Thakur Vaishno Bhojnalaya

Thakur Vaishno Bhojnalaya is located up here in Kachi Ghati, right by Ghora Chowki in Shimla. Being at 171004 means we get a lot of that mountain air, and it gets quite chilly during the winter months. We are a vegetarian place, which is what the name means, so we don't have any meat in the kitchen at all. Most of our days are spent preparing lentils and vegetables for the people who stop by while traveling the hilly roads. It’s a small shop, and the wooden floors sometimes creak when you walk on them. We get a mix of tourists who are lost and locals who have been eating here since they were kids. The view outside is nice, but we are usually too busy in the kitchen to look at it much. I’ve lived in Shimla my whole life, and running this place is just what I do. It isn't a five-star hotel, just a simple bhojnalaya where the food is warm and the seats are basic. We try to keep the stove going all day so there is always something hot to eat. Sometimes the mist comes right up to the door, and we have to close the shutters early because it gets too cold. It’s a quiet life for the most part, just serving food and watching the cars go by on the road. We stay busy with the washing and the prep work.