One of the oldest buildings in the hill station of Mussoorie, the Kasmanda
Palace was originally a part of the Christ Church complex built in 1836 by
Captain Rennie Tailour of the Bengal Engineers. This gleaming white stately
mansion built in the Anglo-French style served as a sanatorium for the British
armed forces and then as a school (one of the first in Mussoorie) before finally
becoming the summer retreat of the Kasmanda Royal Family. While it has remained
in this family, it is now run as a Heritage Hotel. The grandeur and stateliness
of this Palace is only matched by its spectacular setting. Situated 200 metres
uphill from the Mall, it has a magnificent view both of the town of Mussoorie as
well as the Doon Valley and is strategically placed in a sprawling estate of 3
acres of pine forest, terraced gardens and green lawns.
HistoryIn 1827, Captain Young, a British army officer chanced upon this tiny
inhabitation in the thickly forested hills. This rapidly became a popular
Victorian resort and no time was lost in setting up the central Mall, a library
and an Anglican church. While prominent vestiges of the British presence remain,
Mussoorie has grown far beyond the bounds of a quiet, sheltered hill resort,
though some of the original colonial ambience may still linger in the suburb of
Landour, 300 metres away from the main town.
As the hill station closest to the capital Delhi, it is thronged by tourists,
vacationers fleeing the heat of the plains, and enthusiastic trekkers beginning
their journey to the sometime arduous forested slopes of Hari-ki-Dun. It is also
a thriving centre for boarding schools.
Mussoorie, Queen of the Garhwal Hills, spread across hills at heights above
2000m, set on a ridge against the Himalayas, is at a vantage point for
magnificent views of peaks in the western Garhwal hills, including Banderpunch
Massif at 6,316 metres and Swargarohini at 6,252 metres and the vast plains of
North India spread out below.
34 kms from Dehradun, Mussoorie overlooks the Doon valley to its south and on a
good day, offers a panoramic view of the impressive snow-capped Himalayan
mountains to the north. Surrounded by pine forests, it enjoys mild summer days
offset by chillier evenings. In winter, both snow and rain are common and
monsoon showers take place between June and September.
The late Rajmata Saheba of Kasmanda was very fond of flowers and at Kasmanda
Palace Mussoorie she had specially designed terrace gardens and got flowers and
plants from all over India and Overseas. During her time there used to be flower
shows in Mussoorie and each time the Kasmanda Gardens used to win all the
trophies. She was particularly fond of the Magnolia Tree which has large white
flowers with a powerful, lemony fragrance.
The Magnolia Restaurant is named after the favourite tree of the late Rajmata
Saheba of Kasmanda.
The Magnolia Restaurant is over looking the gardens and one can see the Magnolia
tree and admire the flowers enjoying a meal at the Restaurant. The Magnolia
Restaurant served Indian, tandoori, Chinese and selected dished of continental
food and regional cruises. On special request, the cooks can also serve selected
dishes of Rajasthan.
