Kalsi: A Weekend Getaway From Delhi

Kalsi is a small village, roughly 6 to 7 hours away from Delhi. It is home to the celebrated Ashokan Rock Edict. After all, in the 3rd century BC, this village was under the dominion of King Ashoka. In terms of landscape, the village has gorgeous tracts of land with a young, bubbly and crystal-clear Yamuna stream in the Jaunsar-Bawar region(Doon Valley). This Yamuna is a far cry from the water body you encounter in Delhi.Bounded by the summits of densely wooded hills of Chakrata, the picturesque plateau offers visitors the pleasures of a hill station without its discomforts. Situated in the cleft of the hill states of Uttarakhand and Himachal, the scenery invites long drives and leisurely picnics by the riverside. If you’re fond of hikes, you can wander around Chakrata and Mussoorie Hills with the help of local guides.

Scenic drives
The drive to the Asan barrage past the powerhouse and Dak Pathar has many birding opportunities. The return drive to Kalsi via the serene and verdant Timli Pass, through which columns of British soldiers once moved to assist Major General Ochterlony in his retaliations against the Gurkha general Amar Singh Thapa’s army, is a delight. Another drive heads to Paonta Sahib Gurudwara, the famous place where the tenth guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, lived for several years. While you’re on the route, you will be crossing over from Uttarakhand to Himachal’s Sirmour District when you traverse the iron bridge over river Tons on the road to Koti, where there’s a lovely waterfall.

Ashoka Rock Edict
Kalsi’s Ashoka Edict was built in 450 BC. A quartz stone is used as a base for the inscription. The inscriptions point to the non-violence policies and restriction of war under the orders of King Ashoka.
Rafting
In some seasons, you can enjoy river rafting in Yamuna. With the right flow of the water, you’d get the same Rishikesh thrill of rapids as you’d course through some of the gorgeous landscapes and peaceful patches along the river.

Getting There
Air: Jolly Grant, Dehradun is the nearest airport at 77km/2 hrs.
Rail: Dehradun is the nearest railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi to Kalsi.
Road: Kalsi can be easily reached from Delhi via Dehradun. Buses are also available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate.

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