Though I have travelled to many hill stations in the Himalayas there is a special connection to Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. In fact, this connection is not limited to me. My entire family feels the same – or even a stronger — connection. I first visited Mussoorie as a part of a theatre troupe performing at various schools located there. This was somewhere in 1974 – 1975. Those were fun times. And Mussoorie was very very different. After that it has been a regular haunt.

Over these years I have clicked away with the sheer luxury that digital photography brings you. The earlier years had few photographs — with rolls of 36 exposures having to be managed with great care. Simply because they burnt a big hole in a small pocket. In Covid times I decided that it would be good to pull out the moments and revisit the years. So here is the first collection of Mussoorie Moments. These have selected as independent moments and not as one story. Each picture has a story or a feeling associated with it. There is no order or pattern. Just an unpredictable sequence – much like what happens in the hills.

I hope that all those who love Mussoorie and the Himalayas will enjoy browsing through this. And rediscover and relive their own memories.

This one is dedicated to my wife Seema. She is the spirit and energy behind our Mussoorie connection.

Along The Ganga Canal

By road from New Delhi Mussoorie is about 300 kms away. Though there are many routes, our personal favourite is the Canal Road. This branches off just after Muradnagar and joins back the highway at Khatauli. If you desire you can also continue on this road till Roorkee. A not so wide road it travels along the Ganga Canal. Away from the hustle and bustle of the highway. And with such trees on the way. So majestic and so graceful. Even when there are no leaves. Wonder what it would be like when in full bloom?

Last Coach View

If you are going from Delhi to Mussoorie the Shatabdi Express leaves from Platform 16 of New Delhi Railway station at 6.50 am. For Dehradoon. Once it reaches at about 1 pm it is a couple of hours to Mussoorie by road. Mostly in an old Ambassador cab driven by a driver of similar vintage. But I get ahead of myself. At the place where the train starts the upward gradient before Dehradoon we get a charge in our heartbeat. Even if it is the hundredth time that I have been on the journey. I cannot explain it. But then some feelings are best not explained. The journey itself is an experience as you pass through bustling towns and lazy fields. Meerut Cantt, Saharanpur Junction, Roorkee and Haridwar are some of the stations enroute. Each with a rich history and a vibrant present.

Inexplicable

Appetising

For some strange reason the breakfast on the Shatbadi tastes much better than it should. It is a bit greasy, the bread is not crisp enough, the omelette is not fluffy enough, the fries are soggy, the sauce is more potatoes than tomatoes. The tray is so small that the cutlery keeps falling down if you move something by an inch. Especially when the train goes clickity clack over the joints. And yet I would not miss it for anything in the world. I guess the emotions it evokes make up for the taste. In a big way.

Cloud Curtain

This was one afternoon that turned dark in minutes. As the clouds came rolling in March 2010. Between the clouds and the hills there was a band of light with visibility extending many kilometres. Till the rain started and formed a flowing curtain. For the next hour there was the constant pitter patter on the tin roof above. And the occasional clearing of the clouds which told me that there was still a world beyond. It had a mystical meditative quality.

Celestial Fireworks

One night in August 2007 the rain came down heavily. There was thunder and lightning. In the hills this brings many thoughts. Some soothing, some sinister. When the lightning flashes the hills, the buildings, the trees come alive. Only to be lost again in a moment. What remains in the darkness is the sound of gurgling water from the drain from the roof. As it flows away to somewhere far away. I had not taken a tripod on this trip. This photo was taken with the cameras placed precariously on top of a suitcase. Which in turn was balanced on a chair in the balcony.

Generation Apart

Cheerful man who was happy to chat about Mussoorie. And pose for me. With the trusted multipurpose umbrella a constant companion. He had anecdotes to share. And would have gone on for hours. Except that we had to rush to catch a train or something equally banal. Which was a real pity. Sometimes I feel that the units of time and distance are different in the hills. For city folks time is measured in hours and minutes. For the hill folks the unit of time is days or parts of a day. Distance is not measured in terms of kms. The destination is always around the next bend!

Sun, Hills, Clouds

This is the sun finally going down behind alternating layers of hills and clouds. The camera entry says at six pm on 24th October 2015. And I have no reason to doubt that. By some chance Lal Tibba was devoid of people – and noise. There was just a shop open with lemon ginger tea being served. And a lone person walking a dog. Of course, there were a couple of fierce looking but friendly hill dogs hanging around. They did not disturb us and we did not disturb them. Which was a perfect arrangement. And a perfect setting till one had to reluctantly leave for the guest house nearby.

Fursat – Free Time

The English translation does not capture the tranquillity of the word Fursat. Walking down Kulri Bazar there are shops of all variety. There are also nooks, corners and shelves masquerading as shops. As I trundled down one afternoon from Char Dukan at Landour I saw this salon. Next to a shop selling bags in as many colors as you care to imagine. A decade later the feeling of peace that the scene evoked has stayed with me. A browsing of the newspaper and a lazy snooze. When yesterday’s news was current news and afternoons were not meant for catching up on WhatsApp. And you could also take care of a customer if one walked in! What could be a better work life balance I ask you?

Half Plus Moon

You are closer to the moon by just about 5000 feet as compared to the plains. That is not much considering that it is 384,400 kms away. But somehow it does look much bigger and much closer if you are in the hills. This click is from 2013 from a spot near Lal Tibba. The silver hemisphere was sort of stuck — in an endless expanse of darkness. Since there were no clouds, there was no sign of any movement. Everything was still and silent. So still and so silent that the click of the camera was disturbing. When I pressed the button I felt that I was intruding into another world.

For a Change

As I ambled down the path in Landour my name was called out and my wife clicked this. A change for me since I am normally on the other side of the camera. This snap has stayed for me. Because it captured just the right ambience. A leisurely stroll down the hills, hands in pockets, song on the lips, the smell of rain the nostrils and not a care in the world. And with such a gorgeous backdrop. Rain had just stopped and the green of the trees was the lush, abundant, rich green that is so enriching. !5th August 2016.