By Puneet Raj Kashyap
If you are tired of daily chaos of your life in this scorching heat and just want to relax in the lap of Mother Nature, Mussoorie in Uttarakhand would be the perfect place for you. Once you make a visit to the Queen of Hills, its scenic beauty captivates your mind and makes you feel like relaxing in the lap of Mother Nature.
Situated in the Garhwal Himalayan range at a height of approximately 2005 m above the sea level, Mussoorie is one of the most popular hill stations of India. Be it honeymooners, nature lovers, pilgrims or adventure seekers, the place plays a perfect host to all. It presents you with the mesmerising beauty of dense forest in the famous Doon Valley, beautiful Apple orchards, graceful waterfalls, old temples, Churches and the wildness of animals like elephants, leopards, bears, monkeys etc, who would just peep in to say you a Hi on your way through the valley.
FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS
George Everest House:-
Situated at Park Estate at a mere distance of 6 kilometres from Gandhi Chowk in Mussoorie, you can find the remains of the building and laboratory of Sir George Everest, who was the Surveyor-General of India from 1830 to 1843. The world’s highest mountain peak, Mount Everest owes its name to Sir Everest. The place can also be easily approached from Library Bazaar and Haathi Paon. When you are here, the scenic view of Doon Valley on one side and a panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges and Aglar River valley on the other would leave you spellbound.
The Mall Road:-
The Mall Road in Mussoorie is the perfect example of architectural evidence of the British colonial past. It is basically the shopping hub of Mussoorie, and a home to a number of shops, mouthwatering street delicacies, cafes, sweets’ corners, game galleries, skating rinks, a nearby Tibetan market place, and a Methodist church. When you are in Mussoorie, you would love watching the tourists simply walking and chatting on the Mall Road.
Surkanda Devi Temple:-
Surkanda Devi Temple can be easily reached from Kaddukhal in Mussoorie after a 2 km trek. As the story of the temple goes, when Lord Vishnu was destroying the physical self of Sati while Lord Shiva did tandav, Sati’s head had fallen on this place, and so, the place was named ’the Shri Surkanda Devi Temple’. It is one of the 51 famous holy Shaktipeeths. Also known as a trekker’s paradise, the place, especially the way to the temple provides the mesmerising view of the gift of the mother nature.
Lal Tibba:-
Earlier, Lal Tibba enjoyed the position of being the highest peak of Mussoorie and had a fixed large binocular through which one could see the snow clad peaks of Himalayas that lies to the north. After the construction of the TV Tower, the binocular was shifted to the Landour ridge towards the west, which is now named as Lal Tibba and is located near ‘Childer’s Lodge’.
The Gun Hill:-
Situated at an altitude of 6640 feet, Gun Hill is the second highest point of Mussoorie. It can be easily accessed by a cable car, which you can take from the Mall road. Earlier, the tourists had to trek to the Gun Hill, which was a little time taking and tiring as well. After the construction of the cable car due to the efforts of Mr. Hukam Singh Pawar, the then Chairman of the Mussoorie Municipal Board, the place has become easily accessible.
The Kempty Falls:-
Famous for its medicinal value and fresh water, the Kempty Falls is the hot cake among tourists, who come to Mussoorie to rejuvenate themselves. The Kempty Falls is situated at a height of 4500 feet above the sea level and at a distance of 15 kilometres from Mussoorie. It can be easily accessed by track and ropeway from Mussoorie – Yamuna Bridge Road. The tourists also go there by private taxis or cars and then walk down the lane to reach the place. Over here, you can also hire clothes on rent at a very nominal price and then can play with water falling from above.
Happy Valley:-
Happy Valley lies on the western side of Library Point. The place is a home to several tourist attractions such as the Tibetan sanctuaries, a municipal garden, and the famous IAS Academy
The Nag Devta Temple:-
The ancient Nag Devta Temple is dedicated to the Snake God, Naag Devta and Lord Shiva. It is situated on Cart Mackenzie Road, which is at a distance of about 6 km from Mussoorie on the Dehradoon – Mussoorie road.
The Jwalajee Temple:-
Situated at an altitude of 2,240 metres above the sea level, the Jwalaji Temple is at a distance of 9 kilometres from Mussoorie. You can only trek to the temple as it cannot be accessed by vehicles easily. The temple is at the top of Benog Hill and contains an idol of the Goddess Durga. They say that the lamp at the temple remains lit intact throughout the year and is never off.
Landour:-
Situated at the east end of town, Landour is a British-era cantonment named after Landdowror, a remote village in southwest Wales in England. However, it is not limited to its name only. Rather, the place in real has several links to the UK, as many houses in Landour are inspired by Scottish author Sir Walter Scott’s novels, with names such as Kenilworth, Ivanhoe, Waverly and Woodstock, which is also an Internationally renowned school. Before our independence, Landour was home to several Indian royal families as well. The Landour market is a very popular shopping area.
Camel’s Back Road:-
It is suitable for walking and offers beautiful sunset views of the Himalayas. A superb rock formation, with a life-like resemblance to a sitting camel, can be seen from this spot.
The Municipal Garden or the Company Bagh:-
Known as the beautiful Botanical garden of Mussoorie, established in pre-Independence era, the Municipal Gardens or the Company Bagh has a variety of beautiful flowers and an amusement park too, which allures both adults and children as well.
The Mussoorie Lake:-
The Mussoorie lake is an artificial lake developed recently about 6 km on the way from Mussoorie, on Dehradun road. Over here, you can enjoy while watching ducks swimming in the water and ride a paddle boat amidst amazing views of the Doon Valley.
Shopping
Woolen dresses, pullovers, caps, mufflers, and scarves are available throughout the town. Some of the brilliant things to buy in Mussoorie include wooden items like boxes, walking sticks to various artifacts. Brass items, especially brass statues and home décor items are also popular in Mussoorie. The street shops of the Mall road can provide you with good stuffs at a little bargain.
Best Time to visit Mussoorie
You can easily plan a trip to Mussoorie throughout the year, as the weather is generally bright and clear except during the two months (15th July to 15th Sept) of Monsoons. However, do not forget to carry warm clothes with you in the Winter season.
Where to stay in Mussoorie
There are many good resorts and hotels in Mussoorie. There are five star, four star and three star hotels as well. However, you should book them beforehand only in order to avoid a last moment chaos. The hotels get a pretty costlier in peak season, so, homestays provided by locals can also be a good option, as it gives you a true experience of the culture and tradition of Uttarakhand.
How to reach Mussoorie
Mussoorie is easily accessible from different parts of the country by road, rail and air.
By Air:-
Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, with a distance of 50 kilometres is the domestic airport closest to Mussoorie, which is well connected with major Indian cities.
By Train:-
Dehradun Railway Station, situated at a distance of about 28 km, is the nearest railhead serving the beautiful hill station of Mussoorie. From outside the railway station, one can hire private taxis or take buses to reach Mussoorie.
By Road:-
Mussoorie is only 35 kms from Dehradun. From Dehradun to Mussoorie one can hire a taxi or take a bus to Mussoorie. Mussoorie is well connected with roads with other major cities. You can also take your private vehicle and drive to Mussoorie.