I felt that my return to Dehradun and Mussoorie after 17 years was destined. But I had never imagined it would be during the monsoon of 2011.
Living in the city, I had lost the charm of the monsoon season. Apart from welcoming the showers after the scorching and sweltering summer, there was no other reason to rejoice. The romantic and poetic inspiration brought about by this season, the beautiful aroma of damp earth and the clean and green look of the trees had been almost washed away by the slush and waterlogged streets, longer traffic jams and delayed travel time everyday.
Today, having witnessed the rains in Dehradun during dusk and the floating clouds in ever-lovely Mussoorie, nostalgia and love for the monsoon was re-kindled, and here I am writing this piece.
The road trip from Gurgaon to Dehradun with my cousin and her family was full of fun and food. It was such a delight to have ideal companions to make my journey memorable. Crossing the elephant corridor of Rajaji National Park during twilight was an expectant experience. However, all we witnessed were some langoors. Passing through Haridwar brought back recollections of the past trip with a friend few years ago. It gave me great pleasure to share those experiences with everyone about the evening Ganga-Aarti and the trek to Mansa Devi Temple as well as the white-water rafting at Rishikesh.
Lodging and boarding was at Hotel Doon Castle at Dehradun for two nights. The up-hill drive to Mussoorie next day was enthralling. Old memories floated in the mind like the lazily floating clouds. As we moved up, the view of the multi-coloured roofs in the valley below, against the setting of lush green forests was a Kodak moment. I suppose the monsoon brought out the beauty of the Himalayas as a perfect picture postcard.
Arriving at Mussoorie, the utter madness of vehicles, people, shops and vendors and the noise, showed me the portrait of a hamlet which too had turned into a typical commercial hill-station. Escaping this, we reached ‘Abasar’, the quaint little house on a hillock owned by my Uncle. Fighting emotions we treated ourselves to hot coffee, serene environment, beautiful blossoms, mountain smells, pleasant weather, old photographs, reminiscences and scenic splendor.
While lunch was warm and delicious against the backdrop of the mountains, tea was relished during the downpour in the Dehradun valley. The panoramic view from the hotel window changed as I drank it all in.
On our way back we stopped over at a residential plot on the outskirts of Dehradun. The forest pathway leading to this location attracted us. A multi-hued monastery with its rows of fluttering prayer flags also greeted us on the way. It was as if people were constructing small bungalows in a fascinating valley surrounded by gigantic mountains and forests on all sides. Wonder how would one feel living there everyday?
It seemed the time taken for the return journey was faster. It’s relative they say! The rains, the food, the conversation and the constant photo sessions took away the fatigue and the sadness of the departure. My nine year old nephew played ‘20 Questions’ with such élan that his wisdom left me amazed. Although reaching Gurgaon after three days brought us back to reality, however, a hope and dream to return to the Himalayas always remains ignited.
