April 2nd, 2024: The Journey Begins

The D-day had arrived, and we were ready to embark on our Uttarakhand adventure. With our bags packed and spirits high, we booked an Uber. However, the app kept loading, making me a little worried. I quickly tried Ola. Boom! We got a cab on the first attempt. During the drive, the driver mentioned we were lucky, as there was an IPL match in Bangalore that day, which usually made finding cabs quite a challenge.

We reached the back gate of the railway station and made our way to platform 8. We had booked Second AC tickets, and to our surprise, the compartment was full. My daughter and I shared a bed (though she had her own), and the food served on the train was really good. As we woke up, the sight outside the train window was a treat. The sun was rising, casting beautiful orange hues across the landscape. We sipped on hot tea and nibbled on biscuits, savoring the serene morning.

Morning bliss: sipping tea while watching the sunrise from a train window.

The upanayanam function went well. The ceremony was touching, and it was wonderful to be part of such a significant family event. After a long, fulfilling day, we returned to our room in the night. Following advice, we booked a scheduled cab for the next morning’s trip to the airport and went to bed, excited for the journey ahead.

From my cousin’s balcony: Building a forest by destroying another.

April 4th, 2024: Onto Uttarakhand

We woke up early and were ready by 7 AM. The cab was already waiting outside, and we reached the airport by 8:30 AM. Check-in and security were extremely smooth, allowing us plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before boarding our first flight to Delhi.

Upon landing in Delhi, an expected challenge awaited us. We arrived at Terminal 1, but our connecting flight was departing from Terminal 2. This meant we had to exit Terminal 1 and reenter Terminal 2 using a private bus service. Though I felt a bit anxious about the tight 2-hour layover, it turned out to be more than sufficient.

We smoothly transitioned to our next flight, and no sooner had we taken off the captain announced we were approaching Dehradun and asked everyone to fasten their seat belts. Around twilight, we touched down in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand, signalling the beginning of our new adventure.

As soon as we stepped off the airplane, the first thing we noticed was the calmness of the tarmac, with only a couple of other planes in sight—a stark contrast to the bustling Bangalore runway. The baggage collection process was equally smooth, allowing us to quickly retrieve our luggage. We called our driver, who was already waiting in the parking lot.

We introduced ourselves, knowing he would be our companion for the next 13 days. Our vehicle was a Swift Dzire, and although we had quite a few trolleys, we managed to fit everything comfortably, utilizing the luxury of the empty front passenger seat.

With everything in place, we set off for Mussoorie. As we exited the airport, we were immediately greeted by the lush forests and winding ghats. It was a beautiful and serene way to begin our trip.

Touchdown at Dehradun: Finally seeing the Himalayas up close. Here we come!

The ghats wound up like a long serpentine road, with thin traffic as we started our ascent. Although the distance to Mussoorie was only about 60 kilometers, the climb took almost two hours. I was using my mobile on and off, and as expected, I began to feel extremely nauseous, eventually vomiting twice. After that, I decided that for the rest of the trip, I wouldn’t use my mobile while on the road.

We decided to take a break midway to soak in the atmosphere. The air was cool, windy, and chilly, providing a refreshing change from the city’s heat. From our vantage point, the entire town of Dehradun below us was buzzing with artificial lights, creating a mesmerising view. It was a perfect moment to pause and appreciate the serene beauty surrounding us before continuing our journey.

From the mountains, Dehradun city sparkles with lights.

After a couple of hours, we finally reached our destination in Mussoorie. However, a new surprise awaited us: taxis are not allowed on the Mall Road, and our stay was at the topmost point on the Mall Road. This meant we had to hire a couple of cycle rickshaws to carry our luggage and ourselves for about a kilometer. From there, we needed to take a hotel taxi to reach our accommodation, the Club Mahindra Resort.

Despite the unexpected detour, our spirits were lifted as soon as we entered the hotel. We were greeted by friendly staff and offered hot lemon tea, which was just what we needed after our journey. We checked into our rooms, cozy and welcoming, and promptly ordered dinner. The rotis, naans, and gravies were incredibly delicious, and the bed heaters provided much-needed warmth.

A cozy, spacious room – just what we needed after a long, tiring day.

It was the perfect way to end a long and eventful day, setting the tone for the exciting days ahead.

April 4th, 2024: Site seeing at Mussoorie

The next morning, we got ready and headed for breakfast. The resort was vibrant and colourful, so we ordered our food and took some time to capture pictures of the picturesque surroundings. In the daylight, we caught our first glimpse of the Himalayas, which looked incredibly daunting and majestic before our eyes.

A miniature of our stay. It’s true, one of the rooms is at the absolute top. I wonder how much that would cost.

And the reality: we’re somewhere in the middle. Colorful and vibrant.

Morning breakfast: Yummy masala uthappam.

The Mighty Himalayas

Cars are not allowed on the Mall Road; they are parked next to the library.

After enjoying our breakfast, we retraced our steps to reach our cab. First, the resort taxi dropped us off partway, and then a rickshaw took us to the main road. Our driver was waiting for us at the agreed-upon location. The plan for the morning was to visit Kempty Falls and the Company Garden, and with excitement, we set off to explore these attractions.

The roads inside Mussoorie are all broken and with overnight drizzles, it was slushy too. Once we were little far, the road started wounding like the previous night but the tarmac got better. Now we were on the route that would take us to Yamunotri, one of the Chardham site. Since this is an off season, there were fewer vehicles.

The Kempty Falls

Kempty Falls is approximately 15 kilometers from our stay, and it took us about 45 minutes to reach there. We stopped about a kilometer before the falls to take in the panoramic view. The falls, surrounded by mountains and lush vegetation, appeared minuscule from our vantage point.

View of Kempty Falls from a scenic vantage point.

When we arrived at the falls, we encountered a highly commercialized path leading down, lined with numerous shops. It reminded me of the bustling scenes in Ooty or Kodaikanal. To reach the falls, we had to descend over 250 steps. Getting down was easy enough, thanks to gravity.

At the bottom, the scene was quite chaotic, with a throng of people jumping in and out of the water. Not wanting to take any risks, we decided against joining them. Though there were changing rooms and clothes available for purchase, the area was simply too crowded. Despite these inconveniences, the view of the falls was stunning and worth the trip.

Refreshing, icy waters cascading from the summit.

After soaking in the sights for a while, we began our ascent back up. The climb was much more challenging than the descent. Huffing and puffing, we finally made it to the top. Despite the chilly weather, we were sweating from the effort. Once we caught our breath, we got back into the car and set off for our next destination, the Company Garden.

The Company Garden

We reached the Company Garden and started our visit with a small cup of limed channa chaat. It was delicious. The garden reminded me of the botanical garden in Ooty, albeit on a smaller scale.

My daughter enjoyed playing on the rides, and we indulged in some kulhad tea, which would became a habit for the next few days. We found ourselves savoring this delightful tea at almost every available opportunity.

After the rides, we explored deeper into the garden, which only became more beautiful. It was filled with numerous fountains and vibrant flowers. One particular section of the garden captivated us with its enchanting flowers, displaying a kaleidoscope of colors. The meticulous maintenance of the garden made the experience even more enjoyable.

Mystical !!!

A wide array of vibrant flowers in full bloom.

All the walking left us hungry, so we headed to the garden canteen for a piping hot bowl of soupy Maggi. It was the perfect way to warm up our body.

The Shedup Choephelling Temple

Our next stop was Shedup Choephelling Temple, a beautiful Buddhist shrine. Since it was our first visit to a Buddhist temple, we felt a little lost at first but decided to follow the actions of other visitors. We admired the prayer bells and the huge monolith statue of Buddha, which radiated a sense of peace and tranquility.

Prayer Bells

The temple’s location added to its serene atmosphere. Perched at the top, it offered breathtaking views of the valley, lush with greenery. The combination of the temple’s spiritual ambiance and the natural beauty surrounding it made for a truly serene experience.

We returned to our room via the same route: our driver dropped us near the Mall Road, then we took a cycle rickshaw for part of the distance, and finally, the resort cab picked us up. That after noon, we slept well, but when I woke up, I wasn’t feeling great. The real cold had hit me hard, and my throat was so sore that I couldn’t even swallow water.

I decided to stay back in the room, where the room and mattress heaters provided immense comfort and helped me stay warm. Meanwhile, Preethi and our daughter went to the resort play area and had some fun. We had dinner together, and before calling it a day, I contacted our family doctor and noted down the necessary medicines.