A trip to Mussoorie: Right out of a Ruskin Bond novel

Situated in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, the Queen of the Hills (Mussoorie) is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North India.

Tourists throng this hill station throughout the year. The most famous place is the Mall Road. Small shops line the road and here you can just walk the whole morning eating and shopping.

High pine trees form a canopy, and morning rays fight to touch the ground. The shadows form a beautiful mesh on the road adding to it’s beauty.

The old colonial era has left its mark behind. Like almost every hill station in North India, the architecture here is influenced by the British Raj.

Home to some of the best educational institutions, Mussoorie has a poetic charm to it. It is a hill station right out of a writer’s imagination. Over the years, Mussoorie too has fallen prey to commercialisation.

The beauty has been marred by tourist spots glorified by guides and brochures. If you are an ardent reader you can go visit the famous author Ruskin Bond. He lives with his adopted family and his house id on the way to Lal Tibba in a Cottage in Landour area. He greets his guests with a smile and always offers a cup of tea. You can sit in his cottage and discuss his life in Mussoorie.

He will tell you the secrets about the hill station that travel guides cannot. But, make sure that you inform the author about your arrival, in case he is travelling and is out of station.

If you are visiting Mussoorie during summers, make sure you have a plan chalked out. As going to the usual tourist spots like Kempty falls can be a bad idea. These falls are thronged by hundreds of tourists. If you are looking for some peace, try wandering in the less taken routes. You can take a walk down trails which will give you a unique experience. Tucked away on the road between Mussoorie and Rishikesh is Kanhatal, with cottages and resorts. Kanhatal offers treks through its forests, drives on forest roads and other such pleasures. You can even try a picnic on the peak of one of the shorter mountains with other mountaintops towering over you.