8 Tips For Visiting the Exotic Hill Station of Mussoorie – Queen of Hills in India
8 Tips for planning to explore exotic Mussoorie (Queen of Hills)
The snow-clad mountains, beautiful landscapes, cool weather and cascading waterfalls of Mussoorie woo many tourists from India and around the world. Apart from learning about a new place, traveling is relaxing and gives you the perfect opportunity to break free from your mundane routine. Weekends can be rejuvenating even when you don’t plan a trip in advance and Mussoorie is a great place to explore.
Mussoorie is a popular getaway for people living in parts of northern India. It is located in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range and has a pleasant climate throughout the year. The best time to visit the exotic hill station is April to June and September to November. If you want to experience snowfall, plan a trip during December to mid-February. Mussoorie is easily accessible from any part of India. Make the maximum use of your extended weekends and take a trip to the Queen of Hills.
Some of the tips for you while you are planning to explore Mussoorie:
Famous Tourist Locations
You will be able to come across many tourist locations in Mussoorie which will satiate the traveler in you. The beauty of Doon valley adds another feather in the cap of Mussoorie and will leave you spellbound. Mussoorie’s mall road will give you an old-world vibe. Other tourist attractions are Kempty Falls, Lal Tibba, Jharipani Fall and Cloud End.
How to Reach Mussoorie
If you want to quickly reach the beautiful destination, then you can take the airways. Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Mussoorie. You can take a direct flight from Delhi to Dehradun and hire a taxi or bus from there to reach Mussoorie. You can also opt for roadways as per your convenience. The fare varies for private buses and depends on the comfort level.
Mussoorie does not have a railway station of its own. The Dehradun railway station is located 36 km away from here. You can board a train to Dehradun and then take a taxi or bus to Mussoorie.
Robber’s Cave River Trail
This is an interesting trail that will take you through Robber’s Cave, where you will get a little wet to be able to get through to the other side of the cave. Robber’s Cave is a road less taken, which is a must-visit for the people looking for thrills in Mussoorie. Remember to take extra pair of clothes with you. It is 8 km from Dehradun and will take you around an hour to reach.
Take a dip in Kempty Falls
Your visit to Mussoorie will not be complete if you do not take a trip to Kempty Falls which is 15 km from the centre of town. The waterfalls are spectacular, flowing down the rock-face where you can just stand or dive into it. There is a large pool under the falls which is open to visitors.
The waterfall is very popular and attracts about a million visitors every year. Try to avoid peak times if you are looking for a peaceful swimming experience.
Gun Hill
Gun Hill has got its name from a gun that was mounted on top which was fired at noon every day during colonial times, so people were able to set their watches to the right time. Now, the place has no gun on top but it still offers beautiful views of Doon Valley and the Garhwal Himalayas.
The summit is 400 meters above the Mall, and takes around 20 minutes to reach on foot. If you will also find a cable car that runs every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
Happy Valley
Flickr: Michael Scalet
It is famous for Tibetan-style Buddhist temples, which you should explore if you are interested in learning about Tibetan culture. Happy Valley was the place where the Dalai Lama first settled after being exiled from Tibet. Although the Dalai Lama resides in Dharamshala now, the impact of his first settlement is visible as Happy Valley has since become a famous place to many Tibetans. You will be able to feel a strong Tibetan connection here. This place was also a temporary home for the famous Indian figure, Mahatma Gandhi.
Activities in the Mountains
There are many options of activities in the hill station, which includes hiking, trekking, short walks and one-day treks to multi-day overnight treks. To be able to trek in this region, you will need to have your own camping gear, food, water, and cooking equipment for long treks as there are tea houses or any other shelters.
You can find guides and trekking companies for overnight multi-day treks if you do not have trekking experience and you don’t want to carry the responsibility of arranging everything from your food, water to equipment on your own.
Nag Tibba Hike
Nag Tibba or ‘Serpent’s Peak’, with its height 3,022 meters is the highest peak in the area. This trek usually takes two days to complete and it gives the same experience as Annapurna Base Camp Trekking gives which is not easy to complete. You can get to the base of Nag Tibba at Pantwari village by public transport and shared jeeps. It takes 5-6 hours hike to camp one and you should be prepared with your gear or hire a trekking company to arrange the equipment for you and guide you the right way. The next day will be an early start to reach the summit, which will take you around two hours with a long walk to get back to Pantwari, which will take another 4-5 hours.
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About The Author: Manmohan Singh is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher, Writer at Assignment Bro and a Traveller in India. He organize 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in India. Manmohan Singh conducts Yoga Teacher Training in India in different cities. He loves writing and reading books related to yoga, health, nature, Himalayas.
