Mussoorie: Himalayan beauty India is born into

Mussoorie: One of the hill city of India to look into Himalayan beauty, just 35 kilometers from the Dehradun.

Dehradun itself is in the valley of Garhwal Himalayan range, with structures

and buildings raised in British colonial period.

Blue sky, mist in the air and traveler unfolds wing. Sky is the limit for botanist, explorer, nature lovers and of course for those who sought relief from the searing heat of the Indian plains. 

Mussoorie is a hill station in northern Himalayan range, whose average elevation is about 2005.5 metres (6580 ft), nature has given such a beauty to this place, as this place is called, 'The Queen Of Hill Stations'.

Mussoorie, like other hill resorts in India, came into existence in the 1820s or thereabouts, when the families of British colonials began making for the hills in order to escape the scorching heat of the plains. 

I could photograph only these two birds in pair, Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus) of many which were singing in a chorus in full throat melodious orchestra, while walking on the "Camel's Back Road" of Mussoorie.

The Great Himalaya Range has some of the most diverse eco-systems on the planet that are home to an enormous variety of plant and animal life. 
So for people who really want to experience the flora and fauna of the Himalayas it will be a wonderful experience. 
The Himalayas is the home to many rare species of wild flowers.

Roof Iris, Botanical name: Iris tectorum    Family: Iridaceae (Iris family)

Common name: Royle's Larkspur
Botanical name: Delphinium roylei    Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)
Synonyms: Delphinium incanum

More out of chance than design, Mussoorie is a beautiful Himalayan hill town, home to deodars (Cedrus Deodara) everywhere. 
Route is sprinkled with brilliant red flowers of the the Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboretum). 
Beautiful Himalayan fir (Abies pindrow), Chir pine (Pinus roxburghi), sturdy Himalayan Oak (Quercus leucotricophora) with their pale cream flowers hanging in clusters, Chestnut tree (Aesculus indica), pale green poplar and tall Himalayan Cypress (Cupressus Torulosa).

Post office of Mussoorie, operating since December1, 1936; in those British colonial times posts were carried manually from Dehradun.

Himalayan mountain range in the back drop, underneath the shades of thick canopied trees, with the up and down of any typical hill town, shops are clustered with various objects; are also the point of attraction for tourists as well as enthusiasts of all age groups.

While walking in the wood in these parts of Himalayan range, many water streams, big and small are bestowed from the nature, where an eco-system sustains in full diversity, with interesting flora and fauna; this one in picture (Kempty Falls) attracts tourist at large.

Mussoorie is often talked about for its scenic beauty. However, not many people know that it has a rich literary heritage and its residents are passionate about books and authors. 
Mussoorie is home to many writers, the most well-known being Ruskin Bond. 
No wonder then that a bookshop in this hill station is one of the most popular places to hangout. 
Cambridge Book Depot: for the past 14 years, Ruskin Bond comes to the bookstore on every Saturday if he is in town and the bonding session with him.

"Sir Walter Scott must have been a very popular writer with the British in exile, for there are many houses in Mussoorie that echo his novels and romances -- Kenilworth, Ivanhoe, Woodstock (now a well-known school), Rokeby, Waverly, The Monastery as also Abbotsford, named after Scott's own home."
(share courtesy:Ruskin Bond)

"How high is that mountain?" asked Anil. 
"It must be over 4,000 meters." said Miss Mackenzie. 
"I always wanted to go there, but there is no proper road. At that height, there'll be flowers that you don't get here - blue gentian, purple columbine, anemone..."  
(excerpt from the story, "A bouquet of love" by Ruskin Bond)

Evening light illuminates the spectacular view of the hills naked at one side while the other side with woods around - of pine, cedar, birch, oak, rhododendron and deodar - which glow green. 
Mussoorie, the proverbial Queen of Hill stations, as professed by the British gentry who evaded hot, desultory summers of Delhi and Kolkata by spending time here.

Mussoorie being at an average altitude of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), with its green hills and varied flora and fauna, is a fascinating hill resort. Commanding snow ranges to the north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town was once said to present a 'fairyland' atmosphere to tourists.

"Mussoorie has always remained a poor cousin to Shimla, which had it's Viceroy. Nainital had it's Governor from the Unitd Provinces. Mussoorie remained unofficial - for affairs of the heart. It has always been a gossipyplace, as the extracts from the Miscellany and the "John Lang" article will show. May be it is too close to the plains and not close enough to the real mountains; but it has never been a dull or boring place."
(share courtesy: Ruskin Bond)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N O T E S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Indian history: 
Like any other country in the world, India too had it's past full of captivity and turmoil, like:

1.The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture.

2.Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century.

3.By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.

4.Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.

The Himalayas: 
Many myth and legends are attached with this mountain in India. It was a barrier hard to cross by invaders in earlier days and the harsh weather of the north beyond that plate. India is warm and cozy, having weather pattern, because of this mountain. Monsoon is controlled by this mighty range. India owes all it's richness to Himalayas.

The Himalayan range: 
Not many places in the world can charm you like the Himalayas. Not every place gives you the reason to visit there every season. But then every place does not boast of the beauty as the Himalayas. The Himalayas are covered with different array of flora and fauna. With its exotic wildlife and natural beauty it has always attracted travelers and tourist across the world. The eastern and the western regions of the Himalayas are covered with varied forests. The Western region is known for blue pine, spruce, silver fir, junipers, conifers deodar, and Chirpine, which are found in abundance. While the eastern Himalayas are famous for maples, rhododendrons, alder, and birch, oaks, laurels, and dwarf willows. The region of Assam is known for lush evergreen forests and bamboo and tall grasses. The Himalayas is the home to many rare species. Nearly about one third of all mountain animals live here. Due to Himalayas long range, which extends to over 1,500 miles in length and 250 miles in width it is divided into three ranges: the Lesser, Greater and Outer Himalayas. Since the range is so much in length and width that variety of climatic condition, vegetation and wildlife can be seen. The Himalayan regions have many national park and wildlife sanctuaries. So for people who really want to experience the flora and fauna of the Himalayas it will be a wonderful experience.