The British may be gone, but a part of its charm still lingers in small cantonments across India. Kasauli is one of those cities that clings to its colonial past and this is visible in all the nooks and crannies of the former garrison.

Perched on what might as well be Kasauli’s main road, Hotel Alasia has been witnessing the changes around it for over a century. The hotel’s Constellation Café on the ground floor is one of the best examples of a place that is contemporary and yet trapped in a glorious cloak of time.

What distinguishes Café Constellation?

Offering a mix of Indian, Chinese and continental food, Constellation Café could best be described as one of those things that benefited from the old colonial rulers. The quaint decor, the hand-drawn sketches of the township along the wall, the friendly waiters and the soothing hue of green on the walls along with traditional favorites like Shepherds Pie (less than Rs. 360), Mutton Rissole (less than Rs. Rs. 235) and chicken stew (less than Rs 235), Constellation Café’s continental fare will transport you back in time for a while.

Worth trying at Cafe Constellation

Although one might be tempted to indulge in Continental, Café Constellation’s Indian dishes are worth every bite. With generous amounts of methi (fenugreek) in a thick masala sauce, Constellation’s chicken curry (less than Rs435 full and less than Rs235 half) is unlike the image that usually springs to mind. Smooth tawa roti is the perfect side dish that makes food taste even better. Unlike the over-fried yellow dals one gets in most places, Cafe Constellation’s Dal Maharani (less than Rs. 110), is one of the simplest yet delicious preparations you’ll ever taste.

Many still think of Kasauli as a sleepy town in the hills, but it’s far from that. A place full of energy, especially on weekends, the chances of getting stuck in a traffic jam at this altitude is a possibility you should be prepared for. Alsia sitting is one of the best ways to enjoy the serene surroundings of Kasauli. A narrow cobbled path crisscrossing patches of truly green grass with the Kasauli TV tower looking down solemnly, the sit-in is the perfect place to soak up the sun and watch life go by. The problem is that for some strange reason no food is served outside and fumes from passing vehicles will break the spell. But despite that little detail, the Alasia Hotel’s Café Constellation is an ideal place to escape to the past for a while.

Constellation Cafe Rating: 3 ½ out of 5
Constellation Cafe, Hotel Alasia. The Mall, Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.
Reservations can also be made at the Alasia Hotel’s Delhi office.
705, Chiranjiv Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi- 110019