Mussoorie’s George Everest House to be developed for stargazing

Uttarakhand’s Mussoorie will soon be home to a well-renovated George Everest House, an attraction that has been reeling under apathy from both tourists as well as the administrative authorities till now. In a welcome move, the state tourism board has plans to restore the place, which was once home to Sir George Everest. Reportedly, authorities plan to develop and then promote the spot as a stargazing site in the region.

The house was built in 1832, and is set at around six km away from Gandhi Chowk, Mussoorie. Sir George Everest owned the house for 11 years, after purchasing it from General Whish. The house, as it stands today, is visited by a few locals and explorers these days, keen to soak in the panoramic views of Doon valley. The house has been lying in a derelict state for quite some years now, and the decision to restore it has been hailed from all quarters.

Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj declared the move and has pegged the cost at around INR 23.71 cr. He has also declared that all restoration work on the site would be complete by August, 2020.
It would be interesting to see the house restored to its former glory, for it is a relic of the British Era in India, complete with fireplaces, doors and window frames that are a definite throwback to the past. Its proximity to Mussoorie, of course, can turn it into a crowd-puller and rake in money for the tourism industry as well.