|
 |
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Uttaranchal) Fast Facts
IntroductionThis is a hill station you can't fail falling in love with. A perfect 10 for a hill station is perhaps what describes Mussoorie best. No wonder it is also called the 'Queen of the Hills'. Watching the breath taking snow capped peaks, trekking through its magnificent forests, strolling down the bustling markets and soaking in the beauty of the hills, what else can a tourist ask for ! It is one of the most beautiful hill resorts in India that has found its way into many of the books written by the well-known Ruskin Bond. LocationMussoorie lies about 34 kilometres north of Dehradun, the capital of Uttarachal. Mussoorie offers beautiful views of the snow capped Himalayan peaks on the one side and Doon valley on the other. HistoryMussoorie is one of the oldest hill stations established by the Britishers. An adventure lover army officer Captain Young discovered the hill station in 1827. He was an adventurous British military officer who, together with a Mr. Shore, the resident Superintendent of Revenues at Dehradun, explored the present site and jointly constructed a shooting lodge. This laid the foundation of this mesmerising holiday resort which now has few rivals. The name Mussoorie is also often attributed to a derivation of 'mansoor', a shrub which is indigenous to the area. The town is in fact often referred to as 'Mansoori' by locals. Sites to Visit is one of the exciting places in Mussoorie that you must visit. Dotted with a number of shops, Mall is the heart of Mussoorie. It offers excellent views of the snow capped peaks and the Doon Valley below. It is a great place to watch the setting sun. As stars twinkle above the Mussoorie sky, Doon Valley below presents a fine interplay of lights. The Kulri Bazar and the Library Chowk are other two interesting places that you should not miss. is located atop one of the highest peaks of Mussorie. You can choose to reach the hill the way you like. You can either take the cable car or trek up to the Gun Hill. A horse ride on the Camel's Back Road that stretches from Kulri Bazar to Library Bazar is another exciting activity that one can enjoy. You can also spend some time at Lal Tibba, which is an ideal picnic place. and Cloud End are other two tourist attractions that you can visit. Mussoorie is also known for its academic institutions that include the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Waverley Convent, Wynberg Allen School, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Academy and the Defence Institute of Work Studies. When on a tour to Mussoorie, you can travel to nearby tourist attractions.Kempty Falls is one of the most popular tourist attractions that most travelers visit. Kempty Falls is 18 kilometres from Mussoorie. The other nearby attractions that you can visit include Surkhanda Devi Temple, Nag Tibba, Dhanaulti, Jwalaji Temple, Van Chentna Kendra and Nag Devta Temple. The Mall offers a number of items that you can shop for. Some of the items you can shop for include walking sticks, sweaters, hand-knit cardigans and cane baskets. Tibetan Street also offers a number of items. Mussoorie is also a wonderful destination for adventure sports. Tourists can enjoy skating and trekking. Mussoorie has a number of rinks. Mussoorie is also an ideal place for trekkers. The Jolly Grant, near Dehradoon, is the nearest airport to Mussoorie. You can travel to Mussoorie by rail, nearest Railway Station being Dehradoon, or road. Mussoorie is well connected with other major towns by road.
If you wish for a more serene surrounding than the vibrant Mussoorie, this is the place for you. Surrounded by fragrant pine and deodar forests, this secluded resort is far removed from the bustle of Shimla is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864 Shimla was declared the summer capital of the erstwhile British Raj in India. It is located in north-west Himalayas at an altitude of 2,130 metres (6,988 ft), draped in forests of pine, rhododendron, and oak. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture reminiscent of the colonial era. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes in India. It is approximately 115 km (71.4 miles) from Chandigarh, the nearest major city, and 365 km (226.8 miles) from New Delhi, the national capital. All visitors to Shimla inevitably walk down the Mall, the main promenade that runs along the top of the ridge - a busy shopping area with old colonial buildings, souvenir shops and restaurants. At the top end of the Mall is Scandal Point, a large open square with a view of the town - a favourite rendezvous for visitors and the local people. It has a breath taking view of the Himalayas. Overlooking it is the elegant Christ Church with its fine stained glass windows. The labyrinth of Shimla's bazaars spill over the edge of the Mall. The steep climb to Jakhoo Hill, Shimla's highest point, is rewarding for superb views of the town and its surroundings. At the top is an old Hanuman temple. (2 Km / 1.2 mile) A pretty picnic spot beyond Annandale is located in the thickly wooded Glen, beside a sparkling stream. (4 Km / 2.4 mile) The quiet and lovely suburb of Summer Hill has secluded, shady walks and charming views. It was here that Gandhiji stayed on his visits to Shimla, in the elegant Gergorian mansion that belonged to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur. Summer Hill is located on the Shimla - Kalka railway line. (5 Km / 3 mile) It lies just beyond Summer Hill and is 67 m in height, cascading into a deep gorge. The Falls are best seen after the monsoon. (7 Km/4 mile) Housed in the Gothic splendour of the Viceregal Lodge is the Indian Institute of Advanced studies, India's premier academy for higher research. On the Shimla - Kalka road is the famous "Lord Hanuman" temple. It commands an excellent view of Shimla town. The place can be reached by Bus/Taxi. (7 Km) A 15 minute climb from Boileauganj, Prospect Hill is another favorite walk and vantage point with breath-taking views. There is little temple to Kamna Devi on the top of the hill (5 Km/3 mile) In olden times this village was known as Markul and as the name of local goddess is Markula Devi. The temple here is unique and famous for its wooden carving on its roof and ceiling. Raja Udai Singh of Chamba changed its name. This place is situated near the confluence of Chenab and Mayar Nallah. It is the starting point for Mayar valley and further on to Zanskar and other peaks. It has a rest house and some hotels and is a good resting place. Some years back the road was only up to this point and from here the trekking expeditions to different areas used to start. Now the road is under construction beyond this place and the bus goes upto Tindi. This road has now been connected up to Killar, which is the meeting point of another roads; one from Kishtwar (J&K) and from Chamba over the Sach pass. It is situated at 8,602 ft, 17 km away from Shimla, amidst vast expanse Nainital is a glittering jewel in the Himalyan necklace, blessed with scenic natural splendour and varied natural resources. It is a hill resort in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and is situated at an altitude of 1,938 metres (6,358 feet) above sea level. Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are Naina (2,615 m (8,579 ft)) on the north, Deopatha (2,438 m (7,999 ft)) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2,278 m (7,474 ft)) on the south. Nainital has earned the epithet of 'Lake District' of India. The most prominent of the lakes is Naini Lake ringed by hills. Nainital has a varied topography. Some of the important places in the district are Nainital, Haldwani, Kaladhungi, Ramnagar, Bhowali, Ramgarh, Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal. Nainital’s unending expanse of scenic beauty is nothing short of a romance with awe-inspiring and pristine Mother Nature. Nainital was discovered by Mr. P. Barron, a European merchant and an enthusiastic hunter from Places Of InterestNaini Lake :This lake is said to be one of the emerald green eyes of Shiva's wife, Sati (naina is Snow View :From here one can see a close up view of Nanda Devi (7816m), which was, as the old brass plate here  Naina Peak :Naina Peak is also known as the China peak This is the highest point in Nainital. From here Nainital appears as a bowl. You can walk or take ponies to the peak. From this peak you can capture the exciting views of Nainital. Naina peak also gives a good view of the Camelback peak. There are no hotel or restaurant on the top, so carry food and water along with you. Top Binsar
95 kms from Nainital, Binsar is one of the most scenic spot in the Kumoun Himalayas and acclaimed hill
Bhimtal
It is located about 22 Kms from Nainital and 11 Kms from Bhowali at an altitude of 1370 mts. The pride of Bhimtal is a beautiful lake, which offers magnificent vistas for tourists. The lake is larger than Naini Lake. There is an island amid lake, and a restaurant is located atop it. The distance of island from lakeshore is 91 mts. There is also a 17th century Bhimeshwar temple complex along the 40 feet high dam. Top |
Website designed & developed by Digital Glow |
Mussoorie. 08 kms from Dhanauti is the shrine of Surkhanda Devi at a height of 8,000 feet. While it can be approached by car up to Kaddu Khal, the last two-kilometre stretch has to done on foot.
of ancient cedar forests, bringing back memories of day long picnics, horse riding & languorous walk during lazy hazy summer holidays. Mahasu peak, the highest point in Kufri ,makes a challenging hike. When the sky is crystal clear, one can see the views of snow clad peaks of Badrinath & Kedarnath. The hills come alive with shouts of young voices throwing snow balls on each other during winter season. Kufri also provide finest ski slopes thus attracting ski lovers from all over the country during the sking season. 
Rosa, near Shahjahanpur, in the year 1841. Mr. P. Barron was the first European who took great fancy to this land. Moved by the beauty of the sparkling lake he wrote: "It is by far the best site I have witnessed in the course of a 1,500 miles trek in the Himalayas." Very less is known about the history of Nainital. The name "NAINI" is derived from a temple to the goddess 'Naini Devi" built on the upper edge of the lake which was destroyed by the landslip of 1880. It was subsequently replaced by a modern structure. The word "Naini" means 'Eyes' and 'Tal' means 'Lake'. 
Sanskrit for eye). When Sati's father failed to invite Shiva to a family sacrifice, she burnt herself to death in protest. Shiva gathered the charred remains in his arms and proceeded to engage in a cosmic dance, which threatened to destroy the world. To terminate the dance, Vishnu chopped up the body into pieces, and the remains were scattered across India. The modern Naina Devi Temple at the northern end of the lake is built over the precise spot where the eye is believed to have fallen. 
tells you, 'the highest mountain in the British empire'. Nanda Devi was India's highest peak until Sikkim (and thus Kanchenjunga) was absorbed into the country. There's a small marble temple dedicated to Dev Mundi housing images of Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva, Goddess Sita, Lord Rama, Sri Lakshmana and Sri Hanuman. From Snow View you can walk west to another point and then continue on to the main road to Kilbury. From here you could continue up to China Peak or head down the road to Sukhatal, passing great views of the lake in route. A walk up to Snow View 
can take in the tiny Gadhan Kunkyop Ling Gompa of the Gelukpa order (of which the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader). Take the road uphill from the hotel city heart, from where a path branches off towards the gompa (the colorful prayers flags are visible from the road). The gompa serves Nainital's small Tibetan community. Most of the Tibetan families travel to Nainital in the summer season to sell sweaters and shawls, and in winter descends to the plains. 
resorts. At an elevation of 2412 mts, this place offers an excellent view of Kumaoun hills and the greater Himalayas, surrounded by Alpine flora, ferns, hanging moss & species of wild flowers. The main attaraction of Binsar is the majestic view of the Himalayas. A three hundred kms stretch of famous peaks which includes Kedranath, Chaukhamba, Trishul, Nandadevi, Nandakot & Pachachuli. The forests of Himalayan Oak and rhododendron are excellent for trekking and communing with nature.