Friday, 20 May 2016

Himachal Pradesh - Kasauli


Subtle observation : It's always been told by my parents and believed in my family that a black cat crossing the street proves to be a bad augury. While returning from Shimla to Kasauli, a kitten crossed the street followed by our driver halting and shutting the engine off. The hills around us were scintillating at random places and the sky scintillated with the celestial bodies rarely witnessed in my city. With the headlights switched off, he waited for a car to pass as if it would obliterate the bad omen believed to be born by the kitten. That tiny little layover during our nocturnal journey got me into thinking regarding the beliefs followed by people around the world and their concurrence with the reality, and moved heartstrings in me.
Sometimes, I do get excited to know my life's prognosis in a way - sun signs, palmistry, superstitions. It doesn't require me to believe the answers but just hear something and feel ecstatic or disappointed for a few minutes of ephemeral belief (ironically!). At the end, a sturdy belief becomes of humongous importance rather than an ambiguous reality.

Sitting under the mild sunrays among the hills and pine trees, listening to my play list which hasn't been updated for months.
I am thinking I am happy to have the life I am living. But I haven't reached the point where I will be content and stop desiring for more. I won't reach that point until I become old and incapable of doing more adventurous task than the last one.

Kasauli is my second home. I remember the first time I came to Kasauli with mom, dad, Ria and dad's acquaintance, Suman. Suman carried a video camera which was a huge gadget during those days for munchkins like us. Seeing ourselves in a small window of the camera as we look and move while it records proved to be a great deal of astonishing fun.  We still have the video with Ria and I smiling without a tooth or two and speaking a few lines.

It's been more than half a century visits to this place and everything is as fresh as it will be for a city dweller visiting for the first time. 

I will take you through my recent visit and experience.
The weather was pretty hot to annihilate the hill-station effect.


On our way to Kasauli from Kalka Railway Station 
after a comfortable and convenient
Shatabdi train journey from Delhi to Kalka

The inevitable stop at Ishar for kulfi and gol gappe. 
They have introduced the chocolate kulfi 
which is equally indispensable from the To-Do List.

In my perspective, Modern Dhaba seems to give
 a tough competition to Giani Dhaba 
which are not far from each other. 
The Egg Curry and Chicken Curry here are sure
to be tasted and gorged into.

Mountain Lilies are always a spellbinding view 
witnessed for a few months of a year

 The Samavana Project of DLF where our family stays 
while dad leads the work there

Bhandara/ Langar in a nearby temple 

 The view from our place

 The display at the entrance of the Christ Church 

 Christ Church at around 6pm

Kasauli Mall Road

Heritage Market entrance

 And Heritage Market


 On our way to Mohan Meakin Temple

 As blissful as it can be

 Mohan Meakin Temple, Solan







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