Day 3: Shimla to Rampur

I woke up at 5:30 AM without an alarm. It’s always a marvel how I manage to rise so early on these trips despite the previous day’s exhaustion. I watched a beautiful sunrise over the mountains, accompanied by the morning birds’ songs. I pondered why it’s so tough to wake up early and enjoy such moments at home.

Today, we’re heading to Rampur, a four-hour journey. With no specific plans there, we decided to explore more of Shimla before leaving. We visited the Rashtrapati Niwas in Mashobra, a 173-year-old heritage building nestled in the picturesque surroundings of Himachal Pradesh. This wooden structure, made from Deodar wood and mud walls, includes the main building, lawns, orchards, and nature trails.

Nearly a year ago, President Droupadi Murmu opened Rashtrapati Niwas, formerly known as the ‘Presidential Retreat,’ to the public. We had a guided tour of the main building, viewing various rooms and artifacts. Photography was prohibited inside, so we couldn’t capture the interior’s beauty. While the building had many stories, it was the garden outside that captivated me. The well-manicured lawn, bordered by vibrant flowers like ranunculus, poppy, calendula, and dianthus, and the trees created a charming scene. The entrance was adorned with yellow creeper roses.

Traveling with two kids isn’t a cakewalk, especially when they easily get bored during car rides. We had to ban all questions related to “when will we reach” by any mode of transport. While waiting for our guide at Rashtrapati Niwas, the kids were almost ready to give up and head back. That’s when I spotted wild strawberries growing along the curbs. We quickly turned it into a treasure hunt and found four strawberries—one for each of us. It was my first time tasting a wild foraged strawberry, and it turned a potentially frustrating moment into a delightful memory.

Due to time constraints, we skipped other attractions like the helipad and orchard (the kids weren’t very interested). Instead, we diverted to a nearby adventure park, where the kids had a great time. Afterward, we resumed our journey and stopped for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Rampur.

Along the way, we saw yaks decorated for photography, which saddened me. It made me reflect on human selfishness and the exploitation of animals.

While the apple season was still on the way, the roadside stalls offered green almonds, red cherries, and plums for sale. We picked up a box of cherries, as they are Little N’s favorite.

We drove along the Satlej River for a while. Our driver mentioned last year’s landslides and the ongoing repairs of damaged roads and land. We glimpsed the hydroelectric project in Rampur from a distance.

We arrived in Rampur by 5 PM and checked into our hotel.

Rampur

The town of Rampur Bushahr, 128 kilometers from Shimla, was the last capital of the Bushahr dynasty. Originally, the Bushahr dynasty ruled from Kamru Fort near Sangla in the Kinnaur and Shimla regions. They later moved their base to Sarahan, and about a century ago, they settled in Rampur Bushahr along the beautiful Sutlej River.

In the heart of Rampur, near the bus stand and adjacent to the Nau Nabh heritage hotel, stands the walled and exalted Padam Palace. This palace, along with the town, once served as the winter capital of the princely state of Bushahr. Today, it is a private residence of the royal family and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

The palace grounds feature several striking structures. At one end of the lawn is the colorful Sheesh Mahal, a glass and wood building. In the center stands the octagonal, turquoise-blue Machhkandi, where the king used to interact with the public. On the other end stretches Padam Palace, an ash-grey building with imposing vertical pillars. The contrast of its dark shades against the lush green background and blue sky highlights the building’s enduring elegance.

The hotel where we stayed had a beautiful garden featuring a large and elegant Nag Champa tree laden with flowers. The aroma of the blossoms was so strong that it could be smelled from a distance.

Tomorrow we are all set to explore more of the mountains.

A.