Picture Gallery
Basic Data
| Country |
India |
| State |
Himachal Pradesh |
| Location |
Mashroba |
| Rooms |
85 Rooms |
| Group |
The Oberoi |
City Information
The Mashobra spur is dotted with orchards of fruit trees, and turn-of-the-century houses with evocative names like Fairlawn, Wildflower Hall and Apple Tree House. Its numerous shady glades, cool streams and flowery glens make it idyllic country for camping and picnics, as well as treks and river rafting. The thickly wooded slopes of Mashobra are part of the Mashobra Reserve Forest sanctuary and catchment area. The natural vegetation comprises cedar or Himalayan deodar, pine, oak and rhododendron, as well as maple and horse chestnut, interspersed with variegated shrubs, wildflowers and grasses. The wildlife consists of jackals, kakkar (barking deer), and the occasional leopard, as well as numerous bird species such as the Himalayan eagle, pheasants, chikor and partridges.
Commanding splendid views, Mashobra is ringed by the peaks of the Western Himalayas. On a clear day, the mountains of the Pir Panjal range in the state of Jammu and Kashmir can be seen stretching all the way across to Nanda Devi in the Garhwal region of Uttar Pradesh.
A favorite escape from the officialdom of Shimla during the days of the British Raj, Mashobra with its thickly forested hills and salubrious climate is an ideal getaway for both adventure and relaxation.
More thickly forested than Shimla, Mashobra was greatly favored by those who enjoyed trekking and camping in the hills. It was also a popular spot for Raj picnics. The best known was the annual picnic held during the colorful Sipi fair in the middle of May. Enjoyed equally by Europeans and locals, the day of the fair was declared a public holiday and all of official Shimla, from the Viceroy down, participated in the outing. Mahasu, Kufri, and Fagu are other scenic spots further up from Mashobra. The beautiful spur of Naldehra, which was a favorite camping ground during the Raj, is about six km (four miles) away. Overlooking a magnificent grove of deodars and covered with fine, springing turf, Naldehra is noted for its golf links, and was frequently visited by Lord Curzon and his family.
Mashobra has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. In the summer months of April to June, wild flowers fill the meadows, and the air is cool, fresh and pine-scented. The rainy season from July to August has an appeal of its own with misty mountains and glorious sunsets. September to November is pleasant and bracing, while winter is crisp and invigorating with snow and bright, sunny weather.
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