A Lovely Descend To The Venue of Gymkhana

This walk takes you to the only plateau of Shimla called Annandale Ground that was once used by British for Gymkhana, Polo, Dog shows and many other Public functions. The walk is through one of Shimla’s main suburb called Kyatoo - Now Kaithu. You walk through some of the old buildings, cedar trees and finally lose nearly 2000 feet.

Walk towards Kalibari Temple from the Anglican Church and descend towards Fingask Estate. An old house of  Fingask Estate is buried in the cluster of high rise buildings of hotels and houses. The Catholic Club building is slightly different from all others in Fingask as it is surrounded by a nice garden. Here a few Catholic families live and enjoy their close proximity to the Mall. Below them is Northbank, the house in which lived our well known writer Rudyard Kipling,

A steep descent from here takes you to Kaithu. This is an extended ridge to the North of Shimla, not very long and inhabited by locals. There are many old as well as new houses. Few well known are The Mythe, Firewood Cottage and Tara Hall. Tara Hall, later became the property of Loretto Convent and used as a school for girls and young boys. After a kilometer of walking you get the first glimpse of Annandale Ground.

Here giant cedars welcome you. Many of them are older then the town. The ground is used now as a nine hole Golf Course and a part of as a landing and parking area for the helicopter of the Chief Minister. It was extended by cutting into the hillside mainly through the efforts of Lord William Beresford, military secretary to Lord Dufferin (1884-88). This ground was the favorite place for the British to organize gymkhanas, fetes, dog shows and flower shows. A building here has been converted into Army Heritage Museum describing the history of Army. This is open for the general public on all the days except Monday.

Take the approach road and ascends towards the left. It starts with a small temple on the left dedicated to the local god and a typical example of Hill Architecture. After a kilometer’s ascent through the towering cedars you reach an old house called Glen Uquard now called Shimla British Resort. The house is set amidst the deodar forest and the rooms are decorated with the antique furniture. Have a cup of tea here and then you can approach the old horse carriage road bifurcation from where you follow a forest road towards the left. Here the jungle is full of hyenas, foxes, jackals, snakes and many Himalayan birds. The road is broad enough for a small vehicle but has developed ruts at places due to neglect. Weeds are growing in the middle of the road and at some places one has to jump over the boulders or fallen trees that block the way. It looks as you are somewhere in the remote belt as there is no habitation around. The road passes near the railway track and the last Tunnel Number 103, passes below it and the railway track enters the tunnel. You reach an open area in front of the huge Green Gates of ‘Indian Institute of Advance Studies’. From here you can walk back to The Mall via Cecil Hotel & Kennedy Chowk.

Total Distance Covered : 8 km
Time Taken : Full Day