A Bus Ride Away From Delhi, Meena Bagh Shimla Makes For The Perfect Getaway

Ideal for

Families of four to nine people who are looking for a comfortable and tastefully-decorated place to stay not too far from Shimla, but away from the main city's crowd.

About the Meena Bagh Shimla

Located 2.5km from the Mall, a cute sign greets you at the wooden gate of Meena Bagh Shimla and a couple of steps take you down to the property.

From outside, the house is painted in distressed blue, green and red; wooden panels and quirky frames offer a clue to what awaits inside. A step forward takes you to the interiors of this authentic Himachali home, which is made only using waste wood and mud. If the changing climate and land degradation has you worried, then rest assured that a stay here will not increase your carbon footprint. The water here is harvested and recycled, solar energy is used to power the geysers, and the furniture and interiors are created keeping sustainability in mind.

This "Pahadi Cabin", as the owner Sanjay Austa likes to call it, has three rooms that can accommodate nine people in total. Two rooms have double beds and big windows that let in plenty of natural light. One of these rooms even has a bathtub next to a window, an area that can easily become one of your favourite spots in the house. The third room has two single beds, and would be perfect for kids in the family. The two bathrooms are inviting and beautifully-decorated as well. Chemical-free toiletries from company Five Elements promise to leave you feeling pampered and fresh.

Food

Simple, but wholesome Indian food is served at Meena Bagh Shimla. Breakfast is included in the price per night, but you can also request for lunch and dinner at an additional cost. Cooked on-site by the caretaker and cook, Satpal, the food includes the regular North Indian fare, but the spread is elaborate. Breakfast includes toast, parantha, cucumber and tomato sandwich, poha, washed down with a choice of tea or coffee. Lunch and dinner includes an Indian curry, a dry sabzi, salad, raita, roti and rice.

Cost

A night at Meena Bagh Shimla costs around ₹16,850 per night for six people. You can easily make a booking online via Airbnb. If you are a writer, artist, journalist or anyone associated with any sort of conservation activity, you can score a cool 50% discount on this price. Ask for a discount here.

Best time to go

There are two good seasons to visit Shimla. One is during spring and summer, which are the months of March to May. The weather is pleasant at this time and you can comfortably head out and explore the area. Winter, from November to February, is also a great time to go to enjoy snow and winter activities.

What to do here and around the property

There is a decent number of things to do at the property to keep you engaged. There is a small, but decent collection of books to read on the several window seats in the house. Their Bose bluetooth speaker can play all your favourite mountain songs. Outside the house, but within the property premises is a courtyard with a table tennis and pool table, along with a basketball hoop for some outdoor entertainment.

For those times when you manage to drag yourself away from the comforts of Meena Bagh, there are several things you can do in Shimla.