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Location: ~12 km from Shimla, ~2 km from Mashobra, Shimla District
📅 Season: March–June & September–November for forest walks and heritage immersion
A ridge of pine and past, where Italian dreams rest in cedar shade and butterflies dance through colonial gardens
🏛️ Craignano Nature Park – The Italian Villa in the Woods
Originally built by Chevalier Federico Peliti, an Italian photographer during British rule, the Craignano villa was named after his hometown and now anchors the Craignano Nature Park:
- Surrounded by 9.6 hectares of cedar, oak, and pine forests
- Features a treehouse, flower garden with Buddha statue, and stone benches
- Offers nature trails like Pine Trail, Oak Trail, and Academy Trail
- Hosts activities like rappelling, rock climbing, and picnicking
🪵 The villa’s colonial architecture blends Italian elegance with Himachali terrain—a rare fusion of stone, wood, and wilderness
🌿 Forest Walks & Eco-Conscious Charm
- Entry fee: ₹50 for adults; free for children
- Visitors receive a jute bag (₹100 refundable) to carry snacks and reduce plastic waste
- No cafeteria inside—carry your own food and water
- Maintained by Rotary Club Shimla Midtown, ensuring cleanliness and ecological integrity
🐦 The park is home to sound-imitating birds, colorful butterflies, and seasonal blooms—ideal for birdwatching and photography
🛕 Nearby Attractions & Colonial Echoes
- St. Crispin’s Church: A quiet chapel ~15 min walk from Craignano
- Reserve Forest Sanctuary: Asia’s largest watershed, home to leopards, barking deer, and Himalayan eagles
- Mashobra Presidential Retreat: One of India’s two presidential estates, closed to public but visible from trails
- Wildflower Hall: A luxury colonial hotel offering panoramic views and garden walks
🌄 The Mashobra–Craignano ridge is ideal for sunrise strolls, heritage photography, and forest meditation
🧭 Plan Your Visit
| 🗺️ Travel Tips | 🏡 Stay Options |
|---|---|
| Reach via Shimla–Mashobra–Craignano Road (~12 km) | Wildflower Hall, Zostel Cheog, Mashobra Greens Camps |
| Nearest airport: Shimla (Jubbarhatti, ~35 km) | Combine with Cheog, Kotkhai, or Tani Jubbar Lake |
| Best time: Spring & Autumn | Wear sturdy shoes; no shops inside park |
✨ Why It Belongs in Your Guide
Mashobra–Craignano reflects:
- Shimla’s colonial and ecological legacy
- A living corridor of cedar, culture, and quiet adventure
- A sanctuary for slow travel, where architecture and nature hold hands
It’s not just a trail—it’s a cedar-scented whisper of history, held in stone, silence, and sky.
