Mussoorie
Mussoorie provides a welcome relief to the hundreds of tourists taking a break from the hot and sultry weather of the plains. This beautiful hill station is famous for its lovely, lush green hills, varied flora and fauna and the fascinating view of the Doon Valley and the Shivalik Ranges. Mussoorie is famous not only for its scenic beauty but it has also developed into an important center of education and business. Mussoorie is also famous for the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration where officers are trained for the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service.
Location of Mussoorie
Known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’, Mussoorie is located at an altitude of 2000 mts in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. This charming hill station of Mussoorie derived its name from the plants of ‘Mussoorie’ which were available in large quantities in this region.
What to see in Mussoorie?
Gun Hill: Situated 400 ft above the Mall, Gun Hill is the second highest peak of Mussoorie. It offers an excellent view of the Himalayan ranges like Bunderpunch, Srikantha, Pithwara and Gangotri Group. In pre-Independence India, a gun was fired everyday from the top of the hill at noon for people to adjust their watches and hence the name Gun Hill. Gun Hill can be reached using a ropeway.
Mall: The Mall in Mussoorie extends from Cloud’s End in the west to Rockville in the east. You can cover the entire distance in an hour on foot. The stretch gives you an old world charm which includes Municipal garden, the Tibetan School and Home, and the National Academy of Administration.
Kempty Fall: 15kms from Mussoorie on way to Yamunotri, Kempty Fall is situated at an altitude of 4500ft. It is the biggest and the loveliest fall in the region. Many people even enjoy a bath at the foot of the fall.
Camel’s Back Road: The charming 4km stretch from Kurli Bazaar to Library Point has been named after Came Rock. The journey of this stretch is superb whether you ride on a horse or just walk. The sunset view of the Himalayas is splendid from this region.
Jharipani Fall: About 6 kms from Mussoorie on the Mussoorie- Jharipani Road is the beautiful Jharipani Falls.
Childer’s Lodge: This is the highest peak of Mussoorie near Lal Tibba about 5kms from the Tourist Office. You can get a panoramic view of this spot which is exhilarating.
Lal Tibba: The highest point in Mussoorie is the Lal Tibba. However, you cannot access the hill-top any longer as the Indian military is stationed there. You can get a view of the snow clad Himalayas from the towering cliff by paying Rs 20 as its charges.
Nag Devta Temple: This is an ancient temple dedicated to Snake God Lord Shiva. It is located on Cart Mackenjee road, kms from Mussoorie.
Mussoorie Lake: Situated on Mussoorie-Dehradun Road, Mussoorie Lake is a recently developed picnic spot with facilities of boating.
Municipal Garden: This is another popular picnic spot situated at a distance of 4kms by rickshaw or by a pony. It has a beautiful garden and an artificial mini lake.
Cloud End: Surrounded by thick deodar forests, Cloud End is an ideal resort built in 1838 by a British major. Honeymooners and foreigners visit this place often.
Excursions from Mussoorie
Dhanaulti: 25kms from Mussoorie is Dhanaulti, a satellite hill station situated on Mussoorie-Tehri Road. You can enjoy your walk along the deodar trees. You can also visit the Surkhanda Devi Temple which is a popular religious place among the pilgrims.
Naga Tibba: Naga Tibba is the highest peak around Mussoorie with a height of 10,000 ft. It lies 55kms from Mussoorie and an ideal spot for trekking. Accomodation options in Mussoorie
Mussoorie offers a variety of options when it comes to accommodation. You can stay in guest houses run by the government like the Garhwal Terrace and Punjab Toursim Guest House on Landour Road. Dharamshalas are also available for those who are on a shoe-string budget like Arya Samaj Mandir in Landour, Radha Krishna Mandir Dharamshala in Kurli, Jain Dharamshala, and Laxmi Narayan Mandir. Then there are luxurious and mid-budget hotels like Hotel Midtown, Whispering Pines, and Hamer International.
Best season to visit Mussoorie
Mussoorie experiences pleasant climate throughout the year but the best time to visit Mussoorie is during April and June and again from September to November.
How to reach Mussoorie
By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehra Dun which is 58 kms from Mussoorie.
By Rail: The nearest station is Dehradun and well connected with important cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Jaipur. You can hire a taxi or take a bus from the station for Mussoorie.
By Road: Mussoorie is 290kms from Delhi and 35km from Dehradun by road. Private taxis and buses ply between Delhi and Mussoorie.
