Shimla during spring 🌼 is an ideal escape for nature lovers

There's nothing quite like nature to soothe the soul and loosen the reins of the heart. The experience of walking down the paths of Himalayan forests, taking in the vibrant colors and fragrances, is truly unforgettable.

Shimla's lush greenery is an ideal escape for nature lovers

Previous blog post- A Discovery of old British-style cottages, inns and lodges in Shimla

The air tastes like chilled wine amidst acres of pine and cedar woods interspersed by British colonial houses; making Shimla an ideal vacation for nature lovers.

Shimla's Pine, Deodar, Oak & Rhododendron forests

Shimla is also a district that stretches further from the city by the same name. The vegetation is dictated by elevation and precipitation, and mesmerizing enough to tempt an amateur to take interest in botany. 

Deodar [Cedrus deodara]~ Shimla is full of pine and deodhar trees  

Deodar [Cedrus deodara] trees~ Shimla

Deodar is a species of cedar commonly found in the Himalayan regions. The wood of this tree is used as building material due to its durability and rot-resistant character. Most British colonial houses in Shimla were built using deodar wood. It is also widely used in the construction of houseboats in Srinagar, Kashmir. 

Oak [Quercus Semecarpifolia] is a species of Oak native to the Himalayan region 

Oak [Quercus Semecarpifolia] trees- Shimla 

 

Morinda Spruce [Picea Smithiania] is a variety of spruce 

Spruce [Picea Smithiania] trees~ Shimla 

Bhutan pine [Pinus Wallichiana] is a type of pine tree 

Pine [Pinus Wallichiana]~ Shimla

Its wood is highly resinous and a commercial source of turpentine. 

Fir [Abies pindrow] is occasionally used for timber to some extent

Fir [Abies pindrow]~ Shimla

The Glen: a nature trail

The Glen is a thickly wooded ravine that becomes quite lovely as you go deeper into the walk. The trail starts from Chaura maidan. 

Misty morning walks

FAGU-MASHOBRA-KUFRI-NALDHERA ₹350/pp Day tour conducted by Himachal tourism

A great way to explore places around Shimla is joining a DAY TOUR conducted by Himachal tourism. Group Tours leave daily at 10.30 am from their office at The Ridge. Tickets cost ₹350/ per person and can be booked online or directly at the counter. Kindly check their online site for no-tour days and additional info. Most folks even do this tour by private taxi. Going by the number of tourists on this route; one can imagine how popular it is. 

Our first stop was Fagu where we stopped for refreshments at an HPMC hotel. Fagu is a hamlet in Shimla district famous for its apple plantations. Our guide pointed out to the apple🍎 orchards beyond. But a blanket of mist hindered our visibility and it was difficult to tell one from the other. A chill breeze blew through, tempting me to order a steaming cup of coffee ☕. 

💡The peak harvest season for apples in Himachal Pradesh is August - September.

As the tour bus passed by Wildflower hill, a luxury resort that had once been the residence of Lord Kitchener and Lord Ripon; I knew at once we were in Mashobra. The resort is perched on a hill, and as much as I would love to see it, it is obviously out of bounds for casual onlookers. The bus instead drove us to an amusement park. "Seriously!?", I thought, who'd want to spend 1000s of ₹ package at an amusement park. Apparently many families with kids did! There were few of us who preferred to stay out of this, so we spent an hour or so in the greens of the parking lot.

Our Next stop was Kufri, a popular winter destination especially for skiing activities. Ski resorts in Kufri do a brisk business during the season. There is also a zoo nearby incase you'd like to say 'hi' to the animals there. Another interesting place is Chini bunglow, a heritage property converted into a restaurant.

I personally believe a tour bus does no justice to the greenery that lay below. The best way to experience nature is losing yourself in these evergreen coniferous forests. 

A game of golf is what most people come to Naldhera, but if golfing around isn't your cup of tea, there are horseback rides. A few of us were rather disappointed at the steep prices for horse rides, so we decided to explore on our own. To our good fortune we reached the golf course ⛳ by foot in less than 15 mins.  

The luscious greens of Naldhera golf ⛳ course

This 18-hole golf course is said to be the oldest in India, and is a legacy of Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905. The course was made to resemble the sloping glades of Scottish highlands. Entry to the golf course is restricted to members only. But that's no reason to dampen your spirits~ There is an old-fashioned bar and restaurant here that is open to Members and Non-Members alike. 

 

We ambled through the woods surrounding the gold course, before calling it a day.

💡Do carry several polythene/ plastic bags. The twists and turns on the route could make you sick.

Next blogpost~ Mystical Kinnaur-Spiti tour

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