8/12/2019 Guide to visiting Kandaghat

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A road trip to Kandaghat

Words: Satarupa Paul Photos: Vishal Sabharwal

Road trip

to

Kandaghat

For years now, the popular hill station of Shimla has occupied pride of place in the list of getaways for thousands

of families from the vast plains of north India. But with colossal numbers of tourists thronging to it from every

corner of the country, and with their numbers increasing every year, many travellers are now opting to stay

away from the maddening crowds of Shimla, yet close enough to visit it when its British-era charm calls. Quaint

little hamlets in the hills nearby are thus emerging as rewarding alternatives for a weekend trip. Kandaghat,

situated at a distance of 30 kms before Shimla on National Highway 22, is one among them.

Kandaghat at a glance:

Closest metro New Delhi (330 kms)

Closest airport Chandigarh (80 kms)

Closest railhead Kalka (57 kms); the historic Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge

railway, better known as the Shimla toy train, operates

daily with a stop at Kandaghat.

Getting around Walk or trek for villages in the immediate vicinity or to

Kandaghat town

Cab Our resort operates a travel desk where you can

book cabs

Set picturesquely amidst the rolling hills of the Lesser Himalayas, Kandaghat is rapidly gaining popularity for its convenient location,

and for the option it offers of a comfortable stay at the Club Mahindra (http://www.clubmahindra.com/our-resorts/the-destination-

kandaghat/). Many families are also increasingly warming up to the idea of self-driven road trips into the hills, and if you are planning

one such with your family, dont let the distance or the hilly bends hold you back.

In case you are travelling from Delhi, then start your day early, at around 5 am, to avoid the morning traffic until you hit NH 1. Once

on it, you can enjoy a smooth drive while watching the sun creep up on the horizon on your right. Stop for a hearty breakfast of

delectable stuffed parathas or chole bhature at Haveli in Murthal. This small town along the highway is famous for its dhabas thatserve delicious vegetarian fares, and Haveli is no exception. It comes with the plus points of nice dcor and clean toilets, so relieve

your bladders here before hitting the road again.

Drive through some of the best highways in the country, and the recently opened Himalayan Expressway that offers majestic views

of the mountains and bypasses the congested towns of Kalka, Pinjore and Parwanoo, thus saving over an hour of your drive. You can

make a stop at the cute B&B Inn on NH 22 just before Dharampur for their refreshing cold coffees and another clean loo break. From

there, its about an hours drive to Kandaghat town and another ten minutes uphill to the grand Club Mahindra Kandaghat

(http://www.clubmahindra.com/our-resorts/the-destination-kandaghat/).

Built on a beautiful 14 acre property overlooking the mountains, the resort offers a peaceful retreat away from the humdrum of city

life. Acquired by Club Mahindra as recently as November last year, the resort is presently undergoing renovations, but its web of

immaculately manicured lawns and well-appointed rooms would give you no such impression. While you can spend your time

here leisurely walking its numerous lawns and taking in the splendour of nature, the resort also offers various adventure activities

like rock climbing, trekking, flying fox and more to keep your family occupied.

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8/12/2019 Guide to visiting Kandaghat

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Clockwise: The front facade of Club Mahindra Kandaghat; well appointed comfort at one of ou r apartments;

experie nce impeccable service at the multi cuisin e restaurant and food that makes it all worth it.

Heres a short list of some of the activities available in and around the resort.

Trekking

Manish Singh, the 19-year old activity coordinator at Club Mahindra Kandaghat (http://www.clubmahindra.com/our-resorts/the-

destination-kandaghat/)will enthusiastically show you a hill behind the resort, point to a temple on top of it and very nonchalantly

say, Bas waha tak jana hai. Dont be fooled by his easy manner though. The 6 km long trek to and fro may not seem much in terms

of distance, but the steep incline up the hill will leave you gasping for breath halfway through at least for those of you

unaccustomed to walking of any form. Kids and fitness freaks will however, thoroughly enjoy this trek, and everybody else can

enjoy the gorgeous views of the hills and the resort from even halfway up. If youre lucky, you can come across village women, out

to gather fodder from the hill, who will happily chat with you about their lives, and even share an apple or two!

Horticulture Walk

This is a much relaxed and leisurely walk around the resort, and specially recommended for older people and horticulture

enthusiasts. A gardener will accompany you on this walk through the numerous lush green lawns that the resort boasts. You can

take your guess at identifying the variety of flowers or harvest the expertise of the gardener in learning about the 100 plus varieties

of roses, tulips, chrysanthemums, forget-me-nots and many others.

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Adventure Activities

These are a big draw with children and also adults eager to experience a rush of adrenaline. Club Mahindra Kandaghat

(http://www.clubmahindra.com/our-resorts/the-destination-kandaghat/)has a permanent Burma bridge, a Flying Fox line, and a rock

face for climbing and rappelling activities. Besides, the activities club also conducts valley crossing and commando walks for those

interested.

Indoor, learning and enter tainment activities

The activities centre has indoor gaming facilities like table tennis, pool, chess, carom, and video games. It also conducts various

learning workshops for children and their parents alike, like ice stick art, paper quilling, flower making, origami, candle making, clay

modelling, and painting. The evenings are entirely dedicated to family entertainment, like karaoke, quiz, DJ nights etc which you cantake part in with other guests.

Clockwise: Adventur e activities at Kandaghat; trekkin g; variety of flor a and fauna during horticulture walks

If sight-seeing is what your heart desires then there are a few places, besides Shimla, that you can visit on a short weekend trip to

Kandaghat:

Kandaghat Town & Natural Springs

The area that is today called Kandaghat had once formed the hunting ground for the Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh, while he

held his summer capital at Chail. Today, a tiny town with a few shops and an unremarkable overhead rail bridge forms thecentrepiece of Kandaghat. A former residence of the Maharaja here has now been converted into a government run polytechnic for

women. You can walk around the town and ask the locals for the directions to the natural springs. Dont be mistaken by the

terminology however, as these are hardly noticeable natural water bodies anymore. A shed like that of a bus-stop marks the place

where mountain water gushes out non-stop from pipes bored in the hillside into a small well or baoli. Legend has it that the

Maharaja used to get his water supplied from these springs to his palace in Chail, but today they serve no such royal purpose.

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Chail

Situated at a distance of about 30 kms from Kandaghat through a narrow road bordered by gigantic deodars and chir pines, lies the

erstwhile summer capital of the Maharaja of Patiala Chail. The story goes that the Maharaja, on being exiled from Shimla by British

Lord Kitchener for allegedly abducting a young girl, vowed to replicate the charm of Shimla in Chail. He thus built an elegant two-

storey palace in 1891, which was later converted into a heritage hotel by the government in 1972, now called the Chail Palace Hotel.

You can spend some peaceful time here sitting in the pristine green lawn, or take a guided tour of the various rooms in the palace.

You can also have your lunch at the restaurant here that serves good Indian and Chinese food.

Tucked away at a corner down the hill from the palace is a signboard that says Lovers Lane and Hill. This little-known lane bordered

by dense forests is straight out of a picture postcard and opens out to some magnificent views of the mountains on the other side.

Another must-visit in Chail is the Kali ka Tibba, a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali set atop a hill. Situated at an

altitude of about 2100 metres and accessible by a single lane motorable road, the location gives you an

outstanding 360 degree view of all the mountains around.

On your way back to Kandaghat, make a stop-over at the famous Chail cricket ground, believed to be the

highest cricket ground in the world situated at a height of 2,444 metres. Built by the Maharaja in 1893, it is now

used by Chail Military School as their playground, doubling up as a polo ground during vacations.

Clockwise: the Chail palace; Kali ka Tibba Temple

Mohan Sh akti National Heritage Park

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This latest attraction that has come up near Kandaghat is at a distance of about 17 kms from the resort towards Solan. A mammoth

undertaking of the Mohan Meakin group, popular for their breweries, the heritage park currently boasts a big temple complex that

sports several life-size sculptures of different gods, goddesses and Rishis. The park has been ten years in the making and had an

initial investment of Rs 100 crores. The final project aims to include besides the temple, a luxury resort and apartment complex, a

hospital, a market place, and a landscaped park spread over a 40 acre area.

The Mo han Shakti National Heritage Park

Kandaghat, with its sleepy little town, vast hills, and few options to stay or see, may still be in its nascent stage of becoming a tourist

hub. But then again, wasnt that the whole purpose of its existence in the first place to take you away from the tourist trail and

bring you back refreshed to your city after a good family holiday here!

Already a Club Mahindra member? Click here (https://members.clubmahindra.com/SignIn.php)to login and book Kandaghat now!

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