Chandigarh isn’t really a tourist place but we had a night there because of its proximity to Shimla which isn’t too far away in the mountains. Chandigarh is curiously the most un-Indian place we have been to. The city is relatively new and designed in the 1960s with wide avenues and is split into zones. A bit like an Indian Milton Keynes. Also, no cows, no dogs, no monkeys (no accompanying poo) and traffic that stops at red lights. And many upmarket shops. Our hotel was next to the most interesting bookstore we had been in for months . And did I say 5 breweries in walking distance from the hotel!
The next morning we were off again, this time in a taxi to Shimla. Whilst not very far as the crow flies, the road has about 1000 hairpin bends and our taxi driver seemed to be late for something. My breakfast wasn’t very far away as we overtook all comers as large trucks raced towards us. Indian Max Verstappen got us there safely in just under 4 hours and dropped us outside our hotel, the appropriately named Summit le Royale. As he sped off the reception guy informed us the he hadn’t heard of our booking and that they were full. We checked our booking and it seemed that the hotel had tried to take payment for the room literally while we were in the taxi. The payment was rejected. No phone call, no email and when we arrived, no room. The receptionist wasn’t endearing himself to us but he did make a call and said the hotel down the road did have a room and we might like to try there.
