Shimla
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It's always hard to pen the feel, sights and smells of time gone by. I can't imagine what Simla may have been like when the British ruled over it's deodar-wooded hills, but I do remember long walks, picnics and endless afternoons on missions to collect "rus-bhurries" for fruit salad at dinner. I suppose a lot of things get clouded with nostalgia and romanticism but I do remember being able to count the number of cars that would drive past on the Cart Road.
The summer break was the most memorable. The packing that would ensue for the long haul up to the hills. The move from pine scented to dark deodar trees on the way up. The immediate change in temperature, the excitement of knowing we were finally back home. Our first glimpse of Simla would be through the Tara Devi gap. The much maligned ambassador would give a sigh of relief at the journey being finally over and so the car would be locked up for two months.
I still remember going on picnics with our grandmother to Summer Hill on the train. The horror of "ek saw teen tunnel" tunnel number 103 (the last tunnel). It was a beautiful place, even rather elegant. But then well the bazaar took over and well what was left receded to the outskirts of town or was overshadowed by loud horns, raucous tourists, and chaat papri walahs. Even the quality of the sahibs diminished. Those god awful ministers actually brought their cars to the Mall. We could no longer walk to Summer Hill, or down to Annandale without complaining about a time gone by. The town is no longer the elegant capital that it was, in fact it's a bit of a blot on the landscape. The only peaceful havens are some of the old homes tucked away in far corners, trying hard to relive the time gone by. They now meet at the Cecil for tea.
For more information on Simla do visit the CS Group called HIMACHAL PRADESH--" land of GODs"
For travelling to Simla from Delhi check the New Delhi wiki or the Delhi CS group.
For information apart from this webpage do visit the wiki travel page on Simla
Contents |
Communication
Wireless and Internet Connectivity
- Very informative post on the CS Himachal group on Wireless Internet in Simla
