Has Lost its Charm. Review on Mussoorie

I fondly remember my visits to Mussoorie in the past. A quaint little town nestled in the great Himalayas, its famed Mall Road and the Kempty Falls. It was one of my favorite hill stations in the past. However, my visit here last time completely changed that perception.

For starters, the place is no longer a peace-haven. Heavy tourist traffic has turned this place into a bustling and noisy town. The roads are infested with rickshaws, hotels and fellow tourists and it is impossible to find a peaceful shelter here. The prices of the hotels have sky-rocketed and it is very difficult to find a good accommodation, if you are a budget traveler. The much-hyped Mall Road is nothing but a street infested with stores and flea-markets. If you have visited the Mall Road in Shimla, then you can imagine what you can expect here.

The only place worth visiting in Mussoorie is the Kempty Falls. Nearly 1364 meters above sea level, this waterfall is a visual delight and is now the only saving grace of this otherwise lackluster hill station.

The food-scene is also nothing to rave about. Most of the dishes are your typical North Indian cuisine. It is very rare to find an authentic Himalayan dish here now. In fact, there multiple stalls of Momos and other Chinese foods when I visited the place last time.

The greenery has reduced drastically in this place. Owing to massive deforestation, Mussoorie has lost much of its green belt and is now surrounded by denuded hills. The starry nights are no longer as captivating as they were in the past. The govt. needs to work on this area so that Mussoorie can regain its lost charm.