Morni Hills sits 45 kilometres from Chandigarh in the Shivalik range, making it the nearest hill station for the entire Tricity
The two lakes at Morni, Tikkar Taal, are the only natural lakes in Haryana and draw visitors year-round
Weekend mornings in summer see a steady stream of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali residents heading up the mountain road before the heat sets in
The road to Morni Hills starts at the edge of Panchkula and begins climbing almost immediately. The plains behind you, the Shivalik range in front. On a clear morning in September, after the monsoon has done its work and the hills are green, this is one of the better drives available within an hour of the Tricity. By the time you reach the top, the temperature has dropped by several degrees and the view back toward the plains, on days when the visibility is good, shows you Chandigarh laid out below the hills, small and ordered, the planned city visible as such even from this distance.
Morni is the only hill station in Haryana. It sits at an elevation of approximately 1,220 metres at its highest point. For the three cities below, it serves a simple and essential function: it is the place you go when the heat becomes serious.
The Lakes
The twin lakes at Tikkar Taal are the principal attraction for most visitors. These are the only natural lakes in Haryana, a fact that the tourism literature repeats often because it is genuinely surprising. The lakes are fed by the hills around them and maintain their water level through the year, though they are naturally fuller after the monsoon.
Boating is available at Tikkar Taal, and the Haryana Tourism Department operates boats on the larger lake. Families with children find the lake area the most convenient part of Morni to spend time in: there is shade, there is water, there are places to sit, and the children can be occupied for a reasonable period without much effort from the adults.
The surrounding forest holds birds that are not easily seen in the plains. Paradise flycatchers, various warblers, woodpeckers. Serious birdwatchers come to Morni specifically for the Shivalik forest birds, and the best time for them is the early morning in winter and spring.
The Drive and the Dhaba
The road from Panchkula to Morni is the journey’s first reward. The road is well-maintained by Haryana standards, though it narrows in places, and on weekend mornings the traffic can be slow behind trucks and buses. The views on the way up compensate.
At Morni village, there are dhabas that have been serving the same menu for decades. Rajma chawal. Dal makhani. Parathas with home-made butter. The quality varies and the better ones are known to regular visitors. First-timers do best by watching where the locals sit.
Hum log garmion mein hafte mein ek baar zaroor aate hain. Chandigarh mein garmi ho ya load-shedding, yahaan paanch degree thanda rehta hai. (We come here at least once a week in summer. Whether it is the heat or power cuts in Chandigarh, it is five degrees cooler up here.)Rajinder Sharma, resident of Panchkula Sector 20
The Fort and the Temples
Morni village has a small fort, built by the local hill rajas, which is now in various states of disrepair. The Archaeological Survey has some presence here, but the fort has not received the restoration attention it might deserve. For visitors interested in local history, it is worth seeing, though the current condition requires imagination to fill in what the structure must have been.
There are several small temples in and around Morni that are active places of worship. The Morni Mata temple draws devotees from the surrounding villages and from Panchkula. On auspicious days, the road to the temple can be crowded.
When to Go
Morni works in every season but serves a different purpose in each. In summer, it is relief from the plains heat. In monsoon, the hills are green and the mist is spectacular, but the roads can be slippery and the leeches are enthusiastic. In winter, the area is cold and relatively quiet, and the clear days offer the best long-distance views of the plains. Spring, when the wildflowers are out, is perhaps the most beautiful time.
For the Tricity resident, Morni is not a destination that requires planning. It is the kind of place you go on a Sunday morning when the city feels too much and the hills are an hour away. Panchkula has the advantage of starting closer to the mountains, and residents of sectors 20 and 21 can be at the foot of the hills in twenty minutes.
That proximity is the whole point. Not every escape needs to be far. Sometimes an hour on a winding road and a view from the top is sufficient. Morni has been providing that for the Tricity for as long as the Tricity has existed.
Morni Hills, Panchkula | Symbolic picture | Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) | For representation