Mashobra

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  ?Mashobra
Himachal Pradesh • India
Map indicating the location of Mashobra
Thumbnail map of India with Himachal Pradesh highlighted
Location of Mashobra
Coordinates: 31°07′60″N 77°13′60″E / 31.1333, 77.2333
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation
• 2,500 m (8,202 ft)
District(s) Shimla
Codes
• Pincode
• Telephone
• UN/LOCODE
• Vehicle
• 171 007
• +0177
• INSHI
• HP-03, HP-51

Coordinates: 31°07′60″N 77°13′60″E / 31.1333, 77.2333 Mashobra is a town in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Mashobra is located at a height of 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) above sea level and is connected to the state capital Shimla through the historic Hindustan-Tibet Road built in 1850 by Lord Dalhousie.

Contents

[edit] The retreat

Mashobra is notable for housing one of the only two Presidential retreats in India. The other retreat is at Bolarum in Andhra Pradesh.

The President visits Mashobra at least once every year, and during this time his core office shifts to the retreat at Chharabra, which is in vicinity of Mashobra. The building housing the retreat is a pure wooden structure originally constructed in 1850.[1]

In may 1948, before returning to London at the end of his mission as Vice-Roy, then governor general of India, Lord Mountbatten and his wife Lady Edwina spent a few weeks in this retreat. Prime Minister J. Nehru paid them a visit, which is documented in biographies of Lady Mountbatten.

[edit] Other places of interest

Mashobra is also popular as a tourist destination.[2][3] Wildflower Hall located at Chharabra, in vicinity of Mashobra, now a property of Oberoi Hotels, has been residence to Lord Kitchener as well as Lord Ripon during the British Raj.[4] Pankaj Mishra is a famous writer/poet who lives in Mashobra. [5]

[edit] Flora and fauna

Mashobra is part of Shimla Reserve Forest sanctuary and catchment area. The natural vegetation comprises pine, oak, cedar or Himalayan deodar, and rhododendron, as well as maple and horse chestnut. The wildlife consists of monkeys, baboons, jackals, kakkar (barking deer), and the occasional leopard, as well as numerous bird species such as the Himalayan eagle, pheasants, chikor and partridges.

[edit] References

Mashobra Student Trip Photographs - Cover the best sites in Mashobra | Creative Teens' Club

  1. ^ Official mention and description in Rashtrapati Bhavan site. Retrieved on July 5, 2006.
  2. ^ Travelogue in TIME. Retrieved on July 5, 2006.
  3. ^ Travelogue in Outlook magazine. Retrieved on July 5, 2006.
  4. ^ Oberoi hotels website about Mashobra. Retrieved on July 5, 2006.
  5. ^ Pankaj Mishra.