The Hills are Alive…

ALLLLOWWWHAAA 🙂 Happy Friday!! Before I get started, I hope you all like my new design? If you are reading this on your phone, you won’t be able to see it. Jump on your computer! Now back to our regularly scheduled programme:

You know how here we go on weekend road trips to other cities or the Pocono’s or like Maine or some crap? Well, in India, they do weekend getaways to the “Hill Stations” as they call it. Many may not be aware but India is very well known for its glorious hills! I’m not just speaking of the Himalayas either. I think people get distracted with the diverse cultures & religious places that they may not think or be aware of this, but the hills are so beautiful in India! When I was there, my thaiya ji (uncle – my dad’s older bruvski) took us to Kasauli, which is located in Himachal Pradesh and is known for it’s beautiful resorts.

Remember a few posts ago I talked about how I love creating trips within trips? It must be something passed down in my family, because on our way up to Kasauli, we stopped at this other hill station lodge type place called Timber Trail. My uncle is a member of what we would consider country clubs here in the states. Members only clubs where people hang out, dine, drink, admire the view, relax, golf, swim ect ect you get the point. My uncle is pretty much a member of every club and gymkhana in the greater Chandigarh area. A Gymkhana is also like a country club. Originally referred to a place of assembly. The meaning then altered to denote a place where skill-based contests were held. “Gymkhana” was the name coined during the British Raj for “gentlemen’s club”. My family and typically people nowadays just go to these places to relax & dine as well as a lot of them have rooms you can stay in like a hotel/resort incase you want to get away for a few days. Depending on the facilities at the specific location, people also golf, swim and such.

Anyways, it was a beautiful drive up the mountain ways! We stopped at some little stall on the way up to buy some juice. I was addicted to this specific guava juice and my family always got me wayyy too much – because they knew I liked it :).

Love the traffic in India!!

Here are some photos at Timber Trail.

As we were drinking Limca & Chai, my thaiya ji told me to look at a specific mountain. It was reallllyyyy tall and there was a cable cord hanging from it. He said this cable cord leads to a restaurant at the highest peak. People ride a cart up to get there and the view is out of this world! Popular honeymoon spot. Soooo cool but sooo scary!! I asked him if it’s ever malfunctioned and if so, how many deaths. #itISIndiaafterall

Don’t die for me Argentina!!!

Okay time to leave Timber Trail and head up to Kasauli. As we got back to the car, I saw this sign in the parking lot:

Only in India! We keep it real.

Finally arrived at Kasauli. We went to the Kasauli Club, where my uncle is a member. Located at a height of 6142 feet! Established in 1880, you literally are stepping back many decades in time! It is currently located within Indian Army premises and managed by a regular Indian Army Officer as Club Secretary, aided by civilian staff.

Some background info, The Kasauli Club was founded as the ‘Kasauli Reading and Assembly Rooms’ by a group of Englishmen. The Club was meant only for the English besides a few highly placed Indians. It established a reputation for good food, good drink and a smart social circle; a tradition, which still continues. The Kasauli Club is still famous and its membership is most sought after. You can read more about it here:

http://www.kasauli.net/kasauli-blog/attractions-in-kasauli/kasauli-club

Here are a few of the Kasuali Club:

 

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Just monkeying around!

 

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After a relaxing afternoon at Kasauli, we headed out and the view of the mountains as the sun was setting was breathtaking! I tried to take pics of the lights from the homes along the mountains but it absolutely did no justice. Its just one of those things that only the eye can witness in all it’s beauty. We did make one last quick stop to this place called Sunset Point where the sunset is supposed to be amazing. My thaiya ji didn’t have the patience so we didn’t get to see the sunset LOL: