Girlie Road trip – Day 1 Chandigarh -Solan -Kasauli- Simla
It was with a great sense of adventure that our girlie gang from different parts of India met at Chandigarh airport, many of us seeing each other for the first time. Forget our age, when we meet like this we are not women, only Girlies!
And we decided to call ourselves the lucky 13…we started with a streak of luck, we got a group photo with a film star called Ayushman Khurana! Also some of us got to see a singer called Badshah at the airport.
It was an experience to load 26 pieces of luggage with 13 excited girlies into a force traveller. We had a noisy giggly start to our long road trip for 10 days, and with no clue of what we were in for.
Well, we were in good company and that was all that mattered. As we drove out of Chandigarh onwards to the Simla road, we could see the scenery around us changing from urban to hilly terrain. We were even lucky to catch a glimpse of the cute toy train that runs between Kalka and Simla.
We passed the hill station of Solan and decided to stop at Nikki Rasoi and Dabba for our first local food halt. A simple meal of roti, sabji, dal, chawal, raita was enough to give us ample satisfaction and that too at such cheap rates.
If ever you are stuck in a traffic jam in the hills, it doesn’t matter because you have even more time to breathe deep and soak in the expanse of the natural surroundings which by itself is a treat to your urban eyes!
We passed the hill station of Kasauli and our tea break was at a small place called Khandaghat, we enjoyed the fresh local apple juice, kiwi juice and lichee juice, but rued the fact that getting clean toilets when travelling is still a big issue for women travellers in India!
What struck me was the huge amount of construction activity that was being carried out all along the highway. Maybe the roads were being broadened, so a lot of old buildings were mercilessly struck down with bare open facades, gazing sadly at us along the highway.
We were enjoying the views of the setting sun, as we had already entered the Simla district. We thought we were only one hour away from our night halt, yet it was a case of ‘so near yet so far’.
We tried to depend on Google Maps as we searched for our Kalavathi home stay next to Indira hospital. We drove through a small tunnel upto the Sanjoli junction of the Simla mall road, yet our big vehicle was turned back by a handsome policeman.!
Well we had to wait in the dark and dusky hilly roads, for 2 smaller taxis to pick us up on 2 trips with our excess luggage. As we waited in the windy night for the taxis to come down from the traffic jam, we just laughed as everything was a learning experience of adjustment, that makes one a stronger person from within!
After settling down in our cute wooden rooms, we went around to the local Lakkar market to soak in the local flavour. Hot momos were welcome in the cold weather. We just had to purchase some local stoles and shawls at ready good rates. And another hot simple dinner at another local Dhaba was always welcome.
We were back to our rooms by 10 pm, for a welcome hot shower. And we got into our cozy beds inside the warmth of our comforters and room heaters and the lovely company. Good night and sweet dreams at the end of day 1 to our new family for the next 10 days!
So in 2018, do notice these simple smiling moments. Have a smiling year.
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