Misty Tales

Kempty Falls

Sunset in Mussoorie

Mysterious Mussoorie

Panoramic view of Mussoorie

Mussoorie  is a long, narrow stretch of ridge on a hill at an altitude of 6,580 ft , at the head of the Doon Valley in north-west Uttarakhand. It is 34 km N of Dehra Dun, 269 km NE of Delhi. The entire ridge is about 19 km long ; however, the shopping-eating-strolling stretch of Mall Road is about 3 km long. Landour is a steep, almost 1000 ft higher level than the Mall. The mall is the very heart of the town,and crossing it once twice every day is inevitable. There are many benches by the road so you can sit and rest and people-watch, admire the pine tree, poplars and chinars which only grow high up at this altitude. The view of the setting sun from the Mall is excellent. As dusk descends, the lights in the Doon Valley  start twinkling, as if in a fairyland.

There are a pretty  Victorian-style Library at the end of Library Bazar which was built in the mid-19th century. Gun Hill is the next big attraction on the Mall, situated about 400 ft above it. It can be reached by a path or via a ropeway ride, which gives you a great  view of the Doon Valley. Kulri Bazar, at the eastern end of the Mall, is the place where you can have lots of fun. There are many hotels and also the usual restsurents. The Cambridge  Bookstore offers a lot of Ruskin Bond’s books. Ruskin Bond meets his readers and signs books at this shop every Saturday between 4 and 6 pm.

Landour is a silent, beautiful cantonment area that’s a 10-min drive  up from Kurli Bazar. Building regulations are strict here, so there aren’t any hotels and shops to disturb the natural beauty of the place.

The central point is called Char Duknan because there are four dhaba-com-provision shops here. A pleasant stroll away  is Sisters’ Bazar, named for the sisters who looked after those British soldiers.It has old cottages, a few shops and retains its silent beauty. Lal Tibba represents the highest point in Mossoorie.There is a creaky old telescope, and they charge Rs 20 for a quick sight of the snow-clad  Garhwal peaks from here. Jharipani Falls is located a short distance downhill from mussoorie and can be reached by road. The 40-foot perennial Kempty Falls is the highest of five  cascades that branch from a mountain stream, cutting its way through boulders  and down rock faces.

Mussoorie is at its best from March to June and in October-November.December-January is cold.

Getting There :

Air : The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehra Dun which is connected to Delhi. Taxi costs Rs 1000.

Rail : Nearest rail station is Dehra doon.Taxi charges Rs 450 for a drop.

Accomodation : There are more than a hundred hotels in Mussoorie, ranging across all budgets

1.Jaypee Residency Manor (Tel: 2631800, Tariff: Rs 11,000-22,000)

2.Country Inn (Tel: 2631190, Tariff: Rs 4,00-5,000)

3.Hotel Padmini Niwas (Tel: 2631093; Tariff: Rs 1,300-6,500)

4.Hotel Nand Residency (Tel:2631442; Tariff: Rs 1,500-4,200)

Mountain Masala

Mall road

Shimla mall in winter

Christchurch

Shimla in winter

The seven picturesque hills of Shimla are in southern Himachal, in the Shivalik Range, at an altitude of 6,890 ft. It is 115 km NE of Chandigarh, 342 km N of Delhi. Shimla is built on a longish mountain ridge, along which seven small peaks just out into the sky. The easternmost is the Elysium Hill near Lakkar Bazar. Jakhoo Hill, the highest point in Shimla, rears behind The Ridge and is famous  for its Hanuman temple. On the other side of the Ridge, Bantony Hill is better known for the Kali Bari Temple. After about a km comes the Inveram Hill which hosts the state museum. Nearby, the Viceregal lodge occupies Observatory Hill. Then comes Summer Hill, with the HP University. The Westernmost Prospect Hill is crowned by the Kamana Devi Temple.

Shimla is India's only hill station that combines the beauty of the Himalayas, the slow charms of an Indian hill station, and the energy of a city, making it very good at accommodating the diverse tastes of a family. Shimla's unique personality, temperament and place in history owe much to its position as the British Raj's summer capital in the 19th century. The mall meanders its way for almost 4 km along. The Ridge, between old and even older buildings. The smallish area just above The Mall, between the Christ Church and the imposing Municipality building is called The Ridge. The Mall is also one of the longest stretches of pedestrian open air strolling and shopping possible. The best tourist season is from March to June, for those who love snow, winter is the time to be here.

Getting there :

Air : Shimla's Jubbarhatti Airport is connected to Delhi by Kingfisher Red. Taxi into Shimla costs Rs 1,200.

Rail : Nearest metre gauge railhead:Shimla.Even though the Kalka Shimla train seems very slow, it's a journey your family will enjoy and never forget. The Shivalik Express offers a comfortable journey, and serves food on board. Plan and book in advance. The nearest broad gauge railhead Kalka , well connected to Delhi by the Kalka Shatabdi and Himachal Queen, to kolkata by the Howrah-Delhi-Kalka mail.Taxi from Kalka costs approx Rs 1,500 -2,000 .

Accomodation :

Shimla offers plenty of hotels across all budgets.

1.Woodville Palace (Tel: 0177-2622516,2624038), Tariff Rs 4700-11000.

2.Hotel Springfields (Tel:2621297-98), Tariff Rs 4000-6500

3.Hotel White (Tel:2656136) Tariff Rs 1000-2200

4.Hotel Le Royale (Tel:2651002-03) Tariff Rs 1,700-3,700

Queen of hills

Toy train

Tiger hill

Darjeeling  is a popular hill station of West Bengal.It is renowned for the world famous Himalayan Railway.This famous toy train, the sunrise from the Tiger hill, fantastic open mall and obviously Tenzing Norgay mountaineering institute are the sights that attract bunch of tourists every season.Tourists can enjoy horse ride on the mall road.Zoological garden, Rock garden,Gangamaiya park, Batasia loop are also very attractive destination around there. Ghoom monastery,Rajbhaban,Lalkuthi and Ava art gallery are known to amaze every traveller.

Mode of Transportation  

The nearest rail station is New Jalpaiguri.From there rent a car or a bus or toy train to Darjeeling.From Sealdah you can travel by Darjeeling mail , Kanchunjengha express, Tista Torsa express towards New Jalpaiguri .Bagdogra is the nearest airport and similarly you can rent a car to Darjeeling.

Acomodation

There are lots of hotels ,lodges and holiday homes out there in Darjeeling.
1.Darjeeling Tourist Lodge, Ph. 2254412 (D)1080/- to3000/-
2. The Park Lane Ph. 2256902 (D) 1200/- to 1500/-
3.Roma Holiday Inn Ph. 2254354 (D) 1300/-, Suite 2300/-
4.Mount Meridian Ph. 2253591 (D) 950/- to 1500