Memories Unlimited in Uttarakhand

It was a beautiful morning, which seemed even more beautiful for several reasons. For one, summers were approaching! As the cool breeze brushed past, it immediately put a smile on my face - I could finally get rid of those boring sweaters! The weather was perfect for a trip to the mountains. Our bags were packed and we were headed to the railway station to board our train to Dehradun to explore the beautiful Doon Valley, the shimmering rivers, rivulets and the enchanting hill temples.

The hills of Uttarakhand make for a charming getaway.February to April is the best time to visit the hills of Uttarakhand. Rains are yet to create a mess and for all of us who come from hot states like Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, the hills offer a respite from the scorching heat. Interestingly, this is also the season for a number of local and national festivals that people celebrate with utmost enthusiasm. While we had no plans to attend a festival on the trip, we were lucky and got to attend a local festival, Phool Dei, which falls in mid-March.

After a rejuvenating outing at Kempty Falls, we headed to Mussoorie, where we visited a friend for a day. It was a pleasant coincidence for we got to be part of Phool Dei celebrations at her house and neighbourhood.

One thing that I love about Indian festivals is that no matter which region or religion you belong to, there is always space for an eager soul to be a part of the festivity. My friends and I got talking with the ladies of the neighbourhood who told us that the festival was celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra. In a way, I think, it is a celebration of harvest and the welcoming of spring. Young girls dressed up for the day and sang folk songs called chatis and gently threw flowers and rice puffs or kheel. They prayed for the wellbeing of their brothers and families and were given money and sweets in return. The scene reminded me of the navratra poojas when as a young girl, I would be invited by the neighbours for prasad of kheer, chole and puri.

There, I was thinking about delicious prasad and soon enough a lady brought plates of a delicious-smelling pudding – dei. So that’s the mystery of the name of the festival! Made out of jaggery and milk, the dish was quite something. In the evening, the girls of the neighbourhood danced to folk songs. Being dance lovers ourselves, it did not take much urging for us to get up and shake a leg.

The Kempty Falls, 15km away from Mussoorie, make for a fun picnic spot. Photo Credit: Bijoy Mohan / FlickrOn our long tour to Uttrakhand, there was everything from the ropeway ride and unlimited splashing at Kempty Falls to the street food and shopping at Mussoorie’s Mall Road, from bungee jumping at Rishikesh (not for me though, the height scared the peeves out of me) to the spectacular morning aarti at Harki Paudi... but the decorated doorsteps, lively music, heart-warming people and the delicious food we enjoyed during the festival, made us feel very much at home.

A Day At FRI Dehradun & Mussoorie

Holidays are better planned, and getaways are better unplanned. At least that’s what I feel after my recent jaunt to Dehradun and Mussoorie over the last weekend. It was unexpected, it was unplanned, and it was unlike any of those usual holidays.

With the idea of backpacking to the lofty hills of Mussoorie, I took an overnight bus and got off at Dehradun early Saturday morning. As most of the lodging facilities in Mussoorie tend to get packed during the weekends, I headed straight to the guest house at Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, where a dear relative had successfully managed to book a V.I.P. suite for me, that too on such a short notice.

FRI Museum CompoundAt first look, the Forest Research Institute seems more like a Roman mansion spread out over 450 hectares of verdant green land, with the immaculate architecture only adding to the scenic beauty of the campus which serves as a research institute for scientific forestry.

For those who are interested in gaining an insight on forestry, it has the following six museums which showcase various aspects of forestation:

• Pathology Museum
• Social Forestry Museum
• Silviculture Museum
• Timber Museum
• Non-Wood Forest Products Museum
• Entomology Museum

After spending a full day exploring the lush greenery and understanding the concepts of vegetation and forestation, I went for a stroll to Rajpur Road, the “upmarket” area of Dehradun which has an array of shops, showrooms and dining places, something like the Sector - 18 of Noida or South-Ex in Delhi. But that’s not exactly what I came looking for, so I trudged back to the guest house.

Road to MussoorieEarly next morning, I was off to the quaint hill station of Mussoorie. The uphill drive in an age-old Ambassador was indeed nauseating, with the driver having to stop the car multiple times to attend to an ever-thirsty radiator. Once in Mussourie, I grabbed a quick bite and headed straight to Gun Hill, a hilltop that offers panoramic views of the Mall Road, the verdant valleys and the Himalayas. One can either take the ropeway or walk up the bridleway to the view point.

My next stop was Kempty Falls, a cascading waterfall which is located about 15-odd kilometers away from the hill station. Regarded as the most popular tourist attraction in Mussoorie, I was disappointed to see that heavy commercialisation and an influx of irresponsible tourists has taken a toll over the natural beauty of this scenic spot. A shower under the waterfall is a must for those who are looking to have fun.

I returned to the Mall Road in Mussoorie to shop for some local handicrafts, which seemed to be largely iView of Mussoorienspired by the Tibetan culture. The Mall Road has plenty of shops and showrooms offering everything from gift items to garments, hand-made souvenirs and antiques. Bargaining, as in most parts of India, is a norm here.

The tour concluded with a whirling downhill drive to Dehradun, followed by an overnight bus ride to Delhi, and of course, Memories Unlimited!