Jul 25, 2012 02:20 PM
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After last year’s summer vacation we could not take a break in between and hence this summer headed for Uttaranchal. We planned to start from Dehradun so from Mumbai we took a Garib Rath in the evening and reached Delhi next day morning. Shatabdi express leaves daily from Delhi at around 3 pm but reaches Dun at 9 pm so we planned to take Ujjaini express from Delhi which reached Dun at 7 pm.
We reached Dehradun at 7.15 pm. It is very difficult to get a decent accommodation near the station and it is more like some small town without many shops or eateries with narrow roads. Since we wanted to see around Dehradun we had decided to halt here for a day. After lot of hunting we got a small decent hotel 5 minutes from the station. I would suggest not to halt at Dehradun and instead take a bus or private vehicle from just outside the station to Mussourie.
We stayed that night in Dehradun and next day morning went to Sahastradhara which is around 8 kms. It was very hot even during morning time with not much greenery and dust and pollution around. From the station we hired an auto till parade ground from where we got private buses to Sahastradhara the last 2 kms of which is a winding road. The water flows from 7 different streams out of the mountain hence the name Sahastradhara but nobody knows the source of the water. They have kept stones at different stages of the flow to create a wall and hence the water collects at each stage and which creates a pond like structure. You can hire a tube and enjoy yourself in the water which just comes upto your chest. Changing rooms are also available nearby. The visit was worth it and we really enjoyed playing in the chilled water and clicked some great photos.
While returning we again took a bus to Tapkeshwar temple which passes through the army cantonement area. Enroute we passed Guchu-pani or Robbers cave which we thought we can visit while returning but that is the last stop and the bus turns around from there and takes a different route to Tapkeshwar temple. That too it drops you on the main road from where you have to hire an auto to enter the narrow lane to the temple.
Tapkeshwar Temple has a shivling on which water drips throughout the year and hence the name. You have to descend some steps to reach the temple which is inside a cave which is really beautiful. Not much crowd during day time. Just behind the temple cave river Ganga flows which is a mere small stream during summer. Earlier we had planned to go to Guchu Pani from Tapkeshwar but now since it was a totally different route and since were too tired due to Sahastradhara water splashing, hence took direct auto to our hotel.
Next day morning we took a bus from the station to mussourie. The ticket window opens when the bus arrives and tickets are issued as per seat numbers only.
