Chharabra is a small village situated approximately 8250 feet (2514 m) above sea level, 13 km from Shimla, India, on National Highway 22 (Hindustan-Tibet Road).

It has the summer retreat of President of India, the summer residence of Governor of Punjab, a five star luxury hotel, a boarding school, and a helipad, even though the population is less than 500 people (including boarding school students and the staff of the president's retreat, governor's house and hotel).

The natural vegetation comprises pine, oak, cedar or Himalayan deodar, rhododendron, maple and horse chestnut.

The wildlife consists of jackals, kakkar (barking deer), and the occasional leopard, as well as numerous bird species such as the Himalayan eagle, pheasants, chikor and partridges.

The British introduced several trees and flowering plants, notably weeping willows, silver oak, and chestnut, from other parts of the world, which can be seen at Chharabra.

The retreat, Hem Kunj, Dukani, Kalyani House and Wild Flower Hall had weeping willows on their grounds.

Shimla Reserve Forest Sanctuary and Catchment Area is situated adjacent to National Highway 22.

Summer is the months of April to June, the rainy season (monsoon) is from July to August, autumn is from September to November and winter is from December to March.

Chharabra used to receive snowfall by end of November, but with global warming, there has been remarkable change in weather patterns here as well.

The President visits Mashobra at least once every year, and during this time his/her core office shifts to The Retreat at Chharabra.

The lease deed contained stipulations that: the two roads from Simla and Mashobra village should, in the interest of native population of Koti State, be open to the public; no trees should be felled; and no cattle be slaughtered on the grounds.

Lord Elgin secured use of the Retreat for future viceroys and constantly spent his weekends there.

Hemkunj or Hem Kunj is the official summer residence of the Governor of Punjab, India.

The most famous resident of Wildflower Hall was the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, Lord Kitchener, who spent a considerable amount of money laying out the gardens, and planting trees and flowers.

Immediately upon his arrival at Shimla, Lord Kitchener secured lease of the property from the then owner Mrs. Goldstien.

In 1909, after Lord Kitchener returned to England, Wildflower Hall was sold to Robert Hotz and his wife.

On 5 April 1993 the building was razed to the ground by a fire caused by an electricity short circuit.

[13] This building was also owned by the late Sir Edward Buck, the author of Simla, Past and Present.