Often referred to as the ‘Queen Of Hills’, Mussoorie is one of the most popular hill stations in India. It is located in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range and offers a panoramic view of the snow clad Himalayan mountains. Mussoorie is a great choice for a weekend getaway, for family trips and also as a honeymoon destination. Here’s a list of the best places to visit in Mussoorie.
Best Places To Visit In Mussoorie
Kempty Falls
Kempty Falls is one of the most popular attractions in Mussoorie. This cascading waterfall is famous for its milky white streams of water. You can swim in the pool under the falls or just enjoy the view with a steaming cup of coffee.
You have to climb down a few hundred stairs to reach Kempty Falls. But there’s also a ropeway facility if you want to avoid the stairs.
I won’t deny that the place has become very commercialized of late with shops selling food, clothes, souvenirs, etc. So if you want to enjoy nature without any distraction, this place is probably not for you. But if you do your research & plan right, you can still have such a busy place all to yourself.
Pro Tip: Try to go as early as possible & definitely avoid weekends.
We really had a fun time here. The force of the waterfall is so strong that our clothes & hair got totally wet even though we didn’t go for a swim!
I would definitely recommend adding Kempty Falls to your Mussoorie itinerary.
Lal Tibba
Lal Tibba is the highest point in Mussoorie & offers a stunning panoramic view of the snow clad mountains. But to get a good shot try to visit early in the day. It is common in hill stations to witness clear skies in the morning & enjoy a clear view of the Himalayan ranges but as the day progresses they get engulfed in fog or clouds.
There’s a cafe at Laal Tibba which offers binoculars for Rs. 50 per head using which you can see the Himalayan mountains from up close.
Landour
Landour is a small quiet town near Mussoorie and can be visited on the way to/from Laal Tibba. You can eat at the popular Landour Bakehouse or in any of the cafes at Char Dukan. You can also visit the St. Paul’s Church & the Kellogg Memorial Church or simply take a walk to admire the scenic beauty & British colonial architecture.
George Everest House & Peak
George Everest House is located at a serene location on top of a cliff and can be reached after a 2-3 km hike from the base/car parking. Sir George Everest owned this mountain house in Mussoorie and spent many years here using it as his observatory and laboratory. This place offers a panoramic view of the Doon Valley on one side and spectacular views of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks on the other side on a clear day.
George Everest Peak is a 500 metres uphill hike from George Everest House. The last stretch upto the summit is a bit challenging as the path is broken in certain areas. The summit offers beautiful panoramic view, especially during sunrise and sunset.
Unfortunately I had to quit a few metres before reaching the summit as I was wearing a gown & it was risky to go further holding my gown with one hand and my camera with the other!
The Mall
The Mall is located at the heart of Mussoorie and is a prominent spot among tourists. It is lined with shops and food joints on both sides of the road. The shops here are popular for winter clothes, wooden decor products and souvenirs. The Mall also offers a picturesque view of the Doon Valley. The view looks lovely after sunset when you can see the city of Dehradun twinkling away.
You should definitely visit Kal Sang Restaurant at the Mall Road for their delicious Tibetan food.
Gun Hill
Gun Hill is the second highest peak in Mussoorie, located above the Mall. It can be reached by a ropeway ride or a short hike from the Mall Road. Gun Hill offers a picturesque view of the Himalayan ranges and the Doon Valley.
Bhatta Falls
Bhatta Falls is a recently developed picnic spot which lies a few kms away from Mussoorie & can be easily visited while going to or coming from Dehradun. It is a refreshing spot & is highly enjoyable when visited with friends or family. You can reach the falls by driving downhill or taking a ropeway ride.
There are a few food stalls inside. You can have piping hot maggi or coffee here while dipping your feet in water & chatting with your loved ones! Bhatta Falls is one of the best places to visit in Mussoorie & you should definitely include it in your itinerary.
Company Garden
Company Garden is another picnic spot in Mussoorie. The main attraction here is the garden with beautiful & colourful flora. A small man-made lake with boating facility & an artificial waterfall also adds to the beauty of this place.
Mussoorie Lake
Mussoorie Lake is an artificial lake developed recently & is becoming popular as a picnic spot. Tourists can enjoy boating in this lake.
We skipped Company Garden & Mussoorie Lake as they seemed more like local picnic spots than tourist places to visit & also due to lack of time.
Also Read: Best Places To Visit In Dehradun + Complete Travel Guide
Planning Guide
How To Reach Mussoorie
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Mussoorie and is well connected with most major Indian cities. You can hire a car or taxi from there to reach Mussoorie. Another popular option is Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, from where you can hire a car or take a bus to reach Mussoorie.
By Rail: Dehradun Railway Station is the nearest major railway station to Mussoorie. You have to hire a car or take a bus from there to reach Mussoorie.
By Road: Mussoorie is well connected by road. You can drive or hire a car from most North Indian cities to reach Mussoorie. There are also direct buses plying to Mussoorie from Delhi & some other cities in Uttarakhand.
We rented a car with driver from Himachal Car Rental Service for our entire Uttarakhand trip for 6 Days which costed us Rs. 26,000 for a 7-seater Innova. It included all transfers, sightseeing, toll tax & parking.
Where To Stay In Mussoorie
We stayed at Hotel Omkar in Spring Road and would definitely recommend it. It is located at a quiet corner away from the rush yet at a walkable distance from the Mall Road area. Their Super Deluxe rooms are spacious and offer a beautiful view of the mountains. You can see the towns at a distance twinkling at night as you drift away to sleep and wake up to witness a beautiful sunrise!
Where To Eat In Mussoorie
Mussoorie has many street food joints at the Mall Road that you should try, including the kulad wali dudh & kesar jalebis that are very popular. One place you have to include in your itinerary is Kal Sang Restaurant for their delicious Tibetan food.
Best Time To Visit Mussoorie
The most popular time to visit Mussoorie is during the spring and summer months from March to June because of the pleasant weather. This is also the best time for adventure activities like trekking, paragliding, ziplining, river rafting & more. But this is the peak tourism season so be prepared for the crazy tourist rush & a hike in prices!
Autumn and winter months from October to February is also an ideal time to visit Mussoorie. You can enjoy a cool and pleasant weather in October and November. To experience snowfall, December to February is the best time to visit Mussoorie. The hill station gets blanketed in snow & looks like a scenery straight out of a postcard. This time is also perfect for adventure activities like skiing.
Monsoon months from July to September should typically be avoided as there can be sudden landslides. Most adventure activities are also closed during this time.
Camera Gear Used For Photography:
- Canon EOS 77D 24.2MP Digital SLR Camera
- Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] Lens for Canon DSLR Camera
Check out my ‘What’s In My Camera Bag‘ blog post for more details.
I really hope you enjoyed reading this article and you’ll find the information useful whenever you plan to visit these beautiful places in Mussoorie.
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Happy Travelling! 🙂
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