Essays

Last year during summer vacation our family went to Mussoorie to spend some time in the cool environment amidst the greenery and the mountains. We all were really excited to spend the vacation there. We began our packing a week ago and the entire house got caught up in the excitement. Reservations for train berths were made upto Dehradun, From there we had to travel by road- So we all were all the more excited about the uphill journey to Mussoorie. Time was really dragging very slowly. We could hardly wait for the final day of departure.

The train was in the late night. We did a final checking of all the items we had to take. We made sure we had packed all the necessary things. We kept our camera and walkman in our knapsacks. We took our dinner and headed towards the Railway station. The train was on time and so we boarded it and settled down. The excitement all day had chased away our sleep. Yet after an hour or so we forced ourselves to sleep so that we can enjoy the bus ride the next day. We reached Dehradun by 10 in the morning. Then from there we headed to the bus station and bought tickets for ourselves.

The bus too was very comfortable. We ate the packed breakfast and bought some snack—chips and cold drinks for the way. The weather too was very pleasant. The bus started at the right time, We were fortunate to get good window seats and so we all sat together in anticipation of an exciting journey.

It was our first trip to a hill station. So every scene presented before our eyes was novel and thrilled us to the core. The road was very narrow and winding. It was really fearful to look down as we kept moving upwards. The greenery was breathtaking. The vegetation here was very different from the kind of trees and plants we have in the plains. They were tall and pointed conifers. They seemed to be running below us as we kept surging upwards. The curves and turns of the road were very dangerous. One wrong move of the driver could take us hurtling down. Quietly I said a little prayer, as I was a bit scared too.

But soon I got lost in the scenery around. There were a few seasonal waterfalls on the way. I wish we could stop and take a few snaps. Some of the passengers felt nauseated. Thank god, none of us had to face such problems. So we enjoyed every inch of the bus journey without any hiccups. We saw a few mountain sheeps and goats grazing on the mountain sides. They were so different from the kinds we had seen before. We were also very fortunate to have spotted a few birds also. They were so beautiful, though we could neither recognize them nor did we know their names.

A few trees had lovely blossoms on them. The journey was now getting steeper, But the bus driver was an expert. We were at a very high altitude above the sea-level. The heat of the plains was completely foreign to this area. It was very cool and pleasant. We also saw terrace farming on both sides. There were a few people working in the fields. Some men and women were even dressed traditionally. It was lovely to watch them work in their lovely clothes.

We could see the road winding below like a huge coiled serpent if we just peeped out of the window. We could see every scenery we left behind. Moreover, we could also see the peaks of the Himadri and Himachal ranges of the Himalayas. Wherever we looked there were high mountains and green tall pines and firs. It was a great feeling for us. We wanted the journey to go on forever. We were in no hurry to reach the destination.

For the first time I realized how diversely rich is our country. I suddenly felt proud of my country. I also thought if this is so beautiful how much more beautiful would be Kashmir, Ladakh and Siachen. Rightly Jahangir called Kashmir as the Paradise on the Earth. Lost in these thoughts, 1 did not realize when we reached Mussoorie, It really felt like heaven. I was sad that the journey got over so soon, but nevertheless it was really a pleasant and a memorable experience.