Hasan Valley-Shimla

One of the most amazing places I have been to while staying in Shimla is the Hasan Valley. Hasan Valley is also known as the second densest forest in Asia. Most of the people visiting shimla must have seen a glimpse of this forest on their way to Kufri or retreat. This view is seen from the NH 22 and most of the tourist vehicles stop here for the scenic glimpse of this forest.

View of the forest from NH 22

 

Hasan Valley from the inside is a beautiful place with an authentic feel of a dense forest. The density of the forest is characterized by Long trees like pine, deodar, Oak and rhododendron. The forest has only one way track with deep gorge on one side and a mountain on the other. Vehicles can cross each other at not more than two or three places on the entire track. The track goes some 10 to 15 Kms inside the forest after which there is no road. At the end of the track there is a forest guest house, which is an old pristine property made at the time of Britishers. An old Guard, appointed by the Forest department of Himachal Pradesh treats you at the Guest house. The Place is amazingly beautiful with the eyes of the visitors glued to the dense forest to catch a glimpse of some wild animal. There are quite a few animals ranging from panthers to cheetahs, deers, wild bores etc. and one has to be lucky to catch a glimpse of these animals. Apart from that this place offers a perfect ground for the bird lovers.

The track inside the forest maintained by the forest department

Down below the guest house there is a small village having a water reservoir tank having a capacity of 300000 Lts. It is believed that the water was stored and transported through steel pipes to the then viceroy of India, situated at the Indian Institute of Advanced studies, Summer Hill. The view of the reservoir amidst the trees and flowers is an exotic one. Just above the reservoir there is a small temple of the local deity covered  by wild flowers.

Temple of the local Deity

 

The trip to Hasan valley has to be organized at least one day in advance as the visit requires permission from the forest department. The entry to the forest is right at the beginning of the climb to Kufri, just ahead of a place called Dhalli. There is an entry fee for the vehicle and along with the permission  from the forest department there is a small entry fee per person as well. The permission is for two to four hours and on a bright sunny day the travel to this destination overwhelms one’s heart with the clean and green environment, untouched by Human beings.