Cobbled streets and pine-scented pathways
Cut off from the main tourist route, Kasauli is the haunt of many a lazy tripper. There are no monuments, ancient temples or great waterways that need to be explored. Instead you can pace your perambulations to match your mood. Wild rose and hawthorn copses, cobbled paths and pine scented pathways beckon you on sunny mornings. At dusk, soak in the twilight hush before a crackling fire, with a hot drink and friends for company.
Delve into Raj-era nostalgia as you stroll along cobbled streets opening into age-old stores and a delightful old Anglican Church, complete with stained windows and oak wood pews, amongst the stately deodars. At Sunny Side, the cottage of Sir Henry Lawrence (of the Lawrence School, Sanawar fame) still stands. Amble down pathways carpeted with scented pine needles under the canopy of a cloudless blue sky. Poke your head above the hawthorn hedges for a glimpse of pretty gabled houses enclosed with flower drenched gardens. Reach out to steal a plum from an orchard where the lady of the house still makes her own jams and sauces.
Follow the Upper Mall and wander up to Monkey Point on Gilbert Hill near the air force base. Everyone eventually lands up here. The 4-km hike to the temple on the top is a bit stiff so take it easy if you are out of practice. Enjoy the splendid vistas from this vantage point. There is Dagshai across the forested hills and deep ravines, and you can catch the sparkle of the Sutlej River curving lazily along the plains. On a clear day you can enjoy the vistas of the snow-clad Dhauladhar Range and the Churi Chandni Peak. On your return don t be the hero and race down the hillside - mind the loose stones? you don t need a twisted ankle.Wild dahlias, morning glories and cherry blossoms, growing profusely on the hillsides, assault your senses. Follow your nose along the pathway around The Mount. The afternoon sun works its magic on the carpet of fallen needles sending up a bouquet of perfumed air with each step you take. The trail goes past the Club and rejoins the main road further down. Another fine walk used to be the one around Tapp s Nose (named after Col Tapp, the political agent at Sabathu who came to survey Kasauli as a cantonment base), but it is a restricted area now. It would be quite rewarding if they allow you to walk along this delightful trail.
Birdwatching and Picnics
Established as a cantonment town about 150 years ago when Shimla was being developed as a summer resort for the British, Kasauli has managed to contain its air of a sleepy sanctuary seeped in birdsong and lush verdure. Being a cantonment town has also protected the hill town from being overrun by enthusiastic real estate agents willing to hawk off every inch of land to prospective buyers. The charm of a leisurely picnic in virgin woodlands is yours to enjoy as much as it was for the town s British residents over 50 years ago. Binoculars and bird books are essential accompaniments, if you want to stalk humming birds and flycatchers, minuets and magpies? you might get lucky to spot a deer or hyena loping through the undergrowth. They say there are leopards too, but no sightings have matured in some time, so relax?..
Tonga Trail
In the old days when Kasauli was still Kusowlie, they used to ride these high ridges, by tonga or pony. And even before the mountainsides were carved up for access roads, officers would have to trek through the wooded hills to get to the core of the cantonment. It may take you a couple of days to get your hill feet, but once you get the hang of it there is nothing better than hiking up to Sanawar Hill (5.5 km) to explore those glorious chestnut walks. You can lope your way down to Dharampur (15 km), down the very picturesque route from Sanawar School. Catch a ride back. Another great walk is the one to Baikunth Resorts (7 km), via Garkhal, where you can have lunch or high tea.
On the trail of the Raj
The pretty hill town of Dagshai (19 km), across the forested ravines and hills from Kasauli, used to be a well-kept tourist secret. Even today not many visitors wend their way to its picturesque environs. Theywould prefer to hotfoot it to the glitzy environs of the Shimla Mall instead! Dagshai used to be the haunt of old timers who knew its sylvan treasures, as well as they did Kasauli. With its superb walks and picnic spots under the canopy of oaks and holly forests, it used to be really hot for family outings during the Raj. The old cobbled stone streets and Raj-style buildings heightened the Old World charm of this tiny hill town. A visit to the pretty little Barog railway station, the halt for the famous toy train, should be on your agenda. In the early days the short halt gave travellers ample time to enjoy a delicious lunch in the immaculate refreshment room overlooking the hills. Hop on to the toy train for a joy ride and marvel at the engineering feat of this amazing journey. Take in the views of the famous Churi Chandni Peak.
Wooing the Muse
Over decades, writers, poets, painters and musicians have found the quiet environs of Kasauli perfect for unleashing their artistic leanings. Khushwant Singh has penned much of his writings in his little cottage here, while Bal Malik vents his love for jazz with friends and music lovers here. Painter Bulbul Sharma participates in art workshops arranged by Vivan Sundaram, nephew of famous painter Amrita Shergill, and also Komal Anand, ex-director Archaeological Survey of India, at her home at Misty Heights. So if you have a novel or a great musical score hidden in you, this may be just the right place to let it surface.
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City Guide
A haven for artists of all hues, this quiet hill town is where the rich and the famous and the not-so-rich and famous venture for their weekend break or even longer vacations. For many, rooms in Raj-era cottages, cadged off friends, is not enough it seems. They want to have a place of their own. Luckily, the vigilant activists of the Society for Protection of Kasauli (SPOK), who have worked hard to protect the environs of this cantonment hilltown, have managed to spare it from the hideous over-development that has ruined Shimla and Mussoorie.
