#BloggerContest: The Room on the Roof in Mussoorie

The newly opened eco-friendly Mosaic Hotel in Mussoorie is a paradise. Here are my shiny titbits from my recent stay at this luxurious haven…

Mosaic’s imposing façade is covered completely with tiny black planters, spilling different foliage (some have local flowering plants). The hotel itself has many levels and an elevator ride to the reception brings us to the stunning seating area. Encased in glass, the reception boldly announces the concept of mosaic—that of putting together various designs and creating a homogenous effect. So, this room has wing chairs and printed rugs--everything screams colour but the jeweled tones create a fabulous effect.

Outside the glass wall is their open-air restaurant—Charcoal that gives you a glimpse of the entire town of Mussoorie and Dehradun. The reception leads to the inner chambers through a patio that boasts of even more planters (made of recycled glass buckets) and charming bulb style terrariums that my daughter fell in love with instantly. In the dark, they twinkle like a secret fairy garden.

Stepping inside our room was like entering the bower of the fairy princess, complete with exotic butterflies and birdies. The large French windows, which incidentally can be opened without fear as there is a barrier outside, provide a beautiful valley and city view, and is perfect for lazing away time (on a massive wing chair). After a quick shower, we headed downstairs to explore other attractions of the property and grab the sumptuous breakfast buffet at Random—the all-day restaurant. The pool and spa garnered a lot of attention as my daughter made a snap decision to go splashing about in the adjoining kiddy sized (temperature controlled) clear waters. After a quick dip, though, we made our way towards the kid’s room that is stocked with all kinds of games that can keep even the fussiest of toddlers and pre-teens happy. The room is always open and the staff is extremely children friendly. But, since our stomachs had begun to grumble, quite loudly, Random was our next destination. And what an entry—tempting scents wafting, a plethora of dishes to choose from and a live station for those wanting to customise their eggs. We chose a sunny window seat and piled up our plates with exotic muffins, croissants, roasted potatoes, cheeses, jams and scrambled eggs, with fresh watermelon juice and buras (local fruit) juice! I later tried their aloo puri and sambar vada—both delicious and not very spicy. Relaxing with a hot cuppa, I looked around the restaurant that has a forest vibe—with walls done in foliage-style wallpaper. But it is the ceiling that was a surprise. Mirrors encased in different antique frames in various sizes and shapes were stuck on the low ceiling--a refreshing décor detail.

Other highlights: The breakfast is served with spa water--water infused with herbs, fruits and spices. It is healthy and helps in curing a lot of internal issues and very good for children. The Indian as well as international cuisine is spectacular. Each dish is prepared with love, and can be customised for little kids. As such, no dish is spicy but full of flavor. As far as possible, the ingredients are sourced locally and a lot of indigenous ingredients are used to prepare everyday meals. The hotel cultivates its own microgreens, herbs and even veggies to promote the concept of farm to table.  As I bid farewell to my hosts, I realised, this visit was special and it was made so by the ever-smiling, ever-helpful staff of Mosaic. Truly they made a two-day break worthwhile.

Room Tariff: Rs. 9,500 upwards.

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