A cold winter morning in Shimla

An early morning scene of the Indian Coffee House of Shimla. (Himanshu Khagta)

An early morning scene of the Indian Coffee House of Shimla.

I am sitting here in the Indian Coffee House.

The one situated on the mall road of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Its a cold winter morning.

Its around 8:30 am

I could not sleep the entire night. So here I am on an early morning walk to the Mall Road.

Here are some pictures i took on my way.

People busy with their daily chores in a cold winter morning at Lower Bazaar of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India (Himanshu Khagta)

People busy with their daily chores in a cold winter morning at Lower Bazaar of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India


People of Shimla covered with warm clothes in a cold winter morning at the mall road (Himanshu Khagta)

People of Shimla covered with warm clothes in a cold winter morning at the mall road


A worker trying to pick a pile of cardboard on the stairs of Shimla in a cold winter morning. (Himanshu Khagta)

A worker trying to pick a pile of cardboard on the stairs of Shimla in a cold winter morning.

It was only when I was strolling, I realized that I might freeze in a few seconds.

I got inside the only eating joint that was opened.

I am waiting for my third cup of filter coffee.

Its a South Indian version of coffee that has a burning taste to it. Its made when the milky water is made to pass through the ground coffee powder without any pressure, but I think they have just boiled the water and added coffee with milk to a pan and served it in a small white cup with a saucer. Its the Indian way of making coffee.

Too much information.

I am staring at the menu board on my left wall.

I think it has one ironical mistake.

‘Veg Hum Burger’.

Hum Burger at the Indian Coffee House

Hum Burger at the Indian Coffee House

I just overheard a funny conversation of the couple sitting at the table to my left.

Then I overheard another conversation of a policeman talking about some criminal.

I don’t think overheard is the right word. I am trying hard to listen and keep myself busy.

Never thought this place could be so interesting. That too at around 8am in a cold winter morning.

I hear a cat mewing.

I think its under my chair.

I see the waiters trying to shoo it off in a very secretive way.

Its so amusing.

I hear pink floyd.

‘Waiting for the worms’

Pink Floyd in The Indian Coffee House of Shimla ?

How is it possible ?

Oh! I found the source. Its that foreigner sitting right in front of me.

A waiter takes the order of the customers in a cold winter morning of Shimla. (Himanshu Khagta)

Foreigner playing Pink Floyd on some music player

What an amazing morning.

Pink Floyd, interesting conversations, a cat mewing.

Kalta just arrived.

‘Its real cold outside’, he said.

I placed my order for two more cups of coffee.

Its my fourth cup.

I think I should shut up now.

My breakfast just arrived.

A cup of filter coffee and a plate of Vada- Sambhar at the Indian Coffee House of Shimla (Himanshu Khagta)

A cup of filter coffee and a plate of Vada- Sambhar at the Indian Coffee House of Shimla

Bye! Have a great day.

When it Snowed in Shimla

Sitting at Quila

Sitting at Quila

30 December 2010

Quila, a new theme cafe in Shimla.

Its around 7:30pm.

The dim light of two candles lighting us all, as we talk about few ghost stories from around Shimla.

Its been a week, and without a fail, we all have been spending our evening here. Its feels like our living room now.

We here include, Ankur, Harsh, Aasheesh, Maggot, Aaditya and me.

Ankur Khachi or Khachi, as we know him, has a different genre of humor, that is still to be explored and named by english scholars.

Harsh Kalta is busy with his camera that will always show a Battery Low sign flashing in red but will never run out of batteries.

Aasheesh has long hair. Longer then you just thought.

Maggot loves animals. Even snakes.

Aaditya once trekked up to Kinnar Kailash alone.

( Thunder, Lighting and Rain. )

I ran towards the window. Its all white outside, but its not snow. It was a minor hailstorm  that covered Shimla with a white layer. We call it fake. Still we go out to experience it.

Its been more then 7 years without snowfall in December and more then 4 years of proper snowfall in Shimla City.

We went home. We slept.

Its midnight.

Kalta sends me a text, ” Look Outside !”.

I went outside and saw huge snowflakes merging with the white sheet of snow on the roof next to my house.

Day Two

I wake up . Everything has melted but its still cloudy.

I get ready . I take my camera rain cover with me and reach Tripti ( a nice restaurant ) , Kalta and Aasheesh are already sitting their.

We meet Aaditya and we all made our way through the crowd. Its New Year.

Friends in Snow

Friends in Snow

We decided to climb up to Jakhu.

It was a good decision

We came back to tripti where Kalta (Harsh) tries to dry his socks in front the heater.

Happy New Year !

THE END


Shimla in Snow 2010 – Images by Himanshu Khagta