I see what you mean about this Sunil character. Just the scent of commission in the air and the money jackals show up. Some guy just tried to get me to buy a little house for 20 lakhs and if there is ever an earthquake it will be the first place to fall off the cliff. I am not looking to buy any property there. I am actually thinking to relocate to Uttarkashi or somewhere else because Mussoorie, is growing out of control. Law and order are getting worse and there is too much greed. So many illegal constructions that are just being ignored by the MDDA. Those guys must make crores in bribes. There is not proper water or sewer system or electric system but they keep making fancy Autumn festivals and decorations for mall road every year. But I see that kind of wastage in Canada also. Big government grants going for superficial projects and highways left with broken pavements.

Yes the hotels really need proper maintenance. I rent my own apartment there so have not stayed in hotels there for many years. A hotel doesn’t have to have fancy things but it is not so hard to clean it up-wash the linens and so forth sometimes rather than have them smell of old hair oil and spilled food so much. Especially at those prices. I think if someone really cleaned up one of the older hotels and got good business then others would follow and the standard would rise. It is what is happening to some shops on mall road and the nicer shops and restaurants are getting better business. That seems to be the way of things. People want some guarantee that their investment in doing extra work will mean extra income. I’m telling you it will.

I recommend all travelers to check the room before signing any register and handing over money. If it is not clean or there are a lot of broken things just say so and walk away. There’s plenty of other hotels. If the owner knows he is losing business because of laziness then he will put the work in. This is true any where in the world.

If one has a washing machine and some place to hang the clothes where monkeys won’t tear them up then a dryer isn’t so necessary. I’ve never seen a dryer in Mussoorie and the way the electric cuts out all the time I don’t think I would get one. I have a washer though and it’s way faster than doing clothes in the bucket both for washing and getting them dry later.

As to the success of your venture, I do not know. If it is well run and cared for then quite likely so. But there are business interests in Mussoorie who would not like any of their business taken away and they may put up roadblocks. They have friends with Nagar Palika and other places so could give you some bother with permits (and bribes) and stuff like that. It is very corrupt and if you don’t have some friends or family in the government or such places there could be difficulties. But if you are from that place then likely you have some cousins or people who know your family so this could be easier.

Thanks for comments

I belong to Mussoorie but never lived there. When I ask for any property in Dehradun or in Mussoorie it never starts for less than a crore. Crore seems to be the most loved figure in this region of poppers. People with shabby ripped off clothes sitting in dirty shops have unilaterally assumed that their shop will sell for a crore. What will it return? A stupid collection of rs 3000 a day. I might as well leave my money in the bank at 0% interest. I don’t know what that lane at Rs 3 crores a bigha on Rajpur road will fetch? I might as well open a bar in Mumbai and earn lakhs a day as return!

Look at the hotels in Mussoorie? I have never seen more dirty and unhygenic hotels priced at Rs 2000 a night. I heard that the likes of JP charge Rs 15000. Isn’t that rediculous and shameful?

I have now decided to explore how possible will it be for me to start serviced apartments in Mussoorie? I really don’t know. But having lived in US for long I know what white towels look like and what a decent not smelling bathroom with a proper shower area looks like? Mussoorie hotels don’t even know what bath mats are and what a clean rug looks like. Will my venture succeed? Any suggestions? If I give a washer/dryer alongwith then I think I will the first to suggest how people should live in the mountains.

I am a pahari but I openly intend to warn that be cautious of paharis.

thanks