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Doing nothing in Fagu, beyond Shimla |
When we, five members of our family,decided to have a week’s break after the 10th Board exam of our grand daughter,we thought of Shimla which we have not visited for many years, though we go to hills almost twice a year. The drive to Shimla from Gurgaon became quite easy after we read the very detailed and valuable information about the route right up to Stutter wine shops and Shimla. I must thank you all at ghumakkars for making trip to Shimla an easier trip to drive. Your article was most useful, especially avoiding almost dozens of traffic police at various points in Panchkula and buying Stutter wines. Also your tips about avoiding jam at Panipat flyover proved very useful.
Beautiful Hill Side
Some pictures of Army Heitage Museum, Annadale Shimla, showing the Surrender document of East Pakistan,accepted by Gen. Jagjit Singh. Place worth visiting while in Shimla..
Surrender document of East Pakistan
Army Heritage Museum
Thats me
After having stayed at Hotel Peter Hoff of HP tourism, and roaming around crowded Mall, we decided to go to Fagu,which we had read about . We always prefer small quite hill places away from crowds and noise.
I must tell you readers about Fagu-which is 23km away from Shimla (and 3km from Kufree) is a great place for doing nothing and morning walks among apple and potato fields. Fagu is ,situated on the Hindustan Tibet Road at a height of about 2500 mts. We drove through Chhotta Shimla,and other crowed parts on to the road to Wildflower Hall and Kufri, stopping on the way to enjoy the fantastic views. You go thro the Victory Tunnel to CHHOTA SHIMLA- part of Kannaur Shimla, through Sanjauli,,cross another tunnel, through wooded forest toward KUFRI which is about 19 km from Shimla ,thro KUFRI by-pass and Fagu is 3km from Kufri on the Hindustan -Tibet road. It took us about 90 minutes, in our Skoda to reach the hotel of HP Tourism — Peach Blossom. Its a small village with only few small typical shops selling essential, nothing else. But the place is dotted with Apple gardens, terraced fields, potato fields etc . There was another group of People from Mumbai–all senior citizens, enjoying the place. We went down the hill though the apple gardens and fields. you can literally walk for hours- surrounded by Himalyan range so close,you could almost touch it. We were lucky that during our stay from 3rd April to 5th April, it became very very cold and we could see fresh snow falling on the peaks, and the whole area was totally covered by low clouds for hours.
Fagu
HP tourism has a property “PEACH BLOSSOM” which has been recently built. For a quiet village holiday, a nice and reasonably priced place.
Peach Blossom Hotel at Fagu
Next day when I went out for morning walk on the Hindustan Tibet Road, we came across about a family of 10 cow-herd–sheperad with about 6000, goats, lamb and sheep .When we talked to them we were surprised to learn that they were coming from Rajasthan and going to Kashmir to sell their herd. They told us that this the normal route they always take to kashmir from Rajasthan which takes them about 2/3 months–walking.
Sheep on the way to Kashmir
Next day we went out to visit a temple which is situated just outside the hotel–but you have to climb about 1000 steps which were quite steep. Half of our team didnt dare, but once you reached on the top at the temple, you were on cloud 9. So if you enjoy this kind of nowhere-place with no shops or malls, and just hotel meals(which are pretty decent) then may be you would like this place, atleast for couple of days.
Fagu - Doing nothing
There is nothing to do except walk in the large Apple Orchards and Potato Fields, or just sit in the hotel grounds, enjoy mountain views and read books. In Fagu, you can be surrounded with clouds, allover.
May 12th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Welcome Aboard Sir. You are the most senior ghumakkar so far out here and I believe we must be really blessed to have you around.
I have never heard of this place and I always wanted to go beyond Shimla but not too far so that we can reach there before it gets dark. I guess ‘Fagu’ is the place. The sheep going to Kashmir and it taking few months to reach there is really very interesting.
Please be around and encourage fellow travelers as you find time.
Once again, thanks for sharing your thoughts and your world with us.
May 13th, 2008 at 1:09 am
thats a lovely first photo
May 13th, 2008 at 4:53 am
Sir,
What a refreshing description of Fagu, a place which we visited about 15 years back. In those days there used to be a small solitary resort, with a tiny little cafe and a few rooms. I still remember the long walks into apple orchards.
Yes Sir, even Richard Carlson, the author of “Don’t sweat the small stuff “series, has emphasised on what you have said - doing nothing and just relaxing. He even goes to the extent that it’s good to “bore” your self sometimes.
The photograph showing the sun rays piercing the clouds and slowly dawning on the hills is simply seperb. And who will not feel proud seeing the “surrender document”.
The description of herd of sheep going from Rajasthan to Kashmir is interesting.
Welcome aboard and please do keep on favouring us with your crisply written posts.
Thank you for sharing.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Been to Kufri a couple of years back. Started wondering why we didn’t venture beyond, after reading this post.
Great post. Keep coming.
Ram,
(hope the first-name addressing is OK)
Your posts and comments are a delight to read on; however, it seems you were in a hurry this morning.
:-)
May 13th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
A pleasant read. Thanks for sharing.
And great to be seeing a picture of you. :)
May 15th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Story added…
Your story was featured on wndrlust.com! Here is the link to vote it up and promote it: http://www.wndrlust.com/Tales/Doing_Nothing_in_Fagu_Beyond_Shimla...
May 26th, 2008 at 9:53 am
not bad dadaji! that was a nice post. nice to see people giving you such a nice responce. keep up the good work!
May 27th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Jatinderji,
Thanks for sharing this beautiful experience of yours with us. I too never ventured beyond Kufri. I think now I know of another place that can be visited. And yes visiting army heritage museum and having a chance to see the surrender document is definitely a matter of proud for all of us.
And as Nandan said, I think as fellow ghumakkars we are blessed that we are sharing our experiences with a senior citizen like you.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:57 am
One thing I forgot to ask is that how the booking of Peach Blossom can be done ? Is it possible through internet ?
May 27th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Thanks Manish ,Yes, you can do the booking on Net thro the site of HPTOURISM CORPORATION and pay thro the bank. Good site to know about all the places in HP.Very helpful.
Incidently the above comment from one “ABHA” -well she is my grand-daughter who instigated this trip.
May 28th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Thanks a lot Jatinderji for the useful information.
Yes I noticed comment from Abha, who seems to be so proud of her Dadaji and in-fact its a moment of proud for us too. We are contributing to a portal that have people sharing their experiences from all age groups.
We would be looking forward to more comments/travelogues from you. I am sure your experience would help us to let us know more about many places …
Thanks again
May 30th, 2008 at 7:24 am
hello dadaji!we are abha’s friends from school working at office with her too. abha showed us your post and we happened to like it a lot and so decided to write here.it is so informative that we really feel like going shimla and fagu too!let’s plan a trip together, and you be the leader of the group!!!!!
May 31st, 2008 at 7:35 am
This is to thank Neha & Geetika for thei dupport. Congrats,girls,for very good marks your group obtained.I think Geetika tops.You plan with Abha to gogo back to Fagu.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:25 am
After reading all this I,m planing to go to Fagu in my Dussehra Holidays
August 24th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Pankaj, Thanks for informing me of your trip in October.Hope ypu get nice and cool weather. Sometime back I came across reference to “PHAGU”( that how they spelt it) in one of the Traveller magazine of OUTLOOK, anmd they had given the rout thro, Chandigarh which sounded pretty interesting thro, orchards of peaches and plums etc.I will try to locate and let you know before you go.Outlook is quite a informative mine, and we are planning to go to a place between Kulu and Manali on the river bank called SRAWBERRY COTTAGES. Will revert tto you later. .
August 24th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Pankaj, I found the referance..See if its useful. Its a verbatam pick -up(courtesy Outlook) from the Outlook Traveller and feature called:10 Classic Drives for the Seaon from theJuly issue.Here it goes:-
RAJGAH, may not be prominent on the tourist map, but could easily be if it tried. Set at 49oom, its got plenty of pine cover. But the point of driving up (in July) is to catch the peach season. Keep to NH-22 till Solan(its from Vhandigarh), the turn right into town and hit the RAHGARH road from Solan to the GIRI river at GAURA is excellent stretch.The Giri forms the boundry between Solan and Sirmour districts .Rajgarh is just half-hour drive away. FROM here continue on either the HARIPUR DHAR or HABBEN road. The latter has most of the peach orchards,especially at PHAGU(its sam as FAGU), and Bhanat village,20 km from Rajgarh. Distance from Chandigarh 125 km.ROUT.Chandigarh,Solan-Giripul-Rajgarh-Phagu. Places to stay .PWD resthouse in Rajgarh(contact SDM) or one of the many resorts at DIDAG-12 km from Rajgarh.
” This ends the outlook pick-up.
At fagu you can stay at the Himachal Hotel “Peach Blossom” If you follow the above rout for going, you can come back via, Fagu, Kufri, Shimla, Solan and so on. Try thi\e above Outlook rout and let us know your views. Good Luck.
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 am
We walked the road from Kufri to Fagu on a warm October morning and arranged to meet our taxi at the Peach Blossom Hotel.
Arrived parched, only to find the hotel has no liquor license - no Kingfisher!!!! Srves me right for being a boozer I suppose.
I was distraught.
May I take this opportunity to thank everybody we met during our time in India.
Compared to England, your country is a mesmerizing and chaotic experience, but we were met with nothing but kindness regardless of how humble the surroundings.
As a people you can be justifiably proud of your country and yourselves.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Barry,
Thanks for your comments, wherever you are now. But I think your comments are very patronising, especially the last line.!!!
October 27th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Not intended to be patronising I can assure you. I was met with kindness throughout my trip and I meant every word I said.
If it offends you then I apologise.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Barry,
We at ghumakkar will like to thank you for visiting us and leaving your kind comments. Travelogues - Invite people to places they have not visited, rekindle old memories about the places one loved and sometimes also remind us of some very interesting things, though not pleasant ;)
Its so pleasant to read your interesting experience. Your comment reminded me of a Dutch tourist I met in Nawlagarh. I was asking his experiences in India and he shared with me both the +ve and -ve. Finally he said, sometimes I like India, sometimes I hate it. But for sure this country is one which I can’t resist loving.
We would love to read more from about your experiences, you are also welcome to share your travel accounts and your suggestion to fellow travellers will also help many.
Looking forward to hear more from you :)
October 29th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Barry,
I may hjave been a bit touchy, but,certainly,not offended because I know my country and my people and all our own faults.Your comparison with England takes me back to my years in London(perhaps you were not in this world yet). I kived in one of the most beautiful area of London, Hampstead from 1958 to 1965. The back door of my ground floor apartment ,opened right into the Heath, and the house was justy few steps away from the house of Keats where he wrote his Ode to Nighting gale., and most of the residents were all very liberal minded people. Yet sometimes, my wife and I felt being patronised—maybe wrongly, but we never felt offended.I really felt the greatness of your people, when my son–who was born in Hampstead,went to visit his place of birth and met some old friends of ours.My son was so humbled with the kindness shown to him after years..
So banish the thought that I got offended. To compensate you for not getting your cool Kingfisher, I will give yiou a tip—if you really love to travel in India–from my travel memorobillia–travel in Karnatka, Tamil Nadu, by public bus system and see all the Temple towns and meet the INDIANS.
I ofcourse, travelled by road in my own car (when the price of the petrol had just been increased to 90 paise, while I was in Coorg., on way to Tanjore.
Well, heres wishing you the Seasons Greetings and Merry X-Mas. Good-Bye.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Mainish,
Thanks for your above comments which seem to have pacifying effects on Barry who seem to have got offended by my earlier comments. So, no more comments.
November 8th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
a very pleasant write up…..amazing pics and very valuable information… thanks for taking me beyond shimla…and I really like your words ‘ doing nothing’….after all who woudn’t love to laze around at such a beautiful place away from the zest of the city….
I hope I can make it up there some time….
November 9th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Thank U Tanya.s for ur words. I have, in fact, just come back home after running in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.And your words were especially welcome on the 8th November as it happend to be my birthday which we celebrated at the Jama Masjaid Karims place, Revisit to Dariba Kalan and Gali Kababan brought back great old memories, Will write a small note .Thanks. JATINDER SETHI
November 11th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
belated birthday wishes to u Jatinderji!
what a way to celebrate one’s day amongst the pillars of history…!!
hope u always have some amazing extravanzas to experience and then write about!!:)
November 12th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
thanks Tanya.Belated “Wishes” are never stale.God bless.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Well it was great to read such a nice write up of my hometown ‘Fagu’:)
My extended family resides there and just the thought of fagu makes me feel nostalgic about all the summer vacations we have spent there…will be going this year at the end of december… I will also like to add here that there is a resort there as well ’snow king retreat’ ..however it can prove to be a bit expensive on your pocket..
November 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Hi SANJANA,
Didnt realize that the”post” can keeping visitors even after such a long period.Thanks. Well, we are booked again to go to Fagu from 28th December to 2008 to Ist Jan2009.We have no idea about this “snow King”. Will you let us know or may be I can find it on Google,Is it on a hill top with a big hoarding before Peach Blossom? Seasons Greetings.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Hi SANJANA,
Didnt realize that the”post” can keepgetting visitors even after such a long period.Thanks. Well, we are booked again to go to Fagu from 28th December to 2008 to Ist Jan2009.We have no idea about this “snow King”. Will you let us know or may be I can find it on Google,Is it on a hill top with a big hoarding before Peach Blossom? Seasons Greetings.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Warm greetings,
Well I can give you the contact number of snow king retreat..its the same resort thats there in the first pic of fagu tht you have uploaded here….they have put a lot of hoardings throughout the Kalka-Shimla highway.Hope you would enjoy the serenity of fagu this time as well..
Snow king retreat:09816039666
November 19th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Thanks for info.We may switch to Mussoorie,to cut the drive in winter.Old reliable resort.Thanks again