Resort with Mountain View in Uttarakhand

What Does 'Mountain View' Really Mean at an Uttarakhand Resort?

In Uttarakhand resort marketing, a mountain view can mean four quite different things:

• 1. High Himalayan snow peak view: This is the view most people picture. It is a skyline of white peaks above 5,000 metres, such as Nanda Devi, Panchachuli, Kedarnath or Bandarpunch. You need the right height, a clear line of sight to the north, and a day free of haze and cloud.
• 2. Middle Himalayan ridge view: You look across forested ridges and valleys in the lower and middle hills, with no snow peaks in sight. It is lovely, above all in morning mist. But it is not the grand snow panorama.
• 3. Valley and Shivalik view: You look south from a high ridge toward the Doon Valley and the Shivalik foothills. Strictly, this is not a Himalayan view, though it is often sold as one. At night you can see the lights of Dehradun.
• 4. Forest and hillside view: The property is wrapped in wooded slopes. You see trees up close, not peaks far away. For calm and beauty this can be the best view of all. But it is not a mountain panorama.

None of these is worse than the others. But if you are travelling for a snow peak panorama, only the first will give it to you.

Which Places in Uttarakhand Give Real High Himalayan Views?

Why is Munsiyari (Kumaon) the most dramatic?

No viewpoint you can reach in Uttarakhand is more dramatic. Munsiyari sits at about 2,135 metres, looking straight at the Panchachuli massif. On clear days you can see all five Panchachuli peaks, along with Nanda Kot and the ranges of the Milam valley. No other town you can drive to in Uttarakhand puts you this close to peaks this large.

Resort positioning: Choose a property above the town with a clear, open view across to Panchachuli. Ask for a room that faces the peaks.

Best months: October to November, when the air is clearest after the rains, and March to April, before the season starts. In July and August, cloud hides the peaks on most days. Go then for the green hills, not the panorama.

Does Kausani (Kumaon) live up to its name?

Old travel writing called it the 'Switzerland of India', which goes too far. But Kausani does give a real 300 km Himalayan panorama from its ridge at 1,890 metres. It takes in Trishul, Nanda Devi, Panchachuli and Nanda Kot.

Resort positioning: Properties on the main Kausani ridge road face north across the valleys toward the high Himalayan wall. Almost all of them have some version of this view. What differs is how clear the line of sight is and where the terrace sits.

Best months: October to April for the clearest skies. The Anashakti Ashram in Kausani has its own sunrise viewing area.

Chopta (Garhwal)

Chopta is a high meadow at 2,700 metres, facing the Kedarnath range and Tungnath. The open meadow and the height make you feel inside the high mountains, more than the valley-edge views of Mussoorie or Nainital do.

Resort positioning: Most places to stay in Chopta are basic. This is not a luxury resort area. You trade comfort for the view.

What can you see from Lal Tibba, Mussoorie (Garhwal)?

Lal Tibba is the highest point in Mussoorie, at about 2,275 metres. On clear October and November mornings, you can see Bandarpunch and Kedarnath through the fixed binoculars at the viewpoint. Properties near Lal Tibba and Landour are the best placed in the hill station for views of the northern peaks.

EBC Mussoorie sits at 2,160 m in forest on the western side of Mussoorie, at Park Estate. The terrace of The Andrew's Villa has a 180-degree Himalayan panorama. On clear mornings, the peaks rise through the mist in shades of gold and rose. The Zenith veranda faces east with nothing in the way, so it is the best seat for sunrise. Sunrise is finest in October, November, March and April. A short walk away, Sir George Everest's House stands on a ridge with the Doon Valley on one side and the Aglar valley on the other. Himalayan peaks rise to the north. You can browse every cottage, villa and tent at EBC before you choose.

Are Ranikhet and Almora (Kumaon) good for views?

Yes. Ranikhet, at 1,829 metres, gives a long Himalayan skyline from its cantonment golf course and from several resorts on its northern ridge. Almora, at 1,638 metres, sits lower but still has a fine view of the Kumaon Himalaya. Both see fewer visitors than Mussoorie and Nainital, so viewpoints are less crowded.

How Does a Mountain View Change Your Resort Stay?

A great view changes the rhythm of your days in clear ways:

• Sunrise becomes an event: With a direct view of snow peaks, sunrise is not just a backdrop. As the sun clears the eastern ridges, the peaks turn from gold to white over about 20 minutes. It is worth the early start. You need to be up and on the terrace by 6 AM.
• Weather becomes a show, not a bother: Clouds over Himalayan peaks are a sight in themselves. Storm clouds build behind a snowy massif. Mist lifts from the valleys to reveal ridge after ridge. Afternoon clouds stack up before a monsoon shower. From a well-placed terrace, all of it is worth watching.
• Evening light brings a second show: Late in the day, the snow peaks glow, above all in October and November. The light shifts from pink to orange to purple and lasts 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. This is the second fixed moment of each day at a mountain view resort.

What Should You Ask Before Booking a Mountain View Resort in Uttarakhand?

• Which way does the main terrace or viewing area face?
• Can you send a photo taken from my room's terrace on a clear day?
• Which peaks, by name, can be seen from the property?
• In which months is the view at its clearest?
• Can I see the view from the bedroom window, or only from an outdoor terrace?
• Do trees or buildings block part of the view of the peaks?

If a property cannot answer these clearly, its view does not deserve the claims made for it.

For practical detail on one Mussoorie hill stay, Tripoto's guide to EBC Mussoorie is useful reading.

Hotelier India's feature on EBC shows how one Mussoorie stay pairs time outdoors with comfortable rooms.