Heaven on the Top Hill
- Part 1 -

Sanjoy Singh *

17/XI/08(Delhi), As usual, Kh.Singh drops me at ISBT, Kashmere Gate around 7.30a.m. Yesterday I already booked my ticket for Shimla as usual as planned. 8:05a.m exactly, I beg to say good bye to Singh for Shimla.

Five and half hours of driving it stopped at "Chandigarh Dhabha" i got to know later. From here, I can see a huge signboard which has written Shimla-144km. Actually, Shimla is 350km from Delhi. Take a coffee for fresh and again our bus is ready to start.

2:10p.m, Our bus just stopped at Haryana Road Transport Corporation Office (H.R.T.C.O) for road taxing. After ten minutes break, our bus is moving up the hill on the way to Shimla. It was really a steep ascent from Haryana to Shimla.

Let me tell you something, it is situated in the northern part of India and is basically a hilly state. This state is being covered by the ranges of the Himalayas and the Shivaliks, i mean, the whole state is essentially mountainous in character.

I was overwhelmed to see the roads, I mean, roads are fantastic, there is no loopholes, speed breaker, zigzag and road bumping etc.etc.. Even in hilly areas, they (Himachal Govt) maintain so well. You have a quite well experienced how badly used our National Highway No. 39, Imphal-Dhimapur Road by our govt throughout the whole year. It's quite different from our state! Still, there is no any positive plan for future development.

On the road side, I have seen so many sign board keeping on the road side which has pointing some useful tips for passengers' safety. Some signboard was written as like "Use deeper light" and "Don't play with monkeys with eatable food while you're on the middle of the road.

They are so dangerous and make you even be killing! Beware with monkeys! Behind my seat there is a guy Mr. Mohan basically from Shimla narrated the horrible story about the "Monkeygate kahani". Sirji, it's absolutely truth! In every year they (monkeys) have been increasing wonderfully and were behaving wildly towards human being-bemusedly replied! "Just impact of Global warming, world food crisis and of course deforestation – moaning myself"!

Baat karte karte, I even do not know how I reach Shimla? Mohan says Good bye Sirji. Ok, Good bye see you. Suddenly behind my side one porter asking me need a hotel? Yes I do? Come with me, I will take you a good hotel where you will get a reasonable price.

Keeping in mind, I always thought that I will try with a cheaper price may be Rs. 160 or Rs. 200 maximum. But I am alone, have nobody here and its dark night and really cool so, I stick to the porter whatever be the price let it be.

Finally, I landed at "Kapital Hotel"' ten minutes walking distance from Himachal ISBT bus stand. I was trying to negotiate the amount but finally I have to pay Rs. 300 for one night stand. I paid Rs.10 to the porter and keep going towards my room no. 110 at third floor. Night was such a cool, chill and composed.

I got to know that every premise was built up towards the hill with elevating system because there is no such valley area in Himachal Pradesh. Before going to bed, I just take a long walk as there is an elevator adjusting with the third floor exactly in the back side of the hotel.

The staircase was so high to go up there it's a huge problem for me. May be I was counting, it was 200 stairs approx. Up above the hill, I found the one and only "Mall Bazaar"' the famous bazaar in Shimla city. In the dark light, I thoroughly enjoyed the people and vegetable market and then come back to my room as soon as and night was a history.

18/XI/08(Shimla), Get up at 7:45 a.m and ready for University. Get out from hotel and straight to bus stand for Himachal University at summer hill. I got a bus with a fare of Rs. 5/-only. On the way, I have seen a lot of beautiful scenery both the hill sides.

A big sorry for myself that I can't click anything because I have no camera! Our bus is not like a big one what we see at Delhi, the capacity of the bus may be thirty to forty passengers at least. The bus is full of passengers even you can't get any space to keep your feet in a proper place; there were full of students and office goers staffs.

Luckily I get to manage a seat behind the conductor seat with a middle age woman. Suddenly our bus stopped at the bus stop and pick-up a woman with her kid. To look at her she was getting a lot of problem to stand inside the bus with her beautiful kid but suddenly an unknown lady who sat beside me stood up and being offered her the seat with a lot of enthusiasm. I was just glad to see the lady that what a hospitality she had done. Seldom, have I been seen such thing in Delhi? Absolutely not!

You already know, the state is an example of nature's generous bounty. The cool breeze that wafts across the country side flows through the oak and rhododendron forests, cedars and fragrant pines. I have seen a lot of evergreen long tall tree with green leaf everywhere, it is called Chilly tree (locally they have called it like that).

You already seen it when you came here last two or three years back. The landscape abounds in a profusion of wild flowers and ferns. Sitting beside the windows, I can smell the fresh air and crisp and is always full of scents of forest herbs and plants. This is also the land of gentle mists that complete with deep blue skies and glorious sunsets.

Simply wow!!!

Note:- Any feedback I welcome with a pleasure, thanks. ( through:- sanjucvc(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)in )

To be continued....