Mussoorie

Mussoorie

Mussoorie, like other hill resorts in India, came into existence in the 1820s or thereabouts, when the families of British colonials began making for the hills in order to escape the scorching heat of the plains. Small settlements grew into large stations and were soon vying with each other for the title of “queen of the hills.” Mussoorie’s name derives from the Mansur shrub (Cororiana nepalensis), common in the Himalayan foothills; but many of the house names derive from the native places of those who first built and lived in them. Today, well-to-do Indians own the old houses and estates, many of who follow the lifestyle of their former colonial rulers. In most cases, the old names have been retained.

Take, for instance, the Mullingar. This is not one of the better-preserved buildings, having been under litigation for some years; but it was a fine mansion once, and it has the distinction of being the oldest building in Mussoorie. It was the home of an Irishman, Captain Young, who commanded the first Gurkha battalion when it was in its infancy. As you have probably guessed, he came form Mullingar, in old Ireland, and it was to Ireland that he finally returned, when he gave up his sword and saddle. There is a story that on moonlit nights a ghostly rider can be seen on the Mullingar flat and that this is Captain Young revisiting old haunts.

There must have been a number of Irishmen settling and building with names such as Tipperary, Killarney, Shamrock Cottage and Tara Hall. “The harp that was once in Tara’s Halls” must have sounded in Shimla too, for there is also a Tara Hall in the old summer capital of India.

As everywhere, the Scots were great pioneers in Mussoorie too, and were quick to identify Himalayan hills and meadows with their own glens and braes. There are over a dozen house names prefixed with “Glen.”

The English, of course, went in for castles, there’s Connaught Castle and Grey Castle and Castle Hill, home for a time to the young Sikh prince, Dalip Singh before he went to England to become a protégé of Queen Victoria.

Sir Walter Scott must have been a very popular writer with the British in exile, for there are many houses in Mussoorie that are named after his novels and romances like Kenilworth, Ivanhoe, Woodstock (later an American mission school), Rokeby, Waverly, The Monastery. And there is also Abbotsford named after Scott’s own home.

Dickens lovers must have felt frustrated because they could hardly name their houses Nicholas Nickleby or Martin Chuzzlewit but one Dickens fan did come up with Bleak House for a name, and Bleak it is even to this day.

Mussoorie did have a Dickens connection in the 1850s when Charles Dickens was publishing his magazine Household Words. His correspondent in India was John Lang, a popular novelist and newspaper proprietor, who spent the last years of his life in Mussoorie. His diverting account of a typical Mussoorie “season,” called “The Himalaya Club,” appeared in Household Words in the issue of March 21, 1857.

It is well over 50 years since a person lived in the parsonage and its owner today is Victor Banerjee, the actor, who received an Academy Award nomination for his role in David Lean’s A Passage to India. Victor doesn’t mind his friends calling him the vicar.

This naming of places is never as simple as it may seem. Let’s take Mossy Falls, a small waterfall on the outskirts of the hill station. You might think it was named after the moss that is so plentiful around it, but you’d be wrong. It was really named after Mr. Moss, the owner of the Alliance Bank, who was affectionately known as Mossy to his friends. When, at the turn of the century, the Alliance Bank collapsed, Mr. Moss also fell from grace. “Poor old Mossy,” said his friends, and promptly named the falls after him.

UTTARKASHI

Uttarkashi town, the nerve center of the locality by the same nominate, is more on the pilgrimage circuit than the regular tourist circuit. Nevertheless, with trekking and ice climbing ahead popularity as adventure sports, the significance of this region cannot be discounted. The region has nearly high-altitude lakes and the Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers be in front on to several major peaks to are the hunting proof in favor of serious ice climbing buffs.

Location

To the same degree the nominate suggests, Uttarkashi is considered the northern Kashi or Varanasi. The town is situated on an altitude of 1,550 m on the in shape banks of tributary Bhagirathi. It is a locality located in the extreme northern area of the northern state of Uttarakhand. Its margins besides mark the Indo-Chinese precincts. It is 155 km north of Rishikesh and 100 km from Gangotri, and is unspoken in the Garhwal hills. The winters go on from October to strut, after temperatures fall very low. The monsoons are usually practiced in the months of July and grand.

Sites to Visit

Uttarkashi, like Varanasi, is accepted as a situate in favor of Hindu pilgrimage. Like Varanasi, it too, has a Vishwanath temple. The temple has a magnificent trishul or trident, individual indicator in circumference and made of copper. It ropes a trident four meters long. Each point is all but two meters in strip. Uttarkashi is accepted in favor of its temples out-and-out to Rishi Parasurama, Datatryea, Goddess Annapurna Devi, Goddess Kali, and Bhairon. At individual era, present were 365 temples in this town. The town is besides accepted in favor of its various ashrams, which are the homes of the sanyasis and hermits.

Fairs & Festivals

On Makar Sankranti, which by and large waterfall in January, the town hosts a colorful reasonable, after deities are borne in the air into the town on palanquins from outlying villages.

Adventure Opportunities

Among the accepted treks are folks to Nachiketa Tal, Dodi Tal, Dayara Bugyal (bugyal, a high-altitude meadow), Sat Tal, Kedar Tal, Gangotri-Gaumukh-Nandanvan Tapovan and to Yamunotri (the source of the tributary Yamuna).

Nachiketa Tal can be accessed from Chaurangi-Khal (29 km from Uttarkashi town by road) and a supplementary trek of 3 km through very scenic surroundings. Accommodation is presented on Chaurangi-Khal in a PWD inspection hut. For Dodi Tal, trekkers can verve by road to Kalyani. From at this juncture individual has to verve a supplementary 5 km to Agoda. The trek to Dodi Tal (16 km) ascends slowly but surely from at this juncture through thick forests and scenic hill landscape. The lake, situated on an altitude of 3,307 m, has accommodation facilities by way of a forest remainder accommodation and a log lodge. Permits to fish in favor of trout in this region can be had from Uttarkashi.

Where to Stay

Uttarkashi offers narrow accommodation opportunities. There are mostly various ashrams everyplace charges are quite low. There are a the minority clandestine hotels as well to offer accommodation ranging from avenue to budgetary ones. The food served at this juncture is largely vegetarian, although non-vegetarian food is besides found. Intake of alcohol is not encouraged.

How to Reach

One can access Uttarkashi from Rishikesh by truck. The adjoining airport is Jolly accord in Dehradun. One can take a truck from at this juncture to Rishikesh and at that time proceed supplementary. The railhead is on Rishikesh.

Information

Tourists ought to message to unlike a visit to chairs on the tourist circuit, both provisions and delight may perhaps be dicey in this region. It is advisable therefore to fix up in favor of startling exigencies. For folks who engage in befall up in favor of serious adventure, Uttarkashi affords the go on argument in favor of stocking up provisions, medicines and other needs.

The offices of GMVN and Uttarakhand Tourism can be contacted in favor of supplementary in a row on trekking in this region, the facilities presented on various chairs and more.

Pauri Garhwal

Pauri Garhwal (Uttarakhand)

Garhwal Himalayas say all the time been considered as a place anywhere nature seems to say clever all her inborn beauty.

The ground of Pauri Garhwal is blessed with splendid look at of snow-bound peaks of Himalayas, scenic valleys, surroundings, roundabout rivers, dense forests and unusual friendly persons with rich cultural diversity.

Diverse in scenery, the area of Pauri Garhwal varies from the foothills of the ‘Bhabar ‘areas of Kotdwar to the soul lifting meadows of Doodhatoli, rambling by an altitude of 3,000 m and layer as area of 5 sq. Kms. 

This remains snow-bounded in the winter months. Filled with seats of tourist appeal, as a rule locations in Pauri garhwal offer a astounding look at of snow ladeb Himalayan splendour. The small hill town of Pauri is shaded by oak, deodar and brood forests.

The tourist development offers a panoramic look at of the untold acknowledged and unknown snow clad Himalayan peaks like Hatiparvat, Nilkantha, Choukhamba, Sumeru Parvat, kharchakujnd, kedarnath, Bhrigupanth, Jaunli, Gangotri convene, Thalay Sagar, Bunderpoonch which is really astounding in sunrise and the end of the day. At sunrise the sun seems to be spraying colours on the mountain peaks which appear to be revolving continuously.

Best Time to Visit Pauri

Pauri is greatest visited concerning September and April or even all time ro0und. The monsoons cast a misty spell on the town, a sight worth considering.

If you like to witness snow, afterward propose your tour around January.

How to Reach Pauri

Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun
(153 Kms –Via Srinagar; 130 Kms – Via Deoprayag)

Rail: Nearest Railway Station is Kotdwar (108 Kms)

Road: Pauri is well connected to Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar,Kotdwar and other cities of the region.

Kagthun

Village Kagthun is very beautiful village of pauri Garhwal Now I am sharing some pictures of kagthun village and nearest villages.


Primary School Village Kagthun, Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand, India

Inter College Srikotkhal, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

                                                   Natural Water Source Village Kagthun

Village Kagthun, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

Hill Station, Pauri Garhwal, Uttrakhand

Nearest Market:- Srikotkhal, Ekeshwar, Satpuli

Nearest Villages: Molthi, Chouthi,Era,Gorli,Nandoli,Chameli,Kundoli,Malai,Badoli,Naugaon,Baluli,Kimoli,Basyur,Bantholi

 Molthi Village

 Nandoli Village

 Timla

 Kafal

Kandali

PITHORAGARH

Regarded as a gateway to the north, Pithoragarh is in the inner Himalayas next toxt toxt to a height of 1,851 meters in a spectacular valley, called “Little Kashmir”, in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Some parts of the wardt toxt toxt to a height of 3,000 feet while the others are next toxt toxt to 4,724 meters. The area of the ward6 clearilometers and one-third of it is covered by snow eternally is the foremostmostmost town of a region to facilitateacilitateacilitate borders both Nepal and Tibet. Pithoragarh has a cool climate to facilitateacilitateacilitate makes it comfortable all dayurroundingundingunding. Pithoragarh, digecently, was part of Almora wardarakhand. It was certaininin the status of a separate warduary 1,1960.

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE


Pithoragarh is the passa Kailash and Namik, which is the gateway to the breathtakinginging Milan Glacier. The strategic substancef the Pithoragarh deceptionptionption in the piece of informatione of informatione of information to facilitateacilitateacilitate six passes to Tibet are in this wardtiveee inhabitants accepteddd lucrative trade with Tibet through these passes orith perfectionn Sino-Indian relations, a quantity ofantity ofantity of of the passes owneen re-opened representingresentingresenting trade.

FLORA AND FAUNA


It is rich in vegetationationation and fauna and is famous representingresentingresenting its bugyals or grazing land land land basisvelvet-like whole grass. The area was blockeddd to tourists dig981. But with the start of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, tourist relevanceee in the area is increasing by leaps and bounds.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS


Pithoragarh is famous representingresentingresenting its cultural-religious fairs. These are celebrated all the way throughy throughy through the dayThey are totallyyy rooted in the history, tradition and culture of this area. People celebrate them with gay abandon. Some of these fairs furthermorehermorehermore fulfilll the usee fairs.

At Jaul Jibi, a trade evente evente event is held allumn what time time time knitwearrr, copper pots and small, shaggy-maned Himalayan horses are bought and sold.

SITES TO VISIT


There are a totalf lakes around Pithoragarh. Two of them, Jolingkong and Anchherital are situated next toxt toxt to a height of 4,634 meters and 3,658 meters, in that orderrr. Some beautiful old temples are furthermorehermorehermore scattered around the wardt to the shrine next toxt toxt to Purnagiri, 20 kilometers from Tanakpur, is allegedo head to fulfillment of one’s requirementsmentsments. There is furthermorehermorehermore a Sikh shrine go up top top to Lohaghat called Ritha Sahib, associated with the visit of Guru Nanak. It is allegedo facilitateacilitateacilitate the bitter ritha crookeddd sweet in the same way ase same way ase same way as the strokeee of the Guru.

The white Manu temple is furthermorehermorehermore a locatetete often visited by religious travelers. Duringringring it, is enshrined a powerful goddess brandededed to bring bucket downet downet down to these mountains if appropriatelyatelyately invoked. There is furthermorehermorehermore a fatng erected on the takeext toxt toxt to the vile of a voyage of steps leading to the temple. Here the goddess and her sister from a distant temple swing good-naturedlyredlyredly what time time time the other goddess comes visiting. No solitaryitaryitary can distinguishtinguishtinguish them, but the swing moves!

SITES NEARBY

Baleshwar is 76 kilometers from Pithoragarh on the Tanakpur road. Its temples are the unsurpassedrpassedrpassed examples of hill architecture. They were constructed by the youthfulfulful Chand rajas in the 8th century. At Gangolihat, 77 kilometers from Pithoragarh, is a Shakti peeth established by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple stands amidst a dense deodar forest. Two kilometers away is a furthererer temple - to facilitateacilitateacilitate of Chamunda Devi. It is allegedo facilitateacilitateacilitate the evil forces dominated by the Goddess still dwell in the adjoining caves. Patal Bhubaneshwar, a temple committed to peer of the realm of the realm of the realm Shiva is 14 kilometers from Gangolihat. The way to the temple is through a tunnel. Chemical reactions in the cave ownertaininin rocks the beginningf various Gods and Goddesses.

ALMORA

LOCATION

Almora is one of the three hill districts of Kumaon, the other two being Nainital and Pithoragarh. It is the cultural capital of Kumaon. Almora is also referred to as the unspoilt child of nature. It is situated on a three-mile long horse saddle-shaped ridge and is surrounded by four hill ranges - Banari Devi, Kasar Devi, Shayahi Devi and Katarnal. The three peaks have temples of Goddesses while Katarnal has an ancient Sun temple worth visiting. 

WEATHER

Almora stands at a height of 1,638 meters. It has a moderate and salubrious climate. The best season is April-June and September-November. For those interested in snow views the best time to visit is in early summer and autumn. The rainy season is also very pleasant here.

ORIGIN

Almora was the capital of the Chand dynasty, which ruled Kumaon for more than one thousand years. One remarkable fact about Almora is that while almost all hill stations were discovered and developed by British, Raja Kalyan Chand founded Almora in the year 1568 when he transferred his capital from Champawat to Almora.

Legend has it that about 500 years ago Raja Kalyan Chand, then the ruler of Kumaon with its capital at Champawat, was riding hard in pursuit of prey on this horseshoe shaped spur. The hunted quarry saved itself by taking refuge in a thicket of Kilmora - a wild bush - and revealed to the royal hunter the site of his would-be capital. The origins of settlement in Almora may have been different but the story continues to hold sway in the minds of many of the locals. Bounded by the Kosi and Suyal rivers, the locale of the new capital was well suited strategically. Till the Gurkha onslaught, in the last decade of the 19th century, Almora remained well protected naturally.

TO SEE

Almora is situated in the midst of the Himalayas, the king of mountains and abode of the gods. From time immemorial people have visited this region for peace, solitude and liberation of the soul.

Almora is a good place to conveniently enjoy the spectacular snowscape of the central Himalayas. On a clear day - and most days in Almora are flawless - you can see forever and almost every peak. Almora allows you to enjoy the mighty Himalayas together with ridge after ridge of hills painted in different hues of blue and green. The terraced fields, the stone slatted barrack-like village houses have so far put up a valiant fight against the encroachments of urban expansion and destructive development.

Almora also has some beautiful health resorts. The chief among them is Ranikhet (1,829 meters). Ranikhet literally means queen's field. It is said that a Rani camped here once and gave this name to the city. During the days of the Raj, Ranikhet was a British cantonment.

There are a number of places of tourist interest around Ranikhet. Chaubatia is famous for its orchards; Tarikhet, 8 kilometers away, was once the nerve center of the Freedom Movement. Mahatma Gandhi also lived here for a while; Majkhali presents a fascinating view of snowy peaks and Upat, about six kilometers from Ranikhet, has an exquisite golf course. Kausani, 32 miles from Almora, is situated at a height of 1,890 meters. An enterprising Englishman, Mr. Norman Troop, developed it as a tea garden. Binsar, about 32 kilometers from Almora is situated at height of 2,412 meters. The Chand Rajas used to camp here during summer. It offers a wonderful view of the Himalayas.

Bajinath situated on the banks of the Gomti (a local river) in Garur Valley, is an idyllic place. It is famous for its 13th century temples. Jageshwar has a group of Shiva temples and is on the Almora-Pithoragarh road and is situated in a densely wooded beautiful narrow valley. The temples were constructed in the 13th century. They are a marvel to see for their artistic beauty and craftsmanship. Jageshwar is among the 12-jyotir lingas in the country.

Bageshwar and Sitalakhet are other places of interest. Bageshwar is one of the main camping sites for the journey to Pindari Glacier, which is situated at a height of 3,820 meters. Kafni Glacier is also close by (3,860 meters) and Sitalakhet is the new tourist resort on the Syahi Devi hill.

Almora has a museum that is a storehouse of information about the cultural heritage of Kumaon. There is a deer park on the outskirts of the city. The Nanda Devi temple in the heart of the city is a must for visitors.

ALMORA: A FAVOURITE GETAWAY

Though Almora was established in 1568, much has changed since, but the attractions of Almora have not paled. Swami Vivekananda included it in his itinerary at the turn of this century. His famous lectures - From Almora To Colombo - record that he was stirred as much by the stark beauty of the mountains here as by the ocean at Kanyakumari. The headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, for long, were located at Mayawati Ashram - then in Almora. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore spent a summer to get over the personal grief after the loss of a beloved child and found the environs salubrious. A little later followed the great dancer - choreographer Udaya Shankar. He fell in love with the place and set up a cultural center here and, for a while, sleepy Almora hummed with creative energy. Ravi Shankar, Zohra Sehgal, Simki and the youngster Guru Dutt have all been here. Others have followed in their footsteps. Painters like Brewster, mystics like Lama Govinda and scientists like Boshi Sen. Pundit Nehru had served a term of imprisonment in the Jail at Almora and has left behind an evocative account of the pleasures of solitude and the changing moods of nature in his various letters written from this place.

  AROUND ALMORA  

One can visit the picturesque places around Almora, for sightseeing. Binsar, which has now been designated a sanctuary, is an hour's motor drive from Almora. Binsar hill, locally known as Jhandi Dhar, rises to a height of 2,412 meters and offers a panoramic view of Almora town, the Kumaon hills and the Greater Himalayas. The region around abounds in alpine flora, ferns, hanging moss and innumerable species of wild flowers. An unpaved ridge lined by prosperous private estate reaches the brow. A walk through the woods comprising mostly oak and rhododendron forest, leads to a vantage point at the summit, which offers an uncluttered view of the Himalayan ranges and the surrounding valley. Binsar was the favorite summer resort of the eminent Hindi poet Ajneya.

Way back in 1929, Mahatma Gandhi spent three fruitful weeks at this charming spot called Kausani (51 kilometers from Almora) in the Kumaon hills and described it is India's Switzerland. Today, despite deforestation in the area, Kausani can still lay claim to the title bestowed on it. Quaint villages, orchards laden with fruit and hill slopes covered with pine trees escort one into Kausani. In the distance, snow mantled peaks glitter in the sun and the breeze carries with it much of the cool freshness of the snows.

All through the day the mountains around Kausani seem to change in shape and color. Each change provides an entrancing spectacle and induces a deeper communion with nature. The Anakshakti Ashram atop a hill where the Mahatma stayed commands one of the most magnificent views of the mountain ranges around Kausani. The vast sweep of the Mountain View (simply called "The View" locally), which encompasses a remarkable 350 kilometers at Kausani, is the central point of attraction in this little hill station.

All round are gentle walks where a profusion of wild flowers keep one company. There are shady paths carpeted with pine needles and in the air is the wonderful, inimitable fragrance of pine. Terraced fields add a distinctive touch to the pastoral picture around.

VISITING ALMORA

The nearest airport is a Pant Nagar (Nainital). Regular flights operate during the summer.

The nearest railhead for Almora is Kathgodam.

Almora is well connected with all-important cities by road.

There are hotels, Inspection Bungalows, private cottages available to suit all budgets.

Mussoorie

Mussoorie

Mussoorie, like other hill resorts in India, came into existence in the 1820s or thereabouts, when the families of British colonials began making for the hills in order to escape the scorching heat of the plains. Small settlements grew into large stations and were soon vying with each other for the title of “queen of the hills.” Mussoorie’s name derives from the Mansur shrub (Cororiana nepalensis), common in the Himalayan foothills; but many of the house names derive from the native places of those who first built and lived in them. Today, well-to-do Indians own the old houses and estates, many of who follow the lifestyle of their former colonial rulers. In most cases, the old names have been retained.

Take, for instance, the Mullingar. This is not one of the better-preserved buildings, having been under litigation for some years; but it was a fine mansion once, and it has the distinction of being the oldest building in Mussoorie. It was the home of an Irishman, Captain Young, who commanded the first Gurkha battalion when it was in its infancy. As you have probably guessed, he came form Mullingar, in old Ireland, and it was to Ireland that he finally returned, when he gave up his sword and saddle. There is a story that on moonlit nights a ghostly rider can be seen on the Mullingar flat and that this is Captain Young revisiting old haunts.

There must have been a number of Irishmen settling and building with names such as Tipperary, Killarney, Shamrock Cottage and Tara Hall. “The harp that was once in Tara’s Halls” must have sounded in Shimla too, for there is also a Tara Hall in the old summer capital of India.

As everywhere, the Scots were great pioneers in Mussoorie too, and were quick to identify Himalayan hills and meadows with their own glens and braes. There are over a dozen house names prefixed with “Glen.”

The English, of course, went in for castles, there’s Connaught Castle and Grey Castle and Castle Hill, home for a time to the young Sikh prince, Dalip Singh before he went to England to become a protégé of Queen Victoria.

Sir Walter Scott must have been a very popular writer with the British in exile, for there are many houses in Mussoorie that are named after his novels and romances like Kenilworth, Ivanhoe, Woodstock (later an American mission school), Rokeby, Waverly, The Monastery. And there is also Abbotsford named after Scott’s own home.

Dickens lovers must have felt frustrated because they could hardly name their houses Nicholas Nickleby or Martin Chuzzlewit but one Dickens fan did come up with Bleak House for a name, and Bleak it is even to this day.

Mussoorie did have a Dickens connection in the 1850s when Charles Dickens was publishing his magazine Household Words. His correspondent in India was John Lang, a popular novelist and newspaper proprietor, who spent the last years of his life in Mussoorie. His diverting account of a typical Mussoorie “season,” called “The Himalaya Club,” appeared in Household Words in the issue of March 21, 1857.

It is well over 50 years since a person lived in the parsonage and its owner today is Victor Banerjee, the actor, who received an Academy Award nomination for his role in David Lean’s A Passage to India. Victor doesn’t mind his friends calling him the vicar.

This naming of places is never as simple as it may seem. Let’s take Mossy Falls, a small waterfall on the outskirts of the hill station. You might think it was named after the moss that is so plentiful around it, but you’d be wrong. It was really named after Mr. Moss, the owner of the Alliance Bank, who was affectionately known as Mossy to his friends. When, at the turn of the century, the Alliance Bank collapsed, Mr. Moss also fell from grace. “Poor old Mossy,” said his friends, and promptly named the falls after him.