"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."
~ Edmund Hillary

Destinations


Uttarakhand ~ Mussoorie

Perched atop a high ridge, Mussoorie with its green hills and varied flora & fauna, is one of the most popular hill resorts in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from its beauty, one reason for its popularity is its proximity to Delhi. It commands a wonderful view of the Himalayan snow ranges and of the Doon Valley. Mussoorie is conveniently connected by road to Delhi and forms a popular gateway to the Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines.

The history of this hill station goes back to 1823 when Captain Young, an adventurous military officer laid the nucleus for its development. That nucleus was "The Mullingar", the house which Capt. Young built. As the location was conveniently close to Dehradun, more and more people began to build their cottages here.

It is believed that the town derives its name from the pulse or dal called Masur, which is grown on large tracts of the land. Today it has become a tourist town that is popular all the year round.

Walks
Gun Hill

This is a pleasant 20-minute walk by a bridle path that forks of from Mall Road near Kutchery. A ropeway ride is also available to this second highest peak of Mussoorie. The distance by ropeway is only 400 meters. Gun hill offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges namely Bunderpunch, Shrikanta, Pithwara and Gangotri group and a bird's eye view of Mussoorie town and the Doon valley. Prior to Indian independence (1947), a gun mounted on this hill used to be fired at mid-day to enable the people to adjust their watches; hence its name.

More on Uttarakhand
Overview
Uttarakhand Districts
Corbett National Park
Valley of Flowers
Kausani
Badrinath
Char Dham Yatra
Haridwar
Rishikesh
Nainital
Almora
Festivals of Kumaon

Travelogues
Week at Mussorie
Mumbai to Mussorie


Leisure
Wildlife
Heritage
Pilgrimage

Adventure
Mountaineering
Trekking
Rafting
Paragliding
Rock climbing

Municipal Garden
This picnic spot has a beautiful garden and an artificial mini lake with boating facilities. It is located at a distance of 4 km if you take the main road and is only 2 km on foot via the Convent road.

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Childers Lodge
This is the highest peak of Mussoorie. The walk is about 5 km. and can be done on horseback or on foot. The walk is rewarding for the magnificent view of the snow peaks that it offers.

Camel's Back Road
The lovely promenade starts from Kulri Bazar near Rink Hall and ends at Library Bazaar making for a total distance of 3 kms. It is a popular road for walking or riding and is a grand spot from which to view the sunset. When viewed from near the Mussoorie Public School the spot resembles a camel's back.

Nag Devta Temple
An ancient temple situated about 6 kms from Mussoorie. It provides a charming view of Doon Valley and Mussoorie.

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Sir George Everest House
At a distance of 6 kms, this was the estate of Sir George Everest, first Surveyor General of India who had his office and residence here. It is approachable by road. The highest peak of the world, Mount Everest, is named after him.

Clouds End
This bungalow, built in 1838, by a British Major was one of the first four buildings in Mussoorie. It has since been converted into a hotel called Clouds End and is situated at the extreme west of Mussoorie Hill, 8 kms from Library. The resort is surrounded by thick forests and offers a wide variety of flora and fauna with a panoramic view of the snow clad Himalayas and the Yamuna River.

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Accommodation
Mussorie
A variety of luxury and low budget accommodation is available to suit every pocket.

Excursions

Kempty Falls
Buses or taxis can be taken to the waterfall, 15 km from Mussoorie on the Yamnotri Road at an altitude of 4500 feet. It has the distinction of being the largest and prettiest waterfall in the valley and is surrounded by high mountains. The stream flowing through a valley falls over a precipice and achieves its full intensity during the monsoons.

Dhanolti
Located on Mussoorie - Tehri Road at a distance of 25 kms from Mussoorie, Dhanolti is ideal for a quiet holiday. At a height of 2400 metres it nestles between oak and deodar forests. The drive from Mussoorie is dotted with fruit orchards. A tourist bungalow is available. There is also a Forest Rest House for which a permit can be obtained from Forest Officer at Mussoorie. A few other hotels are also available for a comfortable stay.

Yamuna Bridge
About 27 Kms. from Mussoorie on Chakrata-Batkot road, this is an ideal spot for fishing. Permits for fishing can be obtained from the Divisional Forest Officer, Mussoorie Phone: 632335

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Surkhanda Devi
Situated on Mussoorie - Tehri road the temple is about 33 kms from Mussoorie and 8 km. from Dhanolti. Visitors can go up to Kaddu Khal (Devasthali) by bus or by car from where the temple is about 2 kms on foot. The temple is situated at an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level and offers a panoramic view of the Himalayas. A visit to the top is an unforgettable experience.

Chamba
Chamba is located about 31 kms beyond Dhanolti on the road to Tehri and is a good spot for a quite few days away from the hustle and bustle of the town. The drive is excellent as the road passes through the fruit orchards and, during season, apples are available in abundance all along the route. In spring, one can see Rhododendron and various other fruit trees in full bloom providing a feast for the eyes.

Lakha Mandal
Past Kempty falls, Lakha-Mandal is 75 kms away on the Mussoorie - Yamunotri road. There are many items of archaeological importance, which have been preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India. Legend has is that this is the place where the Kauravas made the famous Shellac House in which they conspired to burn the Pandavas alive.

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Getting there
Rail: the nearest railhead is at Dehradun 35 kms away, which is connected to Delhi, Varanasi, Howrah, Amritsar, Saharanpur and Haridwar. Taxies and buses are available outside the Railway Station.
Road: buses ply to all the major tourist centres in the region. Dehradun is 35 kms, Delhi 280 kms, Saharanpur 110 kms, Srinagar (Garhwal) 135 kms, and Tehri 76 kms. The U.P.State Transport Corporation plies deluxe and super fast buses to Delhi. The city has three bus stands, Masonic Lodge, Library and Tehri bus stand.

Information: Courtesy Government of India


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Editor: Romola Butalia       (c) India Travelogue. All rights reserved.