Yearning for the chill of Shimla hills

We lived at 16, Old Brockhurst in Chotta Shimla, my father’s official residence — a beautiful British-era house nestled in the deodar trees. In the morning I would wake up to the sight of the Tara Devi hills separating Shimla and Solan.

Most evenings, my sister and I would go for a 4-km walk to the Scandal Point, a rendezvous for most people. The walk began with a steep ascent to Chotta Shimla. The brisk climb was a good cardio. From there, the path somewhat levelled out, leading us past the Chotta Shimla post office to Oak Over, the stately official residence of the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Accompanying us almost always was a cool breeze that would rustle the omnipresent deodars' needle-like leaves.

The walk was punctuated by smaller landmarks like the Shimla Club, Hotel Oberoi Clarkes, the Lift perched on the left and the Christ Church, Shimla, on the right as we walked to the Scandal Point. As we moved past the Lift, there would be a sudden hustle and bustle and a continuous chatter of people, a sign that we were in the heart of the town.

It has been years now that I have made the City Beautiful my home and I love my walks in its green, serene surroundings but oh that chill of my hills… how I yearn for that.

Chandni S Chandel, Mohali