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Evoking memories Shimla

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.

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, 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 bakery shops offering mouth-watering pastries.

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.

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.

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