It has been great fun to select more images and share them. And the encouragement by friends and others has been a tonic. Selecting the ten for this post was a bit of a problem. So I followed the easy route. Random choice. Hope you like them.

A nameless porter. One of the many who carry the luggage and other goods up and down the hills. For a few rupees. Which they get after much haggling. It is difficult to give them my bags to carry. It is even more difficult not to give them the bags. I normally give them one and roll one along myself. Some kind of a balance. In a warped way. This one was clicked by my daughter – April 2011.

Double Century

This cemetery on Camel’s Back Road is nearly 200 years old. One could spend a lifetime digging up the history from the graves. The trees that stand inside are as old or older. Majestic, stately observers of countless events. And stories. Don’t you sometimes wish that you could converse with them? And hear their tales.

Lonely Horse

It is not uncommon to see a horse on the Mall Road among a crowd of people. This one is from 2012. And it seems to be tourist time by the look of the hordes of people around. There was something about this horse that made me click a few shots. Looked like a mighty graceful being to be ferrying people for joyrides. And it also did not look underfed and overworked – as most of his colleagues are.

Silent Streets

After having our usual Maggi with cheese and other stuff and the lemon ginger tea at Char Dukan we decided to walk down to the Mall. It was a balmy evening in April 2011. Somewhere enroute I saw this sight that I had never seen before. Not a soul in sight. Complete silence except some traffic sounds coming from Tehri Road. And the sound of my breathing. It was around nine pm. The hills had gone to sleep early.

Etched

There are some sights that you cannot stop looking at. They remain etched in your mind. Snow clad mountains through a bunch of trees is one of them. One November morning in 2018 walking around the Chakkar – the road that goes around Landour – emerged this sight. It literally emerged because there was dense tree cover before this. I took a few snaps and then stopped. There was no way that I could capture the sheer splendour, power and majesty of these mountains.

Sound of Silence

Looking down from Gunhill we saw Camel’s Back Road meandering along. And then the sun started setting. The last rays lit up distant mountain tops. They were like shafts of light from an old fashioned projector. Except this was a vast open air theatre. There was an occasional sound wafting up the hillside. There was the chirping of an odd bird. There was a gentle breeze. And there was the Sound of Silence.

Shimmering Spread

On many a night the Doon Valley can be seen from Mussoorie. Actually what can be seen is a shimmering spread which tourists excitedly gaze at. While having an ice-cream from a shop across the road. Or taking pictures with the lights. And these days of course taking selfies. It is the kind of place where one can spend hours gazing into the distance. And yet have spent just a few minutes. This one is from November 2009.

Char Dukan

This is a collection of eateries offering noodles, waffles, pizzas, honey ginger lemon tea, fries and other assorted stuff. Oh – and how can one forget the bun omelettes and the Maggi with cheese. My personal favourite – at least 2 cups of honey ginger lemon tea. If you have climbed up on foot the 500 odd feet from the Mall you can polish off a lot of stuff with ease. And if you have driven up you can still do so!  A visit to this spot is non-negotiable. By the side of St Paul’s Church this was once a relaxed place. Now it is a regular tourist stop. The more regular patrons are residents of Landour, the students at the nearby language school and those from the 150 plus year Woodstock School. This night shot is from April 2011.

Through the Window Pane

Very friendly friend from the planet. Wanted to come in and share some breakfast. Was rather persistent too. Kept at it for some time.  There is something not so nice about their habitat being destroyed and their having to find food on dining tables. What would I feel if I had to climb trees for breakfast, lunch and dinner? This one is from 2013.

Bliss

A place of tranquillity on the busy Mall Road. There was so much noise around and people just walking up and down. More than a few times I could not click because someone would wander in between the subject and me. But the child slept on with the bliss and security of the mother’s lap. And the mother got her nap while providing it. The Mussoorie Mall like any other bazaar always provides at least one unexpected scene. One which makes you stop and brings a smile to your face.  July 2015.