Landour Language School, Mussoorie

sunbean815

I e-mailed LLS several weeks ago saying I intended to study in June and July, but got no reply until today saying that there were no vacancies until August. Problem is I have no idea where else to go for language study, and I've already ironed out the other kinks for Landour -- I have a set of rooms at Kilmarnock house, my plain tickets to India purchased, etc. There is no way to work it out so that I can go at a different time this summer. I suppose this is a lesson in stages of planning, but the LLS website suggests that you can enroll on a weekly basis so I thought it would be no problem.

I've sent an e-mail pleading to be let into classes. Does anyone know if this is likely? Also, how likely is it that I could hire a private tutor in Landour if I can't officially study with the school? Any advice that any of you have would be appreciated.

Aishah

sunbean, don't despair - there are several teachers who will tutor privately. One I know is called Rani and she is excellent. What I suggest you do is go ahead with your plans, go to the school and even if classes are full see the Principal and discuss having private tuition or ask around Char Dukaan area where language students hang about or Prakash store area for the names of tutors who can take you privately. I'm not sure if Rani is booked via the school or not. The other thing you can do is buy the Language School book and with the help of a tutor work through it. You will have no trouble meeting up with students who are at the school - maybe some where you are staying, Dev Dar Woods have many etc. So even if you are privately tutored you can get together to practise with them after school hours.

__________________
"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

sunbean815

Thanks for your reply Aishah. I just wanted to make sure I would have options once I was there and am glad to know I will.

ploink

Will be in Landour/Mussoorie myself for about two weeks in May/June and hope to either have a few classes at the school or with a tutor. Aishah, you'll be there too, at Wolfsburn? I'm intrigued....

__________________
But rather, ten times rather, die in the surf, heralding the way to that new world, than stand idly on the shore! -Florence Nightingale

Aishah

Yes I'm at Wolfsburn for all of June, Ploink! Hope we can see each other and if you're there we certainly will!

dodgeramus

Hi folks,

I've just arrived at Landour. I'm staying at Dev Dar woods but was surprised to find i'm the only student in at the moment, perhaps for the foreseable future. Thought that might be useful to know for people trying to find accommodation (as I had previously been told that it was essential to book early..)

And if anyone else is in the area and fancies meeting up, my e mail is dodgeramus at hot mail dot com (or just see you in school!)

Best,

David

ploink

I guess that LLS students who arrive in Landour without having booked accommodation would have most trouble finding accommodation when big groups from the US, for example arrive (or are) at the school (often in the summer, I've understood). That's also when the school is crowded. And there can be trouble even if you have a booking. Was it last summer that a couple of IMers studying at LLS and staying at Devdar Woods reported that they were thrown out to accommodate one such group even though they had booked for a certain time period.

How long are you in Landour, dodgeramus? We could have the very first (?) Indiamike Landour/Mussoorie meetup!

dodgeramus

Hi Ploink!

I'll be at Landour for two months ('til early july) so would be cool to meet up if our 'terms' overlap. I'll be at Dev Dar most the time, then Woodside for the last couple of weeks. That said, have thought about swapping to Rokeby as it's a bit more homely and not as overtly-Christian as previous posts suggest!

Hopefully see you some time

David

ps if Mr Prakash tries to evict me from Dev Dar he'll regret it

whoever

Thanks a lot ploink for giving me a few hints on dance classes... I guess I'll have to wait until I get there to find out if there's any possibility...
I understand that some of you guys previously stayed at wolf's burn... How was it? And how did you ever manage to make reservation there? I've been trying to call them twice already and spoke to a very kind uncle-ji who insisted (both times) on me calling another number... Which is busy 24h a day. I tried the fax which doesn't work and even sent an email to those Australian adventure guys to ask them to make reservation for me, which they didn't (but why would they since I have no business with tem otherwise..?)
Anyway... I'm about to turn to Devdaar woods which does have an email adress (how handy :-)but I figured I'd give it a last try before giving up.
So... Advice anyone?

ploink

Hi,

http://devdar.blogspot.com/: "To reserve a room, please call Anil Prakash at (91) (135) 263 2544 or email anilprakash56@yahoo.com"

I had to call, though, before he replied to my email!

I had luck with Wolfsburn: An IMer was staying there, and the IMer booked for me, even paid in advance for me.

The man who owns Wolfsburn is, erm, a character.

Oh, I'll be in Landour myself in May/June, I might be able to make inquiries for you. Also, there are other IMers there in the summer, they might be able to help you too.

whoever

But what is your opinion about both places? I mean is it worth going trough all the trouble to reach wolf's burn and make reservation there? Or is Devdar just as good a place?
Anyway thanks a lot for offering to try and find out what can be done once you'll be there, it would be great if you could spare a little time to send an email
You said you'll be there in May... Are you leaving soon?
I have another question... How's the internet connection there? I mean... I'll probably pack my laptop and was considering getting (somehow) a gprs or broadband connection but then again I'm not sure it's worth the trouble... Some of the IMers posted a lot on the subject last year but I don't remember reading anything about what actually hapened with the internet while they were there...

dodgeramus

Hey guys,

As i said Dev Dar definitely has space at the moment. Best to try phoning as my emails were never read. The word here is that Mr Prakash is what one might euphamistically call "a shrewd businessman". He's been quoting people all different prices, however the best anyone has is Rs500/day with all meals. It's a good place though - the food is good, rooms large and neat etc, could do with a few more people though! I get the impression this will be the liveliest lodging this summer as Rokeby is being gutted and refitted, and the other places are all a bit smaller.

David

ploink

I loved staying at Wolfsburn, location-wise. The location is excellent, on the sunny side of Landour (but still it was 8,5 C inside my cottage during my last night there in December, it snowed a few days afterwards), the garden and the views to Mussoorie and beyond are beautiful - the owner might be called "shrewd" too, though. Oh, Wolfsburn doesn't include meals - the cottages have kitchens/kitchenettes, fridge (my neighbours was more like a freezer though), stove (gas, had to pay extra for the gas cylinders), and some utensils, depends on your luck.

Do all the rooms in Dev Dar Woods have private bathroom? I think one IMer complained that the room did not have a private bathroom - contrary to promises (complained about the "pricing" too). How's the food these days?

The internet: If you take your laptop with you, you can take it to the "internet cafe" in Char Dukan, and connect it to the internet there. (I often felt that I was the only person who hadn't brought a laptop.)

whoever

Well, staying in a cottage must be kind of nice...
wolfs'burn sounds pretty much like I figured it would be, never mind the owner I guess...
But if you say that you had to ask someone who was there to book and pay for you... Well, I don't see it happening
I'll give the phone another try, and if you stay there this year maybe you'll get a chance to ask them if they would be willing to rent one of their cottages to a french girl between mid-August and mid-September
Guess I'll book Devdar in the meanwhile
Anyway as long as I don't camp somewhere in the fields I guess I'll be fine.

ploink

Wouldn't say that I had to ask an IMer to ask.
I didn't have to contact Wolfsburn by telephone (or by other means), though, because the IMer who was staying there offered to ask for me. You may well be able to book by telephone. How do you book, Aishah?

No meals included --> You decide the meal times and the menu. Some may prefer the "convenience" of a room with meals, though. And vegetables, fruits, rice, daal, ... are cheap for the likes of us.