“In every walk with nature, one receives more than he seeks.”
-John Muir.
In our series on some extra-special hotels and resorts in India, we continue to luxuriate among the snow-clad Himalayan peaks in the “the land of Gods”, Himachal Pradesh. Just in case the title of the post has made you wonder: Oh, wish it could have been some unexploited, virgin tourist destination away from the usual rush of vacationers; let us assure you, Obroi’s Wildflower is located some 12km from Shimla, a place called Mashobra, that still preserves the fragrance of the old colonial era. If you believe in what Charles Lindberg once famously said: “Real freedom lies in wildness, not in civilization”, this is the perfect destination for you to spend a leisurely yet exciting time and make loads of memories for a lifetime.
The colonial legacy
Shimla was the summer capital for the British government, as we are well aware. However, the top officials felt it was overcrowded even then, they ventured a little farther to Mashobra, at 8250ft altitude, some 1000ft higher than Shimla, to have their private retreats. Lord Kitchener, the commander of British army, could not resist to have his own country house among the pine and cedar woodlands and affording breathtaking views of Himalayan peaks. The property built in 1902 was later converted into a luxury hotel in 1925, that was gutted in an accident in 1993. The Obroi group then took over to revive the viceregal extravagant life of the colonial era with this super luxurious resort, Wildflower Hall, where natural beauty reigns.
A perfect mountain retreat
Wildflower Hall resort was designed by Ranjit Sabikhi of famous Delhi architects Ranjit Sabikhi Associates. The interior planning was carried out by Chandu Chhada of Chhada, Siembieda Associates from Hong Kong. The lavish property is developed over an area of 23 acre. The designers conceptualized an exclusive estate resplendent with amazing, thick forest cover to give the guests a taste of the glorious days of the colonial age. The castle like ambience gives the resort a splendid look studded with the typical Himalayan roof- turrets- to take care of the heavy snowfall in the region. Slate has been used as exterior cladding material along with lath-and-plaster (dhajji) construction to provide a unique feel and appearance to the facility. The front of the hotel has four floors of guest rooms- total of 85 rooms are incorporated, while the public places descend the hillside to the rear. The service areas are located in the South end that has a thick forest cover. The guest rooms are designed in such a way as to exploit the excellent vistas in every direction. The magnificent views of the snow clad mountain peaks are afforded from every window and balcony, and warm sunshine is also available to cheer you up during the clear days.
Every conceivable amenity
The interiors are thoughtfully planned to reflect the history of the place and the grandeur of the colonial Raj era. One can sense being transported physically into that exclusive environment a hundred years ago with tufted sofas, generous upholstered lounge chairs with honey-colored peachwood frames around marquetry tables bringing back the memories of that era. Walls, floors and ceilings are studded with Burmese teak and the guest room floors are covered with fine Bokhara carpets reminiscent of the Raj period.
Despite presenting an ambience of a glorious bygone age, Wildflower Hall welcomes its guests with every conceivable modern amenity for an unforgettable, luxurious vacation. The visitors enjoy the indoor and outdoor swimming pools (with a jacuzzi), besides having a great time at the bridge room. A comfortable lounge and an erudite library allow you to relax and spend some quality time at your leisure. If you have an adventure streak, do not miss the nature walks, water rafting, mountain biking; and of course, if you are a fitness buff, you will have expert yoga classes, ayurvedic spa therapies to relax and rejuvenate. And not to forget the foody types, the resort offers multiple luxury dining options.
Easily accessible:
Wildflower Hall resort can be easily reached by multiple transport options.
It’s just 4-hour convenient drive from Chandigarh airport.
Luxury Volvo buses are available from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Regular trains are available from Chandigarh to Shimla that will also make the journey pretty exciting.
A lot more to do:
Mashobra has its own charm, most people prefer just to luxuriate in the beautiful surroundings, however there are multiple options for site seeing and some adventurous trips if you want to make it more happening and exhilarating. Following are some mouth-watering options:
- A Colonial Heritage Tour to Shimla to have a taste of the colonial history and architecture.
- Mashbro itself has charming features like misty windows, snow-clad peaks, pine and sedar orchards, heavenly sunsets and cozy bonfires, languorous cream puffs, and of course delicious apples!
- 18 km long Bekhalti roadway laced with occasional waterfalls springing out of nowhere.
- The flower valley of Craignano with dense groves and wild flowers, an ideal picnic spot.
- And if you have more time, a visit to Naldehra and Kufri will add to your fun, no doubt.
Obroi’s Wildflower Hall resort is a perfect mountain retreat for you to bring back memories galore. The natural surroundings and peace and serenity of the area is very rejuvenating, and then the fragrance of the colonial past will keep you charmed during the entire stay, and beyond. This series on the unique hotels and resorts will continue enchanting you, be with us.
About the author
Sandeep Singh is an architect from IIT Roorkee. He is a prolific writer and a sensitive poet. His professional posts mostly cover the future in Architecture. His books are chiefly devoted to the inner and outer battles that a disabled person in India faces every day. His poems mostly reflect his inner world. He also works with the “Safe in India Foundation”, a social change initiative that strives to bring qualitative change to the lives of the Indian worker’s community
Sources
https://www.architecturaldigest.com › … › ad
https://www.outlookindia.com › stay › story › savourin…
https://www.tripoto.com › … › Himachal Pradesh Trips
https://www.scottdunn.com › … › India Hotels
https://www.tripadvisor.in › … › Mashobra Hotels
https://www.facebook.com › ArchiDesiign › posts › wil…