Mussoorie - The Hill Station of Uttarakhand

Nicknamed as the "Queen of Hills", Mussoorie is the perfect place to visit to seek respite from the monotonous life and daily drudgery. Get back your health and raise your spirits by spending your holiday at this hill station located in the Dehradun district in the state of Uttarakhand. Mussoorie is also known for Gateway to Yamunotri and Gangotri, these are part of Chardham Yatra. The Himalayas rise stoically at the back making Mussoorie resemble an artist's canvas. The towns of Landour, Jharipani and Barlowganj are situated close by and Mussoorie with all its glitz and glamour show off its natural beauty to the visiting tourists proudly. Situated at an altitude of 6,600 feet above sea level, Mussoorie ensures a captivating view of the Siwalik Ranges and the Doon valley on the south and the snow capped peaks on its north east.

Mussoorie City

As history points out, the founding fathers of Mussoorie were a military officer named Mr. Young and the then resident Superintendent of Revenues of Dehradun, named Mr. Shore. The year was 1825 and as decided by both, a shooting lodge was constructed on the present site of the hill station of Mussoorie. This one development laid the paving stone for Mussoorie to come into being.

According to the locals, the abundance of a shrub named 'mansoor' leads to the hill station acquiring this name. Due to its prime location, Mussoorie is considered as a crucial gateway to some of the well known holy places in north India like Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Haridwar and Rishikesh. From mid March to mid November is the ideal time to visit Mussoorie.

Resembling a fairy land before your eyes, a holiday in Mussoorie will become one of the costliest treasures you will always cherish. The calmness still pervades the hills even after development and this is the real charm of Mussoorie.

What to See In Mussoorie

Mussoorie is an ideal holiday retreat nestled in the laps of the Himalayas and offering great views of the Siwalik range and Doon Valley. Known for its scenic beauty, this hill station is a little treasure house. Sightseeing opportunities are plenty in Ooty and when you go back, you have enough memories to last you a lifetime.

Mussoorie Mall Road

The Mall is the heart of Mussoorie. It is the identity and a part of the history of the hill station. The place always bustling with people and activity is the center of attraction and gives the tourist an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the real Mussoorie. A naturally formed feature in the shape of a camel's hump attributes a name to one of the most scenic and beautiful nature walks in Mussoorie. Known as Camel Back's Road, visitors can stroll down this stretch to enjoy some of the awesome sceneries of this hill station. Along the route in the mid way on the loop, there is a cemetery.

While in Mussoorie, a visit to the St. Mary's Church is a must. Located above the Mall Road, this is counted among one of the oldest Church nestled in the Himalayas.

Gun Hill

Make it a point to visit Gun Hill during your holidays in Mussoorie. Housing cannons which were meant to defend Mussoorie against any foreign invasion, Gun Hill can be reached conveniently by taking the cable car from the Mall Road. The ride upwards is definitely an exciting one and gives a bird eyes view of Mussoorie.

See Nature's various colors at Company Garden. Boasting of a great collection of plants and flowers, this attracts the crowd in good numbers. Another beauty of Nature awaiting the tourists is the Kempty Falls. A lovely waterfall cascading down a great height is a well known picnic spot in Mussoorie. Another place of great tourist importance is the Happy Valley. Primarily a Tibetan settlement, this place has the honor of having the first Tibetan Temple built in India in the year 1960.

Kempty Falls

Other places of prime importance consist of Dhanaulti situated 24 kilometers away from Mussoorie and Lal Tibba.

How To Reach Mussoorie

Mussoorie in the state of Uttarakhand, formerly Uttaranchal, is one of the hill stations in India that is renowned for its natural splendor. Not only the place is scenic but the way to this beautiful hill station is also one of the most spectacular ones. So tourists opting for this hill station as their next holiday destination can rule out any problem of connectivity.

Mussoorie can be reached easily from two destinations- Delhi and Dehradun.

Those who plan to come to Mussoorie from Delhi can follow the road route. Private taxis can be rented as well as bus services are also available to Mussoorie from Delhi.

Tourists can also opt for buses from Dehradun to reach Mussoorie. To reach Dehradun however, tourists can avail flights from Delhi or opt for train. Dehradun is linked to Delhi and Mumbai via a good number of express trains. There is the Shatabdi express from Delhi while from Mumbai tourists can have the Bandra Dehradun Express. From Delhi to Dehradun, the NH 72 A is the finest road to follow.

After reaching Dehradun, tourists can avail the buses to Mussoorie from the station. Generally, two buses are available to Mussoorie which reach opposite ends of the Library, Picture Palace and Mussoorie Mall. Taxis are equally available from Dehradun.

Hotels In Mussoorie

The Queen of Hill Stations, Mussoorie provides with a number of hotels and resorts to the visiting tourist for a comfortable stay. Apart from a few heritage hotels, Mussoorie has a number of four star and three star hotels and resorts to provide luxurious accommodation to the holiday seekers.

Among the notable five star hotels, the Jaypee Residency Manor deserves a special reference. Spread over an area of 9 acres, one can enjoy a splendid view of the majestic hills from this hotel.

Shilton Hotel is one of the well known 4 star hotels in Mussoorie. Three star hotels in Mussoorie are tough contenders to the other category hotels and comprises of Hotel Green Castle, Connaught Castle, The Claridges Nabha, Honeymoon Inn, Country Inn Mussoorie, Hotel Hard Rock, Ashiyana Continental Hotel, Hotel Solitaire Plaza, Dunsvirk Court, Savoy Hotel, Hotel Great Value, Hotel Ashoka Continental and The Pearl.

One of the prestigious Heritage Hotels in Mussoorie is the Kasmanda Palace Hotel. Set at an altitude of 7000 feet, this simple yet awesome hotel is set in the midst of well manicured gardens, lawns and pine trees. With an aura of royalty still persisting, this hotel is located in the heart of the city centre. Mussoorie also has its own share of resorts. Among the well known ones are the Comfort Inn Fort Resorts, Avalon Resorts and Best Western Oasis Resort. The Best Western Oasis Resort is housed in the midst of Deodar and Oak Trees and provides breathtaking scenes of the Doon Valley. Enjoy a calm and quiet stay at the Comfort Inn Fort Resorts situated on Picture Palace Road. The Avalon Resorts is one of the premium resorts in Mussoorie. It enjoys the 'Gold Crown' label honored by the RCI.

It is one of the oldest buildings of Mussoorie and is transformed into a luxurious and classy hotel. Situated just a few distances away from the bustling Mall is Hotel Padmini Niwas. Aged nearly 150 years, this property was taken over by the Maharaja of Rajpipla and gifted to his Queen Padmini. Originally named Rushbrooke Estate, this hotel carries a mark of royalty and is an integral part of Mussoorie heritage.