Hotel Exclusivity: Cloverly, the Lone Lodging Establishment Situated Between Kalka and Shimla
In the picturesque town of Kakarhatti, nestled along the historic Kalka-Shimla road, lies a piece of history that continues to stand the test of time. This remnant of the British colonial era, once a bustling hotel for weary travelers, has seen generations pass by, and yet, it retains an air of charm and nostalgia.
The first hotel on this iconic route was built in the late 19th century by Henry William Gilbert, a man born in Shimla in 1842. Although specific details about the original name of the hotel are difficult to find, it is known that his son, George Gilbert, later renamed it "Cloverly" after his daughter's name.
The hotel provided a much-needed respite for travelers, offering accommodation, food, and a common area. It also boasted a well, a stable for horses and bullock carts, a garden, and an orchard teeming with Jamun trees, some of which still bear fruit today, a testament to their resilience and the care of Sandra Cameron's ancestors.
Sandra, George's granddaughter, recently visited Kakarhatti and was moved by the sight of the well her great grandfather had dug, still providing water to the occupants. The old road, a dirt track with horse-drawn carriages and bullock carts as the main mode of transport, now lies silent, save for an old handcart used for luggage that lies unattended near a tree.
The road to Shimla, built in 1856, gained popularity among travelers, but the journey was still a challenge before the toy-train was introduced. Finding suitable shelter was a challenge for travelers, especially in case of vehicle breakdowns or bad weather. The hotel at Kakarhatti offered a welcome refuge, its doors open to all who sought a moment's rest.
After the construction of the Kalka Shimla Railway, George had to close down the hotel. Over the years, the property changed hands, first being owned by Ms. Foyer, who lived there till independence, and later sold to a local family and then to Kirpa Ram Chauhan. Today, the building and the land are shared among George's three sons and their families.
The old road from Kasauli, winding through Dharampur, Subathu, Kakarhatti, Haripore, Sayri, Jubbarhatti, and Tutu before reaching Shimla, still exists, a reminder of a bygone era. It is a path that Rudyard Kipling, the renowned author, once walked, inspired to write a poem named "As the Bell Clinks" after missing the old road and staying at Henry's hotel in Kakarhatti.
As we walk along this path today, we are reminded of the rich history that lies hidden in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. The hotel at Kakarhatti stands as a testament to the resilience of the past and the enduring spirit of those who built it. It is a piece of history that continues to provide a connection to the past, a link to a time when travel was an adventure and a journey was a story waiting to be told.
The hotel at Kakarhatti, originally named and later renamed to "Cloverly," served as a remarkable lifestyle destination for weary travelers, offering them shelter, food, and a sense of community. Today, Sandra, a descendant of its founder George Gilbert, finds herself retracing her family's history and reliving her ancestors' stories as she walks along the old road, a remnant of a bygone era that still offers a connection to the past.
