My TripAdvisor Review No.234: Christ Church, Kasauli.

“Landmark of Kasauli.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

Just like the Christ Church of Shimla, this church in Kasauli too is an iconic landmark of Kasauli. It is located at the centre of Kasauli, and you cannot miss it once you have entered Kasauli market and cantonment area. It has very beautiful Gothic architecture and is surrounded by a large garden with huge trees. The windows have large panes made of stained glass. The turreted tower has a clock, and there is a sundial as well in the compound.

To enter the church you have to take off your footwear. You get a feeling of calm and peace inside the church. Be careful of the monkeys outside, especially if you are carrying a bag with you, some of them can be quite aggressive.

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Visited July 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1152631-d2709093-r519382799-Christ_Church_Kasauli-Kasauli_Kasauli_Tehsil_Solan_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.233: Ross Common Restaurant, Kasauli, Himachal.

“Great Location, Good Service, but Average Food.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

Since we stayed at the Hotel Ross Common for four days, we sampled their food at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The best thing about the restaurant was its ambience and location. We tried to sit out in the open air dining section as far as possible. The scenic view from here is to die for! The cool air of the hill station increased our appetites, especially in the evenings when we would have their onion pakoras followed by a hot cup of tea. But if it rained we would have to dine indoors or in the verandah.

On various occasions we tasted their vegetable biryani, malai kofta, mixed vegetable gravy, dum aloo, and Himachali pulao, with naan and rotis. I must say that the Himachali pulao was the best tasting rice dish we had. Once we shared a mushroom soup but were charged extra Rs.10 for splitting it in two bowls! Prices were on the higher side.

Breakfast was one of the best meals. We had fried eggs sunny side up and well buttered toast, followed by hot coffee. Service was good and the smiling waiters were ever obliging.

The restaurant is very popular with day trippers to Kasauli, and would always be full on the summer weekends. There is ample parking near the hotel gate.

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• Visited July 2017
  • Value
  • Service
  • Food

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1152631-d2253151-r517987320-Ross_Common_Resturant-Kasauli_Kasauli_Tehsil_Solan_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.232: Hotel Ros Common, Kasauli, Himachal.

“Old World Charm.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

This quaint hotel, run by the Government owned HPTDC, exudes a lot of Old World Charm of the British era. It is located in a heritage property more than a hundred years old. It is less than a kilometre from the Kasauli market and the Cantonment area. It is on the road leading to Monkey Point and the Air Force Station.

The cottage hotel has only six rooms and we had booked our room well in advance. We got a cosy room with a small cupboard, coffee table, two sofas, dressing table and a table fan. There is no air con in any of the rooms, but it is not required in a hill station like Kasauli. There were no windows in the room, but there was a double door with wire mesh to let the cool air in. The bathroom was quite large and had a big boiler. There was a sit out and an open space, with a jhoola (swing), just outside the back rooms, where we could sit with our morning tea and breakfast.

As you enter the gates of the hotel there is a large parking space and a nice garden with open air seating for the restaurant. The restaurant at Ross Common is quite popular and caters to the non resident tourist as well. The garden offers a very good view of the valley and surrounding hills.

We spent four days at Ross Common and had a very relaxed and pleasant holiday.

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• Stayed July 2017, travelled as a couple
  • Value
  • Sleep Quality
  • Service

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1152631-d1438568-r517669721-Ross_Common-Kasauli_Kasauli_Tehsil_Solan_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.231: Christ Church, Shimla.

“Showpiece of Shimla.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

Located on the Ridge, Christ Church is the most prominent landmark of Shimla. It overshadows all the other heritage buildings around it with its sheer majesty and beauty. We got a sense of peace and serenity just looking at it.

It was built in 1857 by the British in the neo-Gothic style of architecture, and is the second oldest church in North India. It has stained glass windows and a large clock which sadly does not work now. The building itself is very well maintained.

We visited the church in the late afternoon, but the best time to see it is late evening when it is all lit up.

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Visited June 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304552-d2721945-r517350369-Shimla_Christ_Church-Shimla_Shimla_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.230: The Ridge, Shimla.

“Iconic Landmark of Shimla.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

As we walked along the Mall in Shimla we could see the famous Christ Church at the end of an open wide promenade known as The Ridge of Shimla. It is the place where all the cultural activities and events are held. Tourists as well as locals congregate here in the evenings to enjoy the open air and mountain scenery while strolling or relaxing on the benches. There is an atmosphere of gaiety and festivities as it is the most happening place in Shimla.

We saw the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Y.S. Parmar, the first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh as we strolled around. On one side there is an open balcony from where we got a beautiful view of the distant Himalayan ranges which get covered with snow in the winters.

Very few tourists, standing on the Ridge, may be aware that below their feet are the water reservoirs that supply drinking water to the city of Shimla. These water tanks were built here during the British era.

A walk along the promenade from the Mall to the Ridge is a must if you happen to visit Shimla. This place is also free from all vehicular traffic so one can walk carefree.

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Visited June 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304552-d6496310-r517077544-The_Ridge-Shimla_Shimla_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.229: The Mall, Shimla.

“Great Place for Strolling and Shopping.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

The Mall is the main road of Shimla, and all kinds of shops are located here. There are shops that sell clothes, woollens, jewellery, books, handicrafts and even some furniture shops, which sell antique pieces from the British era. There are many hotels and restaurants located on the Mall Road.

The Mall is free of any vehicular traffic as they are banned on this road so you can walk carefree. Many locals and tourists come for an evening stroll. At one end of the mall is the Ridge which is the high point of Shimla. There a junction on the road known as the ‘Scandal Pont’. There is a statue of Lala Lajpat Rai here, as well as the office of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, where we got information about the popular tourist places.

We found that the easiest way to get to the Upper mall from the Lower Bazaar was to use the Lifts. We had to buy a Rs.10 ticket and wait our turn in a queue. The first lift dropped us at a middle level from where we had to take a second lift. On our return we walked down through the narrow alleyways from Scandal Point.

Visited June 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304552-d319704-r516709602-The_Mall-Shimla_Shimla_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.228: Kalka Shimla Railway, Himachal.

“Heritage Toy Train - An Amazing Experience.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

This narrow gauge train connects the hill town of Shimla, capital of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, to Kalka in the plains in the state of Haryana. The line was built by the British in the year 1898 and it acquired UNESCO World Heritage status in the year 2008, among the Mountain Railways of India. There are 103 tunnels and 864 bridges along the 95 km route. It takes between 4.5 to 5.5 hours for the small diesel locomotive to haul the 4 or 5 carriages up the Himalayan foothills, hugging the forested slopes.

We were staying at Kandaghat during our Himachal holiday. Though we did not actually travel in the train we decided to receive the train at Kandaghat station, and take some snaps, as it rolled into the platform. We could hear the train approaching from a distance along the curved railway line. Kids, waiting for the train on the platform for the train, started getting excited and jumping for joy as the train entered the platform. We took our snaps as the loco thundered into the station. The snack vendors and railway staff sprang to life as some passengers alighted to refresh themselves. One can travel on this train from the mid-way stations to other stations on the line by buying a ticket for Rs.20. The luxury trains, like Himalayan Queen, Shivalik Queen and Rail Motor from Kalka to Shimla, and vice-versa, can be reserved in advance.

The train left for Shimla after a 10 minute halt at Kandaghat. We stayed on the platform observing the activities as some passengers alighted and some others boarded the train. Most of them enjoyed a snack or a cup of hot tea and clambered back into their seats.

The Toy Train ride is an amazing experience as it climbs from the plains to the snow-capped peaks, through tunnels and pine forests, and over and under waterfalls. We decided to do the trip in the train on our next visit to Himachal Pradesh.

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Visited June 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304552-d498331-r515782288-Kalka_Shimla_Railway-Shimla_Shimla_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.227: Club Mahindra Kandaghat, Himachal.

“Best Resort Near Shimla for Club Mahindra Members.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

Kandaghat is a hill town between Chandigarh and Shimla on the highway connecting the two cities. It is about a 100 km from Chandigarh and just 25 km from Shimla. So it makes sense for Club Mahindra members to stay at this resort rather than in overcrowded Shimla.

As you enter the resort you are greeted with green manicured lawns and rose gardens spread out on the hillside. It is surrounded by forested hills on all sides and overlooking a deep valley.

We checked into our valley view studio room which was about a kilometer downhill. There is a free van service to take the members to their rooms which are a little distant from the main block and the restaurant. Many of the rooms are located in the Main Block, but we chose to stay away for some solitude. The service given by the staff was prompt and impeccable, both in the room and the restaurant. Being small eaters we mostly ordered ala carte or Gourmet Express which was delivered in our room. Food was reasonably good in taste though not exceptional.

Travel desk was ever ready to arrange a cab for a visit to Shimla or Chail, both being about an hour’s drive away. Of course, there were enough activities in the resort too, like zip lining, rock climbing, trekking, indoor games and aqua zorbing (in a portable pool). One day we just relaxed in the resort with morning and evening walks and watched the pretty sunset from the garden outside our room. Another morning we took a local bus down to Kandaghat town to watch the Heritage Toy Train rolling into the station. We had lunch at a local dhaba and returned to the resort. The town is about 5 km downhill.

Kandaghat resort is like a gateway to Himachal Pradesh. One can stop here for a day or two before carrying on to Kullu, Manali and Ladakh.

All in all, we had a very relaxed and fun filled holiday.

Room Tip: Take a room in the Main Block if you don't like walking or climbing steps. The far rooms are bet...

See more room tips

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• Stayed June 2017, travelled with family
  • Value
  • Location
  • Service

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g3225172-d1066318-r515192380-Club_Mahindra_Kandaghat-Kandaghat_Solan_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.226: Poonam Restaurant, Mahabaleshwar.

“Pure Vegetarian Restaurant in Mahabaleshwar Market.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

This spacious restaurant is centrally located in the Mahabaleshwar market at Poonam Chowk. It is very clean and serves only vegetarian food. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The food is reasonably good and tasty. One can get all kinds of vegetarian Indian dishes, including Udupi, Maharashtrian, Punjabi and some Gujarati dishes. Service is courteous and quick for the main dishes on the menu.

We ordered a Maharashtrian thali (platter) which was served up in 10 minutes. It consisted of 2 vegetables, 2 dals, 2 chapattis, rice, papad, curd, salad and shrikhand sweet dish. It was reasonably priced at Rs.190. But they took a bit longer to make the sabudana wada as it was not on their menu and they prepared it especially for us.

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• Visited August 2017
  • Value
  • Service
  • Food

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g635749-d12399066-r514820626-Hotel_Poonam_Restaurant-Mahabaleshwar_Satara_District_Maharashtra.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.225: Sajjangad, Satara.

“Fort of the Gentleman Saint.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

‘Sajjan’ literally means Gentleman and ‘Gad’ means Fort. This rugged fort atop a hill near Satara is also the ‘samadhi’, or the final resting place, of the Saint Samarth Ramdas Swami. Sant Ramdas was one of the teachers of Shivaji Maharaj and his teachings are followed by many people even today. The Fort and Samadhi are looked after by the Ramdas Swami Sansthan. They have daily prayers and bhajan singing and they distribute free food as Prasad between 12 noon and 1 pm to all the devotees. They have a ‘Bhakta Niwas’ where the devotees can stay free for one night inside the fort.

Sajjangad is located about 12 km from Satara on the route to Thosegarh waterfalls. It is on top of a hill and there is a steep incline on the right hand side as you are going from Satara to Thoseghar. We had to park our car at the base of the fort and the parking charges are Rs.50 (more if you staying the night at the Niwas). Free parking is available outside the gates. Then you have to trudge up about a hundred steep steps and enter through the fort gates till you reach the top. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes depending on your fitness levels. If you are not fit enough or have luggage to carry then you can hire some men to carry you on their shoulders in a palki or chair.

The views from the top are very beautiful especially in the monsoons, when ever thing is painted in different shades of green. The backwaters of the Urmodi dam made the scenery even more enchanting. Our only regret was that we could not make it in time for the Puja and Prasad. We had some wada paos and onion pakoras at a food stall near the parking lot.

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Visited August 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1162199-d3836190-r514308886-Sajjangad-Satara_Satara_District_Maharashtra.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.224: Thoseghar Waterfalls, Satara.

“Magic of Monsoons Hidden in the Sahyadris.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

The Thoseghar waterfall is a beautiful picnic spot tucked away in the Sahyadri Hills of Maharashtra. It is about 140 km from Pune and about 25 km from Satara, off the Pune Bangalore National Highway. After turning right into Satara drive upto the Shivaji Circle and then take the Adalat Wada Road till you reach a junction where a left turn goes under a small tunnel. After crossing the tunnel take the right turn on to the Thoseghar Road. The falls are 25 km from here along a very scenic ghat road. Sajjangad Fort is about 10 km from here on the way. The road to Kaas Patthar and Lake is on the right turn before crossing the tunnel. One can combine a visit to Thoseghar falls, windmills at Chalkewadi, Sajjangad Fort and Kaas Patthar if one leaves early morning from Pune to get back by nightfall.

The drive from Satara to Thoseghar was beautiful and very scenic. The climate was cool and cloudy with light drizzles and mist all along the green hills on both sides. The road was narrow but in reasonably good condition. There were direction boards to guide us to the destination. We parked our car in the pay and park area and had to pay a nominal entry fee of Rs.10 per head and Rs.10 for four wheeler parking. The place is well organized and looked after by the Satara Forest Department. They have built a well paved pathway down to the viewing gallery from where we got a clear view of the three waterfalls. Washroom and drinking water facilities are also available near the entrance gate. The walk down takes about 10 minutes and anyone in reasonably good health can do it. There are some small snacks and drinks stalls nearby, though regular restaurants are a little further up the road.

One can take a picnic basket and enjoy the surrounding greenery and forests, but please throw the litter in the bins provided by the Forest Depatment. Enjoy Nature in all its glory.

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Visited August 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1162199-d3913336-r513165140-Thoseghar_Waterfall-Satara_Satara_District_Maharashtra.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.223: Tvum, Pune.

“A Celebration of the Diverse Cuisine of India.”

Reviewed 2 days ago

NEW

‘Tvum’ literally means ‘for You’. Tvum is a fine dining restaurant serving ‘Gracious Indian Cuisine’, as they call it, in one of the quiet bye lanes of Kalyani Nagar, Pune. It is just opposite the Jogger’s Park of Kalyani Nagar, and the restaurant provides valet parking. They serve vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes, slow cooked in the traditional Indian way.

As you enter you are greeted by the receptionist who guides you to a suitable table if you have not made advance reservation. They have different seating areas on the ground and first floor levels. The ambience is that of a heritage Kerala cum Colonial mansion house with a small well lit lawn below and a layered sloping wooden roof on the first floor. There is a separate section for smokers and non-smokers. All the tables have candlelight to enhance the romantic ambience.

We got seating in the Gymkhana section, which included a bar. The waiter introduced himself with a placard which carried his name and photo. First we ordered the ‘Papad Platter’ which had an assortment of different types of papad. The ‘Chutney Platter’ had an assortment of different types of chutneys and pickles of India. After ordering ‘Bisi Bele Hulli Anna’, a rice dish with vegetables from the state of Karnataka, the waiter suggested we try the ‘Allepey Vegetable Stew’ with ‘appam’ from Kerala.

Drinking water was served from copper jugs, as it is supposed to contain vital minerals, which is good for the human body. Service was very courteous and friendly.
The menu card gives a brief description of each dish under its title. Rates are on the high side.

This restaurant is worth a visit to get a unique Indian fine dining experience.

• Visited August 2017
  • Value
  • Service
  • Food

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g297654-d12237896-r512505938-Tvum-Pune_Pune_District_Maharashtra.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.222: Pinjore Gardens, near Chandigarh.

“Beautiful 17th Century Mughal Garden.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

This beautiful Mughal garden was built during Emperor Aurangzeb’s reign in the 17th century. If you are travelling from Chandigarh to Shimla by road it is about 20 km from Chandigarh and 5 km before Kalka, at Pinjore in the Panchkula district of Haryana. It is also known as the ‘Yadavindra Gardens’ in the memory of Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala who restored the gardens to its former glory.

There is a huge parking lot outside the gardens where children can enjoy camel and horse rides, as well as a ride in a toy train. There is also a model of an ancient steam engine. The parking lot gets full during the weekends with local visitors from nearby towns like Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Kalka, coming here for day-long picnics. There are a also lot of snack stalls and restaurants in and around the gardens.

The gardens are laid out over 7 long terraces with water channels and fountains running through the central length. There are pavilions with Mughal architecture between each terrace. The garden, spread out over 100 acres, is enclosed by turreted high walls all around, and there are trees and flowering plants well laid out over its peripheral areas. The last terrace is more like a small forest and there are many fruit trees here.

The gardens are best visited early mornings or late evenings. It is open from 7 am to 10 pm in the summer, and there is an entry fee of Rs.20 per person. During the weekends and festivals the entire garden is lit up and looks very mesmerising.

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Visited June 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1156018-d1419491-r508739228-Pinjore_Gardens-Pinjore_Panchkula_District_Haryana.html#