed ourselves at the outside of the most happening sweet shop in the mall and had all sorts of street foods; starting with Chhole-Bhature, Samosa, Bun-Tikki (Kasauli's answer to the great burger) and ended with Gulab Jamun. Yum!

The post lunch session started with the beautiful church near the mall. Such a stark difference from the temple we visited a couple hours before. How different one way of praying to god can be from another! Then we moved down the mall up to the Sunset point. We made a quick stop there. It also had a beautiful view across the valley. Though the view was hindered by the prevailing mist, yet the aura it created over the whole valley was awesome!

We were back at the Hotel late in the afternoon, and after quick break (washing up and changing) we were out again! Back to the Pine Mall, but this time it was for shopping, carrying back mementos for our near and dear ones. Sushree enjoys shopping more than everything, well almost everything. And after an hour of aggressive shopping we came back to the Hotel with two bagfull of Kasauli specialities.

The dinner that night was also a surprise. We went ga-ga while ordering. Sushree went for a Sizzler, and I ordered my all time favourite Chinken Tandoori. Even Debarghya had his own separate Kabab, one which was a bit non-spicy. For a change, the hoteliers offered us to have to the dinner in the lawn. When we came down for dinner a pleasant surprise was awaiting us. The giant screen infront was alive with some music videos, and by the time dinner was served, it had started to show 'Ready', Salman's latest hit. After sometime dinner was served. And it was a wonderful experience to have nice food with the sky above us, a soothing chill in the air and a shimmering light of a candle in front. All were happy with the food they were served. The Sizzler was sizzling, and quite authentic in taste (though the presentation could have been a bit better), Debarghya's Nan and Kebab was up to his satisfaction; while my Chicken Tandoori was succulent and spicy. We continued sitting in open air watching Ready, till Debarghya got impatient and the chill started to pierce through. And some how both happened quite simultaneously. A good night's sleep followed after a tiring yet satisfying day.

The next morning was spent more on getting ready to pack and move. Though, after breakfast, for the first time we went out on foot for a short while to have a look around. Some time after lunch we set off for Kalka, and reached the station around 4:30 in the afternoon. The train was stationed in the platform, but we were allowed to board the train only after a disgusting wait of 45 minutes in the platform.

The travel back was very noisy, as we were placed amongst a huge group of students from UK, who were on a trip to India. All through the trip they went about planning and replanning about things to do during their stay in India.

Otherwise though, the trip had something new to offer to us as well. After having the dinner on board, Debarghya started to become a bit cranky, tiredness of a busy day, mixed with an urge to sleep. After a lot of struggle on being not able to properly lie down in the available space in his alloted seat, he finally gave in to his tiredness and fell asleep. May be for the firts time on a chair car of a train!

We reached Delhi a quater of an hour late, got a taxi pretty easily, and was home in no time. Rejuvenated and refreshed after our trip, only to plan the next, soon!