Kasauli - The Cantonment Town

By Author: Rashmiranjan Patil
Total Articles: 261
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Kasauli is a beautiful town located in Solan district of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Established as a cantonment for the British army in 1842, Kasauli is perched at a height of 1,800 metres.

When the British chanced upon Kasauli in the early 1800's, they were not just charmed by the chir-pine, Himalayan oak and huge horse chestnut forests but also by the salubrious weather.

Kasauli is still reminiscent of the colonial rule and the ambience is reinforced by the numerous winding cobbled paths, old-world artefact shops, cottages with porticoes and small manicured gardens and fruit orchards.

The drive up from the plains of Chandigarh and Panchkula takes you through some beautiful terrain comprising of forests and valleys. The roads wind up and glide up and down the hillsides and offer some magnificent vistas of the surroundings.

The Baptist Church in Kasauli dates back to the early 1900s and is made of brick and wood. Though the church was destroyed in a fire renovation is going on.

The Christ Church dates back even further to the mid 1800s. The church contains stained glass windows depicting ...
... many beautiful biblical figures.

The Pasteur Institute in Kasauli, set up in 1900, is the oldest in India and takes care of the production of anti-rabies vaccine against mad dog-bite and, at the same time, treats victims who have been bitten by dogs. The Central Research Institute in Kasauli produces vaccines for affording immunity from Typhoid, small-pox, cholera and snake-bite.

The highest point in Kasauli is the Monkey point and commands an excellent view. On top of the hill is a Lord Hanuman temple. The legend is that Lord Hanuman while returning from the Himalayas after obtaining the Sanjivani herb put his foot on the hill giving a foot shape.

Chandigarh and Shimla are nearest airports from Kasauli. The nearest railhead is Kalka in Haryana, 40 km from Kasauli. Numerous private and state buses, luxury coaches and taxis are available from Chandigarh and Delhi.

The best time to visit Kasauli is between April to November, when the climate is pleasant and it is not so cold. In winters, the temperature hovers around 10 to 20 degrees many a times, even goes down to negative. While in peak summers the temperature hits as high as 32 degree Celsius.

For accommodation in Kasauli you can get various options ranging from budget hotels to luxury resorts. Besides the hotels there are home stays that suit both your budget and provide you a lively experience to the local lifestyle. These hotels and resorts give discounts during the off season.

Kasauli is also known for fruit wines that come in various flavors like peach, strawberry, grapes and apple and are made from the most choicest fruits.