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Autumn is, in many ways, a season of magic. Up north, as the dry frigidity of the breeze blows down the first of the red chinar leaves in Kashmir, in Tamil Nadu, the skies burst, and the arrival of gushing monsoons is welcomed. Somewhere in Uttarakhand, Mussoorie to be exact, the sky folds in on the horizon, and we get to see one of the most wondrous phenomena of the world: the winterline.
Visible from only two places on earth—Mussoorie and the Alps of Switzerland, the winterline appears as the sky converges into a mix of deep reds, yellow, mauve, and inky blue when the sun sets over the horizon. The false horizon created with the colours is what is called the winterline.
Every year towards the end of December, Mussoorie hosts a festival commemorating the appearance of the winterline. The best view of the beautiful colours can be experienced at Lal Tibba scenic point, which falls on your climb up to the cantonment town of Landour. The Mall Road of Mussoorie is all decked up in different stalls selling delicious food and souvenirs. With sundown, there are other activities like stargazing and night photography that visitors can participate in. The city's twinkling lights are enough to make it one of your most memorable trips.
When: Last week of December
Getting there: The Dehradun Shatabdi runs from Delhi to Dehradun, from where Mussoorie is only an hour's drive away, with the uphill climb being easy enough for even new drivers. Alternatively, you can take a flight to Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport and drive up to Mussoorie.
Stay: There are several good hotels that you can stay in. The best would be to stay at Kunj Bhawan, UPCL guest house, which is affordable and less than a kilometre from Mall Road. You can check for details here.
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Although there isn't a dedicated celebration in Switzerland, you can instead take in the view of the Swiss alps and glimpse the winterline while also sightseeing around the snowy peaks. As Switzerland has an excellent train service, the best way to travel is by train and take in the view of the pristine alps. Take in the scenic views, as you zoom past with white blankets surrounding you from both sides.
When: The winterline is visible in the country starting from late October to January.
Getting there: The best way is to take a flight to Zurich and Geneva and from there get on the train to do the rest of the sightseeing of the Alps.
Stay: Taking a hotel in Zurich or Geneva before taking the train is best. Then once you are on the train, all your food and lodging needs will be taken care of.
