Summers in, it's time to consider your 'work from mountains' options

The Covid threat may have receded, thankfully, but the dreaded North Delhi summer is right upon us. That gives us a valid excuse to continue our love for “Work from Mountains.” Here I would like to share my experience of spending some good quality time at Kasuali, one perfect Work from Mountain destination.

Mountains provide some excellent ‘work from home’ options if you are looking for some healthy air, and peace of mind too besides an undisturbed and safe working environment.
There are loads of options available online when you are looking for ‘work from mountains’ destination. It is also a very good idea to depend on ‘word of mouth’ while selecting your destination as things could be a bit unclear on the net. So talk to fellow travelers, friends and relatives.

Kasauli, a British-era hill station, is at seven hours of comfortable drive away from Delhi. You take the Delhi Karnal Highway and drive up to Kalka. From there it is 40 km of scenic mountain drive. The moment we reached Kasuali we decided to explore our neighbourhood. We found that there were some more families who had come for work from home purposes from other metro cities of India. There were Malhotras who had come from Mumbai. We found them complaining about bad internet connection because they were using their own dongle wifi. I told them that BSNL is the only broadband provider in Kasauli. Then there was one Mr. Rawat, a retired army officer. He was on a different quest. He was looking for a property to build a home with a wish to spend the rest of his life in the serenity of the mountains.

The first thing that struck me at Kasauli was the beautiful mornings and evenings. Every morning and late evening we walked on timber trails. These walks become essential when one is sitting at the workstation all through the day.  Our weekdays were busy with work from home and online school classes for the kids. On weekends we explored other nearby places.

Also read | Take these precautions while travelling to Shimla

Kasauli offers excellent mountain views, crystal clear air and some very rewarding walks, such as the Gilbert trail, sunset and sunrise points and the famous Monkey Point. While staying there we did a fair share of exploring. There are a few good things to explore here, such as Heritage Market, Dakshai Jail (a Bristish Era Prison) and Christ Church, a Gothic era specimen. The good part is they are all located within a radius of hardly 10 km.

The place also offers a good variety of food as well, from traditional north Indian food to other fast food options. This is something that is an essential bit for anyone planning a work form mountain stay here.

7 things to keep in mind while going on a ‘Work from Mountain’ destination.

Internet – If you are doing work from mountains and you have kids who are taking online study classes then your best companion is high-speed internet broadband. Before deciding your destination, Check the best local internet provider.

Medical supplies – Consult your family doctor before making plans to travel. Buy essential medicines according to your family's health and weather conditions. On hill stations, you can not order medicines online.

Clothes- check weather conditions on the internet. make a list of clothes you would require for staying in mountains and pack your bags accordingly.

Arrangement for home-cooked food- There are two reasons for that . First there is no home delivery service on hills and second, due to weather conditions would not be able to drive or walk to your favorite restaurant regularly. The best thing is to hire a housemaid who could make home-cooked food for you and your family.

Prevention from insects – keep some insects killer sprays and mosquito repellent creams handy.

Know your surroundings well- Be familiar with nearby places and talk to locals because they will help you to provide daily needs such as fresh cow milk and farm-fresh vegetables.

Personal care- the place you are traveling to may have totally different weather conditions from your city. Keep some good moisturizer and personal hygiene products with you.

5 popular Work from Mountain Destinations

Tirthan valley- rejuvenating riverside cottages are the best place to start your day. Easily available home-cooked food and bonfire. The river will calm your soul after a hectic conference call.

Sangla Valley- surrounded with plums and pears trees. Easily accessible marketplace. Near to Tibetan border. Bikers can enjoy the tracks on weekends.

Chail- Near to city Shimla, it is famous for its virgin forest area and architecture. On weekends you can enjoy exploring the Chail palace which was built as a summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala during the British Raj.

Nainital- only 7 hours drive from Delhi. It is the land of lakes and temples. Mesmerizing aura of mountains and beauty of lakes.

Rishikesh- A place for adventure lovers and spiritual souls. Holy Ganga river and water rafting will relax your soul. It has plenty of staying options for catering to every budget.