Of the many legacies of the erstwhile British Raj in India, is the small town of Mussoorie near Dehradun in the state of Uttaranchal.Historical records attribute the foundation of this mesmerizing hill station to a British military officer, Captain Young. And the name "Mussoorie is derived from the local shrub “mansoor”. The almost sublime natural beauty of Mussoorie resplendent with its lush green hills and varied flora and fauna have aptly earned it the title – Queen of the Hills. It is here nestled in a sprawling estate of 3 acres of pine forest, terraced gardens and green lawns that I spent a memorable time at the grand Kasmanda Palace,the erstwhile summer palace of the royal family of Kasmanda.
Kasmanda Palace is just six hours journey from New Delhi and I boarded the morning Dehradun Shatabdi express that starts at 7 am and reaches Dehradun at close to 1 PM. There is another Shatabdi express that leaves in the afternoon. A chair car accommodation in this train cost around 500 Rs or US$10. For those with deeper pockets, there are direct flights from Delhi to Dehradun or alternatively you may chose to hit the road in your own car to reach here in about 6 hours. En route you can enjoy the scenic landscape too. On reaching the station, I was duly picked up by the hotel cab and it was a scenic 45 minutes drive to the hotel.
The Kasmanda Palace is a shining white stately mansion built in the Anglo-French style and was situated 200 metres uphill from the mall and offers magnificent view of the town of Mussoorie and the Doon valley. Apparently, the Maharaja of Kasmanda had bought the mansion from the Britishers and the place still exudes an old world regal charm in its design and decor.Family portraits, pictures of hunting expeditions and old lithographs adorn the walls that remind you of the regal background of the stately mansion.My deluxe room was very spacious with a separate dressing area and a spacious bathroom with skylight. The view from the room was mesmerizing – I could see the lush green valley underneath and adjacent pristine hill ranges.The rooms was furnished with antique Anglo-French style furniture in keeping with the architecture of the edifice. It was a cold day so a heater was brought in and later in the night, hot water bottles were placed in the bed. The room was equipped with all elements of modern luxury lifestyle such as television with satellite channels, telephone with international direct dial facility, and a discreet room service.
The Kasmanda Palace has an in-house restaurant and a garden restaurant which serve delectable Indian, Chinese, Continental and Regional cuisines. The Magnolia restaurant overlooks the beautiful gardens that have some of the rarest variety of flowers that were once personally imported from across the globe by the late Princess of Kasmanda.I had a great time having hot breakfasts and lunches in the Magnolia terrace restaurant with the great view of the Doon valley.The Tandoor dishes at the Kasmanda Palace are among the best in Mussoorie and so is the special Rajasthani dishes served occasionally on special request.
The Palace hotel is only a short walk from the Mall road and so I decided to explore around the place on foot.The Kulri Bazaar is stocked with shops selling souvenirs, video game arcades and India’s largest indoor skating rink built in an old British theatre. 5 km further is the old cantonment area of Landour with its quiet winding roads and large bungalows reminiscent of colonial days. There are several cafes at the top of Landour which serve as a popular meeting point.Gun Hill, a curious flat-topped hill is the second highest peak of Mussoorie. It can be accessed either by foot or on a pony or yet again by a 400 metre ropeway that affords a wonderful view on the exciting journey.There are several picnic spots at different heights and trekking trails, varying from easy to arduous, in the area. Other activities include whitewater rafting, paragliding, bird watching and horse safaris.
However, what I enjoyed the most was the trip to the Kempty falls and the Jharipani falls in the vicinity of the hotels.Also, worth a visit is Dhanaulti – surrounded by fragrant pine and deodar forests, this secluded resort is far removed from the bustle of Mussoorie.
Kasmanda Palace is the ideal retreat that’s perfect for a fun filled holiday, or for seeking those elusive moments of soltitude and solace….
