Camps are meant to be fun! The idea is to enjoy and chill out. Beat away the city blues and come out rejuvenated. You can stay relaxed within the camp and play games like Carrom, Chess and Scrabble. Or go for nature walks where you might spot some Himalayan birds such as Red Jungle Fowl, Blue Magpie, Silver Pheasent, Woodpecker and Parakeets. A call of Hog deer or barking deer is a part of the sounds you hear in the forest. Play a game of cricket, practice basketball or try your hand at badminton racquets. You can even plan your picnic lunches in the forest, meadows & apple orchards. Rafting Trips can be organized on special request at Tattapani, which is 50 kms from the Camp. At Camp Potters Hill you get a chance to try new things that you may not get to do at home or anywhere else. Here you can see nature through a vista of adventure activities like
- Rock Climbing
- Rappeling
- Burma Bridge
- Commando Rope Walk
- Valley Crossing.
- Air Gun Shooting.
- Treasure Hunt & Village Darshan
- Day & Night Treks with a guide
- Flora & Fauna Identification
Shimla can be made as a center point for exploring the nearby areas around the Camp. Having a car at one's disposal is a great help as most of the places are 1-2 hrs away and one can make a daily escapade to one or two places and come back to the Camp or make a overnight stay depending on your mood. Closer to Shimla one can visit the Tara Devi Temple (11 km) and Kamna Devi Temple at Prospect hill (5km) for not only religious reasons but also for some solitude and picturesque views. Summer Hill is known for beautiful gardens and Chadwick falls can make for a daytime excursion.
Other beautiful places you can consider visiting are Mashobra, Chail, Kufri, Naldhera, Tattapani and Narkanda.
Mashobra
13 kms away from Shimla, Mashobra has several excellent picnic spots. Mashobra is the site of the annual Sipi fair in June. The nearest resting place is at Craignano which is 3 kms from Mashobra, and is a beautiful camping resort.
Chail
Chail is a little mountainous heaven 45 kms from Shimla. It was the summer capital of the Maharaja of Patiala before Independence. The forests near Chail have many species of birds and deer. Chail is known for its cricket pitch, which is the highest cricket ground in the world.
Kufri
16 kms from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft. Kufri is the winter sports capital. During winter, visitors have the facility for skiing. Apart from skiing, Kufri is a lovely picnic spot with a beautiful view of the hills around and the snowy peaks. In summers one can do horse and yak riding on the green meadows. One can even trek to the Mahasu peak for some adventure. There is also an aviary here that houses some Himalayan birds,including Monal, the state bird of Himachal.
Naldhera
22 kms from Shimla and surrounded by beautiful deodar trees. Naldehra has a well-kept nine-hole golf course, that’s among the highest in the world. It is a lovely, popular picnic spot. The annual Sipi fair in June is held in Naldehra.
Tattapani
51 kms from Shimla is the famous hot sulphur springs at Tattapani. A dip at the hot sulphur springs at the banks of river Sutlej not only relaxes the body but also has therapeutic effects. Here one can bathe and pay offerings at the temple nearby. Rafting facilities are also available at the river.
Narkanda
64 kms from Shimla, Narkanda is a quaint sleepy hamlet. It commands a unique view of the eternal snow line and the dense forest. From here, you get breathtaking view of the snow clad Himalayas.