A Visit to a Hill Station English Essay for 10th 12th class pdf download
Travelling must form an important part of education in our schools and colleges. It gives us firsthand information about things, places, persons and events. It is essential for the healthy growth of mind. Tagore rightly said:
” The health of the mind cannot be maintained on the ration of books served up
in the motionless classes of a static school.”
Tours and trips not only educate the students but also provide a healthy change from a mere dull, academic routine. I am of the view that a hill station is always the best choice for an excursive trip because:
“There is pleasure in the pathless woods, There is rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes
I love not man the less. but nature more.” (Lord Byron)
It is in human nature to look forward to moments of joy and pleasure. So, man started to make places of recreation. Man’s adventurous nature settles for nothing but the best. After ages of search, he came to the conclusion that there is no better creator than God. The places left untouched by the evil clutches of man-made machines proved to be the perfect shelter for the bored and exhausted human heart and mind. As L.A Stear says:
“Take a deep breath and look around, you will find perfection and serenity nowhere but in God’s creation.”
Life itself is very tiresome. Everybody needs to be reminded to take a break and look around himself and enjoy the moment. We are living in the age of cut-throat competition. In this modern age, we remain busy from dawn to dusk, like a machine. We have to strain every nerve to get success in life. Our minds are all the time preoccupied with the worries and responsibilities of everyday life. We are unable to enjoy even the simplest delights of life. In the midst of this life of hurry and worry, we should have some moments of relief to reinvigorate our minds and energies, otherwise life becomes dull and drab like a withered leaf. Famous romantic poet P.B. Shelley, in his “Ode to the West Wind” aptly asserts:
“O’, lift me, as a wave, a leaf, a cloud! I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!
A heavy weight of hours has chained and bowed
One too like thee: tameless, swift and proud.”
I, like other students of today, live a busy life but I believe that one should spare some time for recreation. My adventuresome nature prompted me to visit some beautiful hill station and a cousin of mine suggested visiting Murree Hills. Murree is a stunningly beautiful valley situated between the huge mountains of Himalaya range.
“The best part of the beauty is that which no picture can describe”.
It was almost mid of July when we all cousins set off for Murree. We enjoyed the whole journey from our city to Rawalpindi. We reached Rawalpindi at 10 o’ clock. We rested for a while in Rawalpindi and purchased many things of daily needs.
We reached Murree at 2 pm the same day. The weather was gusty. The huge masses of clouds appeared in the winking of an eye. An inky darkness prevailed everywhere. Cool wind was blowing. Birds were diving up and down on the waves of cool breeze. And at that time, it seemed as if:
“Nature is standing in front of us in all its beauty and grace”.
The hotels were quite expensive but we found one with moderate charges and lodged there. Its name was “Hotel Hill View”. We were wonder-struck when we gazed out of the window of our room. The window opened to a mountainside and it was covered completely with different coloured flowers. The valley below hills looked like a great cup full of flowers and flowing streams. The beautiful flowers of eye-catching colors were dancing in cool breeze and looking so beautiful, as the poet says;
“See how the flowers as at parade, under colors stand displayed.”
We stood gazing for a while and then planned our day. Next day, we walked to Kashmir point and enjoyed ourselves with its scenic beauty. We had tea there. The beautiful mountains and the clean, fresh air made me feel alive. I never wanted to turn my eyes away from the evergreen trees. Everything seemed too good to be true, too pretty to last. It made time itself stop. I felt:
“In the woods, is perpetual youth.”
When it was dark, we made for our hotel. A gentle shower of rain began to fall. When it started-tipping it down, it also created a musical sound and that was the beauty and music of nature. After a while, it started raining cats and dogs and continued till late at night, but when it was dawn, the rain stopped.
After our breakfast, we went out to see Salami Sanatorium. Salami is a beautiful spot situated in a fine valley. There are fruit gardens on slopes. On our way back, we crossed two fast moving streams. Their silvery water was clear and cool. The number of glowing colors looked as much beautiful as:
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.
They must be felt with heart.” (Helen Keller)
Next day, we headed towards Patriata, early in the morning. We enjoyed having a ride of chair-lift there. It was an amazing experience. Running clouds, blowing breeze and the panoramic view of Murree hills: it seemed like a dream.
Next day, we visited the Mall Road. This road was thronged with pedestrians. People wearing warm clothes seemed to be enjoying the lovely weather. The high mountains behind the hotels were presenting the marvellous view. We had the chance to look and observe various artefacts and handicrafts. We bought some handicrafts and other items especially prepared by the local people and went back to our hotel. The whole valley with its grandeur and majesty, seemed to be pervaded by a Divine Spirit. The bracing climate of the ‘Queen of Mountains’ refreshed our spirits.
Perhaps, it was for such scenery that Wordsworth, the high priest of Nature, said:
“One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach us more of man, Of moral evil and of good, Than all the sages can.”
In our ten days visit of Murree Hills, we enjoyed hiking, and did a lot of shopping from Murree Mall. These moments are unforgettable for me. Those ten days were the most well-spent days of my life.
“What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!” (Cowper)
Beauty of Murree hills left an indelible imprint on screen of my mind. It will be commemorating me of the bewitching beauty of Murree forever, because;
“A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its loveliness increases; it will never pass into
nothingness”.
On the tenth day, we left Murree. The journey back home was not without its joys. Slowly the mountains started to fade from view. We came back with a lot of unforgettable memories of our trip. Whenever I remember those days, I start singing these beautiful verses of William Wordsworth.