Coordinates: 31°06′50″N 77°14′51″E / 31.11389, 77.2475 Chharabra is a small village situated approximately 8250 feet (2514 m) above sea level, 13 km from Shimla, India, on National Highway 22 (Hindustan-Tibet Road). The village is surrounded by evergreen pine forests, and has magnificent views of the Himalayas.
The Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas at more than 19,000 feet (5,800 m) high, Deo Tibha at 19,687 feet, Chota Shali and Shali peaks, Bandar Poonch peak, Rakt Dhar at 20,100 feet (6,100 m), and Badrinath at 23,190 feet (7,070 m) are all visible from here1. Even though Chharabra is a separate village, it is officially considered part of Mashobra, which is a suburb of Shimla.
Chharabra is situated on top of mountains which are a major watershed. One side of Chharabra is part of the catchment area for the Yamuna river while the other side is part of the catchment area for the Satluj river. The entire area around Chharabra is densely forested and is part of Shimla Reserve Forest Sanctuary and Catchment Area.
Flora and fauna
Chharabra is part of Shimla Reserve Forest sanctuary and catchment area. The natural vegetation comprises pine, oak, cedar or Himalayan deodar, and rhododendron, as well as maple and horse chestnut. The wildlife consists of jackals, kakkar (barking deer), and the occasional leopard, as well as numerous bird species such as the Himalayan eagle, pheasants, chikor and partridges. During monsoons, many wild flower species, wild strawberries and other berries can be found in found in forest. 2 Chharabra has good climate for apple cultivation and there are few apple orchards here. Cobra Plant is found in plentiful during monsoons.
Shimla Reserve Forest Sanctuary and Catchment Area
Shimla Reserve Forest Sanctuary and Catchment Area is situated adjacent to National Highway 22. It starts right after Dhalli and extends beyond Kufri. The area under this sanctuary is 951ha. The altitude ranges from 1,900 m to 2,620 m. The sanctuary is connected by a forest corridor to Chail Sanctuary in the south. This catchment which is the main water supply for Simla. Nine perennial streams flow from this area, the main ones being Churat Nala and God Ki Nala. The sanctuary is closed to visitors. There is one rest house inside, and three outside the sanctuary.3
Climate
Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures range from 8.6 C in January to 24.1 C in July and from 1.9 C to 15.7 C, respectively. Mean annual rainfall is 1600 mm. Annual precipitation is in excess of 1500 mm, over half of which falls during the summer monsoon. 4
Chharabra has temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summer months of April to June, Rainy season (monsoon) from July to August, Autumn from September to November and Winter from December to March.
Chharabra use to receive snowfall by end of November, but with global warming, there has been remarkable change in weather pattern here as well.
Places of interest
- The Retreat Building5 is the official summer residence of the President of India. Entry to this building is by permission only. The President visits Mashobra at least once every year, and during this time his/her core office shifts to The Retreat at Chharabra. The building housing The Retreat is a purely wooden structure originally constructed in 1850. It has dajji wall construction, and a plinth area of 10,628 sq ft.6 The Retreat is the smallest of the Indian President's residences. After the Rashtrapati Niwas at Shimla was handed over to the Government of India in 1962 by the then President, Dr S. Radhakrishnan, in order to become an academic institute - the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, The Retreat was officially assigned to be the presidential mansion. The 16-room residence is surrounded by a 300-acre (1.2 km2) forest. The President stays at The Retreat for two weeks a year during the summer, but the building is mostly used by the Government of India to house foreign VIPs visiting Shimla. The property belongs to the former Raja of Koti, and has been given to the Government of India on a permanent lease7.
- Hemkunj or Hem Kunj is the official summer residence of the Governor of Punjab, India. It was formerly known as Dane's Folly. It is situated on the road leading to The Retreat, between Wildflower Hall and The Retreat. The house was originally built by an Englishman called Mr Dane, who, believing that Shimla town would come up at this point, predicted that Shimla would come up on this side of the hill. However, as his prediction was proved wrong he named the house Dane's Folly8. A new building was constructed next to the Dane's Folly building, which is used as residence of Governor of Punjab. Dane's Folly and the new building both still exist. The entire property has now been renamed Hemkunj.
Old building of Wildflower Hall, burned down in 1993
Ruins of first building of Wildflower Hall.
- Wildflower Hall Hotel9 is a luxury hotel constructed on the site of the summer residence of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum. The original building of Wildflower Hall was located higher up than the present building. After the first building was burned, a second building was constructed at the present site. The first owner of Wildflower Hall was Mr. G.H.M. Batten, private secretary to Earl Lytton (1876-1880). The Hall is also said to have been a favourite retreat of Lord Ripon. The second and most famous resident of Wildflower Hall was the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, Lord Kitchener, who spent a considerable amount of money laying out the gardens, and planting trees and flowers. In 1909, after Lord Kitchener returned to England, Wildflower Hall was sold to Mr. Robert Hotz and his wife. In 1925, after demolishing the old house, Mrs. Hotz erected a fine three-storey hotel. After Independence, the hotel was taken over by the Indian Government, and the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation ran Wildflower Hall Hotel until 1993. On 4-5-1993 the building was razed to the ground by a fire caused by an electricity short circuit. After this event the Himachal Pradesh Government formed a joint venture with the Oberoi Hotel Group to rebuild Wildflower Hall as a luxury hotel10. The present building is the third building on the Wildflower Hall site.
- Kalyani Helipad: You can get magnificent view of the Himalayas, Shimla and the valley below from this point. This was originally the site of a two storied residential house called Dukani. Dukani was originally owned by Colnel T. D. Colyear. Other owners of Dukani included H.B.Goad and Maharaja of Alwar.11 This building was owned by the late Sir Edward Buck, the author of "Simla, Past and Present"12. The house was surrounded by an apple orchard. After independence the property was taken over by the Government of India. The building was used by the State Horticulture Department until 1986 when it was razed to make way for the helipad.
Educational institutions
- Himalayan International School 13 is a co-ed day and boarding school situated in summer palace of former Maharaja of Darbhanga called Kalyani House. The building was named after Maharani Kalyani Singh, third wife of Maharaja of Darbhanga Kameshwar Singh. This school was founded by Major General Jagjit Singh (Retd.) and the main patron was Maharani Kalyani Singh of Darbhanga. Major General Jagjit Singh (Retd.) was also the first Chairman of the school. First principal of the school was Mrs. Indira Goswami.
View of mountains from Chharabra
Trekking around Chharabra
- A route leads from Chharabra to Kufri. This route starts from Hotel Wild Flower Hall and a route leads through thick forests to Kufri Cantonment.
- Second route is from Chharabra to Mashobra through apple orchards and pine forests. This is a very scenic route and you can view Himalayas throughout the route. A metalled road leads to Presidential Retreat. Near the gate of Himalayan International School, a trail on right leads to Mashobra. Another route is to continue to the Presidential Retreat and a route leads to Mashobra from there.
- Thitds route leads from Chharabra to Dhalli. After reaching Himalayan International School, take the route to the left. This route leads through thick pine forests to Dhalli. There is a school for physically handicapped children on the way. This school is run by Government of Himachal Pradesh. A diversion from this route leads to Kalyani Helipad.
Hotels in Chharabra
- Hotel Wild Flower Hall
- Hotel Madhuban
Restaurant and Dhabas
Himalayan International School
- Sher - E - Punjab
- Roshan's Tea Stall
Distance from Major Places in Shimla
- Distance from Shimla Railway Station - 12 km.
- Distance from Shimla Airport - 30 km.
- Distance from Shimla Interstate Bus Terminal - 11 km.
- Distance from Dhalli - 5.2 km.
- Distance from Kufri - 3 km.
References
