A day at Landour

lal tibba a view to capture

snow -capped mountains

Breathtaking , it was , the snow-capped mountains, picturesque surrounding I could feel love in the air. Though I have been to Mussorie many times but this part of heaven remained unexplored.

Landour, which was a Cantonment town in British India was named after a village called Llanddowror in south-west Wales. Lost in the mists of Himalayas, draped in the scarlet red color of rhododendrons & thick deodars, Landour reminds you of the British Raj. A 5-kilometer steep drive or walk from the crowded bazaars of Mussoorie, it’s a different world of peace and lush views.

Landour should be on every mountain lover bucket list. This beautiful town is the home of famous writer " Ruskin Bond".

A mystic view

The “Europeans” made a point of preventing Indians (even the royal families) from building in Landour, and so there is not a single residence of an Indian prince in Landour, which can only be found in Mussoorie.
But apart from the Europeans, there is also a strong American influence (especially religious) in Landour. Missionaries, mostly from Presbytarian and Baptist churches, have been active here.

After staying in Mussorie we headed towards Landour. I was awestruck at the beauty of the serene place. It was morning so we headed straight to Landour bakehouse. My daughter had been here earlier and loved the scrumptious delicacy of this place. We had Cheese and garlic croissant,  Chelsea buns , brownies and apple pie with hot cup of latte. Infact we wanted to taste everything that was available there.. yummy it was indeed

creativity at its best

eye-catching

dreamy shops

. Apart from the food the ambiance was eye-catching . It was a blend of the owners great taste and sense of humor. The narrow mystic lane just outside the bake house led to dreamy shops . A small distance away, the Jabharkhet Reserve offers great hiking trails with a hope of seeing some unique flora and fauna. You may get lucky in spotting some leopards or stunning woodpeckers pecking those preserved Pine trees. The rhododendron lined paths also, allow you glimpses of the Himalayan peaks.we also visited the scenic Red Hill or the Lal Tibba is so called owing to its colour at sunrise and sunset. This is a perfect vantage point for one to spot the 4 epic peaks of Himalayas – Gangotri, Yamnotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. We Checked into one of those cafes for a quick cup of coffee and they  allowed us to their terrace to have a closer look through binoculars. 

narrow lanes 

Next was The Char Dukkan an unavoidable stop for anyone who visits Landour. A set of 4 small shops which have been around since the British time, this is like the Café Corner of Landour. Order some steaming hot Maggi and a nice cup of tea, while you take in the sights around you. Don’t forget to miss the St. Paul’s church next to it – one that was built in 1834 and is still in use.

It was a day at Landour.... Will be looking forward to visit this place again and explore the trekking track and enjoy the fresh air and be in the tranquility of the countryside.

mesmerized

happiness

my baby