Hills and boon

A holiday in Shoghi near Shimla can keep you lazy and busy at the same time

A holiday in Shoghi near Shimla can keep you lazy and busy at the same time

A toy train chugs up the hills

THE Capital had come to a standstill after just a short rainy spell, so I decided to head to the hills for the weekend. The journey is always fun, but the joy seems to multiply when you have the rains and numerous natural springs to accompany you during monsoon. It was a beautiful ride, with different shades of green all around.

Hitting the highways
I have always been fascinated by the road trip to Shimla because of the well-built roads and the scenic beauty. But this time, I bumped into a new place, Aamod at Shoghiu00a0-- just 16 kilometres ahead of Shimla -- right on National Highway 22.
As I walked in, a signboard with a tagline saying 'Slow down to appreciate nature' increased my curiosity. Nestled between hills, Aamod caught my attention and I did a recce of the property. A concept holiday resort developed on the norms of eco-tourism, it is a property with 16 cottages. Spread over 12 acres on hills surrounded by pine trees, the resort started functioning two months back.

In nature's lap
While walking towards my cottage, I noticed a certain design philosophy. At Aamod, all things man-made perfectly blend with the surrounding nature. In fact, not a single tree had been chopped to build the property. Quite an incredible feat. So, when you see a cottage, you know it's on a natural clearing.
The resort gives you the feeling of being isolated from the world, but you have everything close at hand. If you so want, you can even go up to Shimla to spend the entire day. But I wanted a quiet holiday, so I chose to explore the resort instead and make full use of its facilities.

Adrenaline pumping
The resort has everything that one can ask for. If you are a sports freak and want to pump up your adrenaline, there is a huge activity centre to satiate your craving for adventure sports. Try out thrilling things like crossing the Burma Bridge, rope walking and flying fox which will make you sweat despite the cold.
If you still want more, you can head for a 7km long mountain bike ride followed by rock climbing and rappelling. But if you want a quiet and cosy holiday, there is enough at the resort to keep you lazy.
I got hold of mountain bikes from the resort and climbed up the nearby hills. And I didn't stop at just that and tried out rappelling next.

Exercise always works up an appetite. So the moment I heard the rumbling of my tummy, I headed towards the colonial restaurant for a hearty Himachali meal. The menu is huge with lots of options, but the authentic and delicious Himachali platter will keep you asking for more.
One good thing about Aamod is that you can have food at any corner of the huge property. To add to the pamper factor, the resort staff serves the food at a place of your choice, and even if that means on a hill top. Health freaks can have their fill of organic food as well as the resort grows its own vegetables and doesn't use chemical fertilisers.

Pamper time
The next day was reserved for some much-needed rest to soothe the muscles. So I booked myself at the spa for a session of pampering. The resort has a spa and massage facility built on a hilltop.
I indulged in a session of pampering, watching the clouds descending and the toy train snaking up amidst the greenery, chugging in and out of tunnels. My weekend was over, it was time to drive back to the hustle and bustle of Delhi.

Best way to reach: Take a train to Kalka and then drive up for two and a half hours
Where to stay: Aamod Resorts, Shoghi, Shalaghat, District Solan
Ring: 0177 6532020 (for details)