Deepak Bhojanlya

Shimla is cold most of the year, so having a place like Deepak Bhojanlya in Lower Bazar is good for getting something warm to eat. We are right on the main road, which means we see a lot of people walking up and down the hills all day. It’s a small space, and it can get quite cramped when the lunch rush starts. The steam from the pots fills up the room, and it feels nice when it’s freezing outside. We don’t have fancy menus or printed cards; we just tell people what we’ve cooked for the day. Usually, it’s just the standard stuff that people eat at home. I’ve lived in Himachal my whole life, and running this place is just what I do. Sometimes the supply trucks get delayed because of the mountain roads or the weather, so we have to adjust what we make. The floor is made of stone and gets a bit slippery when it rains, so we have to be careful. It’s not a place for a long fancy dinner, just a spot to sit for twenty minutes, eat your fill, and leave. You can hear the noise of the bazar right outside the door—the shouting of vendors and the sound of footsteps. It’s a busy, noisy, and very real part of Shimla life. We just try to keep the food hot and the benches wiped down for whoever comes in next.