Mussoorie, The Queen of the Hills

Mussorrie is one of the better known hill stations in India, a much traveled to destination. It is located in Dehradun District, nestling in the lap of the Garhwal Himalayan Mountains in Uttarakhand. Enter Mussoorie and you have stepped into a typical British colonial era, the ambience and architecture archetypal English. Located at a height of 1880 meters, Mussoorie sits prettily atop a hill, surrounded by snow tipped mountains and green forests of pine and fir. Mussoorie is enchanting and delightful, if only a bit too crowded at times.

Why Visit Mussoorie:

Sitting amongst the lush greenery of the hills and with a majestic backdrop of the surrounding mountains, Mussoorie is an oasis for people not only seeking for refuge from the harsh summer sun but it is also considered a boon for nature lovers, peace seekers and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. It has numerous sites of interests like – Mussoorie Lake, Lal Tibba, Adventure Park, Gun hill point, Christ church and Bhadraj temple among other classic tourist attractions. Apart from the obvious scenic beauty and undeniable serenity, Mussoorie also offers an opportunity to gain some peace of mind and leave all the chaos of the city life behind.

What is Mussoorie Famous For

Mussoorie is famous for a number of places like: Kempty falls, Soham heritage and art centre, Nag Devta Mandir, Mussoorie waterfall, George Everest’s house, Himalayan adventure institute, Lal Tibba point, Mussoorie lake and a number of other.

Things to do and Places to See

1. There is no lack of places worth a visit when you are in Mussoorie. Cloud End, Lal Tibba, Nag Devta Temple, Sir George Everest House and Jharipani Falls are a few of the lovely places to visit.
2. Lake Mist is about 10 km from Mussoorie as you travel towards Kempty Falls.  This is a lovely picnic spot and has facilities for stay and for boating on the lake.
3. Mussoorie Lake is of recent origins and is a lovely picnic spot on the Mussoorie Dehradun road.
4. About 7 kilometers away you will find Bhatta Falls with several small lakes and ponds, making it an ideal picnic spot.
5. Jharipani Falls is about 8.5 kilometers from Mussoorie and it is charmingly spectacular, a must visit place.
6. Sir George Everest House, named after Sir George Everest, the First Surveyor General of India, is about 6 kilometers away and offers a lovely view of the Doon Valley as well as the Himalayas and the Yamuna Valley.
7. Jwalaji Temple is about 9 kilometers away and is located at a height of about 2100 meters, on top of the Benog Hill, leading to a lush forest.
8. Nag Devta Temple is a Shiva temple, dating back hundreds of years and you find it on your way to Dehradun.
9. Cloud  End is a much visited  spot  about 8 kilometers from the city center  and  is at one end, home to a resort, offering a view of the Yamuna down below and the Himalayas in the far off distance, a lovely spot for picnic and to admire the view.
10. Camel’s Back Road stretches from Kulri Bazar to the Library Bazar, covering a distance of 4 kilometers. If you wish to stretch your legs, go for a stroll here and enjoy a lovely sunset.
11. Lal Tibba is one of the highest points and oldest inhabited places with a 20 meter high tower with an old telescope atop it, letting you have a close up view of the Himalayas.
12. Gun Hill is 400 meters above the popular Mall and offers an enchanting view of the Himalayas.
13. The Ropeway ride is one of the high points of visiting Mussoorie so do not miss it; the view is simply marvelous.
14. The Mall is a crowded marketplace but is typically British in ambience.  It is like you have transported yourself to a village in England.

From here you can go on to Kempty Falls and Dhanaultil, a thickly forested retreat. New Tehri, Kanatal and Chamba are the other places you can visit from Mussoorie.  This hill station also is the starting point for trekking expeditions, if you fancy it.

Climate:

Summer season (April to June) – Mussoorie has always been one of the top weekend destination for people looking to get away from the scorching summer sun of the plains. The weather is pleasant during this season and the region witnesses a hoard of tourists arriving to get away from the summer heat. The maximum temperature may rise up till 30 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature can go as low as 10 degree Celsius.

Monsoon Season (July to September) – the entire region experiences extremely heavy rainfall during this season. The mountains get covered in thick mist and wash away all the dirt making the temperature even colder. The roads and trekking paths are unsuitable for functioning owing to potential landslides or avalanches.

Winter Season (October to March) – Being located at hilly terrain Mussoorie experiences extremely chilly and freezing winter season. The place also has the possibility of snowfall during these months which blocks the roads.

Getting There:

By Air – the closest airport to Mussoorie is situated in Dehradun, Jolly grant airport which receives flights from almost all the major Indian cities with Delhi as its stopover. In case you are not travelling from Delhi then you will be required to stopover at Delhi.

By Rail – the nearest train station to Mussoorie is situated in Dehradun which receives numerous trains from all the major cities of India and all these trains also pass through the holy town of Haridwar.

By Bus – once you arrive in Dehradun via train or bus you will be required to take a bus ride for 1 and a half hours which will drop you inside the main town of Dehradun. In case you are planning on going to Mussoorie from Delhi then the bus journey will be of almost 9 to 10 hours.

Accommodation:

Mussoorie is peppered with numerous hotels and resorts. One can find every type of accommodation options from cheap hostels and home stays to luxury hotels and resorts, Mussoorie caters to travelers of every type. Being perched on a hill top Mussoorie offers its visitors the opportunity to choose from a plethora of stay options and select the ones they like the best according to the view or comfort.