Just 35 kilometers from Dehradun, lies a hill station that yearly grows in popularity. Mussoorie, also known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’, is a city that attracts both Indians and foreigners, newcomers and mountain veterans all year-round. It lies in the foothills of Uttarakhand’s Garhwal mountain ranges and offers tourist attractions of all kinds. Natural and man-made places to visit in Mussoorie are abundant.
Dense forests of deodars and cedars cover the slopes around the hill station, rivers and waterfalls enrich the land, and quaint temples dot the mountainside. Once in Mussoorie, you can go visit the ropeway on Gun Hill, the second highest peak there or you can stroll through Mall Road, picking up trinkets and dining in well-maintained restaurants. In the early morning, you can wake up to a majestic view of the mountain ranges.
Trekking around Mussoorie is a popular way to spend time. You can simply walk down the myriad roads around the hill station, or you can sign up for the up-mountain treks available. There are plenty of ways to spend the days around this popular hill station.
Mussoorie is an ideal destination and a perfect weekend getaway option for families residing in Delhi, Chandigarh and other cities close by to this hill station. As a result, weekends in Mussoorie tend to get crowded. A couple of days spent in Mussoorie are a great introduction to the wonders of the Garhwal mountains.
Kempty Falls
Kempty Falls is said to be one of the most prominent waterfalls in Uttarakhand. The falls are encircled by high mountain cliff. Since the water falls from a great height, it is believed that this water further divides in 5 different streams. Being present on the Mussoorie-Dehradun Highway, the Kempty Falls attracts a number of tourists from across the country.
Location: Kempty Falls is located about 15 km from Mussoorie and lies at an altitude of about 4500 feet above the sea level. The sacred River Yamuna is about 12 kms from here.
Highlights: Kempty Falls was initiated as a picnic spot in 1835 by the British officer John Mekinan. It has a perennial waterfall making it an interesting picnic spot for all. You can even take a bath under the fresh waters of the waterfall.
Nag Tibba Trek
No thrill compares to the joy of completing a trek in the Himalayas. Treks don’t necessarily imply that the route will be tough and back-breaking. There are easy, but nonetheless rewarding, treks that you can undertake as a beginner, and Nag Tibba is one them. Over a period of two days, you climb up the mountain to a height of 9,915 feet. The trek takes you through dense Garhwal forests and ultimately reveals a stunning vista of the Garhwal ranges.
Bandarpoonch peak, the Gangotri group of peaks, Kedarnath peak in the north, Doon Valley and the snow peaks of Changabang are visible from the highest point of the trek. The Nag Tibba Trek is accessible to all age groups and makes for a great family outing. The trek is simple to complete during the dry months when snow does not block the trails. This makes September to November an ideal time to go trekking there. The snow makes things slightly more complicated and the trek route might require more physical fitness from the climbers during the winter months.
But regardless of the time you go, the trek is a rewarding experience. Carry water and food supplies to keep you going as these commodities can be scarce on the trekking route. You can go trekking up Nag Tibba when you plan a trip to Mussoorie or you can go over the weekend if you live in Delhi or other cities that are located close by. It is classified as a “Weekend trek” and is easily completed within a span two days.
K Dev Bhoomi Wax Museum
Why travel all the way to Madame Tussauds in order to see wax statues of famous personalities when you can do it at a much lesser cost by visiting Mussoorie? K Dev Bhoomi Wax Museum, which was inaugurated in 2015, takes its inspiration from Madame Tussauds and hosts roughly 25 wax statues of famous people from all over the world. The statutes are well-made and decent in quality as compared to their wax counterparts around the Tussauds museums.
The museum is located in the popular Company Garden at Mussoorie and is a small one, so you will be able to visit it within 30 minutes. One drawback of the museum is it’s over priced entry fee. But it is worth the cost if you haven’t seen wax statues before and would like to understand what makes them so popular. The museum boasts of wax statues of personalities like Gandhi, Hitler, Mr. Bean, Michael Jackson and several popular Hollywood stars.
Mossy Falls
Mossy Falls is one of the most pretty places to visit in Mussoorie. Set amidst dense green forests, the falls cascade down from a height of 145 meters, sending up white mists all around. The falls drop from the height of 20 feet, 17 feet, 19 feet, 12 feet, 20 feet and 57 feet respectively, though not all drops are visible from one clear angle. If you wish to see all the drops, you will have to undertake a considerable amount of hiking around the falls.
There is no better way to start a day in Mussoorie than by trekking down to Mossy Falls at an early hour. Since Mossy Falls are only a short 7 kilometers away from Mussoorie, you can start from your hotel at 6 am and be at the waterfall by 7 am. Not only will you get to stroll along a quiet mountain road free from traffic, you will also have the waterfall all to yourself. Tourist crowds only begin to arrive later in the day which means that you can go for a quick (but absolutely soap-free) dip in the chilly falls.
The pleasure of taking a dip in the cold water of the mountains is an experience in itself, especially after an early morning hike. You can, of course, use transportation if you so desire. The quiet of the mountains and the rush and tumble of the waterfalls together make a music which brings peace and joy to all those who listen to it.
Lake Mist
Lake Mist is one of the best places to visit in Mussoorie that you cannot miss. It is a pristine lake, fed by the waters of River Kempty and is home to a small but pretty waterfall whose gurgling adds music to the scenic beauty of the lake. Set in the midst of the green hills, Lake Mist is a good place to spend a few hours. There is also a boating facility available so people can go and explore the lake in close proximity. The best time to go on the lake would be early on a weekday since the place witnesses a huge rush from the visitors on weekends, which makes it noisier and more chaotic.
If you are visiting Mussoorie with children, then you should definitely take them to Lake Mist. They will enjoy floating around the lake in the boat and gazing up at the majestic mountains all around. You can also go on to Kempty Falls which are only 5 kilometers away. There are also many restaurants around Lake Mist where you can enjoy a steaming cup of chai and good food.
Best time to visit: September to June
Lal Tibba
In the local language, Lal Tibba means the Red Hill. This is said to be the oldest and the most populated place in Mussoorie. The place is known for its scenic beauty courtesy the pleasant sunrise and sunset that leave the visitors spell bound. Do carry woolens irrespective of the month of the visit.
Location: It is situated in the Landour area and lies at an altitude of 8000 metre above the sea level.
Highlights: Lal Tibba is even famous as the Depot Hill because of the presence of a depot here. Besides this there is camp of the Indian Military services, All India Radio and Doordarshan. Hills of the Lal Tibba are also popular amongst the shoppers as there are a number of markets in the nearby areas.
Dhanaulti
A small and laid-back town, Dhanaulti is by no means a ‘popular’ weekend getaway attraction near to Mussoorie. Many people just stop by the town for a quick break and head on towards the fancier destinations. One misses out on a lot by doing so. Dhanaulti is small and simple, but there is an ethereal beauty in its simplicity that moves those who see and feel it. The town is nestled in the green Garhwal Himalayas and has amazing landscapes that you can look upon for hours without any fail while listening to distant bird sounds.
Dhanaulti itself has several points of attraction for tourists. These include an ancient fort from the 16th century and two small but elegant temples- Dashavatar Temple, the earliest known Panchayatan temple in North India built in the Gupta period, and Surkanda Devi Temple, which is located at a height of 10,000 feet. Apart from these attractions, tourists can visit the Potato Farm in Dhanaulti, an initiative of the government.
They can also visit some offbeat tourist attractions and two Eco Parks- Amber and Dhara. The hikes here, along with the scent of deodars and cedars in the air, making for an experience you won’t forget! You can also visit Simipal National Park and witness the cascading of the Joranda and Barehipani Falls. Dhanaulti offers plenty of things to do despite often being one of the overlooked places to visit in Mussoorie.
Shedup Choepelling Temple
Shedup Choepelling Temple is often referred to as the Tibetan Buddhist Temple. It is today one of the most popular shrines in the region. The temple is established by the Tibetan community of Mussoorie and is a true exemplary of the Tibetan architecture. Clay lamps, surrounding blooming flowers, bright interior walls and the prayer flags amplify the beauty of the shrine.
Location: The Shedup Choepelling Temple is nestled in the beautiful Happy Valley. To reach the Shedup Choepelling Temple follow the address, Happy Valley Road, Near IAS Academy, Mussoorie, Dehradun, 248179, Uttarakhand.
Gun Hill
Gun Hill is one of the most prominent tourist attractions for the tourists who visit Mussoorie. It is the second highest peak in Mussoorie. Irrespective of the time of the month, do carry woolen clothes with you. Views from the top of the Gun Hill peak are bound to leave you spell bound.
Location: Gun Hill is situated at a small distance from the Mall Road.
Highlights: Cable car ropeway that is one of the key adventure sports here. Other attraction is the balloon shooting which is great for people who wish to test their shooting skills.
Best Time: The best time to visit Gun Hill is during the summer months of March and June. Avoid taking the ropeway between the time of 4:00pm and 6:00pm since this is the peak time for tourists.
Library Bazaar
Library Bazaar is the focal taxi and the bus terminal points to enter the township of Mussoorie. Popularly known as the KitaabGhar, the Library Bazaar is so called library found in the 1843 that is present on the first floor of the fantastic building. This is also one of the few libraries found in India.
Location: The Library Bazaar is beautifully tucked between the Laxmi Narayan Temple, the Gurudwara Singh Sabha, the Amania mosque and the Christ church. It stretches up to the Mall road and is popular for its vegetarian and non-vegetarian serving restaurant, luxury and budget hotels, fancy showrooms, gift shops, dhabas, and the small shops to cater to the daily needs of the consumers.
Highlights: The architecture of the library bazaar speaks volumes about the colonial association of the building.
Happy Valley
Happy Valley is exceptionally popular for housing the Municipal Garden, IAS Academy and the Tibetan temples. It is very popular for the estates, temples and the gardens. The tourists who visit this place can also take a walk to the Kala School from Happy Valley that leads to the Hathipaon Park Estate.
Location: Happy Valley is situated on the western side of the Library Point. From there on it leads to the Cloud’s End which is a place where the geographical borders of Mussoorie cease.
Highlights: Some key facilities available at the Happy Valley include the bathroom facilities, lockers or storage facility and more. Length of your journey to the Happy Valley can be about 1 to 2 hours.
Best Time: The most ideal time to visit the Happy Valley is during the month of March and June. Choose to explore the Happy Valley during the day hours.
Mussoorie Heritage Centre
Mussoorie Heritage Centre was commenced in the November 2013 with the idea of preserving and showcasing the Heritage of Mussoorie and the adjoining areas.
Location: Mussoorie Heritage Centre is located at a distance of about 3 km from Library Bus Stand. This is a private enterprise that is situated on the Chamunda Peeth Temple Road in Mussoorie.
Highlights: The Soham Heritage and Art Centre displays the tradition as well as the culture of the Himalayas by way of paintings on canvasses, sculptures, frescoes, murals and scrap art. Housing a collection of local heritage artifacts – clothes, musical instruments, vessels, jewelry among, other things, this heritage center is truly a must visit for all. Bird watching is an interesting activity to carry out here.
