Most tourists to this "Queen of Hills" confine themselves to the Mall Road, not bothering to take themselves away from an atmosphere which is quite similar to that of the cities they come from.
The lucky few, who value serenity and scenic locales, find their way towards the picturesque Camel's Back Road which takes its name from a rocky mountain shaped as a camel's hump that is visible from the road.
Interestingly, even the road itself is shaped, in a loop, like the back of a camel. Tourists and locals have always preferred to walk on this tranquil road behind the crowded Mall Road where honking of vehicles during the summer tourist season is a distraction for those who come here for a peaceful holiday.
Built by the Britishers in the year 1845 to provide a walk with a breathtaking view of the Himalayas, this road has an ancient 'Hawaghar' where people can sit and view the mighty peaks. This 'hawaghar' was earlier known as 'Pavilion' and 'Scandal Point'. It also provides shelter from the weather which is very unpredictable. One can sit here for hours and just gaze and admire the beauty of the mountains. In the morning, the 'hawaghar' is used for the walkers for Yoga. Telescopes are available for those wanting a closer look of the Himalayan peaks.
The Pavilion was built in 1870 and is mentioned even in the old Guidebooks of Mussoorie like the one written in 1870 by John Northam.
Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi and Trishul are visible from Camel's Back.There is also an old cemetery here, midway on the loop of the road, where lie the hill station's pioneers and settlers, school masters and brewers, generals as well as common soldiers besides English women and their infants. The cemetery dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. One can view the graves and tombstones on the hilly slopes from a distances. Many foreigners visit the cemetery in search of graves of their ancestors. There are also many stories, narrated by tourists, implying that making a visit to the area near the cemetery in the evenings can make one experience eerie feelings. Is the place haunted? This has been the subject of discussion among visitors down the years.
There are many stories about this road. One is that a British couple, engaged to each other, were on horseback. Suddenly, the girl's horse jumped into the hills. When the man saw she had died, he also jumped down.
This point was called "Lover's Leap" but now, one does not find the old board which had been placed at the point on a tree carrying the words "Lover's Leap". The Camel's Back road starts from Kulri and ends at the Library covering a distance of around four kilometers . Camel's Back road ends at a point where it joins Mall Road towards Library Chowk. The sunset view of the mountains from this road is what people really look forward to. Children enjoy horse rides on this road. It is a perfect place for morning and evening walks and promises an enriching experience for those who witness the magic of sun rays on the snow capped mountains. As most hill stations have a "sunrise" or "sunset point", Camel's back is Mussoorie's enchanting "Sunset Point."
Once, Camel's Back Road was a favourite "Walk" and "Pony Trek" for famous people like British Generals, political leaders and the Rajas of Tehri. Famous people like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Madan Mohan Malaviya and Rai Bahadur Gujjar Mal Mody are among the famous people who have spent many a quiet hour walking this road.
Thankfully, motor vehicles are banned from plying the road during the day which, makes it an ideal walk in the mornings and evenings. Camel's Back is as peaceful as the Mall is noisy, it is as scenic as the Mall is untidy and it is as soothing as the Mall is distracting.
