High tea with Ruskin Bond at Landour

I went to Landour cantt in 2006 for a three-month course. The town is located about 1000 feet above the main town of Mussoorie.

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Located near a hilltop, a contour road went all the way up to Landour where some celebrities and business tycoons had built houses around a beautiful church that lay in the centre. On one side was a forest with a graveyard where a visitor would think twice before taking a walk for the fear of wild animals, and perhaps ‘other’ residents of the graveyard.  The other side had a panoramic view of Mussoorie below.

Our hostel was near the church. In the evening after classes were over, we would go for a walk and often stop for tea at the famous 'Chaardukan' in Landour.

But the most memorable tea I had was with writer Ruskin Bond, who lived nearby. His modest wooden house on the first floor was full of books, vintage wooden furniture, pet birds and a family who looked after him. It was a pleasure having tea with him at his house.

Landour was a perfect place away from the city noise, with a quiet and serene environment where one could experience the bliss of nature. The three months passed in a blink. However, the high tea with Ruskin Bond remained my most cherished memory of that stay.

Col RS Narula (retd), Patiala