Mussoorie.....The Queen Of Hills....

Mussoorie.....Towards Paradise On Earth...

From Rishikesh we started our journey towards Mussoorie...The Queen Of Hills....The next stop was Mussoorie in the Char Dham journey.Peace and tranquility can be found high up in the hills at the foot of the Himalayan mountains. Access is restricted this time of year to many of the higher mountain passes - closed due to snow and ice - but Mussoorie is easily accessible all year round from Dehra Dun via Rishikesh or Haridwar. Be warned however its pretty damn cold with temperatures touching freezing at night.

En Route To Mussoorie from Dehradun.......

Pleasant nights, whispering pine, fresh air, excellent walks and respite from the scorching heat and dust of the plains, remind one of the irresistible Mussoorie - a queen of hills.As the mercury rises and the educational institutions close, families and young folks set out for Mussoorie for a breathing spell. Perched atop a high ridge overlooking the Doon Valley, Mussoorie has thickly wooded Shivalik range on one side and snow capped mountains of inner Himalayas on the other side.

View Of Doon Valley...

The town sits on the hillside and harbours great views of Dehra Dun several thousand meters below. At least that's the case usually at this time of year; at other times it is apparently often shrouded in mist. Mussoorie is popular with the Indian holiday makers and is a popular retreat during the summer months when it is much cooler higher up and the local falls provide an ideal way to cool off.

View Of Doon Valley...

Mussoorie drives its name from masur as a name given to Coriana nepalensis shrub. Its history is dated back to 1827 when Captain Young, an adventure seeking military officer, discovered Mussoorie and laid down the foundation of this beautiful hill station of Uttarakhand. Its proximity to the plains slowly attracted more and more people who build their summer retreats here.Mussoorie has fascinated people of literary distinctions for years. The first Australian-born novelist, John Lang spent the last years of his life in Mussoorie. He died in 1864 and was buried here in the old English cemetery.Today you may find Mussoorie a bit crowded but still it is the most sought after hill station, which has few rivals for sheer grandeur of its surrounding.

Engulfing Clouds....

Beautiful promenades, excellent clubs, means of entertainment and choice of activities. A tourist here can trek, ramble, play golf or tennis, limber up legs at the Mall for souvenirs or savour the delights of cultural shows.Built initially as a summer resort, the natural beauty of Mussoorie and abundance of picnic spots in the hills are its prime attraction.

A View Of Military Base En Route From Dehradun To Mussoorie....

This growing town has changed over the last decade due to the overload of ‘tourism’ but it still has some of it’s old charm if you are ready to look beyond the Mall Road, the Gun Hill and the Kempty Fall – the three most famous and commercialized places here. Mussoorie’s other gems are its several walks. In fact it’s a walker’s paradise. So if you are not just those kind of tourists then try its walks. Camel’s Back Road walk is one of the favorites, which provides you the view of the valley, mountains in total peace.

The Library,One Of The Oldest Building @ One End Of The Mall Road,And Hence Called Library Square...

The Mall Road...

Start of The mall Road @ The Library Square...

The Much fascinating places in and near Mussoorie includes the Gun Hill Point..It is a bare rocky outcrop in the centre of the hill station. Gun hill is so named because the hilltop had a gun mounted on it before independence. It was fired at mid of the day to announce the time. Hence it is called Gun Hill. The spot offers panoramic view of snow clad Himalayan ranges including Bunder punch, Srikanth, Pithwara and Gangotri group. A birds eye view from this point is very fascinating. Access to Gun Hill is either along a bridle path from Mall near Kutchery or by a ropeway carriage. The ropeway distance up to Gun Hill is only 400 metres and the sheer thrill of the ride is memorable.

In The Trolley(Gandola) From Gun Hill Point




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Old Mussoorie From Gun Hill Point...

View From Gun Point...

Municipal garden : It is a picnic spot having a beautiful garden and an artificial mini lake with boating facilities. The distance by cycle rickshaw, pony or a car is 4 kms. But if you walk the distance it is only 2 kms.

Municipal Garden...

The Begonias @ Municipal Garden

The Begonias @ Municipal Garden

The Artificial Waterfalls @ Municipal Garden

Kempty Fall: It has the distinction of being the biggest and the most magnificent waterfalls in a beautiful valley surrounded by high mountains. Bath at the foot of the falls is refreshing and enjoyable for both children and adults alike. Taxis and conducted tours are available from Mussoorie. There is a cafeteria close by for snacks and small meals

On The Way To Kempty Falls...

Kempty Falls Distant View

Dhanaulti:Dhanaulti, located amidst thick, virgin forests of Deodar, Rhododendron and Oak, has an atmosphere of perfect peace & tranquility. The long wooded slopes, relaxed outdoors, cool crossing breeze, warm and hospitable inhabitants, lovely weather and fabulous view of snow covered mountains is an ideal retreat for a nature lover...Dhanolti or Dhanaulti is unspoilt, quiet and with beautiful views situated 30 kms away from Mussoorie on Chamba Route.

Himalayan Panorama,The Greater Himalayan Range Seen From Dhanaulti..

The drive through the dense forest is a refreshing one and the range of mountains keep our eyes delighted with changing panorama.The walk through the deodar forest and now and then the glimpses of the icy mountains kept our enthusiasm alive till we reached the top. The view was good but not very impressive. A small portion of the range was visible because another range of mountains blocked the view of the Gangotri glacier. I was adamant to see the full view and hence went alone in search of a path which could lead me to the highest point from where I could see the whole range.

A View From Dhanaulti "View point" up hill

Mist In The Morning

Beautiful view of Swararohini,Banderpoonch 2,Banderpoonch and Kalanag peaks from left.from Dhanaulti

All I can describe Mussoorie is like this way:

The path of mossy ground nestled
In between maternal hedgerows,
That overgrew atop, dimming out
The brilliance of the day.
Embosomed, a calm-cool vision –
Abstract takes of nature, in
Leaf-spattered green shades;
Stem-speckled brown hues;
Shards of sunlight percolating
Through the random flaws to
Up glittering sprites upon the leaves...

My owned hotel @ Mussoorie.

Rain From The Windows of My Room

Nature @ Glance

Night View Of Mussoorie

My Journey Continued towards Yamunotri...

Beauty In The Valley

Play Ground Of Gods And Godesses

Trespassing their celestial abode was avoided although shepherds did take the liberty to graze their cattle here.

Legends associate this valley with the area from where Hanumanji of Ramayana collected. 'Sanjeevani' herbs to revive

Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama. Hanuman had to visit far-flung areas in his search for the life-saving herbs, some named after him."

The Valley was introduced to the world as the Valley of Flowers by Frank S, Smith - mountaineer, explorer, botanist who camped here for several weeks in the monsoon of 1937 and did valuable exploratory work. He authored a book called "The Valley of Flowers" which unveiled the beauty and floral splendours of the valley and thus threw open the doors of this verdant jewel to nature-enthusiasts all over the world.

In 1939, Miss Margarate Legge, a botanist deputed by the botanical gardens of Edinburgh arrived at the valley for further studies. While she was traversing some rocky slopes to collect flowers, she slipped off and was lost for ever in the garden of the gods. Her sister later visited the valley and erected a memorial on the spot where she was buried by the locals. The

thoughtful memorial is still there and the lines inscribed on the marble slab read:

"I will lift mine eyes
unto the Hills
from whence cometh my strength"

Many streams flowing from glacial deposits in and around the Valley irrigate it and merge finally into the Pushpawati river.While exploring the Valley, the smaller streams can be easily crossed by wading across but the larger ones need to be crossed on log bridges. In case those have not been put up in time, thick glacial bridges across the streams also serve the purpose.

There are no side tracks for viewing colonies of flowers away from the main track so you can either try to wade Through

knee-deep flowers and foliage, crushing some on the way or stay on the single track running through the length of the valley without seeing the best.

You may however stand on a raised vantage point to get a better view of flowers all around. Within the main Valley; there are many smaller valleys carved out by streams of melting glaciers. On the banks of these Valleys, you can encounter the most exciting pattern of flowers. One such Valley exists along the Donagair Garh, the last of many streams. On its banks flower some of the most magnificent plants. Every moist place holds its quota of glorious flowers which grace the still air with their subtle fragrance

.

The Valley of Flowers is flanked on either side by majestic peaks, many capped with snow. The Pushpawati river, emerging from

the glacial deposits around Rataban and Nilgiri ranges, cuts through the Valley and divides it into two sectors.The major

portion of the Valley is on its right bank and is a paradise fortrekkers

The Valley of Flowers is an alpine valley, and has been formed by the retreating glaciers whose periodic advances and

retreat pulverised hard rocks, resulting in a smooth U-shaped valley which was later colonised by numerous plants adopting

themselves to the harsh climatic conditions prevailing there.The Valley remains snow covered from November to May but when the ice envelope thaws on June it is a signal for profusion of colours hidden in petals of alpine during July and August. Some important flowering plants having tremendous medicinal values are: Anemone, Geranium, Marsh, Marigold, Primula, Potentilla, Geum, Aster. Lilium, Himalayanblue poppy, Aconite, Delphinium, Ranunculus, Corydalis, Inula, Saussurea abvallata, Campanula. Pedicularis, Trysimum, Morina, Impetiens, Bistorta. Ligularia. Anaphalis Saxifraga, Lobelia, Thermophis, Trolises. Aquilogia, Codonopsis. Dactylorhiza, Cypripedium. Straw berries and Rhododendron etc.

Apart from the flowering plants, wild animals like Himalayan birds, phigents, butterflies, Tendula, Musk deer, Bharal Mountain

goats), Himalayan bear, tail less rat etc. are enchancing the beauty too. The Valley of Flowers is an irresitible treat for

naturalists, ecologists. environmentalists, zoologists, ornithologists, trekkers. tourists and pilgrims.

The trek continues along Pushpawati. A couple of kilometres ahead, the river is crossed overto its right bank on another

bridge and this trail goes upto the Valley of Flowers. Snow bridges can be seen spanning the river but their strength should

be properly judged if they are to be used to cross the river

The Valley becomes accessible from late April when the snow starts melting and flowing down the buttrssnes and gullies. The

spring avalanches pouring down the slopes provide appropriate moisture for flowers. The moist turf begins to pulsate with

life and from the dead herbage of the previous summer, innumerable shoots of countless plants rise expectantly as though in anticipation of the warm life-giving breath of the approaching monsoon.

Primulas cover up shelves and terraces in colour of the most heavenly French blue. Their soft petals covered with dew, like

galaxies of pearls, emanate sweetest of scents. In the lush meadows drifts of snow-white Anemones drench the ground.

Anaphalles and Potentillas start establishing their colonies, With the arrival of rains in June, Balsam, Geranium,

Pedicularis and many other species, mostly in pink and red set the dominating colour pattern of the Valley without subduing

other seasonal shades of yellow, purple and white

Although the main land of the Valley is about 4 kms. from Ghanghria, flowers and foliage in exotic varieties can be spotted

throughout the route. Immediately after crossing the Laxman Ganga, colonies of blue Hackelia uncinata, commonly known as

'forget me not' can be seen in the midst of shrubs and foliage along the roadride. Primulas, Morinas, wild roses and many

other species are quite abundant.

The pinkish glow of the Valley can be attributed to the large colonies of Androsace. Marsh orchid. Geranium. Pediculsris and

the carpetting Thymus. all in near pink. Splashes of golden lily and creamy bell-shaped Codonopsis are also seen.The pink

Pedicularis gives way to its yellow cousin-the mainstay of the August bloom. Yellow flowers bedeck the Valley as July

proceeds - Pedicularis, Grandiflora. Ligularia, Saxifraga and Potentillas. The Potentillas are the first to appear and last

to disappear in the Valley.