Good Old hill stations and their Mall Roads – A different feeling in themselves
Hello all,
The crisp, thick air of Shimla caressing your cheeks gently…
The floating clouds across the valley in Musoorie…
The tall trees of Van Vihar, telling stories of a hundred years in Manali…
The monks wandering in the vibrant maroon and yellow dresses with equally vibrant faces in Macleodganj…
What is common to all these?
Instead, what is common among all hill stations of India?
The hustling and bustling mall roads…
A visit to any hill station in India is incomplete without visiting the famous Mall Road.
Every Indian hill station has one thing in common — The Iconic Mall Road. These roads are not just streets or marketplaces; these are the places where culture and nature are so beautifully amalgamated, vibrating with energy and peace all the same. It is the place for local festivals and a place for gatherings…and sometimes, no, not many times, bursting your ears with all honking, but still there is peace in that pandemonium. There is calmness in that chaos.
Why are they called mall roads?
A term derived from “Pall Mall,” a famous roadway in London. But according to some, it comes from the Hindi word Maal, which means goods. And as these were the places for exchange of goods during those times, they were called Mall roads. And according to some, it is the acronym of Married Accommodation And Living Line (MALL Road), as on one side of this road, British officers lived with their wives and children. On the other side, bachelor military persons used to live alone.
The origin of mall roads:
To beat the unbearable summer heat, the Britishers used to move to more incredible places in the Indian Himalayas. They had established a few hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling and Nainital. These scenic towns were their summer capitals. They planned these towns with beautiful boulevards and serene gardens. These roads served as commercial streets, a promenade, a place for social meetings, streets with cafés and multiple benches where they could have a fantastic view with calm surroundings …but most of the time this came with a price, where only they could visit these roads, dividing the social exclusivity of the colonial era. Post independence, the mall roads changed the perspective. With the inclusion of all, the roads were now bustling with Indian handicrafts and culture and continue doing so till this date. Mall roads are now the busiest parts of Indian Hill stations. You can hate them for disturbing the quiet you want to achieve among the mountains….or you can love them for the vibrant crafts, heart-warming hospitality and joyful atmosphere….But you can not ignore them.
Famous Mall Roads we have visited:
Mall Road, Shimla
Shimla’s Mall Road is one of the most iconic mall roads in India. Cafés, handicraft shops and restaurants in between historical buildings with hills and valleys are what make this mall road memorable…kids were so little when we visited Shimla, need to see this with their eyes once again. Hope to be there soon…
Mall Road, Mussoorie
Our most recent visit is to this mall road. We were there last Christmas after our Kedarkantha trek. We also witnessed the “Pahadi” food festival there. Just roaming on that 1 km stretch was so rejuvenating after the tiring trek. We tried different “Pahadi” food, bought some local delicacies and seasonings and had fun just before going back oy chaotic city life. The best part of this mall road is the valley view… the clouds were drifting across the valleys, and at some point it was like we were in the sea of clouds of Doon valley…
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Manali Mall Road, Himachal Pradesh
Our kids won’t forget this road, that’s for sure. From enjoying ice cream on a cold autumn evening to exploring cafés and sipping lemon tea and Boba tea, to waiting for me to do shawl shopping, the kids enjoyed every minute of that evening… the best part was the walk from Hidimba Devi temple to the mall road through the forest trail of Vanvihar and also along the Log Huts road and while walking there don’t forget to have delicious meal at Darjeeling Steamers.
Mall Road, McLeod Ganj
After our trek to Triund, a leisure walk along the Mall road with exploring fantabulous small cafés with sweet treats was all the kids needed. Fantastic lunch at The Tibet Kitchen, or tasty dinner at overcrowded, but one of the most famous restaurants of McLeodganj – The McLLO, along with visiting small bookshops and souvenir shops. These are one of our most memorable travel moments…
Mall Road, Nainital
The memories of Mall Road along the Naini Lake are still in my mind, woven though I had visited this place as a kid….
Surrounded by sheer nature and scenery, the Mall Roads are the places where you can’t be sad or tired for a long time. They recharge you with views all around them, and with the energy flowing through busy markets and kind people. Here, nature is your constant companion; it always has your back. It will guide you persistently and rejuvenate you effortlessly… The quirky streets won’t judge you here. They accept you with a kind heart and open arms, just like their nurturers, those eternal Himalayan peaks….so whenever you visit any hill station in India, don’t forget to take a stroll through these amazing hubs for their exquisite historical and cultural values…
Thank you…
Visited all listed but, never explored the way you do! Missed many things.. Very good article. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much sir…