The Day dawned bright and cheerful ! Extra cheerful, I would say, as I was totally excited and was looking forward for my ' Date with Dehradun 😍🥰' with lot of enthusiasm. As I boarded the direct flight to Dehradun from Bangalore, my mind was in flutters....and when the sun peeked out of the clouds🌤 over the horizon, while me, already floating, mind,body and soul, above 30,000 feet...felt this is Paradise 😇 !
As I had just One day to explore Dehradun, I went over the list of places and picked 3, which intrigued me. Dehradun, a beautiful valley nestled in the foothills of Himalayas is very well connected with other major cities by air, road and rail. It enjoys a pleasant and cool climate throughout, due to its geographical location. Apart from its own attractions, Dehradun also acts as a central location for Himalayan Treks, Mussourie, Haridwar, Rishikesh tours as well.
As I was headed towards my hotel to drop off my luggage, I met my match ! yeppp....A non stop chatty Taxi driver....Eager to share the stories and history of his town ! And so, The first stop was Gucchu Pani / Robbers cave - A mesmerising artwork of nature ! Water / River flows among the rocks / Caves and creates this mysterious effect of curiosity. Walking over the pebbles (wear sandals or hire one for Rs.10/- a pair) with ankle deep water turned out to be a wonderful experience. The level of water deepens as we move inside the cave, less than a km long, with a small slippery climb, towards a waterfall.
It turns narrow as we move further inside, creating a suspense movie effect. The gorge echoes the sounds of various springs and waterfalls, adding to the effect. Locally known as Gucchupani, the place got its name 'Robbers Cave' after dacoits used these caves as a hideout during British rule. I highly recommend this place, as its unique gorge formation, patterns made by water flow on the walls of the caves, the narrow interiors, small streams and water falls you navigate through make it an exciting place.
The next stop on my list was Tapkeshwar Temple, Dedicated to Lord Shiva, where droplets of water trickles continously on the Shivling. The temple is nestled inside a natural cave and have various nooks and crannies to explore.
Cross over the bridge to the other side for a darshan of Maa Vaishnodevi and spend some quiet time in the gentle stream. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and feel the positive vibes.
Finally was heading towards Mindrolling Monastry , a little out of town area, set in a huge complex, with bright and colourful arts, relics and paintings, this place is absolutely stunning. Spend some leisurely time here, and do not rush through. The place is so peaceful, just like the deity Lord Buddha.
The monastery has mind blowing murals on its interior walls (photography was prohibited). Every inch of the inner sanctum was filled with paintings depicting the life of Buddha and stories from Jataka Tales. The colourful decorations, serene atmosphere inside the temple and the ever-calming look on Buddha's face makes one sub consciously at peace with one's inner self.
Every thing in this complex is huge and magnificent, yet tranquillity prevails. It also houses a full time school for monks. Several Tibetian shops are around with curios and artefacts. I spent a couple of hours in this wonderful complex and felt an odd sense of calm and bliss swell.
Well....Mindrolling Monastery got not only my Mind but my Head rolling too !!! And what a grand finale of the day 😊. A day really well spent, well ventured and well experienced. Back to my hotel http://www.hotelshivaresidency.in/ Shiva Residency. A clean, Comfortable and Safe place with attentive staff and hot tasty food made my stay at Dehradun pleasant.
As I curled up under the cosy blanket with warm food in my tummy, my mind was over flowing with the events and sights of my day.....and I dozed off with a contended heart and a grin on my face. 🤗🤗🤗
The grin widens as I await for my next adventure which begins the very next day !!!
The mountains are calling....Which mountain ??? The High and Mighty Himalayas....
As the journeys roll on, Click Here for an interesting read on them, complete with photos, map links and details. Thanks!
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