24hrs Delhi Shimla Delhi

It was 2007 February when hot news in favor of travel was snow fall in Shimla. Long awaited were we to have a good trip and see snow. With less time in hand Shimla was the only one of the approchable spot if it snows. The news overwhelmed us, I knew a place Narkanda just 65kms from shimla where it snows well. I advocated that place to cover over a weekend so much. Companions were rejecting the Narkanda idea for long because it takes 10 to 12 hrs from Delhi to Narkanda and with just two days in hand (Saturday and Sunday) it would feel just touch and go. So, this was a golden oppertunity to pursue some of my friend for Shimla this time. By heart I was planning to give them a taste of touch and go too, believe it, it is also thrill to touch and go from some place.

It was Friday of second week of February 2007. When I started pursuing some of my friends to go for Shimla and even Narkanda if possible. After consensus every one of us went home to pack bag after office and I took my car to pick everyone up, last pick was from gurgaon at 2AM, by now its Saturday. Munchies for the trip, petrol, woolen cloth and all other neccessaries had been done.

All the way we were having fun, listning to music, talking, singing, sitting at Dhabas to sip tea. Around 5am we crossed Ambala and hit dense fog, the visibility was mere 20meters (a gut feel calculation), speedometer of our car dropped to 30km/hr, at places managed to 40km/hrs but not more than that. The fog chased us nearly till panchkula. We almost lost heart for reaching Shimla early in time. As soon as we crossed parwanoo the thrill kept on multiplying with every curve of the Shivalik range. Our eyes were wide open to take the first glance of snow after each kilo meters after Kandaghaat. Shimla is just 31km.

I had been to shimla almost ten times before but this time the experence expected was different, companions were different, Season and timings and distance was different. As we started approaching Shimla, fun filled our heart, achievement scense rolled on our forehead, face wore only smile, eyes were sparkling, we were watching snow beside the road. We reached Shimla parking around 9am. The parking area wore a frozen blanket of ice. Somehow with skid turns I parked my Santro there. The shimla was white, and I was seeing this place in this color for the first time. Fabulous!

After parking our vehicle, we walked from the highcourt end, through upper mall road to ridge. It was not an easy walk on the icy slopes.

With spending some time on Ridge, we walked up to Jhaku temple, it is one of the highest peak of Shimla and we could find most of the snow there. The snow was fresh and deep. Explaining that route in words would be no fun, here are few pics and you can make your own words….

With all fun filled expirence we all four of us came down to Ridge and then back to parking. We had so much of fun in just few hours that we were thinking of what next. It was already 3PM so staying back in Shimla will be staying inside the hotel only. We enquired the route state of Narkanda, the route was blocked, so icy and skiddie that vehicles were returning back. Thus the unanimous call was let’s do something different let’s go back home and chill and rest the next day to have a fresh monday.

With that decesion, we started driving down hill. Halting at few places for rest, food and tea. When I reached home and see the clock it was 2AM exactly the time 24hrs back. Every one was amazed to know that Delhi – Shimla – Delhi in just 24hrs. The reactions was as good as you are thinking that mad guys, should have stayed back and enjoyed more. But, never the less, the experience was one of its own kind, the moment we all four cherish even today, the fun was priceless and the scence of achievement we feel is only we can feel. Or even you can feel, try it out, it was snowing in Narkanda and Kufri this weekend (18th Jan 2009) where we went this weekend, another expirence of own kind, I will share in some time if time permits me to write. Well you can plan out for this weekend!