Ecotherapy, Forest Bathing And Much More: 19thcentury Mansion In Shimla Assures You The Peace You Deserve
Express Press Service The Japanese know both nature and human nature. Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing in Japanese, is a fast-growing global health trend that involves meditative walking to "capture the atmosphere of the forest," as it literally says. Today, a grand colonial house in Shimla offers the same ecological therapy to its guests. Starting July 10, Jungle House, a 19th-century palace nestled in an ancient forest next to the Jakhu Temple, has launched guided tours for guests enjoying jungle bathing. A half-day activity (starting at Rs 2,500) is the Jakhu Tibba (hill) tour. An accompanying naturalist reveals the wealth of species here, including sightings of Himalayan wildflowers, trees, birds and occasional wildlife. A 700-meter path through the forest is lined with pines, cedars and rhododendrons and leads to the highest point of the Raj's former summer capital, offering breathtaking views of the valley at 8,000 feet. "The landscape is therapeutic. But you...