Day 3 --- 24-12-2007 Got to the Hotel Shimla Holiday Home at 6.30 AM, did not get a room till 9.30 AM, decided to crash till 1.00 PM before we move out for Lunch...
Got up around 1.00 PM had our shower and ventured out to get some Lunch, took the LIFT from near the Taxi Stand and got onto Mall Road, ate Kiwi Fruit...
Lunch at a Punjabi Restaurant on the Mall Road...The Restaurant only had about 10 items that were available out of their extensive 8 page menu. Grabbed a couple of Butter Naans, Methi Roti and the obligatory glass of Lassi...
Roamed around the Mall, saw a Yellow Church on the Mall, Nice Building, must have been getting ready for Christmas Mass...Mall Road has lot of old colonial buildings and some very fine architecture... The most crowded place in Shimla...with lots of shopping opportunities..
Visited India Coffee House (ICH), and had a cup of the finest filter coffee. Decided to return the next day, and try some of the Food at the ICH.
Reached our Hotel, and crashed again, before we ordered dinner at around 9.00 PM, the food at the Hotel was very good, in particular the Tomato Shorba, and the Mix Veg. Raita, the rotis and the naan were pretty. Decided to get up early next day for our sightseeing around Shimla.
Day 4 --- 25-12-2007
Woke up at around 7.00 in the morning, walked to the toilet and took a nasty fall on the slippery floor, I had never ever imagined that people can actually fall the way they are depicted in the movies, but now..... Been There Done That!!!
Had very hearty breakfast at the Hotel, consisting of Poori Bhaji, Scrambled Eggs, Toast, Cup Cakes and Tea to round it off.... Wished I could have Donuts as well..but they were not on the Menu.
Took a Maruti 800 as a Taxi for our sightseeing, visited Kufri, Helipad, Mashobra and Naldehra. Saw a lot of deer and a couple of bears and wolves in the Mini-Zoo at Kufri. The Taxi hire set us back by Rs. 720/-.
Refused to take the Horse ride up-to the highest point in Kufri. Me being a tad on the Heavy side, did not feel like burdening myself upon any of the 100 or so, under-nourished animals out there.
Took quite a lot of photographs including a fair few Shaadi.coms.
Returned to Shimla by 2.00 PM and had a light lunch at a Hotel on the Mall Road, and went back to our Hotel. Slept for about 2 Hours and then went back to the ICH on Mall Road, tried some Egg Dosa and a glass of Coffee.
Went back to the Hotel, ordered Dinner, set the alarm for 5.30 AM (1st Test between IND & AUS) and slept.
Giri woke me up saying AUS had won the Toss and elected to bat. Watched the match for sometime and then took a nice long Hot Bath and went down for Breakfast.... and VOILA!!!! DONUTS on the Breakfast menu!!!! This Finally proves that there is definitely SOMEONE UP THERE, looking after us hungry souls.
Finished Breakfast. Settled the Hotel Bill (Rs. 5184/- for 2 Guys - 2 Days on MAP). Took a Taxi to the Shimla Railway Station.
Had Booked seats in the Chair Car on the 256-Himalayan Queen from Shimla to Kalka (Fare Rs. 167/- per head). The Train Covers a distance of 96 Kms in 5Hrs 35 Mins. The Train Passes thru 102 Tunnels and 864 Bridges. The Longest Tunnel is at Barog (~1150 Mtrs). Most of the Bridges are Multi-Arch Viaducts Constructed with Stone Masonry (Source: Wikipedia).
Reached Kalka at 4.15 PM. 10 Mins behind schedule.
I had already booked the Kalka Shatabdi to New Delhi. The Shatabdi is comprised of LHB High Speed Coaches and is powered by GZB WAP7 Loco. Took a photograph of the Loco after asking the permission of the Loco Pilot. The train started bang on time at 5.30 PM and was screaming through the countryside in no time (Not that we could hear any of it).
The staff served us sandwiches & Tea as soon as we started. Served us Tomato Soup at around 7.30 PM, and Dinner at 8.15 PM. We reached New Delhi at 10.00 PM, went to a Hotel on the Paharganj Side and dozed off immediately. Had to wake up at 4.30 in the morning, so that we could catch the Bhopal Shatabdi (INDIA'S FASTEST TRAIN!!!) to Agra.....
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