Mussoorie is a popular hill station in the North Indian state of Uttaranchal. Also known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’, Mussoorie is an ideal destination to escape the heat of summer. Mussoorie is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas and is about 30 kms away from Dehradun. The hill station is a popular destination for couples on a honeymoon as it is a beautiful town with breathtaking views of the Himalayas and has a pleasant climate all year round. A holiday to Mussoorie can also be clubbed with a visit to nearby destinations like Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Corbett National Park, and Gangotri.
The best time to visit Mussoorie is in summer (mid April to mid July) and spring (September to mid November). Summer in Mussoorie is very pleasant with temperature varying between 10°C to 23°C and a large number of tourists visit Mussoorie in this season. Spring is also a good time to visit as the hill station is green and has a picturesque view of the Himalayas. Winter is cold with temperatures between 1°C to10°C. Mussoorie receives snowfall during the months of December and January and tourists who are keen on experiencing snowfall must visit Mussoorie in this season.
Trek Himalaya located at Upper Mall exchanges currency and travelers cheques for tourists. One can also find ATMs of various banks in the city (State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda at Kulri Bazaar, UTI ATM at Gandhi Chowk). Credit cards and debit cards are also accepted at larger merchant locations and hotels.
By air: The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun which has a daily flight from Delhi. Mussoorie is about 35 kms from Dehradun and regular taxis as well as buses are available from Dehradun to Mussoorie. Regular flight services to Dehra Dun airport have been temporarily suspended with effect from 21st february 2007 till the end of 2008 for airport renovation and upgradation.The nearest international airport is the Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Dehradun, about 35 kms from Mussoorie. Dehradun is well connected to the neighboring cities as well as major cities in other states. The Mussorie Express and Shatabdi Express run between Delhi and Dehradun while the Doon Express connects Kolkata, Varanasi and Lucknow with Dehradun. Dehradun Express connects Dehradun to Mumbai, Surat, Delhi, Haridwar etc.
By road: Mussoorie has a good road network connecting it to the other cities in the region. There are regular State Transport buses as well as private buses (ordinary and deluxe) plying between Mussoorie and cities like Dehradun, Yamunotri, Delhi, Sankri, Nainital, Haridwar and Rishikesh (via Dehradun), etc. Picture palace bus stand and Library bus stand are the main bus stands of Mussoorie. Taxis (private and shared) are also available at these bus stands for Dehradun, Rishikesh, Uttarkashi and other nearby places. Most tourists visiting these places prefer taxis.
Where To Eat:
There are plenty of restaurants and food joints in Mussoorie where one can find good North Indian, South Indian as well as Chinese and continental cuisine. Meeting Point Café, Casa Mai bakery, City Point restaurant, The Tavern, Madras Café and Le Chef popular hangouts.
Where To Stay: Accommodation of all budgets can be found in Mussoorie. Tourists have a choice of staying in guesthouses, hotels or dharamshalas. Hotel prices shoot up during summer owing to high demand. Hotel Shiva Continental, Hotel Padmini Nivas, Hotel Ashoka Continental, Kasmanda Palace Hotel, Country Inn are just a few of the innumerable hotels in Mussoorie.
Gun Hill: The Gun Hill offers a spectacular view of the Himalayan peaks. Cable cars can be availed to get to the top of the peak and the ropeway distance is about 400 metres. It is the second highest peak in Mussoorie. There are food stalls, kid’s rides, photographers and the atmosphere is almost carnival like.
Kempty Falls: One of the most popular attractions of Mussoorie, the Kempty falls are located about 15 kms from Mussoorie on the Yamunotri road. The falls drop from an altitude of 4500 feet and offer the visitors a breath taking view of nature in full glory. Tourists enjoy stopping here to take a refreshing dip in the cold water under the falls.
Camel’s Back Road: The Camel’s Back Road is a 3 km stretch from Kulri Bazaar to Gandhi Chowk. The road gets its name from the rock formation here that looks like a camel. Popular for walks and horse rides, the road has a few points with good mountain views.
Mussoorie Lake: The Mussoorie lake is a beautiful picnic spot on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road, about 6 kms from Mussoorie. The lake has boating facilities and the view of the Doon valley from the lake is spectacular.
Jharipani Falls and Bhatta Falls are waterfalls near Mussoorie. The Jharipani falls are located on the Mussoorie –Jharipani road whereas the Bhatta falls are located on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road. Both the falls are ideal picnic spots.
Jwalaji Temple: The Jwalaji Temple is located on the top of the Benog Hill and is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The temple is at an altitude of 2000 metres and is surrounded by thick forests.
St Mary’s church situated on Mall road is the oldest Church in Mussoorie. It is a beautiful church with memorial plaques.
Happy Valley is a Tibetan settlement in Mussoorie. There is a Buddhist temple in Happy Valley that is worth a visit. This temple was the first Buddhist temple to be built in India.
Company Garden :It is a popular picnic spot with an artificial lake that has boating facilities. It is a beautiful garden with a large collection of plants and flowers.
Sir George Everest House, Van Chetna Kendra and Nag Devta temple are other places of interest in Mussoorie.
Nag Tibba: Located about 55 kms from Mussoorie, Nag Tibba is the highest peak around Mussoorie. It is surrounded by thick forests and is an ideal location for trekking.
Dhanolti: Located on the Mussoorie-Tehri Road about 25 kms from Mussoorie, Dhanolti offers tourist a beautiful view of the snowy peaks and virgin forests.
Surkhanda Devi temple and Lakha Mandal are other destinations for excursions from Mussoorie.
