Behind the wheel & Contributor

Mashobra, Naldehra, Tattapani & Saror

With kids summer vacation started we were more tempted for a vacation. With my office schedule going on busy we planned a quick trip to Himalayas again to beat the Delhi heat.

Shimla in May is usually packed and hotel prices were sky rocketing. I casually called up Club Mahnidra on 11 evening to enquire for room availability and to my sheer luck due to a last moment cancellation one room was available for 14,15 & 16. Immediately confirmed the booking at Club Mahindra Whispering Pines, Mashobra. Last year March we had been to Shimla, Chail, Narkhanda so this trip we planned to explore places on state highway 13.

Plan
14th Monday : Start early reach Shimla by 12. Explore around Mashorba
15th Tuesday : Naldhera , Tattapani and if time permits then cover Chindi in Karsog Valley.
16th Wednesday : Explore Pine forest around Kufri and Himalayan nature park.
17th Thursday : Return

Day - 1
By 12.45 we were at our destination Mashobra. Evening plan was to visit mall @ shimla but was told it was overcrowded and parking a big problem. We spent the evening strolling around Mashobra town. The climate is just perfect both day and night. Night temperature is around 12-14 degree and day around 22-25 degrees.

Breakfast break








Day - 2

The plan was to visit Tattapani and Naldehra. If time permits to visit Chindi in Karsog valley which is around 50km from Tattapani. Started by 9.15 am headed to Tattapani as Naldehra was planned while returning. The roads were ok with negligible bad sections.

We reached Tattapani by 11. Seeing the Satluj river kids were just crazy to play in water. Parked the Safari on the river bed for our first break. While talking to locals came to know about a Shiv gufa which is in Saror village about 6 kms from Tattapani. it is a 1 km trek with 700 odd steps and will take 30 to 40 mins for each side depending upon the fitness. Kids were very excited for the trek and voted for shiv gufa rather driving to Chindi.

At Tattapani










Tattapani is 45 kms from Mashobra is mainly visited for white water rafting & hot water spring. Mostly rafting is done between sunni to Tattapani which is about 5 kms. I was also told by our hotel travel desk that rafting also starts from Chabba which is around 12-14 kms rafting.







Hot water spring : Small streams are flowing from the river banks. Indeed they were hot. There is a hotel hot spring which is offering private pools for sulphur water bath.



After spending an hour at Tattapani we headed to Saror.

Its a 15 min drive from Tattapani to Saror village and we reached by 12.30 Pm. Every one was very charged up for the trek. Initial 50 step climb and I was totally breathless. We reached the hill top(only 30% of total trek) which was 150 odd setps with 2-3 stops. It was a breeze for kids. After resting for 10 mins we started our descend, The track is narrow and steps too were damaged. it took a good 40 minutes to reach the bottom of hill. But must say its a very lovely place (must visit) with a a small stream flowing.

Trek to Shiv gufa


















The cave is a naturally formed one with a depth of 30 odd feet. It will have around 100+ shiv lingas. The poojari told these small lingas are "Ganas" of Lord Shiv.





We spent a good 1 hrs there. Kids enjoyed playing in water. Return journey is difficult. It was 70% climb and rest 30% is the descent. By the time we were there at the hill top, We was totally exhausted. Rested there for a good 20 mins before the descend. Note : its better to carry drinks and food for the trek. There is a small shop at base where one parks the car.

Drive back to naldera




Next we headed back to our Hotel with a stop over at Naldehra to see the Golf course. We were there by 4 pm. The golf course is a 5 min walk from the parking.

Golf Course which is more than 100 years old. After spending an hour there we heading back to our hotel.

Naldera Golf course






Day 2 Himalayan national park in Kufri