Simplicity in Mussoorie

Ever since I can remember, I have heard of “Mussoorie“.  It was almost a mythical place in my mind.  It was amazingly beautiful – the hills, the mall, the waterfall.  It was the epitome of peace and quiet, a place of solitude surrounded by greenery.

When you have those kinds of expectations, it’s unlikely they will be met.  And they weren’t.  Mussoorie was gorgeous, don’t get me wrong.  The hills, the greenery, the crispness in the air, it was all what I wanted and expected.  It just wasn’t as much as I had envisioned.  I didn’t go everywhere, I left a few places for a visit at another point, maybe with a significant other.

Of the places I visited, I thought Kempty Falls was interesting.  Actually, before I continue, I think I should make a general statement: whenever I use words such as “awesome”, “interesting”, “gorgeous”, or ”beautiful” to describe a place in India, I sadly have to say it doesn’t have the same strength of meaning as if I was using those words to describe places in the United States.  There is “beautiful” in Mussoorie and there is “beautiful” in Yosemite.  I explain that in order to be honest, but in a gentle way.  I do say it, though, with definite disappointment, maybe even embarrassment.  In fact, I did have both those emotional responses on my trip (and on other trips within India thus far).

To continue – Kempty Falls is about 10 to 12 kilometers down from the city.  Driving downhill means driving slowly.  The roads are not adequately barricaded on the sides.  If you lose control, and you’re driving even somewhat fast, I don’t think they will stop your car from going over.  At least that’s the thought that constantly went through my head.  So I was driving very slow.  Some would say that’s uncharacteristic of me.  But then they wouldn’t understand that I do drive based on what I feel is safe.  I may push the boundaries where I think they can be pushed, but certainly not where I don’t feel comfortable doing it.  Driving to and fro hill stations in India is one of those places.

The falls is not that large by itself.  I won’t compare it to others I have seen but I have to admit the thought does go through your mind.  You just decide not to focus on the comparison so you can enjoy what you are seeing now.

At the bottom is a giant pool where you see many kids and adults playing with tubes.  Unsurprisingly, most adults are men.  Even most kids are males but the discrepancy is not that large.  Women in India traditionally do not show skin in public and bathing in a pool would be a big no no.

On the way to Kempty Falls is a place called Lake Mist.  When I saw the name on a map at the government sponsored tour office half the way up the mountains, I told myself I was definitely stopping there.  It didn’t escape my notice that the tour guide was not focusing on it as a site to visit.  He was not encouraging in his response to my strong interest either.  The place was supposed to have boating!  A lake with boating!  In the hills!  How big that must be!  You could stop there for lunch also,in fact, a picnic.  On the green grass.  In the moutains.  Right?

When I got to Lakemist, I understood why the guide was reluctant.  It really isn’t anything at all.  Really.  Lunch is very reasonable and not too bad either – I got daal, sabzi, chaval, and roti for Rs. 100.  The boating isn’t nearly what I had in mind.  And the guide at Lake Mist was so enthusiastically wanting me to take a ride – he preferred I do it before the meal.  I, very gently, told him that I wasn’t a child, it wasn’t for me.  I was so good I convinced him that is why I didn’t want to do it.  Of course, the reason had nothing to do with that – I was in fact thinking I may take a ride and take a dip in the water also.  The picture to the right will explain why that was not possible though (the boat is a little further down, but the water is the same).

The good thing about me is that I have low expectations of most things while being very optimistic.  Sometimes, even when my expectations seem high, they’re in reality not that high, it’s just me getting excited like a kid would.  I am also generally very easily pleased.  And/Or, to be more precise, I almost always find a bright spot, a silver lining.  My trip was not what I expected.  But I still very much enjoyed getting out of the city, out of Delhi, away from home.  I needed the reprieve and I got it.  I had heard of this mystical place since I was a child.  I had now seen it (or at least parts of it).

I have not finished my description of Mussoorie or the rest of the trip though.  The adventure continues in the next post.