Looking for a peaceful weekend getaway from Delhi? Our Kasauli weekend trip turned into a beautiful two-day escape filled with misty mountains, pine forests, heritage architecture, local food and quiet moments.
We drove from Delhi to Kasauli for my wife’s birthday, explored some of the town’s most memorable places, walked along Gilbert Trail, discovered the charm of Upper Mall Road and ended the trip with a surprise birthday celebration in the hills.
This is not a conventional Kasauli travel guide. It is our personal Kasauli travel story — what we saw, what we ate, where we went and the little moments that made the weekend memorable.
The Journey Begins
It was Friday, and with my wife’s birthday approaching, I decided that instead of celebrating it in the usual way, we needed a little escape.
I booked Wonderful Inn Kasauli for two nights and decided to drive from Delhi.
We left Delhi around 12 noon, just as the city was being washed by heavy rain. The weather made the beginning of the journey slightly challenging, but somewhere along the way, the rain disappeared.
By the time we reached Chandigarh, the skies had cleared.
The drive became one of those journeys where you stop worrying about the destination and simply enjoy being on the road.
We continued towards Kasauli and finally reached our hotel around 9 PM. Being tired after the long drive, we had dinner, settled in and called it a night.
Little did I know that the next two days would become much more than just a birthday trip.
Day 1 — Kasauli Weekend Trip Itinerary
🛕 Monkey Point
Our first destination the next morning was Monkey Point, one of the highest points around Kasauli.
There is something interesting about this place: phones and cameras aren’t allowed because it is within an Army area.
So, unlike most places we visit today, we have no photographs of Monkey Point.
And strangely, that made the experience even more memorable.
You have to climb around 278 steps to reach the hilltop, where the Hanuman Ji Temple is located.
There is also a popular belief associated with the place that when Lord Hanuman travelled towards the Himalayas in search of the Sanjeevani herb, he stepped on this hilltop.
Without a camera in hand, we simply stood there, took in the surroundings and enjoyed the moment.
Sometimes, perhaps, the best memories are the ones you don’t photograph.
⛪ Christ Church
From Monkey Point, we returned towards Kasauli and visited Christ Church.
The church immediately felt familiar.
It looked almost like the beautiful old churches we have seen countless times in movies — colonial architecture, peaceful surroundings and an atmosphere that makes you instinctively slow down.
We sat there for a while.
No rush.
No itinerary.
Just silence and a little time together.
🛍️ Upper Mall Road
Next, we headed towards Upper Mall Road, the heritage heart of Kasauli.
This was where Kasauli started feeling less like a tourist destination and more like a glimpse into Himachal.
Traditional Himachali attire, local shops, authentic food and the old-world character of the market gave the place its own personality.
At the end of the market, we also found a beautiful viewpoint where the mountains seemed to open up in front of us.
🍽️ A Taste of Himachal
By then, we were hungry.
For lunch, we decided to try a few things we’d been wanting to taste.
We had:
🥟 Momos
🥘 Siddu
🍹 Mojito
The Siddu was particularly memorable because it was something we wanted to experience as part of the local Himachali food culture.
Food, after all, is one of the easiest ways to connect with a place.
🌲 Gilbert Trail
After lunch, we headed towards Gilbert Trail.
And this was probably one of my favourite parts of the entire trip.
Gilbert Trail isn’t about ticking another tourist attraction off a list.
It’s about walking.
Breathing.
Looking around.
And realising how much you’ve missed silence.
Coming from the chaos of a metro city, we aren’t exactly used to this kind of serenity.
The fresh mountain air, greenery and views made every minute feel priceless.
We walked slowly, stopped to admire the scenery and simply enjoyed being there.
Sometimes you don’t need an adventure.
You just need a place that makes you feel calm.
🌅 Sunset Point
We ended our day at Sunset Point.
And it was the perfect ending.
Watching the sun disappear behind the clouds, with the mountains surrounding us, was incredibly relaxing.
It wasn’t one of those dramatic sunsets you see in perfectly edited travel videos.
It was quieter.
Softer.
And somehow more beautiful because we were actually there experiencing it.
Definitely one of those views that stays with you.
🎂 The Birthday Surprise
We returned to the hotel after sunset.
But the day wasn’t over yet.
I had secretly asked the hotel attendee to arrange a cake for my wife.
At midnight on 9 August, I wished her a very happy birthday.
We cut the cake there, surrounded by the quiet of the woods.
No fancy party.
No crowd.
Just the two of us, a cake, the mountains and a birthday moment that I’ll probably remember for a very long time.
❤️
Day 2 — One Last Taste of Kasauli
The next morning, it was time to head back to Delhi.
But before leaving, we had one more place on our list.
☕ Breakfast at Gargi Café
At around 10 AM, we stopped at Gargi Café, a place we’d heard about through Instagram reels for its fusion food.
We ordered their specialty:
Gilbert Sandwich
Freshly baked fermented bread with mushrooms and mustard sauce, served with apple chips.
And because we were in Himachal, we paired it with:
🍎 Apple Iced Tea
The combination was surprisingly good and made for a perfect final breakfast before beginning our journey home.
🛕 A Stop at Mansa Devi
Instead of driving straight back to Delhi, we stopped at Mansa Devi Temple in Panchkula.
It was a peaceful final stop before getting back on the highway.
After lunch at a highway dhaba, we continued our drive.
And by around 9 PM on Sunday, we were finally back in Delhi.
The Weekend That Became a Memory
What started as a simple birthday getaway turned into one of those weekends that stays with you.
Heavy rain on the way out.
Mountain roads.
278 steps to a temple.
A quiet church.
Himachali food.
A peaceful forest trail.
A sunset behind the clouds.
A midnight birthday cake.
And a long drive home.
We didn’t do everything Kasauli has to offer.
We didn’t need to.
Because sometimes the best trips aren’t about how many places you cover.
They’re about who you’re with, what you experience and the memories you bring back.
And this one gave us plenty.
✨ Wander Wise Takeaway
Would I recommend Kasauli for a weekend getaway?
Absolutely.
If you’re living in Delhi, Chandigarh or nearby cities and looking for a relatively easy mountain escape, Kasauli can make for a beautiful weekend.
Go for the views.
Stay for the quiet.
Walk without an agenda.
Try the local food.
And leave some space in your itinerary for the unexpected.
Because sometimes, the best part of a journey is simply having nowhere else you need to be.
📍 TRIP SNAPSHOT
Destination: Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
Trip: 2 Nights / 3 Days
Starting Point: Delhi
Transport: Self-drive
Stay: Wonderful Inn Kasauli
Highlights: Monkey Point • Christ Church • Upper Mall Road • Gilbert Trail • Sunset Point • Gargi Café • Mansa Devi Temple
Best For: Couples • Birthday Getaways • Weekend Escapes • Slow Travel
