Advertisement
Published: September 30th 2009
Edit Blog Post
kalka shatabdi was right on time. i have been noticing that trains in india are now actually following schedules, something that was not expected a few years ago. there was a reception committee awaiting us at kalka station. some railway official had kindly asked some of his colleagues to recieve us. we were taken to the dormitory with four beds neatly arranged to "freshen up".inspite of the best efforts of the government machinery the room still looked dirty but tolerable. it was till i made the mistake of heading towards the loo. it was a sight that takes a lifetime to forget.
After a hearty refreshment of mixed paranthas with butter and curd at the station canteen we boarded the innova booked in advance by our well wisher. looks like the taxi driver had been stretched to the limits of bargaining, he was disturbed that we added an extra point and would dissapear round the corner grumbling on his phone talking to someone. to his credit he maintained decorum and somehow tolerated our extended travel plans.
i had booked hotel windsmoor in parwanoo. not a very good experience with rooms, but food and restaurant were good. i had thought that hot
water was a basic facility provided by the hotel till i spent the night at windsmoor. they said they had put solar heaters and would be arranging hot water soon, but it never materialised and we had to proceed to shilon without taking bath.
timber trail was our first point in parwanoo. very nice location with timber trail heights hotel on the top of a hill. there is a ropeway trolley to reach there. very scenic and exciting. we were cheerfully walking towards the ticket window when suddenly the price of the trolley ride hit me like a bolt from the blue. 1600 rupees the man said in a cool voice. it took a lot of composure and effort to dish out the amount as if nothing had happenned. now i understood why the group in front of me was just standing there and not being able to decide what to do.
we were sitting in the swinging trolley when a doctor and his family entered. they were going to check in timber trail heights. we all expect doctors to be mild mannered with a low voice, but here was a doctor who had a loud voice and his sound
affects were added in all our videos. his professional appointments and his place in the visiting delegation were pushed in our ears. we tried to start our own conversations but our meek efforts and feeble attempts to talk were easily outgunned.
akshat and anshul immediately started comparing the swank hotel with windsmoor. they enquired about the reasons of not making a booking here in timber trail. i made various vague excuses like interconnected rooms etc, but the die was cast. they looked sullen. the beauty of the place added to their infuriation. that was when democracy was crushed and i now know why the chinese govern so well. they were told that windsmoor was good, that they should ignore the damp smell and dark dank corridors and thats that.
pinjore garden was like hoping something like mysore gardens and walking past dried out fountains and hordes of mosquitoes with huge fruit bats flying overhead. it will be better beyond that point we hoped, but it was like that after every point and we were forced to turn back after anshul was bit on the hand by an insect and the revolt could no longer be suppressed. i was expecting bad
food in windsmoor but the restaurant looked clean and fresh. the food was excellent. we ate our way out of the gloomy events of the evening. the children too felt that life was not as bad. they were skeptical about shilon resort but there was some hope left.
the lack of hot water ensured that we made an early check out from windsmoor. the journey to shilon was heaven. cool mountain winds and mountains covered with pine forests. the driver was very good, his innova was in very good condition and things were looking up. breathtaking views along the way. we were clicking photographs of birds in the long traffic jams at railways crossings. reached shilon around 12:30 pm. there were people at hand to take our luggage to the room. off we went, confidently and energetically at first. then they climbed another set of stairs along the path in the garden, then another, then another and by the time we reached our room at the farthest end of the resort we were totally out of breath. boys were all excited and running around while me and anupama were panting to catch our breath. whatever little breath left in us
was taken away by the view from the room. huge mountains all around.
it was a beautifull duplex room. the food was good. nice clean luxury hotel. the mood in the camp was upbeat. we had such a nice time taking photographs of each other, of the scenery, of the birds and taking in fresh mountain air.
our taxi driver had told us that he could not continue with us as the shilon bagh taxi union believed in monopoly and they would not tolerate him in the vicinity. i asked the hotel clerk and he too directed us to the taxi union. we had no choice. we were suggested an alto and we decided to give it a try. we were cramped inside but the driver was good and the trip to shimla would only take an hour. not very comfertable but good enough. i had imagined the mall road in shimla to be very wide sorrounded by mountains with no traffic around as vehicles are not allowed on it. it turned out that it is not very wide, and traffic is not allowed on it, so it becomes relaxing, but the hills sorrounding it are so covered with human
construction that we can hardly see the hills. i had a heavy breakfast with a lot of tea and juices so my concentration was on finding a place for public utilities on the mall. those who have travelled in indian markets would agree that it is not a very easy thing to find. i would look with special interest at restaurants, but none looked promising enough to have a clean toilet. thats when i spotted dominos. maybe they will do justice to their international brand and have a clean place of my interest. i was not expecting much while climbing the narrow stairs to the sitting space on the first floor. then i saw it. it was a place with sighns for he and she on the same door. i opened the door with a pounding heart with memory from the station still haunting me. thats when it dawned to me why the multinational companies were capturing markets shares all over the world. it was spotlessly clean. thank you so much dominos.
the driver was rattling off the list of various other points that we were to cover. i would have none of it. back to the hotel i said.
he looked at me in disbelief , rather hurt that i wont be visiting that temple, he made a final effort in kufri and some park to make us see some points but failed.
we were promised a sumo on our return journey to kalka railway station. the car is ready said the taxi operator when i recomfirmed in the morning, but when it was time to depart we were shocked to see the little alto again. protesting at that tiime was futile. thats what happens with no competition around. this time the driver was really rash. he took off in high speed on the steep mountain slope and would take sharp turns along deep valleys without slowing down. we never thought of looking at the nice views, i wished we had visited the temple for some prayers, delhi suddely looked such a nice place to be in, if we could ever get back. after a couple of requests and showing of displeasure the driver finally slowed down a little and we could have some hope of reaching back safely to delhi. home sweet home.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.136s; Tpl: 0.027s; cc: 11; qc: 55; dbt: 0.0559s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
xs2ads
Anand Sharma
We saw you in Shillon resort
Hope I am not wrong we saw you in Shillon resort we were there from 28th of Sep 09 to 1st Oct 09 morning