The Rejuvenating Aura Of Kufri

Planning to go away from the hustle-bustle of city life to a pleasant, serene place? Or , looking for an escape to a nature's paradise with fresh air and soothing atmosphere? Kufri, a tiny hill station near 16 km from Shimla, on the national highway 22 might be your answer.

Introduction

The word Kufri is derived from "Kufr", meaning lake in the local language. At an elevation of about 2700m from the sea level, this place has an alpine weather, meaning mild summers (April-June) and cold winters(November-February), with heavy snowfall in December-January. It also experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September.

This sprawling hill station set amongst the picturesque Shivalik range and Shimla hills has a number of tourist spots and important temples, apart from its beautiful natural surroundings. Travelers visiting Kufri generally travel via Shimla. Fagu, which is 6 km from Kufri, is an interesting picnic spot set amongst forests and orchards.

Best Time to Visit

Hence, summers are considered the best time to visit this refreshing place. However, people interested in enjoying snowfall and winter sports such as skiing, tobogganing, hiking, horse-riding etc. would find winters in Kufri enjoyable.

History

The region around Shimla including Kufri was once a part of the Kingdom of Nepal, until it was merged with British India as a part of the Sugauli Treaty. This region remained obscure from the rest of the world until the British 'discovered' it in 1819. The British made Shimla their summer capital in 1864 and it remained so until 1939. As Shimla gained importance, Kufri also began to be recognized as an important place to visit near Shimla.

How to Reach

By Road- Kufri does not have an airport or a railway station. However, Kufri is linked with Shimla, Narkanda, and Rampur by road. Travelers can also hire taxis from Shimla to reach Kufri. The area around Kufri can be explored on horseback.

Things to do:

• Enjoy enthralling rides like Burma Bridge, Bungee Ejection, Valley Crossing, Zip Line, Sky Swinger, etc. in Kufri Fun World, one of the most beautifully located and highest amusement parks in the world.

• Enjoying Yak Rides in this hill stations is a must on every traveller's to-do list in Kufri.

• Visit Himalayan Nature Park. The Himalayan Nature Park comprises of about 90 hectares of Western Himalayan flora and fauna. A large variety of animals and birds can be seen in the park.Rare sub-species of Hangal, Barking Deer, Musk Deer, Brown Bear, Monal and other pheasants can be found here.A vast collection of migratory birds also make a pit stop at this park.While inside the Nature Park, you can also enjoy a breathtaking view of the entire range of Himalayan snow clad peaks.

• Above picture is of the Monal bird

• Enjoy Skiing on the slopes of Mahasu Peak, the most famous site for skiing in Kufri. Many government run ski-instruction courses are available Mahasu Peak is the highest point of Kufri, hence trekking or hiking too is an interesting option for adventure-freaks.

• Venture out Tobogganing,a modified form of sledging where simple sledges are ridden directly down the snowy peaks. Usually two or more people can accommodate in one toboggan. Perfect time for tobogganing here is April-June.

There are various resorts in and around Kufri for those seeking abode far from the maddening crowds of city.

Nevertheless, the most important thing to do here would be leaving all your worries and enjoying the truly rejuvenating aura of this beautiful hill station. Bask in the glory of this refreshing atmosphere and don't forget to click striking Himalayan panaromas.