The latest resort from the reputed Sterling Holidays is The White Ridge located at Kufri. Launched this year on 17th March, the property consists of 77 accommodation options with rooms being divided into classic and premium categories. The single suite covering 750 sq. feet includes two bedrooms with king size beds, a seating area and one bathtub. What I liked is that most of the rooms are valley facing and give a scenic view of the lower Himalayan range.
Since there is ample parking, you don’t need to stress about where or how to park your vehicle. After check in, the travel desk in charge at The White Ridge arranged for my sightseeing for the day. At Kufri, you can go on horseback to fun world which is an adventure park or try to spot some of the Himalayan fauna at the zoo. Chinni bangla is basically a collection of a few shops which sell woolen clothes and dry fruits.
From Kufri it was a picturesque drive to Chail as I passed shillon bagh, took selfies at koti valley and reached Chail palace. Though it is converted into a heritage hotel now, tourists are allowed inside to get glimpses of life in the days of the Raj. Our next stop was Asia’s highest cricket ground followed by darshan at Kali Dibba. This is a Maa Kali Temple with Ganesh, Shivling, Panchmukhi Hanuman and Kaal Bhairav idols.
By the time I returned to the resort, I was famished and headed to the 82 seater restaurant offering Indian, Oriental and Continental cuisines. Even though the menu seemed interesting, I opted to relish some local Himachali cuisine. While tungne ra rasa is a meat based soup, kultha ra is made with gahat dal. The pahadi style khatta shikkar, kukda ri tarkari, sepu badiya and chholeyan da khatha prepared with black gram are delicious. For dessert I tried meetha bhat which is basically sweet rice prepared with dry fruits giving a sweet twist to rice.
For those who enjoy their evening drink, Pint ‘O’ Fun is a 34 seater bar where apart from a range of imported and domestic spirits, one can sip cosmopolitan and daiquiri cocktails. In the mocktails selection, they make an interesting guava mary and rise of phoenix.
The next day after breakfast, I visited Mashobra which has the Regional Horticultural Research & Training Station which has model displays of Himachali apples, drove below the Naldehra golf course and reached Tattapani where rafting is done. The travel desk can also arrange itineraries to Narkanda and Shimla.
Alternately, if you would like to chill out at the resort itself then they have indoor activities like a pool table, foosball table, carom, scrabble, pictionary and chess. They even have a temporary tattoo making facility and the spray is skin friendly with no side effects. Wi Fi is available in the lobby. The banquet hall is the biggest in this area. Spread over 5,500 sq. feet it can seat 550 people theatre style.
The other two facilities to look out for are the heated swimming pool which will be operational by this month and the spa which is in the pipeline.
The White Ridge, Kufri
Vill: Gallu, Near Kufri NH:21,PO:Fagu
Teh: Theog, Distt: Shimla (H.P) 171209
mail: resv.kufri@sterlingholidays.com
www.sterlingholidays.com
+91 1783-239192 & Mobile+91 7833899006 Ext No: 9
Khursheed Dinshaw
