KASAULI

Kasauli is one of my favourite places to visit for a number of reasons. It is easy to get to, the climate is perfect, there is a club that offers a host of activities including sports and dining and most importantly, we have a home to go to.

The drive from Delhi to Kasauli takes about five and a half hours, with one stop. We normally stop at Nik Bakers, just before Zirakpur. The road from Delhi to till Sonipat is a little tiresome in the mornings there are a large number of buses headed on GT road. However, post Sonipat, the road widens and the drive is largely uneventful. 

Kasauli is known for its serene and picturesque landscapes and even though there is a lot of construction that can be seen, the hill sides are still enveloped with pine and cedar trees, and because it is largely an army cantonment, there is still a lot of the old-world charm in it.

Kasauli experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year. Summers are mild, making it an ideal escape from the scorching heat of the plains. Winters can be cold, with occasional snowfall, adding a magical touch to the landscape. It is sadly, because of these reasons that Kasauli has become a popular destination for people living in Chandigarh and Mohali. 

Gone are the days when you heard the calls Hyenas and Leopards during the late evenings, but the sound of wind running through the pine leaves more than compensates.

For us birders, in Kasauli, there are largely three spots where people find birds. Between Dharampur and Kasauli is one, the second is close to Gilbert trail and the third at the end of the market. I have my own spot, from where I do my birding.

Kasauli is a birders paradise. In the summer months, the hill sides echo with the sound of Barbets and Thrushes and if you spend a few hours enjoying your cup of coffee, you will discover a host of birds including Red billed Leiothrix, Himalayan Bulbuls, Grey Hooded Warbler, Blue Magpies, Large Billed Crows, Cinereous Tit, Asian Barred Owlet, Himalayan Vultures to name a few. 

The good thing is that every time I have visited Kasauli, I have end up spotting a new bird – a lifer as they call it. I am now looking forward to my next visit and if ebird is to be believed then maybe this time I will capture a Lesser Yellownape Woodpecker, Black-headed Jay and a Collared Owlet.

I would rank Kasauli a 7/10 for birding.