Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora & fauna, is a facinating hill resort. Commanding snow ranges to the north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley & Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town presents a fairyland atmosphere. Mussoorie is famous for its scenic beauty

hill station situated in the foothills of the Himalaya ranges in north Indian state of Uttaranchal. It is also known as the "Queen of the Hills". The adjoining town of Landour, which includes a military cantonment, is considered part of 'greater Mussoorie', as are the townships of Barlowganj and Jharipani.

Having an altitude of about 2000 meters, Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora and fauna, is a fascinating hill resort. Commanding snow ranges to the north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town was once said to present a 'fairyland' atmosphere to tourists.

Now, Mussoorie suffered from over-development of hotels and tourist lodges, given its relative proximity to Delhi, Ambala and Chandigarh, and has serious problems of garbage collection, water scarcity and parking shortages, especially during the summer tourist season. Landour, Jharipani and Barlowganj have fewer such problems.

Its history dates back to 1825 when Captain Young, an adventurous British military officer, together with a Mr Shore, the resident Superintendent of Revenues at Dehradun explored the present site and jointly constructed a shooting lodge. This laid the foundation of this holiday resort which now has few rivals. Mussoorie is famous for its scenic beauty and hectic social life. It provides all kinds of amusement and every facility for domestic and foreign tourists.

Its name is derived from a shrub "MANSOOR" behind the house of the Captain. Some believe that perhaps that is reason behind the name of the town, which is also known as MANSOORI among the natives of the surrounding area.

Mussoorie is conveniently connected by road to Delhi and major cities. It is called the "Gateway" to Yamunotri and Gangotri Shrines of Northern India. The closest rail station is Dehradun. Taxis are easily available for Mussorie as are buses at regular intervals.

Mussorie also has the Lal Bahadur Sastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), the honing ground for young bureaucrats of India, who carry the destiny of India. This picturesque institute is located about 7kms away from the Mall Road.

Camel's Back Road

A pony ride or walk along this 3-km long road from Kulri Bazaar to Library Bazaar offers views of the mountains. On the way, visitors can step into an old British cemetery.

Christ Church

Within easy walking distance, above the Library end of The Mall is the imposing Gothic style church. Built in 1837, it is a notable landmark of Mussoorie. Stained glass windows are one of its attractive features.

Gun Hill

This is the second highest peak in Mussoorie from where you can get a picturesque view of the town as well as stunning views of snowcapped peaks in the distance. A ride in the cable-car between the lower station on The Mall and the upper station on Gun Hill is an enjoyable experience.

Lal Tibba

An invigorating 5-km walk from the Tourist Office takes you to Lal Tibba on the highest hill. You can get a panoramic view of the entire Doon Valley and the Shivalik Range from here. On a clear day you may even see the majestic Nanda Devi peak (25,640 ft).

Municipal Gardens

These gardens lie within the municipal limits and are popular with domestic tourists. They are easily accessible by car, pony or cycle-rickshaw. Visitors can picnic here and also take a boat ride on the artificial lake.

Mussoorie Lake

The Jheel (Mussoorie Lake) is 8 km on the road to Dehra Dun. It is an artificial pond where paddleboats are available on hire.

By Air

The nearest Airport is Jolly Grant, 60kms (Dehradun).

By Rail

Dehradun (34kms) is the nearest railhead. It is a Northern Railway terminus connected with all major cities such as Delhi, Howrah, Bombay, Amritsar, Lucknow and Varanasi.

By Road

Mussoorie is connected with Dehradun (34kms). Dehradun, in turn is connected with all major cities in India through direct motorable roads.