Groombridge Estate

An Englishman named Herbert Mantagaue Waller, who was also a renowned architect of Shimla, designed and built many important buildings in Shimla. Mr Waller,constructed Groombridge Estate in the late 19th century, where he and his wife Catherine made this house their residence till the early 1900s. The Estate was thensoldto another English couple, Earnest and Selma Cooling, both engineers, who were working to buildthe famous Shimla- Kalka rail road. In the year of the Lord 1945 , the Coolings' sold the property to the royal family of Kapurthala. The royal family then renamedthe property toNANAK KUTTI.

The widow of the Maharaja, Maharani Vidyawati Kaur sold Groombridge Estate to the son of the erstwhileDiwanof Jammu and Kashmir,Shri Bikram Chand Sawhney, who was a senior civil servant. The Estate was finally bequeathed to his grand daughter, Reeta Suri. Reeta Suri is a passionate horticulturist having experienced it by virtue of her husband being a senior military officer. She currently resides at the property and lends it her own personal charm.

Every traveller who walks into Groombridge is welcomed as much as at ones own home and we would like to extend our warmth, love and care into making your visit a memory to cherish. We aim to offer much beyond just bricks and plaster, of a room. It may be a tea tray with assorted tea and coffee sachets in your room or just a posy of hill flowers, or just some freshly baked cookies to bring a smile to your face. Apart from what the property embodies, the surrounding hills add that subtle charm to the place. Its a choice you make of whether you want to meander, explore or experience. There is something to appease each soul in these lush forests and winding paths. This being a small 10 bedroom property, We expect our guests to be visiting the hills to be 'far from the madding crowd', in search of peace and solitude. You would thus not find any intercoms or televisions in the rooms. Guests are welcome to come down to the reception and ask for help or watch Television in "Rebottled, the lounge room. In consideration for all the guests, we would request our guests to play music softly in their rooms if they wish to do so.