From the archive record
Beyond the settlement of Barshaini near Kasol in Himachal Pradesh, the tiny Kalga village is off the beaten tourist trail and a find for anyone looking for mountains, quietude and sunshine. The most striking characteristic of Kalga is that it is unlike typical Himachali hamlets this side of the province. It lacks the hustle and bustle of village life, for a lot of the old houses are abandoned. What it definitely doesn’t lack is alpine beauty, of which there is plenty. A bowl of mountains topped with powder-white snows cradles the village. Small patches of flat land are dotted with an odd house or two, and a multitude of apple trees. Some of these houses serve as guesthouses, and are the only stay option. But the atmospheric solitude of Kalga makes up for its dearth of upmarket accommodatio