The Hindu Business Line : Nature's bounty

At 6,430 ft, Khajjiar in Himachal Pradesh was developed as a golf course during the British rule. Promoted by Himachal Tourism as the `Switzerland of India', Khajjiar's beauty is to be seen to be believed. In fact, Khajjiar was called `Mini Switzerland' by Willy T. Blazer, Head of Chancery of Switzerland in India, in 1992.

As we came out of the Government-run Hotel Devdar, the morning sun smiled benignly. All around, rows of deodar trees stood, amidst lush green meadows. The saucer-shaped lake was a visual treat.

Although dry during our visit, the thought of it brimming with water made for a pretty mental picture. Nearby is a small temple, dedicated to the local deity, Khajji Nag.

The day had just begun, but the meadow was teeming with holidaymakers: children playing and elders eager to relive days of yore. Snacks like chaat items, channa and calorie-free gulab jamuns are hot sellers here.

After food we played a brisk game of Frisbee to lift our spirits. We also decided to explore the dense Kalatope forest. During the day, it is difficult to spot wild animals, but danger in the form of a bear could be lurking behind any tree. So we armed ourselves with a hockey stick for an emergency.

A lighter moment during our uphill trek was when a dog appeared from nowhere and decided to give us company. The snow-clad Dhauladhar mountain ranges came into view at the top. We stood awestruck, all our fears of animals melting into thin air.

As we descended, the Khajji Nag temple seemed to beckon us. This small wooden temple with a sloping roof dates back to the 12th century A.D. A stone idol of the deity is flanked by wooden carvings of the Pandavas.

A meal of delicious rajma chawal at a dhaba nearby was surprisingly light on the pocket. A good meal should ideally be followed by a good walk, so we decided to trek to the apple orchards downhill. Tempted by the green apples, no bigger than lemons, we tasted a few, and found them bitter. Hopes of finding juicy apples were dashed. We also found some plums in the orchard; thankfully, they tasted better. A passer-by told us that the best time to enjoy tree-fresh apples is October-November, just before snow falls.

Walking further downhill, we came to a point where the view of the majestic Dhauladhar was unhindered. We sat there mesmerised by the awesome beauty of the peak, clad in cloud cover for a while and then emerging from the clouds looking entirely different, entirely mystical. As the snow melts at this time of the year, we strained our eyes to spot a few glaciers or rivulets cascading down.

The sky was already overcast, and just as we decided to get back to our hotel, it started to drizzle. When it stopped, we went to the meadow, and resumed playing Frisbee.

A heavy downpour a little while later made us scurry for cover. The temperature dipped sharply; the heavy woollens we had lugged all day now felt cosy and comfortable. We took refuge in a small restaurant, where we sipped tea and coffee which had turned cold even before reaching our table.

We were informed that during days of extreme cold, snow drapes the meadow, the lake and each of the deodars. By the time the rain stopped, night began to fall. A lovely crescent moon up in the sky and the charming beauty of Khajjiar overwhelmed us. We promised to come back to Khajjiar during winter, when it would be draped in white... our very own Switzerland.

Picture by the author

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