Mussoorie popularly known as The Queen of the Hills is a hill station in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, India. It is about 35 kilometers from the state capital of Dehradun and 290 km north of New Delhi. The name Mussoorie is often attributed to a derivation of mansūr, a shrub that is indigenous to the area. The hill station is in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range. The diamond-cut roads, the mystic air, the serene coolness and the feel of an Indian relaxation. The diamond-cut roads, the mystic air, the serene coolness, and the feel of an Indian relaxation make it a must-visit destination for honeymoon couples.
Mussoorie is famous not only for its scenic beauty but it has also developed into an important center of education and business. Mussoorie is also famous for the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration where officers are trained for the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service. “The spectacular Gun Hill is among the most famous tourist attractions of Mussoorie. It is the second-highest peak in the region after Lal Tibba. In 1803 the Gorkhas under Umer Singh Thapa conquered the Garhwal and the Dehra, whereby Mussoorie was established. On 1 November 1814, a war broke out between the Gorkhas and the British.
Dehradun and Mussoorie were evacuated by the Gorkhas by the year 1815 and were annexed to the district of Saharanpur by 1819. The city as a resort was established in 1825 by Captain Young, a British military officer, after which Mussoorie became hugely popular with the British Raj. Glimpses of that era linger on in the architecture of the churches, libraries, hotels, and summer palaces. Well connected by road, rail, and air, the city is famous for numerous well known educational institutions that attract students from across India such as Woodstock School, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Waverly, St George’s College, Oak Grove School Wynberg-Allen, Guru Nanak Fifth Centenary and Convent of Jesus and Mary Hampton Court. The city is especially well known for its mesmerizing sunrise and sunset views.
The economy in Mussoorie is primarily dependent on tourism. The Uttarakhand Government is developing the city with a mountain forest resort and a ropeway expected to be fully operational by 2022 in order to boost tourism in the region. Mussoorie is heaven for nature lovers, adventure seekers with numerous waterfalls, massive forests, grasslands, mountains, and more.
There are several places worth visiting in and around Mussoorie, namely Kempty Falls, Lal Tibba, Gun Hill Point, Company Garden, Cloud’s End, Jharipani Falls, Mussoorie Lake, Sir George Everest’s House, Camel’s Back Road, Library Bazaar, Lake Mist, Snow Adventure Zone, The Mall Road, Bhatta Falls, Jwala Devi Temple, Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, Christ Church, Nag Tibba Peak, Robber’s Cave, and Kellogg Memorial Church, There are numerous hotels, resorts, lodges and guesthouses in and around the city that provide luxuriously, mid-range and budget accommodation to tourist. The best shopping places in Mussoorie include Tibetan Market and Library Bazaar on Mall Road, Landour Bazaar, and Kulri Bazaar.
The restaurants serve a variety of local, Chinese, and international delicacies at reasonable prices. Some of the must-try preparations are Momos, noodles, coconut curry, soup, Chilly Potatoes, Chicken fried rice, sizzlers, noodles, spring rolls, and fried rice. Mussoorie is also very famous for its sweets and shops sell a variety of freshly made pastries, cakes, muffins, puddings, and frozen drinks. The best time to visit Mussoorie is in summer between May and July, and Winter from December to February. The higher hills get snowfall, which makes it the best time to visit Mussoorie and see them covered in white glory. Almost all the tourist attractions remain open at this time. Mussoorie is an ideal place to visit on an extended weekend visit
