Pari Tibba

Little girls always find solace in fairies. They imagined that whenever something went wrong, a fairy in a white, dazzling dress, with beautiful cloud-like wings, a sparkly wand, and an innocent face would come up to help them. But as they grow up, they realise that fairies are probably a myth. But what if we were to tell you that fairies might exist, but they are not the white, dreamy angels, but some mystical, enchanting, but dangerous spirits.

This is the story of Pari Tibba, a picturesque yet haunting spot in Mussoorie. It not only amuses visitors with its fog-draped slopes, quiet hills, tall oak trees, the chilling swoosh of wind, and beautiful landscapes, but also terrifies them with eerie stories of unexplained paranormal experiences, making it one of the haunted places in Mussoorie.

Mussoorie is a town full of interesting and gorgeous places. From Victorian and Edwardian heavy architecture to views of the snow-capped Himalayas, the town has a lot to offer. One of the most interesting places in this town is Pari Tibba. Located just about 5-7 km away from the heart of Mussoorie, this secluded spot on the hill is almost 2100-2200 m above sea level. Surrounded by dense forests of oak, pine, and rhododendron trees, the place is near the famous Woodstock school in Landour. It offers panoramic views of the Doon Valley during the day, and at night, all you can see is a sea of lights.

One striking feature of Pari Tibba is the blackened, charred trees across the slopes. It is believed that the trees were repeatedly struck by lightning, as the common belief is that the storms strangely intensify at this spot. There are old ruins of stone houses that make this spot extremely interesting. Additionally, there are various mysterious mounds of rocks that cannot be completely explained.

When the sun shines bright, the entire hill is full of warm and luminous rays that one can relish. During the sunrise and sunset, the hill offers beautiful views of orange, pink, purple, and blue skies. In the winters, one can easily spot the famous winter line at the time of the sunset. But once the clock strikes evening hours, the entire vibe of this spot changes. The thick fog blankets the pathways, the entire hill quiets in silence, the forest appears as dense as it can be, and the darkness becomes impenetrable. This atmosphere creates a much more haunting experience and resembles other haunted places in Mussoorie.

The place Pari Tibba gets its name from the local Garhwali folklore that claims that this hill was once home to supernatural spirits called Achhari. These are basically the forest fairy, and the name Pari Tibba actually translates to hill of fairies. These fairies are unlike any fairy tales that we used to hear as children. They are enchanting and dangerous spirits that wander around the hill, just with one purpose – lure the travellers, spotted in the misty forests.

Local Garhwali and Kumoani people believe that Achhari, or the forest fairy, resides in Pari Tibba with one aim, and that is to hypnotise people. They play haunting flute music, which lures people to go deeper into the forest. Once someone religiously follows the sound of the flute, they are believed to have disappeared forever. Locals do not have an idea where these fairies or Achhari take the people. They believe that there are some unprecedented and unknown forest realms hidden within the dense woods where the Achhari take the abducted souls to.

Villagers settled near Pari Tibba have often claimed that they hear faint flute-like noises and sounds near the hills. These sounds intensify on quiet nights. The locals take this as an admonition not visit the hill at night.

If you feel that Pari Tibba is only haunted because of the Achhari, you might be mistaken. There is another story that people associate with Pari Tibba. While the hill gets its name from the stories of a forest fairy or Achhari, the reports of it being one of the haunted places in Mussoorie come from a tragic love story.

Decades ago, a young couple visited Pari Tibba for a romantic picnic. While they were exploring the hills, the weather turned stormy. Since it is believed that the storm intensifies at Pari Tibba, there was a series of lightning strikes. The repeated lightning strikes and heavy rains made it impossible for the young couple to escape. People say that the couple was struck by lightning and they died on the spot. The next morning, locals discovered their charred bodies along with the burnt trees.

Many locals believe that apart from Achhari, the spirits of the couple haunt the Pari Tibba Hill. People have reported hearing whispers, cries, and shadow spirits of a man and a woman holding hands in the fog on the hill. Many people further add to the story, saying that lightning storms occur here unusually frequently because the spirits are willing to relive their final moments.

If you believe that the tragic love story and Achhari are the only reasons why Pari Tibba is known to be one of the haunted places in Mussoorie, get ready to be further amused. There are many legends associated with this hill.

One of the folklore stories also mentions a mysterious woman who lived on the hill centuries ago. It is said that she used to practice herbal medicine and rituals. These practices made the villagers accuse her of witchcraft,t and after her death, people claimed that her spirit still wanders in the forest, disappointed with all the accusations.

Another story talks of the disappeared, hikers and shepherds near Pari Tibba. It is said that there are some fairies or evil spirits that abduct them. It is believed that these abducted people or spirits still roam around Pari Tibba, haunting people.

And the last story claims that the hill was once an ancient village. Locals say that the village was extremely beautiful and just like a setting out of a fairytale. However, a catastrophic storm struck the hill centuries ago, and the ancient village was destroyed beyond repair. Villagers believe that the spirits of the lost settlement guard the hill and haunt anyone who misunderstands or tries to destroy this hill.

There is an eerie duality to Pari Tibba. It is just another one of the haunted places in Uttarakhand that is not only a natural panoramic view sight but also a haunted hill, which has a mystical environment and mysterious stories woven around it.

Today, the hill of Pari Tibba is a famous trekking and sunrise as well as sunset spot, but just when the sun sets, the entire place shifts its moods and tones, haunting and terrifying anyone visiting it. The locals strongly advise not to visit this spot after sunset, and the warning is not just limited to supernatural stories, but also to wildlife, slippery trails, and torturous weather.

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational and awareness purposes only. Information may be interpretative, culturally influenced, or drawn from multiple sources. The Unknown India does not claim absolute accuracy in all cases.