Barog reminded me I took the less-travelled road, which has made all the difference. It always does, so I again searched for a peaceful, dreamy place. I came across this small hamlet off the Kalka-Shimla highway while searching for UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Nestled in the Solan district is a small hill station named Barog, an unspoken and vaguely overlooked tourist destination. It is situated in the Choor Chandani hills of the Himalayas. And it enjoys the unique seclusion of not being part of the mainstream. Still, it is conveniently near The Cantonment towns of Kasauli and Chail, the summer capital of the erstwhile state of Punjab. This less-travelled place is 17 km from Kausali and 60 km from Chandigarh on the Kalka-Shimla highway.
It was a long weekend getaway with my mom, so I followed her schedule and started around 8 am from Gurgaon on Saturday morning. We took the Gurgaon -Ambala-Chandigarh -Shimla route; the weather was pleasant except for the drizzle. Barog is nearly 2000 m above sea level, with temperatures ranging between 4 to 14 degrees Celsius in winters and around 20-27 degrees in summers. The drive to Barog is serene (including most of the hours driving the Delhi-Chandigarh highway) before climbing the Chandigarh-Shimla highway. As we neared our destination, fresh air filled my lungs, and I felt refreshed and exhilarated. After 340 km and 7 hour drive, we reached Barog from Gurgaon at 2 pm.
Since I prefer Tourism Lodging accommodation, I booked The Pinewood under HPDTC on Kalka Shimla Highway. All we need is a place to lay our weary heads, and The Pinewood provides an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. The rooms were spacious, with a balcony which I loved, as from there, my eyes could see lush greenery and the cloud-filled valley. I ordered a pot of tea & some mixed pakoras. Despite Barog being a small village, there are a decent number of hotels, Single apartments & homestay prices starting as low as Rs 460/per night and going up to 3000/per night. Mom & I decided to spend the evening leisurely, so I picked a copy of my Charles dickens & moved to the balcony. It was a grey afternoon with a dull sky and threatening rain. I was busy munching my pakoras & sipping a hot cup of tea when a curtain of rain beat down from heaven. Barog was quite cold in March as it’s surrounded by thick pine forest, & we had to switch on the room heater.
Talking of Barog was settled in the early 20th century during the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla railways. During the construction of the Kalka–Shimla railway line in 1903, Barog established a tunnel near the railway track as per government orders. To hasten the structure, he started digging from both ends. However, due to mistakes in his calculation, the terms of the tunnel did not meet, and the British government heavily fined him. Failing to withstand this embarrassment, Barog committed suicide. His body was cremated near this incomplete tunnel, and the area came to be known by his name. Barog tunnel is the longest, of which 103 are operational tunnels on the UNESCO heritage Kalka-Shimla railways, which is 1143.61m long.
It was a bright Sunday morning, and the high sunlit clouds drifted across the clear blue sky. The whole valley was bathed in the rising sun’s warm glow when we hit the road to explore the village. We started with the Dalonji Bon Monastery, also known as the Menri, a monastery run by Yungdrung Bon Monastic Centre. The centre was built in 1969 by Abbot Lungtog Tenpai Nyima, & is the second oldest monastery in the world. This monastery has recreated the Geshe training program and is home to over 200 monks, now hosting the only two Geshe programs in the Bon lineage. This place radiates peace & calmness, & the best place to witness Tibetan culture. The monastery is located 8.5km from our hotel.
Our next stop was Jatoli Shiva Temple; it’s 8.7 km(approx) from Dalonji Bon Monastery. Swami Krishnananda Paramahansa established the magnificent Jatoli temple in 1974 in the beautiful garden of Jatoli. It is a grand and spectacular temple perched on a hilltop where the samadhi of Swami Krishnananda Paramahansa rests. The style of architecture is typical Southern Dravidian, and it is considered Asia’s highest Shiva temple. This shrine is indeed an architectural marvel which attracts many devotees.
It was almost lunchtime when we left Jatoli, so we headed to Spencer. Spencer is one of the well-known restaurants in Barog, and it dates back to the period of the British era. The cuisines served in this historic restaurant enhance diners’ appetites because of its varieties. The restaurant was divided into sections for the Hindus, British, and Muslims. It is a cafe with Indian and other cuisines. After relishing a delectable feast, sit back and enjoy nature’s panoramic views. I was so satiated with the delicacy I forgot about my next attraction Dagshai.
But Barog has so much to offer, walks through towering pine trees and rolling hills with chirping birds for company. Also boasting its raw natural beauty and a historical treasure on its own, the quaint town is like clouds floating into one’s life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm but to add colour to their sunset sky.
How To Reach Barog
By Air
The nearest airport is Shimla Airport, which is well connected with the major cities & cabs are available to reach Barog. The distance from here is 61km.
By Rail
Barog has a small railway station in the Solan district. It falls on UNESCO World Heritage Site Kalka–Shimla Railway. The next railway station will be in Chandigarh. It further connects the town with other major cities in India.
By Road
You can opt for a road journey to reach Barog directly. Since it’s well connected with the major cities. It is located around 300 km from Delhi & 340 km from Gurgaon.