Weekend trip to Kasauli II

We visited Kasauli during the monsoons this year. The road and gastronomical issues, etc. have been discussed in Part I.

We arrived at Kasauli in the evening. We took the upper road from Dharampur, which is the second left turn from Dharampur towards Kasauli. Supposedly 3-4 kms lesser than the other/main road, the route is quite picturesque, lined with pines throughout.

We were entering Kasauli by evening 5.00 pm, through heavy mist formation en-route, followed by intense rains.


The Circuit House, as one would expect, is a wooden, period building with red façade, arched walls, large glass windows and a solitary caretaker running the show.

Though the maintenance did not seem to be at ‘top of the order’, the unique feel of staying in such buildings is prize enough. The incessant rains precluded venturing out after we settled down in the evening. We however enjoyed the evening being the lone occupants of the Circuit House. The plopping raindrops and creaking wooden floors presented perfect ambiance for any ‘Ramsay Brothers’ production. Predictably, very soon we were indulging in ghostly games of ‘think someone is there walking in the shadows / hear those screeches/ who is at the windows’….

Kasauli:-

Kasauli is centered on the main square with Christ Church, near the Bus stand. One road onto the square is entry from Garhkhal, one goes upward towards the Cantt area (Upper Mall Road), another meanders beyond Grand Maurice Hotel towards Manki Point (Lower Mall Road). Hotel Alasia and Ros Common (HPTDC) lie on this road. Fourth road is a level below the Upper Mall towards Pine Mall.

Kasauli has two main markets – Pine Mall (comprising some 20 shops), branching off from the above square and the Main Bazaar (some 30 shops).

Like other hill stations, there are a number of view points.

Manki point is situated some 3-4 kms from main square at the end of Lower Mall road. This point, apart from offering vantage view from one of the highest spots in Kasauli, also boasts of a Hanuman temple. Lore says that Lord Hauman rested here on his way to Sanjeevni Hill to get the herb (booti). This being situated inside a defence area, cameras are not allowed inside. We leisurely drove down to Manki point, only to realize that the entrance gates were closed during lunch hours. We gave up!

Another point is Sunset Point – situated at the fag end of Upper Mall.

Then there is Sunrise Point among numerous such vantage points, some named and some unnamed.

Kasauli primarily being a military area, you enjoy well maintained pathways, interesting signboards and a visibly effective governing body. Almost all the tourist parkings are maintained by Army, with the result that you have a well regulated traffic and NO PARKING CHARGES.

Some cute legacies of the British period are hard to miss:-

Kasauli is a walker’s paradise. One needs to put on the walking shoes and get moving; direction does not matter.

It has been advised that Kasauli may be avoided during first week of October, when
Sanawar School holds its annual fest. Due to rush of visitors/parents, hotels rooms are hard to come by during the occasion (exact dates may be confirmed before actual departure).

On our way back, we took the second route to Dharampur (via Sanawar VILLAGE). It was equally good and enjoyable.

Kasauli, with its pristine environs and heritage deco is certainly worth a try.

I found this interesting site by Himachal Govt on Kasauli –
http://himachal.gov.in/tcp/DPKASAULI.pdf.

Thanks – Auro.

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