Trip to Shimla...Continuation

On Saturday we woke up around 0800 and started getting ready to move around. We vacated the room around 0900hrs and booked a cab to take us to Kufri. It is a 19km travel from Shimla. The charge by bus was 160 per person. So we decided that we would take a cab, which cost us Rs. 400/- to take us there and drop back in the railway station. On the way to Kurfi, a person will be amazed to see that the car travels in between the snow. Near Kufri we were not able to see the brown sand, it was completely white filled with snow. Three days back there was heavy snowfall according to the driver.

In Kufri the mode of travel is either you walk around or can take a horse back. Due to lack of time we decided to take the horse back. There are 3 points around. One for Rs. 160/-, the second one for Rs. 250/- and the third for Rs. 380/- (no bargains in this). We selected the second one. The ride on the horse was like an adventure, because the road is so small that only one can walk through, because on both the sides there were heavy snow and if the horse walks on that, the whole of its leg will be immersed into that. Also since the road was so slippery, whenever the horse moved forward it use to stumble, but not one horse you can find it has fallen. While traveling, you find most of the horses eating the snow on it way. When we enquired about this, we found that it is to reduce the heat generated during its climbing.

Once we reached the point, it was a flat area filled with at least 2 to 3 ft of snow. We were roaming on the snow and playing around for 2 hrs. I tried snow skiing and found how tiresome it is and also how unfit I am for any of these sports. I booked the skiing shoes for 20mins and by 10mins it self I was totally exhausted.

After 2hrs we returned back and went to a zoo by the name Nature Park and spent around 1hr. We started of to the station to catch our train by 1700hrs. Our train was scheduled for 1805hrs. So had some food, because the last time we had food was at 1100hrs in the morning. The train started 1805hrs exactly this time, and the return journey was a boring one, since it was already dark and nothing to see around. Also there was no shops opened on the return journey. We reached Kalka by 2310hrs and saw our train to Delhi standing.

Since we had the tickets booked we thought we have to just got to the compartment S3 and start sleeping. As a precaution I checked the chart, and found that our seat #’s were also given to others. Then we cross checked with the person in that seat to only find that our ticket was booked for March 7th 2004. To our dismay all three of us were wiped out and had only Rs 400 as backup. We had to run back to the counter to see if we can cancel the ticket and get new ones. But the person in the ticket counter told it is not possible to cancel since it is already 2330hrs. Then we digged everywhere and was able to fine Rs. 471/- which was the ticket cost. By that time a police guy came to the counter and asked us if we pay him Rs 100/- per head he would allow us to travel in the military coach. Immediately one guy agreed and just followed the policeman. Since no other option we also followed the guy and took our berths. Once the train started moving we paid the cash to the policeman. There were six of us like that. After 30mins the TT and policeman came and showed all six of us and told these are my tickets, so you need not check them. After hearing that only my life came back.

Then the next question in my mind was how are we going to come out of the station the next day morning. But once we reached and there was no one to ask us either a platform ticket or a travel ticket. So the night travel costed us only Rs. 300/- compared to Rs. 471/-
We took an auto and reached home by 0830hrs happily.

Do & Don’t
It is good that all tickets and booking are done properly and also crosschecked before the journey. Do not follow the porter’s direction. During winter always get heavy woolen clothes and during summer get light woolen clothes.