Traveling means multiple things to a number of travelers, to me it means exploring the unexplored, getting out of your comfort zone, and testing your limits. India is not only blessed with varied cultures but also with different landscapes. Thus it is a sheer delight for all travel lovers. I have traveled to many places but never got a chance to travel to Kurukshetra and Nahan, both hidden gems of India.
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Kurukshetra is generally not on the tourist radar, though the city has many must-visit places. One can easily opt for the Mahabharata trail, as the town has many important places, whose reference has been found in our ancient scriptures. The place enjoys smooth connectivity both via road, rail, and air. We boarded the early morning Shatabdi from New Delhi, and in the next two hours, we were at Kurukshetra Junction.
We stayed at Divine Clarks Inn Suites, it is the only branded property, that provides a comfortable stay at affordable rates. The hotel was centrally located on NH-01 and was close to major tourist spots. They offered well-equipped and spacious rooms and suites. The rooms were luxuriously furnished and had complimentary wifi access, a wardrobe, and many other amenities. The staff was warm and attentive, they not only designed a local itinerary for us but also arranged a cab with a local guide.
We started the excursion with Bhadrakali Shaktipeeth, which has immense religious significance, then visited Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple, and moved to Sheikh Chilli tomb which according to local folklore was built in one single night. The later part of the excursion was filled with a visit to Jyotisar and Brahmsarovar. In Jyotisar, Lord Krishna gave Gita sermons to Arjuna. They still have ancient immortal Banyan trees and a water body. But the key highlight was a visit to Brahmsarovar in the setting sun and undertaking the 5km parikrama.
After a tiring but fruitful day, we returned to the hotel and decided to have an early dinner as we had to leave early for Nahan. The hotel organized a dinner for us at Skyview a rooftop restaurant. It had an open seating arrangement and we opted for a gazebo sitting with a breathtaking night view of the city.
The next morning after a quick breakfast we left for Nahan. This sleepy town is slowly realizing its tourism potential and has witnessed a steady rise in the tourist inflow. The place is well connected with road and railway network. The nearest railway station is in Salon and Barog, both lying at a distance of 43kms. But Kurukshetra is at an approximately 2 hours drive from the city. It’s a scenic journey and the lush green fields sitting on the Haryana border, and the pine and fern trees welcoming you to Himachal Pradesh are sheer delight.
By the time we reached Jay Clarks Exotica, it was already early afternoon, and the weather was balmy. After a seamless check-in process, we were ushered into our rooms. And boy! The moment we entered our rooms, it was like entering into a different world. Our room had a huge balcony that opened to a private lake maintained by the property, surrounded by green fields and dense well-lit forest. Below my balcony, there was an open sitting area, where ducks were the constant companion of the guests. The whole place had a European vibe to it. They have an indoor swimming pool, conference room, and banquet hall to cater to bigger groups and corporates.
The room had all the modern amenities and targeted the nomadic working population, they provided sitting arrangements on the balcony too. The menu contained multiple cuisines, one can order either from a la carte or buffet. After a sumptuous lunch, we decided to go for a stroll by the lake and later opted for a boat ride, which was managed by the property. During the ride, our skipper narrated many interesting folklores and suggested we visit the adjacent forest. I can safely say the walk through the wood was definitely a highlight of my whole Nahan trip. Walking inside the forest, experiencing nature on foot, and enjoying the solitude, made me marvel at the beauty of my surroundings.
If you do not want to venture out but want to stay inside the property, then Jay Exotica will not disappoint you. But we would recommend visiting Renukaji which is a one and half hour's drive from the property. Apart from the religious significance of the place, visiting Sri Renukaji zoo is highly recommended. Seeing animals in the natural surroundings is surreal, if you are a birder then you might come across Green-winged Teal, Brown Boobook, Mallard, Asian Barred Owlet, Himalayan Bulbul, etc.
The place also offers forest trails, safaris, visits to Ponta Sahab Gurudwara, and city exploration. Nahan will definitely make any traveler nostalgic and takes you back to the bygone era when life was simple, clean, and healthy.
As a regular traveler, I would suggest visiting both the places and the trip should be of minimum four nights. Both the places have a lot to offer and would provide a good escape from the regular life.
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