A weekend in Kasauli

Longing for a weekend getaway, my husband and I settled on Kasauli, a small cantonment and hillside town set in the backdrop of the Dhauladhar Ranges. We boarded the Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi at 7.40 am on Friday and we were off on our adventure in the hills. After a comfortable four and a half hour journey we rolled into Kalka Station, a quaint and surprisingly clean station about 40 kilometers from Kasauli.

An hour later we arrived at Kasauli. After settling in and placating our complaining stomachs we decided to explore. I had come armed with a list of places I wanted to see, and after a quick chat with the hotel staff we were pleased to know that most were within walking distance.

View from a house close to our hotel

1^st on our list was The Anglican Church. The church was about a half hour walk over steep and narrow lanes. And although the walk was quite tiring, the scenic views of the snow capped mountain peaks in the distance and the quaint little cottages with their gabled roofs, more than made up for this. The church itself is surrounded by pine trees and is a beautiful mix of Gothic and Indian style architecture. On seeing it, I felt like I had been transported back in time to a small village in the Scottish highlands.  

The Anglican Church constructed in 1884

A stroll down Mall Road was also a treat. The narrow streets dotted with small shops, even narrower cobbled lanes where store owners greeted customers and asked them to join them for a cup of tea- so different from the fast-pace of city living. This slow laid back atmosphere provides the perfect balm for frayed nerves.

A narrow lane just off Mall Road

After a good night’s rest we went off in search of Kasauli Distillery also known as Mohan Meakin brewery. Set up in the 1820’s, it is one of the oldest operating distilleries in Asia. Although, disappointingly, we were not allowed inside, the quaint building, it’s beautiful surroundings and the great sights that we came across on the way there, more than made up for it.

A winding path cutting through the hillside on the way to Kasauli Distillery

Outside and around Kasauli Distillery

 On our final day, we decided to walk up to Lawrence School Sanawar. It took us about 45 minutes, up winding roads with steep inclines. We continued to walk past the school and just took in the fantastic views of the valley that were on offer. I was captivated by the blue skies and the clean air that smelled almost sweet- so different from the smog that hangs over Gurgaon.

On the way up to the Lawrence School

Road that goes past Lawrence School

View of the Valley

Although visible in the image, the snow capped Himalayan peaks can be seen in the distance from this point.

Walking allowed us to get a real feel of life in the hills by observing people go about their daily business- carrying firewood, tending to livestock, selling their wares. One of my favorite scenes was watching a group of elders sitting on the porch enjoying a game of cards. We rarely see these scenes in the city and it was very endearing.

If you plan a weekend getaway to Kasauli, please don’t confine yourself to your hotel room. Go out! Explore the town with its tiny, winding lanes, quaint cottages with pretty little gardens. Breathe in the sweet, clean air and enjoy the old world charm this little hill station has to offer.