Mussoorie Winterline Carnival in Uttarakhand set to wow tourists

Published on : Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of Uttarakhand and the City Board Mussoorie will jointly organize the Mussoorie Winter Carnival 2013 from 27th to the 30th of December 2013.
Mussoorie, the “Queen of Hills”‚ gives a beautiful view of the snow covered Himalayas to the north and the sprawling Doon Valley towards the south. Winterline, a unique phenomenon of nature, visible only at Mussoorie in Uttarakhand India, can only be viewed when the setting sun drops below the imaginary horizon overlooking the Doon Valley. The horizon is a mauve and grey coloured strip with yellow and orange coloured line at the upper end of the strip. The myriad colours make for a pretty picture that leaves the spectator spell-bound. This Winterline is visible from mid-Oct to end of Feb. It is one of the rare sights that is typical of mountainous regions that have a valley spread across the west of it.
To celebrate the Mussoorie Winterline as well as create awareness about this unique natural phenomenon, Mussoorie Winterline Carnival will be organized from 27th to 30th December 2013. The carnival will be a cultural fiesta that showcases the art, culture and life in Uttarakhand. In addition, a wide variety of events are planned that will enthral audiences with music, plays, performances as well as various activities.
“We are trying to make the visit of tourists even more special by showcasing all that we have to offer in terms of beauty, culture and the arts”, says Dr. B.V.R.C. Purushottam, District Magistrate, Dehra Dun. The 4 day event will not just create awareness about the unique natural phenomenon of the WinterLine but will also sensitize the tourists with the arts and culture of the region.
“Mussoorie is a beautiful hill station and has the potential to develop as a unique winter destination as well. The uniqueness arises not just from the natural Winterline phenomenon at Mussoorie, but also the bright sunshine that is typically the norm in Uttarakhand hilly regions throughout the winter months”, says Mr. Sandeep Sahni, Member of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and a leading Hotelier of Mussoorie. Mussoorie has bright sunlight, snow and no smog throughout the winters.
On Friday, the 27th of December, the cultural extravaganza gets underway with a formal inauguration as well as a cultural parade. This will be followed by a play by Tom Alter on Ghalib. Born and brought up in Mussoorie, Tom Alter is a well known thespian and a recognized actor spanning plays, television and movies.
A very musical ending to the evening is planned with performances by A Shivamani, the celebrated percussionist and a drummer par excellence, Sitarist Arvind Chary and the Pianist Stephan Devassy, who has played with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
On Saturday, the 28th of December, the tourists and locals alike can enjoy a fashion show hosted by the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India with an aim to showcase Indian Handlooms. The Event will bring together various well known Designers and Models on the ramp.
In addition, various activities like Heritage Walk, Run, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, etc are planned. These will help tourists learn more about the hill station as well as showcase the plethora of adventure activities that can be undertaken here.
On Sunday, the 29th of December, activities that are planned include a Heritage Walk, Roller Skating, Treasure Hunt, Band Competition, etc. One of the biggest events planned is a chance to have Tea with Mussoorie based reclusive author and one of the most loved writer for Children in India, Ruskin Bond.
In the evening, a showcase of the culture of Uttarakhand will be done through musical performances by Narender Singh Negi and Pritam Bharatwan, Prominent folk singers of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. This will be followed by a performance by Shibani Kashyap, Indian Bollywood singer.
On the 30th of December, along with a Heritage Walk, a Vintage Car Rally and a painting competition are planned. This will be followed by a performance by Bobby Cash, the Indian Cowboy and the country music singer. The finale to this exciting programme will be with a scintillating performance by Arijit Singh, the current Bollywood singing sensation, whose latest songs are being sung by all.
And finally to herald in the New Year on the 31st, there will be a display of Fireworks at midnight at Gun Hill in Mussoorie. Concurrent events during the Carnival include an exhibition on the History and Golden Era of Mussoorie by Gopal Bharadwaj. In addition, there will be many prizes to be won by participants in the events planned.