Mussoorie is adorned by the Shivaliks of the Himalayan Range and the gorgeous doon valley- hence known as the Queen of Hil Stations. And today, we are excursing Mussoorie before leaving for Gurgaon. The weather today was misty & drizzling rain added to its charm. I woke to clouds clad morning, lush greenery & chirping sound of birds.
Monsoon creates an alluring layer of mist around the edges and sometimes even around the small towns and roads. And today was the day I will experience a journey through the clouds, Amidst the Mist. I finally got up from bed at 8.30 am, gazing at the floating clouds through y window. I had a quick bath & got dressed; we decided to have brunch. My homestay owner helped me book a cab at Rs 3000 for 11 hours. That was a fair deal; we thanked him & checked out.
We started our day around 10 am, a 35 km drive to catch Mussoorie. Perched at an altitude of 1,880 metres, Mussoorie was founded by Lt. Frederick Young of East India Company. Before the British, there were only shepherds in the area whose animals would graze on the ‘Mansoor‘ shrub. A type of lentil indigenous to the site. And hence the name Mussoorie; however, local refers to it as ‘Mansoori ‘.As we drove through the way, I realised the monsoon had painted the lush valley green and was jewelled by the clouds above. A perfect opportunity to be on your feet and explore the quaint little corners of this town!
We made our first stop at the Shri Prakasheshwar Mahadev Temple, one of the most visited and infamous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, en route to Mussoorie. We stopped for a quick darshan and a feel-good experience of watching a beautiful holy place facing the perfect landscape of the mystical mountains. As we drove further, the mist around the edges started to come closer & it felt like magic. We skipped the lake as I was in no mood to climb stairs.
So we took our next halt at Bhatta falls; I was shocked looking at the ropeway which never existed when I last visited. Hell of development, & now Bhatta fall is a waterpark. Well, to have an experience, we took a ropeway ride worth Rs250 and later regretted it.
The greenery is lost & there was no fall to be seen except a thread of water rolling down the cliff. I could only see the water park with a few restaurants around. The only good about Bhatta falls was the ropeway ride.
We finally got out of the place & drove towards Mussoorie. Mountains and I share a unique bond. It brings me in with their unknown power within them. They hold, guide, and set me free – to achieve what I want in life. Even though I have been visiting Mussoorie for more than a decade, maybe – the vibe is still homely. Finally, standing at the edge of Mall road with the hordes of travellers in the misty weather is a charm.
But our hunger pangs were hitting our stomachs, and it was 12.30 pm by the time we reached Mussoorie. Though we had a list of eateries to take spree, we settled with Momos, an authentic Tibetian. Mussoorie has changed over the decade.
It’s more caged, with shops & eateries, the lanes are narrower, and the sky is hidden. I, lost in my thoughts, entered the restaurant & ordered Mutton Thupaka & Chicken satay. It was delicious.
After a hearty brunch, we walked to 70 yrs old sweet heaven- Chick Chocolate. This shop is considered the heart and soul of Mussoorie. They’ve got everything from imported sweets to homemade chocolates, delectable Cold Coffee, Hot Chocolate, waffles and a whole bunch of pastries for you to devour! They’re especially famous for their Fruit Cream, which we did order.
This place is also a popular brekkie spot as they serve up an authentic European breakfast with baked beans, eggs, pancakes and lots more! But what I loved about the place is the. A Simplistic and casual decor with light yellow-hued walls adorning music memorabilia, posters of Hollywood movies, a blackboard with the day special mentioned on it & a shelf with all kinds of books gives it a homey vibe. We got some handmade chocolate packed for home while enjoying our Fruit Cream.
We wanted to go to Gunhill point, but the ropeway was not operating; hence we decided to visit the cloud’s end. Even the locals suggested as the weather was perfect. Therefore as the name suggests, Cloud’s End is the geographical end of Mussoorie. It is reached by a local taxi at a distance of 6 km from Mussoorie Mall road. I was amused by the peaceful small trek that led to breathtaking views of Aglar River Valley. And since it was monsoons, the valley was covered with clouds and fog. I could feel the picturesque Cloud’s End. I took a pause here and sat on some excellent time to get to feel floating amidst the clouds.
Later we drove back to mall road and walked back to our cab. On our way, we stopped at this tiny eatery serving a special omelette to die for Lovely Omelette. It was established in 1918 as a shop where eggs were sold before opening a restaurant in 1975.
The speciality is the cheese omelette made with chillies, onions, and spices and served over toast. So we ordered one and waited for our turn as the shop was overcrowded. And as it claims to serve the best omelette in India, it does stick to its words. Simply excellent!
We now drove to our final spot Nag Tibba or ‘Serpent’s Peak’. Perched at 3,022 metres (9,915 ft) and is the highest peak in the area. Lal Tibba offers a panoramic view of the town and its surroundings. But due to clouds, we could not see anything. But still, the fog and mist have their doozy.
After clicking a few pictures, we took a nature walk to Char Dukkan.
Initially, four shops were set up in a row for coffee and snacks hence the name. It’s more than a century of serving delicious food behind them. They have retained their original character and are still going strong. We took a seat at Tip Top Tea shop & ordered a banana pancake and cinnamon tea. The place is worth quiet yet noisy rustic with a hint of urbanisation. And the food is just delectable.
Although we were done for the day, we still had a couple of hours to spend. Therefore we decided to drive back to Dehradun. We reached Dehradun in one & a half hours. We decided to chill in UK07 Cafe & Lounge to enjoy the nightlife of Dehradun. And the experience was pleasing.
We finally boarded our bus; from the boarding point. We packed our bags with loads of memories & bid goodbye to Dehradun.
How to reach
By air :
The nearest airport to Mussoorie is Jolly Grant. A cab takes about 2hrs (59 km) to reach the airport from Mussoorie or vice-versa.
By train:
The Dehradun railway station is well connected all across the country. Around 36 km away from Mussoorie. Upon reaching Dehradun Railway Station, one can hire a cab or bus for a city destination.
By road:
Mussoorie is very well connected with nearby places like Delhi, Dehradun and other important towns of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Regular state government and private buses ply to Mussoorie on a frequent & daily basis. One can even choose to drive or book a cab.