Featuring dozens of literary conservations, book releases, film screenings, live music, art exhibitions, folk dances, and more, the second edition of LLAF saluted the resolute spirit of the Himalaya.

- The Chakkar and Mussoorie Heritage Centre

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Rain began early morning of the first day of the Landour Literature and Arts Festival [LLAF], and it continued nonstop, night and day, till the festival ended a day and a half later. It was a reminder of the might of nature, and of the the many negotiations of life in the Himalayan foothills. But the festival went on, nevertheless, session after music, music and books and films and dance. The mountains also gave us the greatest reason to celebrate.

These mountains and the forces of nature were the running theme through the second edition of LLAF, held on September 26-27, 2026, at the Ivy Bank Guest House in Landour. Organised by The Chakkar and Mussoorie Heritage Centre, LLAF 2026 featured dozens of sessions, including literary conservations, book releases, film screenings, live music, art exhibitions, folk dances, and more. Sometimes, the natural world was evoked in the art work of students who created the world they saw outside their windows in Mussorie. It was sensed in Stephen Alter’s book, The Fragrance of Rain, a great ode to the monsoons. It was seen in the art pieces of Isaac Gergan, a view of the great Himalayan snowpeaks, or his cubist tribute to the Landour Bazaar. It was discussed in the book Mussoorie Beyond the Mall, a guidebook to the many nature trails in the region, and well as in Jahnavi Prasada’s book of another hill station, Nainital, a cousin town that provides a familiar atmosphere of nostalgia and joy. It was experienced in the uneasy balance of man perched against nature in Karan Madhok’s MONKEY! Sometimes, it was heard in the poetic readings by both published poets and aspiring young authors. It was appreciated in the songs of Ady Manral, who closed the events with the hauntingly-appropriate lyrics, “Awaaz meri baarish mein kho gayi.” A voice lost to the rain.

Poetry by Raj Bijalwan, Smita Agarwal, and Kiran Bhat. *Photo: The Chakkar*

After a successful inaugural edition in 2025, the festival returned this year at a much larger scale, featuring over 30 writers, artists, poets, musicians, activists, filmmakers, and thought-leaders from Landour, Mussoorie, the Doon Valley, and beyond, for an illuminating and fun-filled event. The LLAF’s foundations have been strengthened by the MHC’s long-running Landour Lecture Series, which has hosted over 100 speakers in Mussoorie and Landour since 2012.

The festival returned this year at a much larger scale, featuring over 30 writers, artists, poets, musicians, activists, filmmakers, and thought-leaders from Landour, Mussoorie, the Doon Valley, and beyond, for an illuminating and fun-filled event.

This year’s festival was dedicated to the memory of late Hugh and Colleen Gantzer, Mussoorie residents and the husband-and-wife co-writing team who redefined travel journalism in India. Known as ‘Mussoorie's Global Ambassadors’, the Gantzers produced dozens of books, documentaries, and thousands of articles. The couple were awarded the Padma Shri Award in 2025. Colleen passed away in late 2024 and Hugh, at age 94, in February 2026.

Among the highlights of the festival was the launch event of Stephen Alter’s The Fragrance of Rain. The acclaimed and beloved Landour-based author spoke to beststelling historian Narayani Basu about his latest project, the cultural experience of monsoon around India, and the journeys that inspired his latest project.

LLAF also featured a number of other book launches or major book events, including Karan Madhok’s MONKEY!, Jahnavi Prasada’s Nainital Through Memory, Stories, and History, and a conversation with Rupleena Bose about her book The Summer of Then.

Book stall set up by Natraj: The Green Bookshop. *Photo: The Chakkar*

In another session that was close to the heart for many of the local community, Sejal Worah of the Jabarkhet Nature Reserve and Akshay Shah of Woodstock School’s Hanifl Centre presented the latest edition of Amanda Thrift and Roger Evans’ Mussoorie Beyond the Mall: 35 Day Hikes in and Around Mussoorie. Worah and Shah discussed the joys of walking and discovery across the many trails in the region.

Actor, sports broadcaster, and YouTube Jamie Alter took part in a lively session sharing his stories in film, cricket, and beyond. Vivek Menezes, A.M. Gautam, and Surbhi Agarwal took part in an immersive discussion about public libraries as a cultural artifact, from Mussoorie, Haridwar, Goa, and more. Acclaimed Hindi novelist and translator Ashok Pande spoke about Hindi literature and the translation process. A poetry reading and discussion was held by Smita Agarwal, Kiran Bhat, and Raj Bijalwan on seeking the self through verse.

Art exhitions created and curated by four artists based in Landour or in relationship with the region were exhibited at the festival, including Isaac Gergan, Mansi Thapiyal, Sanyukta Sharma, and Surbhi Agarwal. Gergan further curated artworks from a handful of other artists from Landour or inspired by the region.

Each day at LLAF ended with film screenings and live music. The films included The Last Shoemakers of Doon Valley, co-directed by the national award-winning filmmaker Lokesh Ghai, who along with master shoemaker Kishan Murena spoke about the art of shoemaking in the region—including the struggles of the artistans to continue their practice in future generations. Stephen Alter and Akshay Shah presented the documentaries “Rhodendron Spring” and “Mussoorie Monsoon”, and Ady Manral presented his musical documentary, “Sketches from the Top of the Hills”. Mussoorie-raised folk musician Martand Badoni also played an enchanting acoustic set on Saturday evening.

Winners of the Junior Art Competition. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Over 50 senior and junior students from schools around Mussoorie and Landour participated in showcases and competitions at LLAF this year, including poetry readings, folk dances, and art and Hindi elocution contests. Students from the Hebron Elementary School, St. Clair Convent School, Sanatan Dharam Girls Inter College, Woodstock School, R.N. Bhargava Inter College, and Sanatan Dharam Sanskrit Intermediate School took part in various events at the festival. The Hindi Elocution competition was judged by Kiran Tripathi, Smita Agarwal, and Kamal Sharma, while Mansi Thapiyal and Surbhi Agarwal judged the art contests.

Other partipants at the festival included the moderators and speakers Saurabh Sharma, Prateek Santram, Siddhartha Kapila, Priya Kapoor, and Yousuf Ansari.

The artists who curated and created exhibitions at LLAF 2026: Surbhi Agarwal, Mansi Thapiyal, Sanyukta Sharma, and Isaac Gergan. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Karan Madhok, the founder and editor of The Chakkar, said, “Mussoorie and Landour have always been important centres for Indian literature, art, and folk culture. It brought us great pleasure to organise the second edition of LLAF, where we got to present some of the writers, artists, and musicians from the region, or those who have been inspired by the hillside. We hope that this event will inspired young people to also appreciate the arts, and more importantly, appreciate the relationship of the arts with the mountains. We are grateful to the Sharma Family for hosting us at Ivy Bank this year.”

“It was a pleasure to host authors, artists, and like-minded individuals for this literary and creative two-day celebration,” said Surbhi Agarwal, the founder and convener of the Mussoorie Heritage Centre. “The student competitions and spirit added more to this edition. We look forward to showcasing and bringing together the artists of our hill town together for LLAF again!”

Isaac Gergan presents the original artwork he created for LLAF 2026. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Rupleena Bose speaks about her novel *Summer of Then* with Saurabh Sharma. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Jamie Alter in conversation with Prateek Santram. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Karan Madhok (C) launches his novel *MONKEY!* with Saurabh Sharma and A.M. Gautam. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Lokesh Ghai (R) presents his co-directed documentary *The Last Shoemakers of Doon Valley* alongside master shoemaker Kishan Murena. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Live music by Martand Badoni. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Junior Hindi elocution competition. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Senior school students participate in an art contest. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Guests and participants mingle in the arts and refreshments space. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Students from Sanatan Dharam Sanskrit Intermediate School alongside poet Raj Bijalwan. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Janhavi Prasada (R) speaks about her book *Nainital: Through Memory, Stories, & History* with Priya Kapoor. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Public libraries as a cultural artifact - conversation featuring Surbhi Agarwal, Vivek Menezes, and A.M. Gautam. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Ashok Pande (R) and Yousuf Ansari. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Book launch: Stephen Alter presents *The Fragrance of Rain* with Narayani Basu. *Photo: The Chakkar*

A rapt audience gathers for Stephen Alter and Narayani Basu’s session. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Akshay Shah and Sejal Worah present the latest edition of *Mussoorie Beyond the Mall* by Amanda Thrift and Roger Evans. *Photo: The Chakkar*

Ady Manral closes out the festival with a live performance. *Photo: The Chakkar*

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Photo-Story: A Stirring Second Edition of the Landour Literature and Arts Festival

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