#BloggerContest: A Luxurious Affair at Oberoi Wildflower Hall, Shimla

The Oberoi Wildflower Hall is situated in the lap of nature in Chharabra, Mashobra, near Shimla. Surrounded by pine and cedar trees, this magical Oberoi property is set amidst 22 acres of virgin forest area, at a height of 8000 feet above sea level. The former abode of Lord Kitchener – a senior British Army officer in the early 1900s, Wildflower Hall has been well restored and is now a luxury hotel owned by the Oberoi Group.

Last year, I had an opportunity to plan a trip to this resort with my friends. As we reached Chandigarh from Mumbai, we were welcomed by a black Mercedes, waiting to take us to our resort. It was a pleasant six-hour journey from the Chandigarh Airport to Oberoi Wildflower Hall. The journey through the woods and the hilly countryside got us to Chharabra, a small village, about 13 kilometres from Shimla. As we approached our resort, we enjoyed the stunning views of the Himalayas that Chharabra offers.

The moment we set foot in at the lounge area of the hotel, it felt like we had travelled back in time. The fragrance of dark teak wood, colourful hand knotted rugs, beautiful curtains, a fireplace which was symbolic of the British era and crystal chandeliers truly mesmerised us. We were awed by the opulence of the property and couldn’t wait to explore the rooms.

The hotel manager personally greeted us upon welcome. We were offered an apple drink and a light conversation followed, introducing us to our home in the Himalayas for the next two days. The cold mountain temperature complimented the drink and the staff soon showed us to our room.
The views of the Himalayas from our room were magnificent. A strong scent of cedar trees greeted us when we opened the windows. Our room was plush and was luxuriously furnished with Burmese teak wood flooring and a grand marble bathroom.

We lazed around for a while before heading down for lunch. The cool weather allowed us to be seated on the terrace from where we enjoyed stunning views of the Himalayan mountain range. The hotel staff recommended their Indian spread, which was truly exceptional. The meats we were served were tender and perfectly spiced. The staff understood well that I wanted a light lunch and what was served to us that afternoon was a pure delight. While we waited for our post lunch coffee, we enjoyed the clean and crisp air and breathed in the fragrance of the cedar trees as the afternoon sun bathed the mountain range so clearly visible to us, in a rosy light.

After a short nap, we headed to the Cavalry Bar, where we seated ourselves on a grand sofa, right in front of a marble fireplace. Falling evening temperatures prompted the hotel staff to light us a fire and as the wood crackled to life, we sipped on our wine and let our minds wander to the rich colonial past of India.

Dinner that evening was at the Lutyens, an intimate restaurant at Wildflower Hall, boasting of an impressive menu reminiscent of the days of the Raj. The restaurant overlooking the gardens, and the interiors boasted of crystal wall lamps, large wooden doors, chandeliers and an elaborate marble relief intricately carved with floral designs. We were initially seated at a glass table with flower petals strewn across it, and candles placed over it. Here we were served wine and were offered an insight into the history of Shimla and Wildflower Hall, and the life and times of Lord Kitchener, the then Commander-in-Chief.

Later, we were guided to our table and were told that the head Chef had selected our menu for the evening. We were truly impressed with his choice of dinner and after a scrumptious meal, we were ready to retire for the day. We had an exciting morning planned for us and were woken up by the fragrance of fresh pine and cedar and views of the misty hills.

Post a hearty breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice, oats, bircher muesli, eggs and pancake, we set out on a forest trek. The ranger who accompanied us had a deep insight into the flora and fauna of the region and his anecdotes were detailed and very interesting. Despite the long trek, we did not feel tired, thanks to the natural shade from the trees. 

About two hours into our trek, our guide directed us to an unexpected spot, where a table with two chairs was set up. A temporary archery range for recreation and a cane picnic basket was neatly placed on a rock. After trying our hand at archery (I mastered the art quickly and luck favoured me!), we sat down for a lunch in the middle of the forest, and it turned out to be a delicious treat of salad, soup, grilled meat and sandwiches.

We returned to our hotel after spending a lovely day trekking and sightseeing in the hills. After a brief nap we headed to the temperature controlled pool for a swim. The indoor pool has beautifully detailed mosaic floors with chandeliers hanging across the length of the pool. Views of the snow-capped mountains from here were breathtaking. Finally, we braved out into the bone-chilling cold weather and took a dip in the heated Jacuzzi. The combination of the spectacular views of the Himalayas, the cold weather and the hot water in the Jacuzzi made us feel ecstatic. We then met a couple from France, who were on their second visit to the Wildflower Hall. They loved everything about the stay experience and we couldn’t agree more.

After spending some time in the Jacuzzi, we treated ourselves to a massage recommended by the management. An Ayurveda treatment with fragrant Indian oils helped us rejuvenate and unwind.

Next day, we said our goodbyes and made a mental note to return in winter, a time which sees heavy snowfall and completely alters the look of the place. As we left, we were told that when we would return in winter, it would be like visiting a different property but with the same warmth and hospitality that greeted us this time and made our holiday one to remember.

Book Your Stay at Oberoi Wildflower Hall,Shimla!