A stay at the Chapslee House in Shimla, or as most prefer to call it, "The Chapslee Experience", is probably the closest one can get to time travel. Stepping in through the gates, one is transported through to a royal estate in Simla, the summer capital of pre-independence India.
An stone masonry facade covered with ivy, sloping roofs, manicured green areas greet the guest, further beckoning to what can only be described as an experience of a lifetime. The well maintained interiors comprising of five bedrooms, and numerous common areas maintain all the elements of evocative luxury that was the hallmark of royal life in pre-independence India. In fact The Chapslee Shimla Experience is hosted by Kanwar Ratanjit Singh, grandson of Hon'ble Raja Charanjit Singh of Kapurthala, who resided here during summers.
Born in the very building, Kanwar Ratanjit Singh (or 'Reggie' as he is fondly known) along with his wife has maintained the character of Chapslee House, Shimla not only in form, but also in the lifestyle its residents have access to. Soft footed kid gloved service, fittings and furnishings fit for royalty, an ambience of regality, a cuisine passed through generations and hospitality that extends to understanding the likes, dislikes & cultural leanings of the guests prior to the visit, so as to enable meaningful conversations are a few factors that turn a stay at Chapslee House in Shimla to an experience.
Beyond the house, there are many guided activities to showcase best of Shimla to the guests. Walks through pine forests, picnics in the jungles while the breeze whistles through the trees, heritage trails dotted with architectural delights, golf at the highest range in Asia, and even horse rides through lesser known country roads surrounded by apple orchards are up for those willing.
There are endless paragraphs that can be written about the brilliant bits and parts that The Chapslee Experience comprises of, but no amount of plaudits will do justice to being there. Back in time.
Chapslee house is a short 20 minute drive from Shimla city centre. The capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is well connected by road to Chandigarh (114Kms) & Delhi (344kms). There are direct flights from Delhi five days a week. Train connectivity is through Chandigarh, with a change to a toy-train from Kalka. The train journey from Kalka takes a good five and a half hours (vis-a-vis two by road), but is highly suggested as the views are breathtaking throughout the UNESCO Heritage Site awarded transport, that passes through 103 tunnels.
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