Mussoorie, also known as the Queen of the Hills, is a popular hill station for honeymooners and leisure travelers. The name Mussoorie is derived from a shrub called ‘mansur’, which is indigenous to the place; hence, the locals also call it Mansuri. A British military officer, Captain Frederick Young, along with FJ Shore, an official from Dehradun, had climbed up the hill from the Doon valley in 1827, fell in love with the place, and built the first-ever resort, thus making Mussoorie a hill station. Mussoorie is situated at a height of 2,000 m above sea level, thus offering scenic views of Himalayan peaks. Mussoorie is home to many famous people, notably authors Ruskin Bond and Bill Aitken. Film star Victor Banerjee resides in Mussoorie, while deceased film star Tom Alter was born and brought up here.
The best time to visit Mussoorie is from February to April, when the temperatures are very comfortable. The peak season when a lot of tourists appear is March to May due to holidays in India, and it provides respite from the city heat.
Winter in Mussoorie is usually from November to February, with the region receiving snowfall in December and January, offering breathtaking views, though the amount of snowfall has drastically reduced compared to before, owing to global warming. The average temperatures during winter range from 3–12 °C.
In summer, the temperature ranges from 11 to 20 degrees, thus providing perfect weather for travel.
Between October and February, a rare phenomenon is visible called ‘Waterline’, which is a false horizon seen from very few places in the world, Mussoorie being one of them. At dusk, as the sun sets below the Shivalik ranges, the western horizon visible from Mussoorie is filled with various shades of yellow, red, and orange above a grey or mauve coloured strip.
KEMPTY FALLS – situated 13 km from Mussoorie, Kempty Falls is one of the main tourist attractions, where it falls from a height of 4500 ft before splitting into 5 other cascades before hitting the bottom.
CAMEL’S BACK ROAD – a 3km long stretch of road between Kulri Bazaar and Library Chowk is a perfect spot for a calming walk in the midst of nature, especially during sunrise or sunset, with views of rock formations in the shape of a camel’s back.
LAL TIBBA – situated 6 km from the city centre at an altitude of 2275 m from sea level, Lal Tibba is the highest peak in Mussoorie. The name Lal Tibba means Red Hill, which is due to the red hues of the sky during sunset and sunrise. With the help of a telescope placed there on a clear day, one can get a clear view of Kedarnath peak, Bandarpunch peaks, and Badrinath peak, and if lucky, one can also see Nanda Devi, the second-highest mountain peak.
GEORGE EVEREST HOUSE – situated 6km from Mussoorie overlooking the Doon valley, it’s a perfect picnic spot, and was the home of Sir George Everest, on whom the mighty Mt Everest is named.
LANDOUR - a twin town to Mussoorie, the views offered from this quaint town are unmatched. Its name is derived from a village in southwest Wales, Llanddowror, when India was ruled by the British. It’s the history and architecture of the buildings that draw the tourists. While visiting Landour, one must visit the famous Landour Bakehouse for its mouthwatering desserts.
COMPANY BAUG – Located only 3 km from Mall Road, this is also known as Municipal Gardens, and is a perfect picnic spot for families, with an option to do some boating and take in the mesmerizing views from a telescope provided there.
CLOUDS END – A short hike from Hathi Paon road and 6 km from Library Road is Clouds End, which marks the geographical end of Mussoorie. With surrounding Oak and Deodar trees, this is a perfect spot for all nature lovers and especially photographers.
Another 2 km from Clouds End is Jwala Devi Temple, dedicated to the goddess Durga, a prominent Hindu temple.
GUN HILL – situated at about 2000 mts above sea level and 2 km from Mall Road, it’s the second-highest peak in Mussoorie, which can be reached via a short hike or via a ropeway from Jhula Ghar. The 360-degree views of the entire town offered from the top are worth visiting.
MUSSOORIE LAKE – an artificial lake situated on the Mussoorie Dehradun highway, a perfect place to do some paddle boating, feed the ducks, and enjoy a picnic with your loved ones. One can also do zip lining and water zorbing.
BHATTA FALLS – located nearly 7 km from the city, this newly developed picnic spot is a relatively less crowded tourist attraction. U can take a ropeway to reach this natural cascading waterfall, take a dip, and enjoy some food at the nearby cafes too.
SOHAM HIMALAYAN CENTRE – this privately developed space provides in-depth knowledge of the rich Uttarakhand Himalayan culture and heritage through art, crafts, murals, and more.
As Mussoorie is a major tourist destination, it is very well connected by major cities like Dehradun, which is only 35 km away, and around 290 km from New Delhi.
BY AIR - The nearest Airport to Mussoorie is Dehradun Airport, which is approximately 60 km away, and the nearest International Airport is New Delhi International Airport, which is approximately 300 km away.
BY RAIL – Dehradun Railway Station is the closest railway station to Mussoorie, approximately 36 km away. Dehradun is well-connected by trains from all over India.
BY ROAD – Mussoorie is well connected by roads to various Indian cities like Dehradun, Delhi, Chandigarh, et, with frequent private and shared taxi services.
CLOTHING – Travelling during winter, one will need to be dressed in warm yet comfortable clothing. Layering your clothes, hence, becomes important and practical.
Wearing thermal tops and bottoms is a must, esp. when travelling during winter months, along with some woolen or thermal socks. Over the thermals, one can wear layers of other clothing items to keep warm.
A woolen cap or a beanie will keep one warm, especially when the winds are strong.
A waterproof jacket, gloves, and shoes are very important while undertaking outdoor activities like skiing, trekking, etc.
If travelling in the summer season, then a simple yet comfortable jacket will be sufficient.
Important thing to note is that shorts, miniskirts, night suits, and torn jeans aren’t allowed inside some temples, hence it would be better if they are avoided.
ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS – a government ID proof, such as an Aadhar card, passport, or driving license, is required at all hotels or guest houses while you check in. Additionally, some permits might be required while visiting some national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
MEDICINES – if you are on any lifelong medicines, definitely carry those. Along with it, one can carry a few basic medicines for fever and pain relief, and some basic first aid stuff like band aids, antiseptics, and ointments.
MISCELLANEOUS – other items like an umbrella, raincoats, a sturdy backpack to keep some raincoats, etc, and sunscreen can be carried too.
Testimonials –
Says Mrs. Jain – we visited Mussoorie in February and it was a perfect honeymoon destination for us with amazing weather.
Says Mr. Mehta, we clubbed Mussoorie with Rishikesh and it was a perfect holiday for our family.
BOOKINGS –TOURS AND PACKAGES CAN BE CUSTOMIZED ACCORDING TO YOUR NEEDS AND SPECIFICATIONS.
Nitisha
Nitisha from Mumbai is a consulting homoeopathic medicine practitioner by profession and a content creator by passion. In her free time she loves to explore new places owing to her love for travelling and thirst for knowledge and history.
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