Mashobra is a town situated in the Shimla district of the Indian state Himachal Pradesh. It lies at an average altitude of 2146 metres. The historic Hindustan-Tibet Road constructed by Lord Dalhousie in the year 1850 connects the town to the state capital Shimla. Mashobra offers glimpses of the Indian history and narrates many significant historical events that took place at the town. It also serves as a popular picnic and tourist spot. It has a picturesque beauty with majestic hills where trekking can be enjoyed. The pleasant climate and enchanting landscapes allures numerous tourists to this beautiful town.
Presidential Retreat at Mashobra
The place is famed for sheltering one of the only two Presidential retreats in India. The other is located in Secunderabad as Rashtrapati Nilayam. Mashobra is visited by the president at least once a year and during this time his core office shifts to the retreat at Chharabra which is located in the vicinity of Mashobra. The housing retreat at Mashobra was originally built in the year 1850 and is entirely a wooden structure. In May 1948 Lord Mountbatten and his wife Lady Edwina dwelled in this retreat for a few weeks before returning to London at the end of Lord Mountbatten"s mission as viceroy and then Governor General of India. They were visited by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. This instance is also mentioned in the biographies of Lady Mountbatten.
Tourism in Mashobra
Mashobra serves as a popular tourist spot. Wildflower Hall located at Chharabra, earlier during the British rule, was the residence of Lord Kitchener as well as Lord Ripon. Carignano, located at a distance of 3 kilometres from Mashobra, is a delightful picnic spot and was a villa of an Italian photographer in India belonging to the times of Queen Victoria, named Chevalier Federico Peliti. The photographer named it as a tribute to his native town Carignano near Turin in Italy. In 1920, the villa was converted into a weekend resort.
Flora and Fauna of Mashobra
Mashobra forms a part of Shimla Reserve Forest sanctuary and catchment area. The prime flora of the region comprises Horse Chestnut, Maple, Rhododendron, Himalayan Deodar, Cedar, Oak and Pine. The avian species of Mashobra constitutes Partridges, Chikor, Pheasants and Himalayan Eagle whereas other faunal species include Leopard, Barking Deer, Jackals, Baboons and Monkeys.
