Prince Hotel, Mussoorie

 These are the photograph of the Prince Hotel in Mussoorie which was the residence of Shri Nathji in the winters of 1943. The above photo shows Shri Nathji sitting in the lawn of the hotel along with Mateshwari and the children. Shri Nathji is in a light grey woollen cloak cast over his black achkan. His arm is in a sling. He is seen holding the two year old Priya Nath, who is falling from his lap, while Pran Nath is with Mateshwari. The photo on the top, is also of Prince Hotel, in late October 1943. Standing 1st Shri Sinha owner of the Hotel, Shri Nathji, Mateshwari, Mrs. Sinha, 5th Mata Tara Devi, 6th (above) Prem Pyari, 7th Veeran Devi.

In the winters of 1943, Shri Nathji was at His house at Dehradun. But the growing opposition of Prem Nath and his wife and in-laws made life impossible for Mateshwari. Thus Shri Nathji leaves his home at Dehra Dun and goes into a self-imposed exile at Mussoorie, due to the vitiated atmosphere at his Dehra Dun house

It was in the dark hours of the night that they were able to reach Mussoorie. Dilaram Estate where He had stayed earlier, had been locked up for the winter, and Chaudhari Hyder Husein had left Mussoorie. Shri Nathji had to look for some other place where they could stay. He recollected a certain Prince Hotel in Library, and found a room there. The hotel had been whitewashed, just then.

I interviewed the present owner of the Hotel. He said that this building was build by a Britisher and then it was sold and become the residence of the Royal family of Amawan. The State of Amawan is located near Nalanda in Patna District of Bihar. Its Rajas were Zamidar rulers and given the title of Rai Bahadur by the British. His father purchased this building from them and converted it into a hotel. It was earlier named Cecil Hotel and later renamed as Prince Hotel. He said that their family know Shri Nathji from the time, He was staying at the Sanatan Dharam Temple at Landour.  Their residence was also at Landour and that’s how they knew Him. He also recalls that His father who also had knowledge of Homeopathic medicine occasionally administered homeopathic medicines to Shri Nathji when He was unwell and Shri Nathji had experienced relief. Perhaps it is possible that he also gave medicines to HH Pran Nathji, who had contracted pneumonia from exposure to cold. He said that he was very young that time but recalled that He was greatly respected by the people of Mussoorie and people address Him as Bhagvan Bhola Nath. He said that Shri Nathji had kept His money with some person and if he ever needed to make a payment, he use to direct people to that person. He Himself never touched money.

At the time Shri Nathji and Mateshwari were accompanied by Veeran Devi and Prem Pyari. Mata Tara Devi of Lahore had come for Shri Nathji’s darshan during those days. The owner of the hotel, a certain Shri Sinha, and his wife, are also seen in the picture. Both of them developed great devotion for Shri Nathji as the days passed by. 

Prince Hotel is located near Library Chowk on the Mall Road in Mussoorie. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from the bus stand. The hotel is situated at a higher altitude offering a panoramic view of the Doon Valley and Himalayan ranges.

Prince  Hotel provides awesome views of Doon valley from its terrace