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Smitten by the mountains
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Nostalgia The nooks of Shimla tell myriad tales
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Photo: PTI
Evoking memories Shimla
In the dark, the mountains take on a life of their own. The green trees, which seem so inviting in daylight, look like extensions of the mountains.
Down below, Shimla is waking up to life. Standing in the middle of a narrow lane in The Mall, I try to find a pattern in the crowd that throngs the road.
Wandering around
Both cosmopolitan and ‘mountain people’ seem to enjoy walking on this historical road. I look around, and then, like many others, wander around aimlessly.
Walking along the road, I can’t but help recall how, during the days of the Raj, Indians were restricted from taking a stroll here.
A little walk takes you to the Church above the notorious Suicide Point. It is a surprise mix of both Catholic and Protestant features.
Bathed in the yellow light from the lamps in the evening, it stands with an air of architectural authority.
A road behind the Church leads to the library and offers a glimpse of the far-off plains and the mountains on the other side.
The Mall road is punctuated with bakeries offering mouth-watering pastries.
Old-world charm
Further up is the The Indian Coffee House, which has got lost among the multiple Baristas and Café Coffee Days. But, it manages to retain its old-world appeal.
Earlier in the day, I visited Naldhera, which boasts a beautiful golf course.
A good getaway from the noisy Mall road, it is ideal for spending some quiet time in the woods. For golf enthusiasts, a round at this place is perhaps a great opportunity. The next morning’s walk takes me to Viceregal Lodge, a treat to the eyes.
Intimidating presence
A magnificent building set against a cloudy sky, it almost intimidates you with its presence. Accommodating multiple Governor Generals during the British years, the Lodge now houses scholars and has been renamed as the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. Soon, I am back in town to catch a bus to another destination.
NITIN CHOWDHRY
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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