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Having stayed in Manipal for an entire year, my love for beaches was very obvious. But when living in Delhi you cannot refrain from visiting the hills. So when it was time for my first trip post relocating to Delhi, The Queen of Hills – Mussoorie was the unanimous choice. From Adventure lovers to admirers of the Nature, Mussoorie rules the heart of them all. Whether you want to have a quite time with your family or experience the adrenaline rush through your veins the town of Garhwal Hills offers you both. The town of Mussoorie is about 290 kms from Delhi making it the most visited weekend getaway. It is situated in the foothills of Garhwal Himalayan range giving you a beautiful captivating view of the Himalayas. Fondly called as the Queen of the Mountains, Mussoorie gets its name from Mansur – a local shrub that grows in the foothills of Himalayas.

How To Reach

Mussoorie is well connected to the national capital by road, rail and airways. The nearest Railway station and Airport is Dehradun from where travellers can hire a taxi to reach Mussoorie. The journey from Dehradun to Mussoorie takes about an hour. One can grab a cup of hot tea from roadside stalls and enjoy scenic views on the way. All the hotels in Mussoorie are located on the Mall Road. Visitors are required to alight from the taxis at the Library square of the Mall Road as no tourist vehicle is allowed beyond this point. Rickshaws are available at the location to help visitors reach their hotel beyond the point.

Places to Visit

Let me tell you about all the places you should note down in ‘places to visit in Mussoorie’ while planning your trip to this beautiful hill station.

Mall Road

There is no way that you visit a colonial town in the hills and not explore the Mall Road. From the Library to the Picture Palace, The Mall Road is stretch of 4-5 kms of the main road of Mussoorie. Most of the hotels and restaurants of the town are located here giving the visitors an ease of choosing a central location to stay. Bustling with commuters all day, the Mall Road is buzzing with crowd during the evenings. Spanning along the Mall Road are shops, eateries and other establishments. The Tibetan market along the Mall Road is the best place for buying souvenirs, artisanal products and beautiful woollen wears. Do not miss buying a winter-wear or two from the local shops as you will get really good designs and quality material. Located at the Mall Road are also some shops where you will get good collection of boots. But do not forget to bargain to get some good deals.

Kempty Falls

If milky white water falling from about 40-50 feet height from the mountains is a sight that enthrals you then Kempty falls is a must visit place in Mussoorie for you. The spot gets its name from the ‘Camp-tea’ outings organized by the British officers during the pre-independence period. The falls has man-made pool for visitors to enjoy boating or a refreshing bath in the clear water of the falls.

Kempty falls is about 15 kms from the main town of Mussoorie. One can hire a taxi from the nearest taxi point on either ends of The Mall Road. These taxi service providers offer visitors a one-day package that covers the sightseeing spots around Mussoorie.

Gun Hill Point

A popular spot for picturesque view of the Himalayan range, Gun Hill point is situated 400 ft above the Mall Road. The hill point was of significant importance and gets its name from a gun that was placed on the hill during the pre-independence time. The gun would be fired at mid-day for people to set their watches.

The best way to reach Gun Point hill is through the ropeway from Mall road. We were lucky that the boarding point of the ropeway was down the road from our hotel. The ropeway operates from 10 am to 6 pm and is priced at Rs 75/- for a roundtrip.

Lal Tibba

Lal Tibba is the most scenic sunset and sunrise view point that overlooks the major peaks of Badrinath, Kedarnath amongst others. The peaks can be viewed with the help of telescope installed by the municipality in 1967. Located in Landour, approximately 4.5 kms from the town of Mussoorie Lal Tibba can be reached from Mall Road by taxi which can be hired from the Library chowk.

Adventure lovers can get their share of adrenaline rush and enjoy a small trek to Lal Tibba while getting close to the nature.

Landour

A small cantonment area, Landour is the other twin of Mussoorie that is famous for its scenic beauty and its iconic cafes. Landour receives very good snowfall almost twice more than Mussoorie during the peak winters. Owing to the Cantonment Act, commercialization is restricted in the town and there are no tourist homes or hotels in Landour. The only commercial businesses here are the cafes and shops at the Landour bazaar. If you get lucky you may come across the famous writer Ruskin Bond taking a stroll on the streets of the town or enjoying a quite time reading books at one of these cafes.

While we talk about cafes, one can’t miss Char Dukan and Landour Bakehouse in Landour. Named after the 4 shops in a row, Char Dukan is known for the coffee and snacks served in the cafes. The cafes are a must visit to enjoy some delicious desi as well as videsi food. And while you leave, do not forget to grab some fresh baked goods from the 19th century established Landour Bakehouse.

For ‘Places to Eat in Mussoorie’ look out for our next blog…