Did you know that the quaint town of Landour in Mussoorie draws its name from a small village in Wales called ‘Llanddowror’? Steeped in history, Landour was established as a hill station for British soldiers serving in India. The name has survived till date even after India’s Independence and bears a very similar resemblance to the original Welsh town, as can be seen below:

Landour, Mussoorie

St Teilo’s Church (2008), Llanddowror, Wales (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanddowror)

Recently, we went on a journey to this nestled hill station, excited to immerse ourselves in its enchanting hills and picturesque landscapes. We hope this read takes you on a mesmerizing and adventurous ride.

Day 1: A Journey of Surprises

Our journey began with the excitement of escaping the chaos of Delhi for a peaceful weekend retreat. To our dismay, luck was against us when our car broke down when we were 5 kms short of our destination. The steep hills had caused the clutch plates of our Hyundai i20 to overheat, resulting in a sudden stop uphill. For a few moments, we caused a bottleneck on the zig-zag road. However, other tourists and locals waited patiently for us to park our car on the side of the road. Luckily, right where our car stopped, there was at a local snack shop was kind enough to help us maneuver our car when the gears were jammed. We called the host of our homestay, Sumit from “The Village Café”, who was very kind and assured us not to worry. He asked us to wait for some time so that he could come and pick us up. He also promised that he would return to retrieve the car as well. We happily checked into his beautiful homestay, and by late evening, he even brought our car and parked it in the resort, much to our respite. Just near to the homestay, Sumit also runs a cozy café which is located amidst the serene hills with a beautiful valley view.

Homestay

Our stay was a 1bhk (1 bedroom, hall, kitchen) stay with a big courtyard and a beautiful valley with mountain views. It felt like a perfect setting where one would like to live for rest of the life. But alas, we were here for only 2 nights.

Note: The parking place to reach the homestay is quite steep and it was a task to bring our car up later. Generally, Sumit, offers to drive the car up the main road to all guests as the locals are used to drive on the narrow steep road.

Watch tower

About 15-20 mins hike, Sumit had created a watch tower to get 360degree view of the full mountain range. We wasted no time and headed straight to a hilltop to witness the mesmerizing sunset. The panoramic view left us speechless, painting the sky with hues of orange as the sun bid adieu to the day. It was a moment of pure serenity and togetherness, marking the start of a spellbinding journey. We were so satisfied, happy to be at this place, that we decided to not go to any other tourist spot for mountain views as we knew there is nothing that could be better than this vantage point!!! We spent entire evening here. And the best part, we had the whole view to ourselves without any other tourist nearby.

Day 2: Indulging in Delights

Determined to make the most of our time despite the challenges with our car, we opted for a scooter to explore the treasures of Landour.

Landour Bakehouse

And the second day began with a mood to savor the freshly baked treats at the renowned ‘Landour Bakehouse’. Stepping into this old-fashioned establishment felt like stepping into a world of sweet indulgence, where the air was filled with the scent of chocolatey delights and warm pastries. However, we felt that this place was way overrated. The portion size of the food served was petite (with no exaggeration), the place was overly crowded with very long waiting times. In a nutshell, it felt as if this place was a bucket-list item for anyone/everyone who was visiting Landour for the first time and would like to get the pictures clicked for the fear of missing out the fad for this place. Nevertheless, our daughter, Sarah, enjoyed each bite of whatever smallest portion was served!!!

Our food adventure continued as we strolled through the vibrant Char Bazaar .

We than explored the bustling Mussoorie Mall road. Amidst the hustle and bustle, we discovered hidden gems and savored local delicacies. As the day ended, we found ourselves once again drawn to the hilltop to witness the breathtaking sunset. However, we did not take Sarah along to the top of the hill as she was tired by then. We both went to the hilltop, and nature’s orange canvas unfolded again before our eyes. Among all the places to eat , we recommend “Café by the way” on Mussorie Mall road. The place is artistically done and the hot chocolate and pastries are to die for.

Later, Sumit and his team lit a bonfire for all the guests, which fostered an association with nature and the people around. The food at the café was amazing, and the eclectic charm of Village Café, with its vibrant lights, musical ambiance, and artistic décor, truly captured the essence of Landour’s magnetism.

Day 3: Farewell to Landour

Sumit’s resort was downhill, and bringing the car back was going to be a major uphill task, quite literally, on the day of our return. We requested Sumit again to park our car up on the road, as the gradient was over 40 degrees, definitely not easy for city commuters to come to terms with.

We bid farewell to Landour on the third day of our journey. Despite the initial setback with our car, we found solace in the simplicity and charm of Landour and the warmth extended by Sumit. Our reliance on a scooter for transportation only added to the sense of adventure, allowing us to explore the treasures of this hillside retreat with newfound zeal. We cannot thank our gracious host enough for his hospitality, which truly made our stay unforgettable.

Until we meet again, Landour, farewell.