Mussoorie travel guide

Mussoorie is a famous hill station in India. This city is also famous for entrance of Yamunotri and Gangotri. This city have two main center known as Gandhi Chowk and Kurli Bazar. These two are joined by a single road known as “Mall road”.

Mussoorie climate / weather

Generally cool the year round, the hill station is a haven for tourists during the summer months, between April and June. Mussoorie gets its share of all the seasons through the year, including winter, spring and monsoon. But winter and monsoons are not considered idea as the roads get difficult to navigate and visibility poor. Moreover, certain areas experience heavy snowfall too.

When you visit Mussoorie in summers – between April and June – light woolens would suffice as the temperature varies from around 31C to a minimum of 7C. However, heavy woolens will be a necessity during winters, between September and December, when the temperature varies from 7C to a minimum of 1C. Mussoorie also has its share of rainfall that measures up to 180 cms during monsoon.

To enjoy the best weather, make sure you visit Mussoorie between April and June or between September and October.

Places to see in Mussoorie

Waterfalls

Like most other hill stations, Mussoorie has its share of picturesque waterfalls that offer great locations to spend time as a group or just by yourself, enjoying the peace and calm that nature gifts us with.

Jharipani Fall

Located on the Mussoorie- Jharipani Road at a distance of 8.5 kms from Mussoorie, the Jharipani Falls can be accessed by any form of road transport up to a distance of 7 kms, after which you need to cover the rest of the distance on foot.

Bhatta Fall

Have a refreshing bath beneath a natural water shower. Or splash around in one of several ponds located in the vicinity. Enjoy a picnic hamper as you regale yourself with the sights of the place. That’s Bhatta Fall, located near the Bhatta village, on the Mussoorie-Dehradun Road, 7 kms from Mussoorie.

Kempty Fall

Rushing at you from an altitude of 4500 feet, Kempty Fall is set against the backdrop of the might mountains and offers the perfect spot for a bath. The water that

cascades down splits into five streams on its way down. Once you emerge refreshed, the 13-14 kms that you have traveled on Yamunotri Road to reach here would be worth every moment of it.

Sahastra Dhara

Beauty goes hand in hand with medicinal benefits at the Sahastra Dhara – a renowned picnic spot as well as the source of the medicinal sulphur falls. The spot is located 14 kms from Dehradun.

Mosey Fall

A waterfall in the midst of a dense forest? There can be few things more romantic than this! The Mosey Fall is located 7 kms from Mussoorie.

Picnic Spots in Mussoorie

Mussoorie Lake

A picnic spot that offers you a wide range of activities, from boating in pedal boats to the simple pleasures of a happy picnic near the lake, not to mention splendid views of the nearby places. The spot is located 6 kms from Mussoorie on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road and offers a fabulous view during the night.

Van Chetna Kendra

Imagine a picnic in the wilderness, surrounded by various forms of exotic wildlife around you! That’s Van Chetna Kendra, a picnic spot located 2 kms from Mussoorie, on Tehri bye-pass road. An enchanting spot with a park that is bounded by the pine forest and populated with flower-laden shrubs, this location has several striking species like Ghurar, Himalayan Peacock, Kankar and Monal.

Lake Mist

This picnic spot is located about 5kms before Kempty Fall on the Mussoorie-Kempty road and offers you boating facilities.

Dhanaulti

Yet another picturesque spot with splendid mountain views and deodhar, oak and coniferous forests, Dhanaulti is located on the Mussoorie-Tehri Road, 25km away from Mussoorie. This mountain retreat offers you the perfect place to unwind, amidst an ocean of calm.

Municipal Garden

A beautiful garden. An artificial mini lake. Boating facilities. What more would one require to unwind at a perfect picnic destination? Municipal Garden is located 4 kms from Mussoorie and can be covered by cycle rickshaws, by pony or by car. It is also knows as the Botanical gardens of Mussoorie.

Temples in Mussoorie

Nag Devta Temple

Located roughly 6 kms from Mussoorie on Cart Mackenjie Road, this is a temple dating back to the distant past and offers a great view of places like Doon Valley and the rest of Mussoorie. The Nag Devta temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the God of snakes.

Jwalaji Temple (Benog Hill)

Get splendid darshan of Goddess Durga after a journey to the lofty heights of the Benog Hill 9 kms from Mussoorie, over 2100 meters above sea level that makes you feel closer to the heavens. You have seen the Goddess – now focus on Her creations as you are held spellbound by the unforgettable view of the Himalayan peaks, Doon valley and Yamuna valley.

Surkhanda Devi Temple

If you are game for a steep climb two kms uphill, you will reach the Surkhanda Devi Temple located 10,000 feet above sea level, 35 km down the Mussoorie-Tehri road.

The Ganga Dussehra fair is held here every year during the months of May and June.

Landmarks in Mussoorie

Sir George Everest House

What does a Park Estate in Mussoorie have in common with the highest peak in the world? Both are named after Sir George Everest. The Park Estate used to be the office and residence of Sir Everest, the First Surveyor General of India. The estate is located approximately 6 kms from Mussoorie. Needless to say, the place offers an excellent view of the Doon and the Yamuna valley, and the Himalayan range.

Clouds End

What began in 1838 as one of the first buildings to be constructed in Mussoorie has today become a scenic spot for a hotel that is engulfed by nature’s multifarious forms of flora and fauna and the thickset deodhar forests. Located 8 kms from the Library in Mussoorie, Cloud’s End literally gives you the impression of being on a Cloud’s End as you survey the impressive, snow-covered Himalayan range.

Nag Tibba

Experience trekking – 10000 feet above sea level – at Nag Tibba, the highest peak in Mussoorie, located roughly 55 kms from the town. The location is surrounded by thickset forests. The first 34 kms of the distance can be covered by transport – the trek begins here as the rest of the distance can be covered by foot.

Lal Tibba

This is the highest point in Mussoorie, located in Landour area, the oldest inhabited place in the area with the charm of a bygone era that is reflected in the architecture of its buildings and houses. The advantage of being the highest point is that it offers you the best views of several places along the Himalayan range.

Lakha Mandal

Visit a place that has its own place in history! Lakha Mandal, located 80 km away on the Mussoorie-Yamunotri Road, has idols of archaeological importance that are traced right back to the Mahabharata.

Gun Hill

This is the second highest peak in Mussoorie and owes its unique names to the fact that in the past, a gun used to be mounted right at the top and would be fired at noon to help people sychronise their watches to the right time. A place where the journey is as much fun as the destination, Gun Hill offers you the thrills of a ropeway ride to reach the top. Once up here, you can look around you for mesmerizing sights of the Himalayan range – Bunderpunch, Srikantha, Pithwara and Gangotri, to name a few. You can also behold the magical transformation of Mussoorie as it appears to change colour and scene from time to time.

Childer’s Lodge

Travel 5 kms from the Tourist Office to reach the highest peak in Mussoorie, where Childer’s Lodge is located. Take in the beautiful sights of snow-capped peaks around you. You can cover this distance by foot or travel on horseback.

Camel’s Back Road

If horse-riding or walking happens to be your choice of unwinding during a vacation, you should not muss Camel’s Back Road, a 3 km stretch from Kulri Bazaar to Library Bazaar. Along the way, stop by to see mesmerizing sights like the sun set as the golden sun seems to melt along the snow-laden slopes of the Himalayas, and the natural formation of rocks that give them a camel-like appearance – after which the road has got its name.

Benog Mountain Quail Sanctuary

The famous extinct bird species, the Mountain Quail, was last spotted here after which a sanctuary has come up in its name, 11 kms from the Mussoorie Library.

Things to do in Mussoorie

Adventure Sports

If you have a sense of adventure, Mussoorie is the is perfect place to satiate your desire excitement and exploration. Trekking, camping, skating and many other popular adventure sports have become the mainstay in Mussoorie’s activity list.

Camping

Mussoorie provides for excellent camping spots where you can pitch your tent in the middle of nowhere and unwind, as you blend with the elements of nature around you. Ample facilities are available for you to experience wildlife camping and explore nature at its very best.

Mountain Biking / Mountain Cycling

Mussoorie to Rari Pass

For those of you who love the thrills of mountain biking or mountain cycling, Mussoorie is the perfect place to be in. The route from Mussoorie to Dhanaulti invites scores of enthusiasts who love the elevation of the road that slopes up and then turns downhill. Along the way, there is ample forest cover that makes for excellent views.

Rock Climbing

Because of its altitude and natural mountainous terrain, Mussoorie offers excellent opportunities for rock climbing. The rock climbing expeditions during summer and later during the autumn months are very popular. For those of you who wish to learn rock climbing, excellent courses are available near the Sir George Everest House and in Buranskhanda near Dhanaulti.

Other recreation

Mussoorie has a cinema hall, clubs, libraries, skating halls, an amusement park and a cable car ride that delights several tourists. Fishing is also popular in the Aglar and Yamuna rivers, though it is advisable to take prior permission.

Shopping in Mussoorie

Curios, ethnic jewelry, handicraft, walking sticks, hand-knit cardigans, cane baskets – the Kulri Bazaar, Landour Bazaar and shops along the Mall offer a plethora of goodies that you would love to take home to preserve your memories of Mussoorie. There are also Tibetans who sell fabric wall hangings, Tibetan metalware and many wooden items like bowls, trays and other items.

Content updated in January 2023