MOUNTAIN ESCAPES
| NALDEHRA |
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| Naldehra guide
>>> Naldehra travel guide and tourist information on Naldehra, how to get to
Naldehra, also details on sightseeing in Naldehra, best time to visit Naldehra and
accommodation in Naldehra |
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The rolling greens of Naldehra in Himachal
Pradesh are par for the oldest golf course in India. This is an unusual course, perched at
a height of 2,044 mt, strewn with boulders, trees and little hillocks. Tall deodars flank
the links, making Naldehra a wonderful sports venue in the midst of natural beauty. At the
turn of the century, Naldehra was "discovered" by the British Viceroy, Lord
Curzon who was fascinated by the deodar forests and green-carpeted slopes. Curzon spent
many a happy hour romancing Naldehra's cedar woods, communicating all the while with the
British summer capital at Shimla, 23 km away.
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| The idea of laying a golf course on the
slopes of an enormous glade took root. The natural topography of the area was just right
for a nine-hole golf course, surrounded by deodar woods and a view of the mountains.
Considered one of the more challenging courses in the country, the nine-hole par-68 course
has four new greens and a host of tree hazards in the back nine. Today Himachal Tourism
maintains the links and it is possible to pay green fees for the day or take temporary,
annual and life membership. The course is open through the year; the monsoon months
between July and September are particularly good for golfing since the highly watered turf
becomes springy and the yardage increases. Naldehra
got its name from the Nag Temple (or Dehra of the god Nag) which lies
bang in the centre of the course. Besides the glorious golfing, you can go for long walks
through the woods and picnics in the valley. Drive off to the thick forests of Mashobra
(12 km) or the hot sulphur springs of Tatapani (30 km). This is just the ideal mountain
break to lift your spirits.
Getting to Naldehra
Naldehra is 22 km from Shimla and 392 km from Delhi. The simplest way to get here is to
drive from Delhi, a journey of 10 hours via Chandigarh (139 km from Naldehra). The nearest
airport is at Chandigarh, and the closest railhead is at Shimla - a narrow gauge rail.
Buses, luxury coaches and tourist taxis ply between Delhi and Shimla and from there you
can take a connecting bus or taxi to Naldehra
Best time to visit Naldehra
Naldehra is a year round holiday destination. The summers are pleasantly cool with
temperatures ranging from 15°C to 28°C- you can get by with cotton clothes, light
woollens and an extra layer for the evenings. The winters are very cold and the
temperatures drop to -4°C, with a high of 7°C. Heavy woollens and snow protection are
needed in winter.
Accommodation in Naldehra
HP Tourism's Log Huts, their Hotel Golf Glades and the privately-owned Chalets Naldehra
are the places to stay in Naldehra. For the HPTDC properties, tariffs range from Rs
800-1,000 for the Golf Glades double rooms and from Rs 1,100 for regular to Rs 4,000 for
luxury rooms at the Log Huts. Summer is peak season and advance bookings are strongly
recommended. HPTDC can be contacted at New Delhi : 011- 2332 4764.
Chalets Naldehra offers log huts, apartments and rooms, with tariffs ranging between Rs
2,900 for a double bedroom to Rs 5,700 for a cottage. They can be contacted at Tel:
177-2747715, Fax: 177-2747562 or at the Delhi Tel:
011-26451482, 26478096 and Telefax: 011-26478096 |
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