Introduction
Popularly known as the Queen of Hills , Mussoorie is located at a height of 2,500 meters in the greenHimalayan range . Due to its location and beauty Mussoorie is considered as the best hill station in the northern region. It provides excellent respite to people who want relief from the hot sultry conditions of the plains. Also, major Hindu pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath , Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri,Haridwar, Rishikesh are not far from this place. Mussoorie is just 29 kms from Dehradun , the state capital of Uttarakhand and 280 kms from the national capital , New Delhi .In 1820, Captain Young of the British army was influenced by the beauty of this place and made Mussoorie his residence. The name, Mussoorie is derived from plants of 'Mussoorie' which were found in abundance here. After its discovery, this hill station gradually developed as a centre of education,business, tourism and beauty.
Main Attractions:-
Gun Hill
Second Highest point of Mussoorie, at an altitude of 2024 mtrs, one can enjoy ropeway to this peak.It can also be negotiated by bridles path which forks-off from Mall Road near Kutchery and to reach takes about twenty minutes. The Ropeway distance is only 400 mtrs. And the sheer thrill of the ride is memorable. Gun Hill offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges namely Bunderpunch,Srikantha, Pithwara and Gangotri group etc. and a bird's eye view of Mussoorie town and Doon Valley.During pre-independence days a gun mounted on this top used to be fired heralding mid-day to enable people to adjust their watches and hence this name.
Kempty Fall
Kempty Fall is just 15 kms from Mussoorie on the Yamunotri Road having an altitude of 4500 ft. It has the distinction of being the biggest and prettiest waterfall located in a beautiful valley and is surrounded by high mountains. Bath at the foot of the falls is refreshing and enjoyable for children and adults alike.
Bhatta Fall
Bhatta Fall is just 7 kms from Mussoorie on Mussoorie-Dehradun road. Access by car or bus up to Bhattam village from where the fall is 3 kms by car or foot. A fall with different ponds for bathing and water amusements, ideal place for picnic.
Jharipani Fall
Located at 8.5 km from Mussoorie on Mussoorie-Jharipani road. One can go by local bus or car up to Jharipani from where the fall is about 1.5 km on foot.
Camel’s Back Road
It starts from Kulri Bazaar near Rink Hall and ends at Library Bazaar covering a total distance of about 3 kms. The main charm of this road is horse riding and walking. Sunset view of the Himalayas is superb. Camel's Rock with a life like resemblance can be seen from the spot near Mussoorie Public school.
Naag Devta Temple
An ancient temple situated on Cart Mackenzie Road and is about 6 kms from Mussoorie. Vehicles can go right up to the spot. It provides a charming view of Doon Valley as well as of Mussoorie.
Mussoorie Lake
A newly developed picnic spot, situated on Mussoorie- Dehradun road and is about 6 kms from
Mussoorie. It is a delightful spot. Pedal boats are available. It commands an enchanting view of Doon Valley and nearby villages.
Lal Tibba
This place is highest point in Mussoorie. Lal Tibba is located in Landhour area which is the oldest inhabited place in Mussoorie.
How to Reach:-
Mussoorie is conveniently connected by road to all the major cities of India. Dehradun the capital of Uttarakhand is just 29 kms away from Mussoorie , which has direct buses to all other major cities. The nearest railway station is at Dehradun , which is connected to the other cities. Taxis are easily available for Mussoorie from Dehradun.The Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is the nearest airport from Mussoorie. This is the nearest airport to this place. This airport connects Mussoorie to Delhi. One can reach Mussoorie by bus or taxi or by renting a vehicle.
Things to Do:-
Nature Walk
If you go to Mussoorie and do not indulge in nature walks, consider your trip incomplete. From the Mall area of the hill station, you will find diversions to several interesting walks, bringing you right into the lap of nature. Some of the most popular options are:-
- Along the road below Savoy Hotel, from the Library head to Happy Valley.
- Onwards Kapurthala Chateau and Waverly Convent, on to Company Bagh.
- In the hillsides of Landour
Trekking
Mussoorie serves as the base for a number of interesting treks, to the nearby areas. For instance, you.can trek up to the Gangotri, Yamunotri, the Black Peak, Har-ki-Doon and other treks in the Garhwal Himalayas. Then, there is the option of explore the trekking trails in the nearby Himachal Pradesh as well.The closest place from Mussoorie, for indulging in trekking expeditions, is Barlowgunj, approximately two and a half kilometers away.
Roller Skating
The youngsters will love to explore the numerous skating rinks in Mussoorie. The resort Jaypee
Residency Manor houses an open air skating rink. Then, there is ‘The Rink’ in Kulri Bazaar and ‘Disco Skating Rink’ behind the Tourist Office in Mussoorie.
Wildlife Sighting
The areas in and around Mussoorie are home to a rich and varied wildlife. If you are a nature lover, do not forget to visit Van Chetna Kendra, situated amidst pine forest and flowering shrubs, and have a look at the Ghurar, Kakar, Himalayan Peacock, Monal etc
Best time to Visit:-
The best seasons to visit Mussoorie is between April -June and September - November. When the plains of North India experience heat waves, Mussoorie provides a welcome break. September - November is spring time here. During this season Himalayas are clearly visible. It is better to avoid monsoons as the roads to Mussoorie are in bad shape. Same thing applies for the winter when roads are blocked due to snowfall.