Travel writer Bindu Gopal Rao discovers that The Sylverton, Mussoorie is everything you want in a holiday in the hills with a slight nip in the air that adds to the fun.
A two hour drive from Dehradun Airport that involves climbing mountains and hills with roads that twist and turn while offering spectacular views of the stunning landscape was how I started this trip. And soon enough, my driver was climbing narrow steep roads and navigating through a bustling market place before I halted at my destination, The Sylverton Mussoorie.
Heritage Hues
The resort is a heritage property that was originally built in 1853 and was converted into a resort in 1947. Since then the ownership of the property has changed several hands and with the most recently change, the Leisure Hotels Group has come on board to manage the property.
This is the 26th hotel under the brand and the company has restored the property retaining the plan of the original building including the woodwork inside. The central hall which has the reception and lobby area has a spectacular spiral wooden staircase that is a key highlight of the space. The colonial charm of the property is maintained through the use of wood in the interiors that also adds a warm vibe overall.
The Property
The Sylverton is located on Mall Road, the most popular shopping and eating spots of the town and is in close proximity to most of the popular attractions as well. A small downhill road takes you to the property that is on the edge of a cliff and this is where you can see some magnificent views of the Doon valley.
There are currently 45 rooms ranging from 280 square feet to 500 square feet and there will be an additional 20 rooms added to the inventory by 2020. The range of accommodation options includes the Superior Rooms, Valley View Rooms, Garden Valley View Rooms and the Suites. The Superior Rooms are elegantly furnished and come with by window seating. The Valley View Rooms overlook the garden and valley and come with unrestricted Victorian views as well as private balconies.
The Garden Valley View Rooms have a sofa seating inside the room and private sit outs that open to the lush garden space that overlooks the valley. The property has two suites that come with spacious living and bedroom areas as well as a small kitchenette and powder room. All rooms are comfortably furnished and also offer a choice of pillows – 100% cotton, memory, body, cervical, neck and back rest pillows. As part of the turn down service, chocolates are placed every evening in the room as well.
There are three dining options here including L’attitude, the all-day diner and resto bar that offers an international buffet spread for all meals. If you prefer something more airy, the Glass House, a dining area surrounded with greenery and natural light is the choice to make. The restaurant has an a-la-carte menu with an interesting mix of local, Indian and International choices.
However, the highlight of the dining experiences is at Jim’s Grill that is an alfresco resto bar located on one end of the garden that is a winner. This is where the evening snacks and tea and coffee are served as well as the space that comes alive in the evenings with barbeques and live music. Finger foods are also served along with a selection of spirits in the evening, complementing the buffet inside.
Do More
A holiday in the hills is the perfect antidote to the chaos of urban life and when at The Sylverton you can relax and rejuvenate at the in house Tattva Spa that offers a wide range of therapeutic massages and organic treatments to revitalize your mind and body. There is also an in house gym for health watchers.
This apart the lawns are perfect to enjoy the cool and crisp mountain air in the morning and bird watchers will be happy to know that there are several species of birds that you can see on the property. If you are travelling with family, Indulge the recreational lounge that has several indoor games, activities, game consoles and movie screening is a good choice. There is a small outdoor play area for smaller children too. The resort also offers conference facilities including the English Garden, a 5600 open lawn space, Regal, Regal 1 and Regal 2 that have varying capacities to handle between 100 and 200 people.
The Destination
Mussoorie is often referred by the moniker, ‘The Queen of the Hills’ and is amongst the most popular hill stations in the state of Uttarakhand. Incidentally this is one of the places in India where the Winter Line is visible. When here, do head out for an early morning walk on the Camel Back Road where you can come up close with the many natural vistas of the region. You can also visit the Mussoorie Lake for a spot of boating as well as check out the hopping at Mall Road.
Do take a cable car ride up to the second highest point in town called The Gun Point. This is the place from where you can see panoramic views of the town and it gets its name from a cannon that was fired during the British times at 12 noon every day to indicate time. The cable car will also get you down but if you feel adventurous you can take the steep walk down as well.
As Vibhas Prasad, Director, Leisure Hotels Group said, “we like to have a sense of place by offering local flavours and keep the local spirit in our hotel as well as the experiences we offer. We ensure that we have custom and personalized itineraries for our guests for them to make the most of their break here ensuring that the service is always warm and hospitable.” And I certainly could not agree more. Do check out The Sylverton on your next visit to Mussoorie and be charmed by its colonial heritage.
Address: The Mall, Kulari, Picture Palace, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand 248179
Phone: +91 13 5263 5525
Website: leisurehotels.co.in/the-sylverton-mussoorie
Images courtesy of The Sylverton, Mussoorie
