Embraced by breathtaking views of the snow-laden Himalayan peaks, the George Everest House in Mussoorie is a gorgeous attraction steeped in history. Located some 6 km from Mussoorie’s Gandhi Chowk, the secluded area is ideal for picnics, offering the most beautiful panoramic views of the Doon valley. Now, after renovations and developments by the Uttarakhand tourism department, Sir George Everest’s historic house and laboratory, which has been turned into a cartography museum, is soon going to be open to the public.
"The tourism department is adding new activities for tourists at various destinations. Visiting the George Everest Museum is one such activity for tourists visiting Dehradun and Mussoorie," said Sachin Kurve, Secretary at Uttarakhand Tourism. "These activities will enhance tourists' overall experience at these destinations."
Home of Sir George Everest, the Surveyor-General of India from 1830 to 1843, the museum will soon be open to the public. The heritage property, also known as Park Estate, is already a popular heritage site for travellers and locals. This is where Sir Everest helped the British measure Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, which led it to be named after him as an honour and acknowledgement of his contribution. Earlier, the house was used as an observatory to view mountains that demarcate the boundaries of British India.
“The Museum at Sir George Everest House is a tribute to the works of Sir George Everest and two great Indian explorers, Sh. Radhanath Sikdar and Pt. Nain Singh Rawat, who worked closely with Sir George Everest,” said Sh Kurve. “The Museum is an attempt to showcase the exploratory works, equipment and early maps in an interesting manner to the visitors.”
The Mussoorie home of Sir George Everest has been turned into a cartography museum, and the work is almost complete. The final touches are still going on, which had to be delayed due to the rains, but tentatively, the museum is going to open its doors for the public on September 27, which is World Tourism Day.
The museum, dedicated to the works and contributions of Everest, will have a number of galleries showcasing various exhibits about Mount Everest and Indian explorers. A souvenir shop and library are also part of the facade. Besides that, the grounds are also equipped with a proper parking area and dedicated stargazing pits and huts for visitors. There will also be an outdoor observatory with surveying activities for visitors to participate in. Within the premises, there will also be multiple sculptures of Sir George Everest as an ode to the Great Trigonometrical Survey. Along with Everest, there will also be other statues depicting the achievements of pioneers of Indian cartography, Radhanath Sikdar and Nain Singh Rawat.
Getting there: The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, some 60 km away, is the nearest airport, while the Dehradun Railway Station, some 36 km away, is the nearest railhead. In Mussoorie, you can easily get regular taxis and buses to the museum.
