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If you are in the mood to get away from the hustle
and bustle of city life, escape to Morni, a place as fascinating as
its name.
Situated in the lower
reaches of the Shivalik range, Morni is ideal for a holiday with its
cool clime, beautiful natural vistas and myriad opportunities for
trekking, rock-climbing and other adventure sports. Just five hours
away from Delhi and 45 kilometres from Chandigarh, Morni in Ambala
district combines the best of an idyllic retreat with tons of action,
adventure and fun.
Tourism in Haryana makes
an interesting study in management and marketing techniques. Haryana
has the distinction of pioneering highway tourism in India with its
vast network of highway tourist complexes. When Haryana was newly
created from the Haryana was newly created from the Haryana was newly
created from the composite State of Punjab, it did not inherit any
noteworthy tourist complex. Nature also ahs not been generous with
her bounty in Haryana – there is a definite paucity of
attractive natural features like rivers, beautiful landscapes and
mountains. Despite these drawback, Haryana has carved out a place
for itself in India’s tourism map with its 43 innovative tourist
complexes, each named after a bird. Each tourist complex is created
to be “peaceful homes for special pampering” and boasts and
manifold attractions like restaurants, health clubs, gift shops,
bars, landscaped lawns and camper cottages.
Morni boasts of the
Mountain Quail tourist complex, a bird that abounds in the hills of
the area. At an elevation of 3600 feet above sea level, Morni has a
fascinating range of flora and fauna. Pines crown the hilltops and
trees like neem, oak, peepal, jamun,
amaltas and jacaranda cover
the slopes. When the flowering trees blossom, the hill sides are
awash with colour, a delightful sight indeed! Morni is a paradise
for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers with its teeming population
of birds like quails, sandgrouse and common doves as well as animals
like jackals, hyenas, sambhars and even a jungle cat or two.
Myth, mystery and
history also have a place in Morni’s attractions. The tourist
complex is built close to the ruins of an old fort. There are two
large lakes or tals which
seem to be interconnected mysteriously even though they are separated
by a hillock. The water level in both tals always remains the same.
Locals consider the lake auspicious and gather here on ceremonial
occasions. As small temple on the banks contains a trimurti
(the Hindu Trinity) which dates back to the 12th century
AD when a Shiv temples was supposed to have existed at the site.
Morni offers many
interesting trekking options. One can trek to the two tals and the
fort and for the more adventurous, there are treks to the bank of the
River Ghaggar which flows past Morni. Goat tracks lead out of the
tourist complex for those keen on walks. The tourist authorities are
examining the viability of hang-gliding in Morni, introducing yet
another special attraction.
So, whether it is action
or rest you are looking for, pack your bags and come to Morni.
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