Kasauli - North India's Heaven

It is an outstanding experience to make a trip to Kasauli by Chandigarh Shimla motorway and relax for few days is a mastered weekend getaway with exotic & composed surroundings, along with the great eating choices, not only beside the highway but also inwards the township. At that place, there is multitudinous colouration to catch sight suchlike monkey point, sunset point, sunrise point, Upper mall, lower mall, Dharampur, Barog and many another.

Kasauli is a small-scale town in the province of Himachal Pradesh situated at an altitude of 1,927 m. The town is 77 km from Shimla and 70 km from Chandigarh. As per a Hindu Mythology, it comes up into presence after Lord Hanuman settled his feet here in order to go along to the Sanjeevani hill. The place where the Almighty actually kept his feet is count to be at a hillock which is 300 m high.

Historically, Kasauli is one of those hillock series that was matured by the British Empire during its extreme duration in India. It is one of those places that, despite its loveliness still has yet to encounter itself prominently on the tourist's chart. In fact, it is really superb for all those who desire to spend some time alone with their family or, for that matter, even themselves.

If you have an aspiration to tour the town during the off-season (November to February), it is quite likely that you will not come up to across any person for a long while on your walk. However, you will be attended along with your move by the sweetish and comfy sounds of the birds along with the mild rustling of leaves. For those who are quite the opposite and see for sportiness and risky venture at every step, Kasauli will be dissatisfaction as in that location is barely anything to make. At that place, there are several puny attractions inside and around the town that will preserve you more or less active.

Tourist’s attractions

• Gurudwara Shri Guru Nanakji is a historical Sikh temple is located inwards Gharkhal marketplace on the chief way towards Kasauli, also having a living accommodations station. In addition, the routine devotion, a sustaining program is held every Sunday and Saturday during early morning time. 

• Sunset Point is located around 1.5 km from the motor-coach stand. The Sundown point provides a glorious sight of the close hillside zone, and of plains, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali, Kalka, Pinjore, Parwanoo, Baddi and Nalagarh all are viewable equally a bird of prey eye view from this intersection point. The Evening hour point has a teeny-weeny eating place which serves freshly processed items for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

• Manki Point This is the altitudinous point in Kasauli, in that place Lord Hanuman is considered to have set his feet while on his path to give the once over for the Sanjeevani buti (herb). About 4 km from the Kasauli bus stand, at its top, is a place of worship devoted to Lord Hanuman and travellers are not allowed to carry bags or cameras inside. The hiking to the temple can be small indefinite amount rigorousness for those who are not in use to mounting.

• Christ Church at walking distance to the bus stand, it was constructed by the British people that founded the town of Kasauli itself. It is made with a superb superstructure the form of a cross. Before, theCatholic Church was famed as the Anglican Church. In 1970, it was brought back under the protection of the CNI (Church of North India) and is presently carry off by the bishopric of Amritsar.

• Timber Trail Resort on two side by side hills and united untidily with a wire car, Timber Trail is a perfect vacation way station. A visitor can relish the ride to and back to the hilltop and move frontward or stop for a time of day at the resort. The spotlight of Timber Trail Resort is Cable Car. The compartment has a capacity of 10-12 people and flies tourer from Timber Trail Resort to Timber Trail Heights, at the distance of 1.8 km and takes tourists to a height of 5,000 feet from 3,000 feet a rise of 2,000 feet.

Staying options

Kasauli is not truly a tramper terminal due to the shortness of affordable settlement. Visit in the forth-period or on working day will retrieve you finer cost. Hotels like Himlay Hotel, Blossom, Kasauli Regency, and Him Darsah Regency are some of those stay options which provide options for tourists to stay within a limited expense.

Chandigarh to Kasauli

Chandigarh to Kasauli is about 60km, by the driveway to the location there are two ways first via Parwanoo and the other one is from Chandigarh via to Dharampur on Kalka Shimla highway and move to left from Kasauli circle. Roads are in good conditions.You can go by bus but no regular bus service is available from Chandigarh.  From the circle frequent road travel services are available.

If travellers are planning for a tour to the city by bus, have to take the bus for Solan/Shimla from sector 43 ISBT of Chandigarh and get the ticket for Dharampur (a small town before Solan District). Moreover, tourists can get numerous buses heading towards Kasauli. Furthermore, tourists with a high budget can hire a cab too.

Shimla to Kasauli

The distance between Shimla and Kasauli is nearly of 3 hours through national highway 5 from Volvo to Himachal roadways buses are providing their services from time to time. Another way to travel is by Taking the train from Shimla to Kasauli to reach nearly in 2 hours. Sonwara is the nearest railway station. It is about 4 km from Shimla airport.

Climate and Ideal time to visit

The Environmental condition of Kasauli is healthy around the year, summertime brings pleasantness and wintertime gentle with infrequent Snowfall. In winter, the temperature can get down just above freeze-drying point when the heavy textile is needed. During summertime, the environmental condition is mild and light woollens or cotton are recommended. The monsoon is particularly pleasing when coltish clouds fall down upon you and the mist surrounds you.

Contributed by Harneet

Kalimpong - Paradise in Bengal

On April 2016 as the  four of our family were  planning for a small trip for three to four days ; we  headed to Kalimpong . If it is sounding like a very common place then let me inform you  that I will say you about a place out of track this time. After driving almost two and half hour from NJP  we reached Kalimpong town but did not stop there, we drove 1 km more till we reached Holumba Heaven, a stay for the nature and peace lovers with cottages.The place is away from the town located on the main highway and closest to nature. As we are a nature loving family this place was the best suited for us, away from the sounds and chaos of the town.It is a little expensive but the rooms are nice and really comfortable. We spend the day roaming on the hilly roads and enjoying the beauty. The weather was a little gloomy that day.

On the next day we went to  Delo park 9 km away from Kalimpong , a perfect place to spend the day.The park is really enjoyable with eye catching green views.Here you can revel a horse-ride around the park. One more attraction of this place is , here you quench the thirst of adventure by paragliding. The cost of paragliding is RS 3000/- per head. If this  talk about adventure excites you , I want to suggest  that , go 15 km from Delo, to Chitra ,where there is a rafting spot on the Tista river. There we were taken to the bank of the river along with the rafting boat and two men to help us.The cost of the rafting was RS 1000/- per head.The reckless ride on the rash hilly river was really awesome.It was a thrilling and safe adventure.I bet this will give you a memorable experience of your life, so do not miss it.One can also have more side scenes in the Kalimpong town like the monastery, Kalimpong science centre, cactus nursery ,pine view nursery , temple etc.

We spent the last two days of our trip in Chibo, a village 15 km away from kalimpong.There is only one staying place , Chibo Inn. The rooms and the services here is really impressing . I really felt complete from mind when I reached there.It is a place surrounded by forest and foothills as beautiful as a living dream. It is a small hilly village. The narrow walking roads makes their ways through the green small forests. The sun set and the sun rise in this place gave me the glimpses of heaven.

Through out the trip we got the sky blue and clear, except the day we reached. We were quite pleased with the foods and services offered by the places where we stayed.

I suggest the best times to visit this places are March April.This time the  weather remains really comfortable and clear most of the time. Make sure to have a pre-booking in the staying places  while planning your trip. Three to four days are enough for this trip.These places will leave a indelible impression in your mind.

Lansdowne Uttarakhand - Hills Station Hidden in Plain Sight

It is well said that our surroundings are full of astonishments and this one trip sure took me and family by surprise.

Since that year (June 2008) we wanted a short and quick trip we had no time to waste on long hours of traveling and it is then when my uncle suggested that we make a visit to Lansdowne, a not so much discovered beauty just six hours away from Delhi by car. A quite well-developed army cantonment area located at an altitude of 1,700 meters in the hilly terrain of Uttarakhand.

We commenced our ride at about four in the morning to avoid the daytime traffic of Delhi-NCR and took the Bijnor-Kotdwar route and now that I've mentioned Bijnor, let me advise you to stop here for a tea break and have the famous Bijnor ke meethe samose. Also, note that a car is the only possible direct way to reach Lansdowne. However, if you wish to take the train the nearest station would be Kotdwar, which is approximately 41 kilometers away from the main town and the per head ticket cost would be around INR 100 for the most basic reserved category, the third option is taking a bus from ISBT Delhi to ISBT Kotdwar which would cost you around 200-250 per head, from Kotdwar one can easily take a bus to Lansdowne with the ticket priced roughly at INR 50-60. Concerning the air mode of transport, the nearest airstrip is Jolly Grant in Dehradun, about 140 kilometers away from Lansdowne, from the airport the buses are readily available to transfer you to your terminus. The airfare is around 1500 and another 300-400 for the bus ride per head.

Note- These rates are from Delhi onwards    

As we prefer staying away from the market area, my family and I decided to lodge at the Fairydale resort, with the per night room tariff grossing up to be 2000 INR this property is managed and run by Mr. Ashok and Mr. Pankaj both of whom are decent gentlemen. However, if you like to stop within the market area, Hotel Mayur whose per night charges are around 1500 for a basic room, is the best choice for you. For the ones who love to stay in a prehistoric-like setting, Le Osh is the place meant just for you. This place charges around 5,000 and brings you closer to the rich heritage of the area. Lovers of the wild may choose to stay at Vanvasa Resort priced at INR 10,000 per hut, per night. The other options I'd recommend are Corbett Hill resort (per night tariff INR-3,000) and Samskara Homestays, which has both rooms and hut-like modern day tents, the tariff for this would be around 1,800 every night. 

As we proceeded towards our destination the weather kept getting prettier- the cold winds, the rain, and the mini, seasonal waterfalls added to the charm of the surrounding beauty. Surprisingly the temperature was only around 5-degree Celsius, with weather very rainy and foggy, considering the place is not very far from the capital and it was the hot month of June. The cherry on top was the lush greens that soothed the eye.

Now, getting to the places to see, I'd propose you visit Bhula Lake for boating, swings, joy-rides and a mini zoo. Other must-visits are Tip and Top, Bhim Pakora, Darwan Singh Regimental Museum, Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple, St. Johns Church, Kanvashram and additionally you may take a jungle safari to discover the wild.

Being a foodie, the first task I undertake during any trip is to try different eating joints and if you share the same interest as me then you must try the Kalo Danda Cafe's Coffee and Pakodas, Hotel Mayur's mushroom and the special vegetable Maggi at Kasang Regency in Palkot (about 5-6 kilometers away from Lansdowne).

Although it has been a long time since my visit, I can never forget the smiles with which the locals welcome you, I still remember a local family offering us to rest at their house.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags already and let those wheels roll in the direction of this mesmerizing hill station.








Lansdowne - Quick Facts

1. How to reach – Frequent buses and trains from Delhi to Kotdwar and further from Kotdwar to Lansdowne.
2. Nearest Major town – Dehradun, about 159 km by road
3. Nearest railway station – Kotdwar, 40.1 km
4. Nearest Airport – Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 152 km
5. Places to stay – Fairydale Resort, Vanvasa Resort, Le Osh
6. Best time to visit –Monsoon and Winters
7. Things to do – Boating in Bhulla Tal Lake, visit the ancient temple of Koteshwar, a walk down the lover's lane.
8. Is it Child-Friendly - Yes

Authored By- Vibha Gangal

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Narkanda - Himachal Pradesh - A hidden mountain paradise

All exhausted and sickened by the hustle bustle of the city life, me and family in April 2016  after a period of four years since 2012 decided to take a tour of a place that could fill in the lack of internal peace.

After much searching over the internet and deep discussion with our friends and family, we packed our bags to visit Narkanda, a small town located at an altitude of 2,760 meters in the mountainous region of Himachal Pradesh and it took us almost 8-9 hours to reach there from Delhi.

Being a family of travel lovers we prefer driving down to our destination, you, however, may choose to ride in a bus which is available from Delhi/Chandigarh and some other cities onwards costing approximately INR 900 individually. Additionally, you can travel to Shimla (Kalka Railway Station) and then take a toy train at a nominal cost which would charge you around 500 per person, provided you take the most basic form of tickets. I wouldn't recommend flights as they are expensive; roughly costing around 6000 per head also the airport is quite distant from the main town. 

Please note that these rates are from Delhi onwards.

While most of the hotels/motels are located in the market area and in and around the bus stand, We chose to stay the Hathu Valley Homestay a peaceful place not very far from the market run by a very decent and welcoming couple- The Dogras with the help of two very genuine and considerate staff members and of course my favorite- Jojo, their furry, naughty and amiable spitz. I personally recommend you to choose to stay in the Quietus, such as the Tethys Ski Resort (Costing roughly 7,000 per couple for the standard room), Hotel Hathu (INR- 1,800 for the standard room category), Hotel Snowflake (priced approximately 1700 INR for a basic room) or the one where we stayed Hathu Valley Homestay  (room charges-1800 for a suite and 1500 for other rooms), additionally if you're a camping lover Vanyakaksh in the right spot where you should be (charges around 2500 for a double bedded tent).

To our surprise, the place was freezing cold even during the month of April. With the then temperature being around 6/7-degree Celsius to 18/20-degree Celsius which remains the weather condition there during summers. Concerning the winters, the roads are usually blocked post-October, but if you're lucky enough you may get to experience the merriment of skiing in Narkanda valley.

Coming to the places that one can visit I'd suggest the 

- Hathu Peak and Hathu Temple (leave early to avoid traffic, the road is not very broad)

- Narkanda Peak

- KoteshwarMahadev Temple

- Additionally, you may take a drive around the town to admire its scenic beauty and the apple orchards. 

What makes me want to go back is the affection that people welcome us with, by large the people are friendly and take-in visitors with an open heart.

Although we mostly had the wholesome homemade food cooked by Mrs. Dogra, one may opt to eat at any restaurant/dhaba in the marketplace. Some options for you are Shyam Bhojanalaya, make sure to order their Pindi Chana and the New Himalayan Dhaba where I recommend you try their Tadka Dal, these two places serve quite decent food.

Despite the fact that it has been almost two years since my visit, this by far has been the most memorable trip because of the picturesque beauty, weather, and the people also, the best part is the availability of the police in the marketplace that helps avoid any traffic jams.

Lastly, I'd advise you to carry your inhalers if you suffer from breathing problems since that sort of became a hindrance to our stay, due to lack of oxygen levels at that altitude maybe.

Quick Facts

1. How to reach – Frequent buses and trains from Delhi
2. Nearest Major town – Shimla, about 63 km by road
3. Nearest railway station – Kalka, 148.4 km
4. Nearest Airport – Jubbarhatti, 155 km
5. Places to stay – Hathu Valley Homestay  
6. Best time to visit –Summers and Early Monsoon
7. Things to do – Breathtaking sightseeing, trekking, apple orchards, visiting ancient temples.
8. Is it Child-Friendly - Yes

Contributed By- Vibha Gangal

https://www.facebook.com/rebelliouslaundia

Brimore, kerala - The foot of Agasthyarkoodam

India, or South India in general is home for hundreds, if not thousands of tourist locations. However, most of the places are hidden under the radar and it is hard to find routes for such places. One among such places that I was fortunate enough to visit was Braemore. Located in the God's Own Country, Kerala, Braemore(or Brimore) is the base station of Agasthyarkoodam, in the Agasthya hills. This beautiful place is 60 km away from the Capital city of Trivandrum. The ideal way of conveyance is a Bike Ride as the place itself has breathtaking scenery en route. If you don't own a bike or car, then to can easily find buses from Trivandrum city. Buses from other neighboring districts have irregular timing so, it is better to check twice before finalising your travel plan.

Once you have reached the spot, it's necessary to clear all the formalities in the Mangayam tourist office by obtaining the entry tickets. Once you have passed the office, you are on your own. 

First destination, the Waterfalls, What else to expect from a base station. However you might not get to see a huge volume of water yet, you can always get to enjoy the coolness and freshness of the water. Brimore authorities have restricted the passage for the Waterfalls but you get to enjoy a fresh shower at the bottom of the Waterfalls. I would suggest you to take a firm step while having a shower as the flow is a bit steep and slippery. Think twice before you dive! 

Unlike most of the places, Brimore can be visited anytime regardless the season. However, as far as I'm concerned, Summer and Monsoon are the best options. The reason why I chose Monsoon as one among my picks is because you could enjoy the next destination, Tea Estate in monsoon. If you love watching the wonders of nature, this is your spot. 

Actually, Brimore is a one day trip and there is no reason for hanging around to spend two to three days. However, to make the best of the allowed time (whether a one day trip or a two day package), it really is essential for you to take the highlight of this place, that is, the 1 hour trek towards Ponmudi (a hill station situated near Brimore). The trek is approximately 1 hour long which takes you around three hills until you reach the spot, Ponmudi. 

If you plan on staying for a day or two, I would suggest you to take the KTDC cottage rooms which are affordable and the best place to spend your time. People are helpful and I was fortunate enough to meet and talk to a few people there. I was told that there was a beautiful lake or stream called Palode, which is a must visit while you are there. It didn't took much time for me to trek back to Brimore and grab my two wheeler to search for Palode.

Palode is located 20 kms from Brimore and this place was the highlight for me. I get to enjoy the cool water and was able to spend some quality time swimming. In my opinion, Palode is the best place for swimming.

It was a long 40 km ride back to Trivandrum yet I was happy that I get to enjoy the trip and I couldn't wait till I get back to Brimore and Palode.

Quick facts


1.       How to reach – Frequent Buses from Trivandrum, Two wheeler and four wheelers are permitted to go inside the forest premises. 
2.       Nearest town – Palode
3.       Nearest railway station – Trivandrum, 59 kms
4.       Nearest Airport – Trivandrum, 65 km
5.       Places to stay – KTDC hotel 
6.       Best time to visit –Monsoon
7.       Things to do – Experience the beautiful Waterfalls and spend 1 hour on adventurous trek to Ponmudi
8.       Is it Child Friendly - No, only because the trekking is not that safe for children under 12

Contribution from - Sooraj Ram
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