Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat)

Tiffin Top — formally known as Dorothy's Seat — sits at 2,292 metres on Ayarpatta hill, about 4 kilometres by path from the town centre. It is quieter than Snow View Point and the walk up through oak and rhododendron forest is genuinely pleasant, which makes it popular with those who prefer hiking to cable cars. The views from the top look west and south across the Kumaon hills; on clear days the plains far below are visible through gaps in the forest.

The path starts from near the Boat House Club by the lake. Horses can be hired at the base for those who prefer not to walk — the Pahadi ponies are used to the terrain and the ride up is leisurely. Allow two to three hours for a round trip on foot.

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A story
The spot is named for Dorothy Kellet, the wife of a British Army officer, who died in a plane crash in the 1930s. Her husband had the terrace on Ayarpatta hill built as a memorial, and the British community named it after her. The "tiffin top" name comes from the Victorian habit of carrying a tiffin box up to the hill for lunch — the views made it a favourite spot for the hill station picnic.

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