Weekend Getaway to Kasauli ~ Spices n Secrets

Looking for a quick weekend getaway from Delhi, that is not too far yet away from city hustle-bustle?

Head over to Kasauli! A quaint little town in the city of Himachal Pradesh, India.

The History

Kasauli is a cantonment town in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh. It was originally named Kusowlie and established by the Britishers in 1842. As compared to Shimla and Manali, Kasauli never was a major tourist destination, but Kasauli did became the favourite summer spot for the Britishers.

Continuing the legacy of subordinating Indians, many of the elite clubs, mall roads and bungalows were kept exclusively for the Britishers and Indian were not allowed to enter. Some eerie tales of ghost sightings make rounds in Kasauli till date about a sergeant who was shot by his officer.

The Manki (Monkey) Point is one of the main attractions of Kasauli. Situated in the Air Force Station at the center of the Kasauli town, the temple is said to be the site where Lord Hanuman's feet touched the hill when he was returning from the Himalayas and carrying Sanjeevani Booty.

Pine Valley Resort and My Experience

I have been to Kasauli more than I can count and still the place entices me. Infact, each time I am in Kasauli, I have experienced it differently and from the variety of stay options, the way you feel about the place also changes.

In September 2021, I visited Kasauli from New Delhi. After searching scores of hotels, resorts, and homestays, I narrowed the choices down to one place - Pine Valley Resort.

This resort is quite far away from the main Kasauli town and as a result the tourist places such as, Manki Temple, Mall Road, Church, etc. are all at a minimum distance of 1-1.5 hrs. That means, once you are in Pine Valley Resort either be ready to drive long for sightseeing or have no plans and just relax in the resort itself.

I choose to do the latter - relax, roam and trek in and around the resort, perfect my photography skills, and eat the most tasty meals the hills can offer.

The resort is spread over a large area. There are many small cottage-like rooms that are serving the purpose of reception, dining hall, rooms for guests, etc. We had an option of single room and a duplex. One look at the duplex and we made our decision.

We went in the not-so-suitable climate. So the continuous rains made us face landslides on our way to the resort. Also, the rooms had a damp smell, which really turned us off. However, the duplex option was great and since I was in a group of 4 adults and 1 kid, staying together was a good decision.

The resort itself is amazing. Cut off from the tourist locations and other hotels, I found total peace and serenity. After waking up at 6 am all I did was roam alone, click pictures, swing like a child, and order tea in the garden.

The resort manager and other helpers were courteous. But most importantly, the food options and preparation was excellent. From crispy corn, chilly chicken, french fries, maggi noodles to simple tea and omelette-toast, each dish was well-prepared and fresh.