Surveyor’s Stone at Bhadraj, Mussoorie : 24th March’2015
It is surprising
that none of the tourists to Mussoorie know of a 200-year-old Surveyor’s Stone
at the Bhadraj Hill just 18 kms from Mussoorie. Ever since I came to know of it
thru a photo exhibition I saw in Mussoorie last year, I was looking for a trip
to Bhadraj....and today was the day.
I started at 6
AM with my beloved Bullet 4161 and reached Dudhli Village via Mussoorie and
Clound’s End by 8. The bullet ride always fascinates me and in the morning to
Mussoorie and beyond makes my mood.
The freakish contrast between the thickly forested northern slopes and the totally bare grassland on southern slope immediately drew my attention. A line appears to have been drawn by free hand dividing it by a ridge. From Dudhli the 5 kms trek to Bhadraj temple was all fun listening to FM Rainbow and getting updates of semi final between NZ and SA. Cool breeze accompanied me all the way to Bhadraj. Full bloom Rhododendron flowers and glittering Silver Oak made an awesome scene all the way. I reached by 10.30. The idols in the temple have a Buddhist touch as this region including eastern Himachal was once under heavy Buddhist influence.
The freakish contrast between the thickly forested northern slopes and the totally bare grassland on southern slope immediately drew my attention. A line appears to have been drawn by free hand dividing it by a ridge. From Dudhli the 5 kms trek to Bhadraj temple was all fun listening to FM Rainbow and getting updates of semi final between NZ and SA. Cool breeze accompanied me all the way to Bhadraj. Full bloom Rhododendron flowers and glittering Silver Oak made an awesome scene all the way. I reached by 10.30. The idols in the temple have a Buddhist touch as this region including eastern Himachal was once under heavy Buddhist influence.
“Surveyor’s Stone” was located in the
periphery of the Bhadraj temple. This Stone, a relic, is inscribed with the
names of the Surveyors and VIP Visitors of that period and stands as a
historical testimony to the work done by them in India.
The Himalayan
region’s description was very patchy and incorrect at the onset of the 19th
century and the East India Company was also keen to map the Indian
peninsula to
ascertain their area of control and feel proud for it. Thus Survey of India was
established. The Great Trigonometry Survey was started by
British surveyor Col. William Lambton in 1802. It was started from St.Thomas
Mount, Chennai to Bhadraj Hill in Mussoorie. Many surveyors visited this point
in 1813/1814 and they mapped this region very accurately.
Some of the
initials carved out on the stone include that of JSB John Boldero, Joint
magistrate of Sahranpoor 1813-15, WLG Wiliam Linnaeus Gardner (1770-1835) and
John Anthony Hodgson (1777-1848). At the lower right hand corner, cut into the
rock, is the inscription of Lady Hood 1814. She was wife of Admiral Sir Samuel
Hood, a British Naval officer Commanding 1st British East Indies Naval fleet.
I enjoyed my one
hour stay on top and returned back to watch on TV the wonderful finish by NZ to
enter in finals in WC.
If you are interested in this trek, reach Dudhli village by car or bike. You can also do an extended trek starting from Library at Mussoorie.
From Dudhli it is 4.5 kms gradual ascent to Bhadraj passing thru scenery you must not have seen in your entire life.
If you are interested in this trek, reach Dudhli village by car or bike. You can also do an extended trek starting from Library at Mussoorie.
From Dudhli it is 4.5 kms gradual ascent to Bhadraj passing thru scenery you must not have seen in your entire life.