Mussoorie: The Queen of Hills

Mussoorie, The Queen of Hills, one of the best hill stations to spend weekends, vacations and honeymoons. The paradise for nature’s lover, wonderland for a loner and a muse for a romantic, this destination leaves no room empty. The destination is the favourite place of many. Once you visit the destination it is almost impossible to wipe out the memories of such fantabulous views and kaleidoscopic hills. The views and hills will always remind you of the best times that you have spent while exploring this spectacular destination.

If you have already explored it then it’s well and fine but if you haven’t then this article will definitely compel you to plan your next visit to Mussoorie. Also, if you are planning to visit Mussoorie then the article will serve your purpose too as in this article you will get to know everything about this fantastic destination. So, just keep scrolling and get to know this destination more deeply.

Overview

The destination is located at a distance of 290 kilometres from Delhi. The hill stands at an altitude of 7000 feet above the sea level and has a pleasing and soothing climate and weather throughout the year. The destination offers spectacular and fantabulous view of the Himalayan range and is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. The destination overlooks the Doon valley to its south and the spectacular Himalayan ranges to its north. Also, it is one of the best and most accessible hill stations on north India. It becomes the bustling resort when it comes to the peak season.

Brief History

Mussoorie was officially declared as a hill station in the year 1825 by Captain Young. After the conquest of Garhwal and The  Dehra in 1803 by the Gorkhas this destination came into the existence. Its name was derived from the shrub which was locally known as Mansoor. It is said that this shrub was present behind the house of the Captain. Earlier this shrub was used by the shepherds whose animals used to graze these shrubs.

Highlights

There are so many highlights of the destination. One of the major highlights of the destination that can be clearly seen is the British remnants. The most popular attraction for the tourists is The Mall or also known as The Mall Road. The whole area gives the colonial vibes from the construction to the architecture. Another major highlight of the destination and the favourites of many is the Ropeway to the Gun Hill, the second-highest peak in Mussoorie. The place offers the enchanting view of the entire city and the Himalayan range. Another major highlight of the place is its mountains covered with snow that fills the trekkers, climbers and sports lovers with a new and another level of enthusiasm, excitement and thrill.

State/District/Capital

The destination is situated in the state of Uttarakhand in the district of Dehradun. It is about 35 kilometres from the state capital of Dehradun and 290 kilometres from the national capital i.e. New Delhi.

Connectivity

There are various ways to reach Mussoorie as it offers good connectivity by road, rail and air. Jolly grant airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Mussoorie. Direct flights are available to Dehradun from Mumbai and Delhi. Mussoorie can also be visited by road as buses from various parts of India are available on the daily basis to Mussoorie such as Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh etc. Also, there is the option of trains available if you want to reach Mussoorie by rail. The nearest station of Dehradun to Mussoorie is located around 36 kilometres away. Number of trains are available from various cities and town that could take you to this railway station from where by taxis you can reach Mussoorie.

When to visit

Throughout the year the weather here remains cool, pleasing and soothing but the best time to visit this destination is from March to June as it is the peak season. This time the weather is ideal for the sightseeing and to explore the destination.

Population

As per the census 2011 the population of the destination was 30,118 out of which there were 16,623 males and 13,495 females.

Weather

The weather condition throughout the year in Mussoorie remains cool and pleasant as stated above. The coldest month of the year in the destination is January with the average high temperature of the 10-degree centigrade and average low temperature of the 2-degree centigrade. The warmest month of the year is May with an average high temperature of 24-degree centigrade and average low temperature of 14-degree centigrade.

Language spoken

The official language used in the destination is Hindi and other than Hindi the local language Grahwali is popular in the destination.

Pollution Index

The air pollution level in Mussoorie is moderate with 74 US AQI air quality index and with PM 2.5.

Fair and Festivals

If you are a festive kind of person then there are some amazing festivals waiting for you in Mussoorie. Do not miss them at any cost. A festival name Phool Dei is celebrated in the month of March and April to celebrate the oneness of the people. Also, the summer and autumn festivals are celebrated here in the respective seasons. These festivals offer the glimpse of traditions, folk dances and heritage of the Mussoorie. There is a fair that is held on the annual basis on the occasion of Shravan Kranti. The fair is known as The Bhadraj Fair and many people across the nation be the part of this fair every year. Another festival names Haryala is celebrated here and is very popular as it also celebrates the arrival of the monsoons in the months of July or August.

Top places to visit

There are so many places to visit in Mussoorie and every place offers something different and amazing. But some of the places that you should not miss if you are planning to visit Mussoorie includes Kempty Falls, Lal Tibba,  Gun Hill Point, Company Garden, Mussoorie Lake, Sir George Everest’s house and Cloud’s end. Kempty Falls offers the great and mesmerizing scenic beauty if you will miss this spot, I am sure your trip to Mussoorie will remain incomplete. If you are a nature and flower lover then do not miss the Company Garden as it offers a variety of colourful and beautiful flowers. Also, do not miss the Gun Hill point at all as once you reach at the top with spectacular views you will also get a number of amazing activities for your recreation. There you will get swings to magic show all on the same place. So, do not miss the above-mentioned places while your trip to Mussoorie.

Things to do

There is so much to do in Mussoorie. You can indulge yourself in trekking, hiking, boating, roller skating, paragliding, wildlife safari, horse riding and mountain banking. If you are daring and adventure lover you can try these all and I can bet you that you will enjoy a lot. There you can try Zip Swing Adventure to have a lifetime experience.

Cuisines to taste

If you are a foody then also this place will not upset you as it offers so many tasty dishes. Here, the most popular cuisine to taste is a Rice bowl served with the Tibetan dishes. Also, you can try noodles, momos, soup, coconut curry chilli potatoes etc. For the authentic food you can prefer Char Dukan, Café Ivy, Kalasang, The Mud Cup Café etc.

Souvenir to buy

If you are a shopaholic then this place will serve your purpose too. From here you could buy woollen garments, wooden and brass items, prayer wheels, lampshades and porcelain items. Every trip is incomplete without shopping so there are several places that will solve this issue of yours. For the shopping you can prefer Tibetan market, mall road, kulri Bazar, Gandhi Chowk etc.

So, what are you waiting for, plan your next trip to Mussoorie and have fun? I just hope that this article will help you in planning your next trip. If it does so then don’t forget to share your views and experiences with us.

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