Eci Chalet Day School

If you walk along the Mall Road in Shimla, up towards Bharari, you’ll find Eci Chalet Day School. Being in the hills makes everything a bit different. The air is thinner, and the walk up can be a bit of a climb if you aren’t used to it. The school is an old building that has seen plenty of winters. We spend a lot of time in the colder months worrying about the heating and making sure the kids are bundled up. There’s a quietness here that you don't get in the plains, although the monkeys can be a bit of a nuisance near the playground. We don't have a big corporate team; it’s just a few of us who have been here for a long time. The classrooms have wooden floors that creak when you walk on them, and the windows look out over the valley. It’s a very simple existence. We drink a lot of tea to stay warm and spend our days managing the classes and the staff. Sometimes the mist rolls in so thick you can't see the gate from the front door. We don't do much in the way of advertising or fancy brochures. People know us because we’ve been at this address for years. It is a humble place, with a lot of history in the walls, just trying to provide a space for learning in the heart of Shimla. We just keep our heads down and do our jobs.