For years, the tourism department of the hill State has been working relentlessly to promote the lesser known hill towns. The efforts are finally reaping the fruit, as tourists are now ready to go off the beaten tracks, being far more ready to explore new areas than people earlier were. And the visitors are flocking to these smaller towns not just in the summer but throughout the year, especially on weekends.
When a tourist from a metropolitan city comes to popular hill stations like Mussoorie and Nainital, he encounters heavy vehicular traffic, loud honking, a crowd which he thought he had left behind and a lot of noise all around. Immediately, his dream of “perfect, quiet holiday” in the hills breaks. But now, there is eagerness on the part of the visitors to go to smaller hill stations, the lesser known destinations in Garhwal and Kumaon.
Dhanaulti, just 30 km beyond Mussoorie, has been in the list for quite a few years and is getting more visitors every passing year. It is extremely popular for “Book Holidays” wherein the travellers like to spend their days reading and their evenings walking around the scenic landscape of this quiet Himalayan hamlet. Many a writers have worked on their manuscripts at Dhanaulti in Tehri district.
Kausani in the Kumaon Himalayas is also now looked at as an idyllic place for a quiet vacation. The birthplace of famous Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant, it lies at a height of 1890 m, 50 km from Almora. Dense forests, picturesque treks and sprawling tea gardens give it the air of a “dream town”.
“Anashakti Ashram” set up by Mahatma Gandhi’s disciple, Sarla Ben (Katherine Heilmen) is of great interest for visitors to Kausani. Gandhiji stayed here and his “Charkha” and some other possessions can be seen at the ashram. There is also a small library with many books on Gandhian philosophy. A rest house is also available at his ashram. A four-day long Buransh Mahotsav was recently held in Kausani by the Himalayan Study Centre and The Buransh Retreat to encourage tourism and ensure that local products and arts are displayed attractively. Adventure activities, bird-watching, nature walks and a crafts bazaar were some of the features of this festival.
Harsil in Garhwal and Binsar in Kumaon are two other small hill stations which are high on the list of those seeking a noise-free and pollution-free vacation. Once described by Pandit Nehru as a “Mini Switzerland”, Harsil with its green valleys and sleepy meadows has a “picture book “ quality and is a trekker’s paradise. It is on the way to Gangotri and 73 km from Uttarkashi. The tales of FEWilson, an Englishman known as “Pahari Wilson” by the locals, who planted the first apple tree in Harsil, are part of the folklore of this area. His romance and marriage with “Gulabi”, a beauty from this hill region, is a legend that echoes in the hills and dales of Harsil.
The cottage of “Pahari Wilson” was later turned into a rest house by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam. It got burnt down some years ago and was renovated again by the Government. The timber trade had made Wilson so wealthy and powerful that he came to be known as “Raja Wilson”. Perched at a height of 2420 m in Kumaon is Binsar which was the summer capital of the erstwhile Chand Rajas of Kumaon. It is a sleepy little place with towering oaks and red rhododendrons covering the hillsides. Binsar has a famous cave temple of Shiva and a well-known wildlife sanctuary.
lansdowne in Pauri district is one of the quietest hill stations of India and is popular since the Britishers came to India. It is well connected with motorable roads but still remote in its own way. It is situated at an altitude of 1,700 m and surrounded with thick oak and blue pine forests. It got its name from lord lansdowne, who was the Viceroy of India during the period of 1888-1894. It now has the command office of the Garhwal Rifles division of the Indian Army. It is also the perfect place to meditate and rejuvenate your soul. Adventure activities like, trekking, bird-watching, boating and paddling can be done while visiting lansdowne.
Chamba is a small hill town, situated at an altitude of 1,676 m in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand. It is an unexplored, unscathed, serene destination, approximately 60 km from Mussoorie. Away from the crowd and rush of the cities, it is an excellent place to unwind and have fun. With so many attractive and tranquil options, there is no reason why the pressure of tourists cannot be taken off from Mussoorie and Nainital.