Anyone going to Mussoorie/Landour?

skinnylatte

I'm thinking of going to Landour for 6 weeks of intensive hindi.

http://landourlanguageschool.org/

Was initially thinking of Delhi, but the chance of studying in Mussorie really did it for me..

Is anyone planning on going this year?

Also, as I'd only started considering Landour tonight, I have some questions:

1. It is now April. I hope to be there between mid June and mid August. Should I just show up at Landour and sign up for classes, or speak to someone beforehand?

2. I've heard it's hard to get accommodation btwn May and October. Should I start looking around for accommodation (I'm not sure when I'll go exactly, see)? I'm thinking striking up a long term deal with a cheap (but good) guesthouse. Do you know if the places students traditionally stay in, near the sch and with full board (such as Devdar), will be full by this time?

I've been to India several times but never been to Uttaranchal. I'd love to and I'm excited about being able to brush up on my Hindi, big time, too.

Mod Note: This is a list of current addresses and contact details for accommodation in Landour, as of 27th July, 2009:

Name Rates Who/Where Phone Mail Notes (What ppl say) pics
DevDar Woods 550/700 for single
without/with meals Mr. Anil Prakash, Sister's Bazar 91 135 2632644 / 2632544 anilprakash56@yahoo.com Very bad reviews!!!
Not so nice ppl. No garden
Oak land Cottage Mr. Anil Prakash anilprakash56@yahoo.com My friend had a good time
there last year
Ivy Bank Mr. Manohar Lal Sharma, 91 135 2630278, 91-135-263-2324
Northern Stores Mr. Prem Bijalwan, Landour Bazar 91 135 2632123
Wolf's Burn 9500-13000 a month
for a cottage Mr. V. Uniyal,. 91 135 2631440. Fax: 91 135 2633027 info@all4adventure.com.au
15 minutes walk, no need to climb,
can't eat there. Clean for yourself.
Nice ppl. Nice garden+view http://picasaweb.google.fi/ploink/La...682 360670114

WOODSIDE 300/700 for
single/double room,
no meals inluded Sisters Bazaar Delhi: 0091 11 26843503 .
Mobile# 9810712887,
Mussorie 0091 135 263 1587 bhattyiz@gmail.com
Top Area above Landour Bazaar,
20 minutes climb, isolated in the woods.
Possible to eat there. Clean.
Nice ppl. Nice garden+view
Inda Cottage Ms. Maya Narula 0091 135 2632782, 0091 9818549445 Close to the school
Snow View Guest House Mr. Rakesh Garg, Sister's Bazaar, 0091 135 2632721, 0091 9837818854 sumit18_garg@rediffmail.com
See Forth Lodge Ms. Sujata Chauhan, Mr. Vinod kumar,
Clock Tower 0091 11 202511563, 0091 11 206515560,
0091 135 2632801 revinodkumarart@hotmail.com Not a guesthouse, accomodation,
a little far
kilmarnock lodge 700-800 for a room
with meals sarvajit singh ssaluminum2000@yahoo.com
10-15 minutes, looks a little expensive.
Free Internet. Clean. Nice ppl

Thanks to member sivan for doing this!

skinnylatte

Also:

The website says private tuition is Rs200 per lesson.

If I gather correctly, the full time intensive course is Monday to Friday, 4 lessons a day.

Does this mean the daily cost of tuition is 200x4= Rs 800? And that the weekly cost would be somewhere around Rs 4000?

Can someone who's been to Landour shed some light on the total weekly course fees?

Aishah

skinnylatte - I think you should definitely get your accommodation arranged before you go - I have finally booked for May and June and found some contacts via the Landour Language school website. I am staying in two places because i couldn't get into one for the full period - Woodside & Wolfsburn. It took me quite a while to get to this point! Also I have never stayed in Landour area before and am hoping both will be fine!

skinnylatte

have just called Mr Datt. the school is fully booked in June, the earliest I can start is 3rd week of july.

Ariel

Hello!

Thanks for starting the thread, skinnylatte.

I'm sorry the place is booked during the time you initially wanted. Are you still able to stay for a full six weeks?

I'll be headed to Landour in early September, for two months.

I'd love to hear from more people who have already been. I've read all of the previous threads, and there has been much said on the professors, quality of instruction, etc, but I'm interested to hear about the day-to-day life.

What do people do after hours? How far a walk is it to Mussoorie? Are there movie theaters, decent stores? I'm planning on packing very light and buying what I need once there, is that a good plan or not?

What would all you veterans recommend in the way of essential packing lists? What can we do without?

Lastly, I'd love to find some people who will be there at the same time as me. This will be my first trip to India though I've been studying Hindi since last year, and it's always nice to have a something of a support system when moving to a new place!

belle

Hi all,
Is anyone going to Landour in June? I'll be there from the beginning of June-July, staying at Ivy Bank.

Aishah

Hello Belle! I will be in Landour from May 27 to end of June and will be staying first at Wolfsburn, then 18 days at Woodside, and then the rest of the time back at Wolfsburn. I won't be doing intensive Hindi classes - just brushing up on reading and writing with maybe a lesson once every 3-4 days. last year I had a young graduate living in Mussoorie doing this for me and probably will do the same again this year.
There is a new cafe opened recently by an American lady at the top end of Landour Bazaar and that might be a nice place to arrange meet-ups! Feel free to PM me, and anyone else who will be there at this time.

ploink

I'll arrive in Landour in mid-September; I'll stay in Dev Dar Woods. Plan to really learn Hindi, the 12-week course, four lessons/day - yaiks.

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

decamped

So I guess from the IM group I'll be the first one there? I leave on Thursday, should be settled in Landour by Saturday night...

boundlesstraveler

I'm here in Mussoorie already. Not with the language school though. Will be here for the rest of the year.

__________________
"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen." ~ Paulo Coelho

boundlesstraveler

Where is Woodside located? I have never heard of it and wanted to check it out. Anyone has contact info?

Aishah

the owner's name was on the Landour Language school website and you can contact him by email - izbhatty@gmail.com or telephone:09810712887 / (mobile) Delhi: 011-26843503 Mussoorie 0135 -2631587. Whilst I am staying there I confess to knowing not much about it, it is in the top area above Landour Bazaar which is a nice area to stay in. You could speak or email with the owner Mr Bhatty. I will be there in June from 1 -18 and in Wolfsburn for the rest of the time.

boundlesstraveler

Aishah - Thanks for the info!

belle

Random questions:
Is there an ATM in the Landour mall area, or in Mussoorie? I'm assuming there is but I'm just trying to figure out the best way to handle monney issues. Also, questions about the weather. Will it already be very rainy in June-July, or does that come later? Any suggestions on what do pack-- trying to travel as light as possible. Thanks!

Aishah

Belle - I don't know about Landour but there are 2 that I know of in Mussoorie - one is Bank of Baroda and the other State Bank of India. Both will take overseas cards - visa etc. Yes, July is more rainy than June - some rain in June but not huge. Fold-up umbrella handy - you can buy them there too.Last year temps didn't exceed around 25'c and cooler at night. Don't need the winter woolies, just a shawl or jumper or light jacket on top of normal temperate climate clothes. Cotton layers are great. Can in the sun in middle of day get quite warm.