Who says that Shimla has become a concrete forest? Allow us to take you to a nature walk that provides you with immense amount of natural forest, and that is to the north face of the town. Let us descend to a trail that hides a great level of variety in its bosom. Pens, because it starts from the house of Rudyard Kipling, an eminent writer and then the trail passes through the house and the birth place of a legendary Hindi writer Nirmal Verma, and Brushes because finally it finishes at an art gallery established by a living legend Mr. Sanat Chatterjee, known for his longest paintings in the world (75 ft, 90 ft and 100 ft) on silk with water colour. Sanat Chatterjee and his son Him Chatterjee lives there with their families. This directly introduces you to the hill villages, brooks, rivulets, meadows, grasslands and forests. You may come across some wild life, pheasants, a variety of wild flowers and some local plants that grow widely on the slopes
The valley from the Viceregal Lodge dips and the forest begins, generally of oak tree and extends towards Dhami to the west of Shimla. Dhami, nearly 30 kilometres from Shimla, at that time was a Princely State. Dhami House is the ancestral home of Kunwar Dushyant Singh that he inherited from his father Rana Dilip Singh. The architecture of the house is a blend of English and traditional style. We begin our walk with Kunwar Sahib, a one hour walks through the village and the trails around Dhami brings you close to hill life and nature. The villagers waiting for their bus to Shimla, a shopkeeper basking in sun outside his shop or the women carrying hey on their head are the common site of Dhami. You might also get disturbed by a tweeting of a bird from the tree next to you. Dhami is a natural bird’s park. You don’t have to carry alarm clock with you as a whistling thrush arrives your window and give a call. Franklins can be heard chirping anywhere in the area. Apart from them magpies, starlings, wobblers, mayana, bulbul, street thrush, tits and many pheasants are a common site. Kunwar Dushyant’s wife a descendant of the Royal family from Madhya Pradesh is a perfect host and cook. Get introduced to the local cuisine or just enjoy the regular meal. You will have to think seriously in before you say no to the food served to you, as the aroma keeps pushing you to the dining room.
