The Apple Cart Ride

It looked like an island floating amongst clouds. Nothing else was visible and you could imagine plains, mountains or even the sea beyond the cloud curtain. Any of which could have been true.

When it lifted though the fresh greenery around left no doubts that you were in the Himalayas and that too in the middle of the monsoons. Getting down from the bus at 6:30 am we found the quaint Apple Cart Inn fast asleep, atleast the attendants were. A few guests though had braved the early morning chill and wrapped in thoughts and shawls were walking about.

The place looked so serene and just what we wished for that the non availability of attendants or tea didn’t affect our mood. And after making ourselves comfortable on the swings in the courtyard we decided to walk out to the neighbouring tea stall for some hot beverage.

By mid morning after a lovely breakfast of fresh mushrooms on toast (this place is called the Mushroom district) and tea we were ensconced in our room which boasted a fireplace (sadly non functional though) and a beautiful bed to which we promptly retired.

Refreshed after a few hours of napping and a nice lunch tucked into, the next thing to do was to explore the countryside and we walked out promptly to do the needful. A deserted road going downhill to a place called Majhol with not a soul in sight. The rolling hills spreading out and the jungles getting denser every minute, stories of tiger sightings heard during lunch and then a sudden fall as I slipped on some loose gravel brought the exploration to a halt and we did an about turn.

Back at the Inn we made ourselves comfortable with some fruit juice and saw the evening and clouds descend, sitting in the first floor café thoughtfully made with open windows on all sides and a wooden floor and ceiling.

The army of clouds rolled up to the very edges of the Inn and we were back again in the magic world. What kept us connected to the outside world was the subdued and surreal honking of the vehicles on the highway.

Sitting out in the open later we saw the clouds lift and the distant lights of the Jaypee Institute sparkle like stars, it made for a very peaceful experience something all us city dwellers really miss.

Early the next day we went off for the mandatory walk on Shimla’s Mall road and returned to the Inn filled with food, piled with purchases and exhausted at the sight of the hordes that had descended on Shimla.

It seems apart from being an easily accessible tourist destination for the groups coming up from Chandigarh, Delhi and other cities of Punjab, Shimla is also the nerve center for the locals who reside in and around the place. So for anything from shopping, eating out to official business they keep visiting the town adding to the numbers on the streets.

The tranquility of the Inn was particularly cherished after the tumult of Shimla. Almost regretting the early morning check out we had planned for the next day, we soaked in the atmosphere as much as possible till night fell.

After an early breakfast we started our descent from the hills, always a painful experience this time though the thought of meeting friends in Chandigarh kept up our morales and the customary frown was missing.