There was official work in Shimla, for which we (me and my colleague) had to go from Delhi. My colleague was keen on driving his own vehicle, so we decided that we would meet in the morning at a common point and move on from there. We had to reach Shimla by 3 pm, so we decided to start at 5.30 am from the Karnal Bypass. I had to start from my home at 4.30 am, however, the taxi driver came late and I finally left at 5.00 am. My husband accompanied me till the Karnal Bypass, which we reached at around 5.50 am. So, off we started to Shimla at around 6.00 am.
We got the car refueled from a very well hidden CNG station. I wonder, why the station was not on the main road, which would have been easier for the riders. And the approach road towards the station was also full of potholes and extremely narrow. After refueling, we headed back to the highway and had a good drive till breakfast beckoned.
My colleague suggested that there is a wonderful dhaba at a place called Murthul, where the paranthas are to die for!!! The time would be too early for breakfast, around 7.00 am, however, since I was up from 4.00 am, I was already hungry and looked forward to the paranthas. We stopped at Pehelwan Dhaba at Murthul. The paranthas were good and these were served with fresh home made white butter, curds and pickles. Frankly, I find the paranthas at "More Than Paranthas" (Spice Mall, Noida) and those at Chatore's (Shoprix Mall, Noida) better than those at Murthul. But, none the less, the ambience at a dhaba is hard to beat. We washed down half an aloo and half a paneer parantha with steaming cup of wonderful tea. My colleague wanted to have more, me too wanted to have more, but I was wary of my stomach going for a toss, so did not dare to have more.
From Murthul, we set off and drove non-stop for the next three and half hours. We crossed Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Chandigarh. We took a break at Pinjaur where we had some more food. From this place onwards, the hilly roads would begin.
We started off again and now the road had quite a number of twists and turns. I really appreciate the driving skills of my colleague, how was driving at a good speed but very safely as well. Another colleague was to guide us from a particular place. However, there was some miscommunication, and we were about to take a very steep road going downwards. The road was so steep, that it was not visible at the horizontal level, when we were at the top. We took a step on it and my colleague thought, that we would not be able to get the car back if we go down this road. We again had conversation with our third colleague and he advised us to come back the same route. We finally met and later learnt that the steep road went straight into the jungles.
Our meeting proceeded well, and we were free by 6 pm. We did some more networking and came to the hotel where my colleague was going to stay. We had some tea and hot pakoras there. I had planned to go back the same night by bus to Delhi, so decided to do some shopping at the Mall Road. However, my colleagues informed me that all the stuff comes from Chandini Chowk and I may get things cheaper there. Also, the woolen stuff was priced as steep as the branded shops, so I did not buy anything. I tried hard to buy something, but could not buy anything.
Finally we had dinner at good restaurant, and it was time to bid adieu to Shimla. The bus started dot on time, it was quite comfortable and stopped at two places in between, which I dont recollect. I reached Delhi at around 6.30 am and reached home at around 8.00 am.
Although the trip was hectic, I loved every bit of it and look forward to going to Shimla/Himachal Pradesh more often !!!
We got the car refueled from a very well hidden CNG station. I wonder, why the station was not on the main road, which would have been easier for the riders. And the approach road towards the station was also full of potholes and extremely narrow. After refueling, we headed back to the highway and had a good drive till breakfast beckoned.
My colleague suggested that there is a wonderful dhaba at a place called Murthul, where the paranthas are to die for!!! The time would be too early for breakfast, around 7.00 am, however, since I was up from 4.00 am, I was already hungry and looked forward to the paranthas. We stopped at Pehelwan Dhaba at Murthul. The paranthas were good and these were served with fresh home made white butter, curds and pickles. Frankly, I find the paranthas at "More Than Paranthas" (Spice Mall, Noida) and those at Chatore's (Shoprix Mall, Noida) better than those at Murthul. But, none the less, the ambience at a dhaba is hard to beat. We washed down half an aloo and half a paneer parantha with steaming cup of wonderful tea. My colleague wanted to have more, me too wanted to have more, but I was wary of my stomach going for a toss, so did not dare to have more.
From Murthul, we set off and drove non-stop for the next three and half hours. We crossed Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Chandigarh. We took a break at Pinjaur where we had some more food. From this place onwards, the hilly roads would begin.
We started off again and now the road had quite a number of twists and turns. I really appreciate the driving skills of my colleague, how was driving at a good speed but very safely as well. Another colleague was to guide us from a particular place. However, there was some miscommunication, and we were about to take a very steep road going downwards. The road was so steep, that it was not visible at the horizontal level, when we were at the top. We took a step on it and my colleague thought, that we would not be able to get the car back if we go down this road. We again had conversation with our third colleague and he advised us to come back the same route. We finally met and later learnt that the steep road went straight into the jungles.
Our meeting proceeded well, and we were free by 6 pm. We did some more networking and came to the hotel where my colleague was going to stay. We had some tea and hot pakoras there. I had planned to go back the same night by bus to Delhi, so decided to do some shopping at the Mall Road. However, my colleagues informed me that all the stuff comes from Chandini Chowk and I may get things cheaper there. Also, the woolen stuff was priced as steep as the branded shops, so I did not buy anything. I tried hard to buy something, but could not buy anything.
Finally we had dinner at good restaurant, and it was time to bid adieu to Shimla. The bus started dot on time, it was quite comfortable and stopped at two places in between, which I dont recollect. I reached Delhi at around 6.30 am and reached home at around 8.00 am.
Although the trip was hectic, I loved every bit of it and look forward to going to Shimla/Himachal Pradesh more often !!!
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