Rokeby Manor: Amidst the Greens

Nestled in the upper reaches of Mussoorie at Landour, Rokeby Manor makes its presence felt amidst pristine nature and a peaceful environment. The two acre estate is situated very close to Char Dukan and the St. Paul’s Church and acts as a perfect retreat for all age groups. Managed by Mars Enterprise, this heritage haven has a very interesting history behind it. Built in 1840 by Captain G.N. Cauthy and passed on through the ownerships of Lt. Col. Reilly, who also had Ralston, another residence in Mussoorie and Frederick ‘Pahari’ Wilson, a controversial adventurer and entrepreneur, who was the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s classic story, “The Man Who Would Be King”, and a couple of more hands, before it was finally turned into a hotel. And guess what, the property still has the same old British structure in which it was built, adding to the euphoria of feeling the bygone days.

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Imagine sitting at the open balcony of the hotel’s Emily restaurant overlooking the lush green mountains and sipping a cup of warm tea along with some delicious cookies while listening to the story of this property. Sounds great, isn’t it? Moving into the rooms, you will feel you have gone back in time… they have been restored to their original 19th century décor – very tiny details have been paid attention to. Apart from being extremely cozy and comfortable, each room has its own unique character and has been named in a very interesting way, keeping in mind the property’s close connection to nature and the flora of the place. The Rhododendron Suite, the Rose Suite and the Chestnut room are good examples of the same. Apart from this, there’s a meeting room which can accommodate 40 persons, a salon where you can unwind yourself with a quick haircut or a fine spa massage. There’s an open area made in a typical English garden style with flowers around, called The Tea Garden which offers a valley view that can make you feel like you are at the top of the world.

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The Highlands is an outdoor venue surrounded by pine trees and stunning views, the place is ideal for a bonfire and a perfect ending to the day. Emily’s, the in-house restaurant of the property is made in the style of a cozy dining room with a breathtaking view of the valley from its open balcony. The menu has a fine blend of Indian and Continental cuisines to choose from. Pick anything, the food will be delicious for sure. Munching on warm and tasty food amidst the solitude of scenic surroundings and beautiful valley views… what more can anyone ask for? Apart from all this, the hotel also provides enough scope for the backpackers and travellers alike who love exploring the myriad shapes of nature whenever they go to the hills. One can go for interesting nature trails, short treks and scenic drives of the region. Trekking options includes Khandajhak, where one can explore Himalayan village life and the Khatling Glacier trek which takes four days. The scenic drives include the Corn village and Dhanaulti, which have breathtaking views throughout.

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Getting there

By air: The hotel is approximately 61 km from the Jolly Grant Airport. By rail: The nearest railway station is at Dehradun, approximately 37 km away By road: Landour is at a distance of 290 km from national capital Delhi and is easily accessible by road. Enough buses are available.

Price factor

Peak season (May 1 – July 31) / Rest of the year Rhododendron Suite: 14,000/ 12,000 Rose Suite: 12,000/ 10,000 Rustic rooms: 10,000/ 8,000 Valley view rooms (Single bed): 6,000/ 5,000 Extra person: 800

Address

Rokeby Manor, Landour Cantonment, Mussoorie – 268179 Tel: +91-135-2635604 / 05 / 06 Fax: +91 135 2635607 E-mail: reservations@ rokebymanor.com. For details, visit www.rokebymanor.com

What to do

Take nature trails across interesting tourist spots around, like Parri Tibba (Witch’s Hill), Suakholi, Pepperpot Cave, Flag Hill, Bear Hill, Char Dukan and many more.