Delhi summers are hot, really hot and then it gets humid as well. So people rush towards the hills. So did I, towards Shimla. But before I did that, I tried to book my stay. No surprises, all hotels were full. So got this option of a HPTDC hotel called ‘The Apple Blossom’ about 22kms ahead of Shimla in a place called Fagu. Thinking 22kms is a half hour drive to Shimla, I booked my stay there and this was really a boon in disguise.
The views are absolutely amazing. The hotel is on the valley side of the highest mountain in the area. Behind the hotel is a Reserve Forest Sanctuary so the mountain is covered with dark green Deodar trees. In front of you is pure bliss. Several ranges of mountains can be seen without waking up at 5am in the morning. The views are not just on front of you but it is an entire 180 degrees wide view that you got to just enjoy and soak in and capture in your shutter bugs. Spread your arms as wide as possible and you will still not run out of those beautiful views. The constant breeze is just so welcoming and it gets the clouds to sail through the mountain sides. You get the feeling of leaving a camcorder on record mode throughout the day with the views changing every minute, literally.
If you do get the opportunity to take your eyes off the amazing views, look down and you will see acres of Apple Orchards. If you are there at the right time, you can pluck the Apples right off the trees at a darn cheap price. This is when it hits you how a home grown fruit’s price increases 8-10 times by the time it reaches our homes in big cities. But right now we are at The Apple Blossom and we are here to experience The Sun, Wind, Clouds, Rain, Snow, Valleys and of course the unending Mountain Ranges and the awesome views that nature has to offer us.
