Things to do in Mussoorie

Popularly known as The Queen of the Hills, Mussoorie is a hill station located in the state of Uttarakhand, India amid the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range. It is located at an average altitude of 1,880 metres. Mussoorie is a very popular tourist destination in India and receives millions of tourists all year round.

Use this Mussoorie travel guide to plan your trip to Mussoorie.

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Best time to travel

Peak season is from mid-April to mid-July when people flock to Mussoorie to avoid heat on the plains.
Mid-July to September is monsoon season. This time of the season is more prone to landslides and should be generally avoided.
Mussoorie gets very cold in winter and receives snowfall from December to February.
March to mid-April and October is a time with low prices, less crowd, and pleasant weather.

How to reach Mussoorie

Mussoorie is just 30kms away from Dehradun. Multiple flights, buses, and trains operate from Delhi to Dehradun. From Dehradun, there are 2 options available to reach Mussoorie:

1. Taxi – One can take a personal taxi which costs around Rs 1000 or a shared taxi which charges Rs 300 per person
2. Bus – Bus leaves from Dehradun Railway station. These buses go to the opposite end of Mall Road, Library and Picture Palace. Fare to both the end is Rs 60. Both the ends are quite far from each other, so one should opt for the right bus.

Alternatively, one can take his/her own car or hire a personal taxi to reach there from nearby cities.

Must things to do in Mussoorie

1. Spend morning amid Buddha statue and flags of prayer

Happy Valley is home to about 5000 Tibetan refugees and is just a couple of kms from Library Chowk. At the top of Dalai Hill in Happy Valley, there is a golden coloured Buddha statue surrounded by Tibetan flags of prayer. Colourful prayer flags coupled with Buddha Statue and mountain peaks view are just aesthetic.

ALSO READ: Why you should not skip Happy Valley in Mussoorie

Address – Opposite Buddha Temple, Happy Valley, Mussoorie
Suggested Duration – 1-2 hours

2. Soham Heritage Centre

Soham Heritage Centre, with collections of paintings, sculptures, artefacts, and other art forms, all depicting the Himalayan culture in full flow just blew me away. Museum has 3 sections – painting section; old photographs of Himalayan and Tibet region section; and a section having utensils, jewellery, musical instruments used by Himalayan people. A guided tour is provided by the founder at no extra cost.

ALSO READ: Soham Heritage Centre: A Hidden Gem in Mussoorie

Address – Chamunda Peeth Temple Road, Big Bend Bala Hisar, The Mall Road, Mussoorie
Phone – +91 98 97241261, +91 98 97979151
Official website – http://explorehimalayas.org/
Opening Hours – 10 AM to 2 PM, 3 PM to 5 PM (closed on Wednesday)
Suggested Duration – 1 hour
Ticket Cost – Rs 100

3. Shedup Choepelling Temple

Also known as Buddha Temple, Shedup Choepelling Temple is a Buddhist monastery situated in a picturesque location in Happy Valley. While inside of the temple is peaceful, the outside is equally calm with stunning views of mountain peaks.

Address – Charleville, Happy Valley, Mussoorie
Suggested Duration – 1 hour

4. Lal Tibba Binocular & Cafe

Located at the Landour area, Lal Tibba provides enthralling views of Himalayan mountain peaks. You can also take a closer look at the Gangotri and other mountain peaks through binoculars installed at the roof. Access to the roof is complimentary if you order food from the cafe; otherwise, Rs 50 is charged per person.

Address – Lal Tibba Binoculars, Landour Bazar Road, Naya Mohalla, Landour, Mussoorie
Suggested Duration – 1-2 hours

Other Things to Do in Mussoorie

1. Kempty Fall

Kempty Fall is a waterfall, around 13 kms from Mussoorie. It was developed as a tourist destination by British officer John Mekinan, around 1835. There is a man-made pool next to the fall where adults and kids can play. It is the most popular attraction of Mussoorie but has suffered from overtourism and commercialization in the last few years.

Address – Lakhwad, Kempty, Mussoorie
Opening Hours – 10 AM to 6 PM
Suggested Duration – 1-2 hours
Ticket Cost – Free

2. Gun Hill

Gun Hill is the second highest peak of Mussoorie. It can be reached through a ropeway to experience mountain peaks view. Like Kempty fall, Gun hill has also suffered from overtourism over the years. Eating joints have taken over the place, thereby defeating the purpose of coming to the scenic point for serenity and incredible views.

Address – The Mall Rd, Luxmanpuri, Rajmandi, Landour, Mussoorie
Opening Hours – 10 AM to 6 PM
Suggested Duration – 1-2 hours
Ticket Cost – Roundtrip ropeway charge is Rs 100 per person

3. Walk along the Camel’s Back Road

Camel’s Back Road is named so because it has a shape of the hump of a camel. Once can take a morning/evening walk along the road. It provides a good alternative to the crowded Mall Road.

4. Visit George Everest House

George Everest was a famous surveyor. Mount Everest is named after him as he had measured its altitude. Though building is abandoned and in bad shape, but views from there is wonderful.
There is no public transport available and it’s a 1.5 – 2 hours trek from Library Chowk.

5. Mall Road

This is the busiest part of Mussoorie. Mall road is full of hotels, restaurants, and shops. You can shop there in the evening.

How to get around in Mussoorie

Rickshaw: Rickshaw ply on the certain section of Mussoorie. Fares are fixed by the municipality, so make sure you are not being overcharged.

One way rickshaw fare per person from Library Chowk:

Waiting charge = Rs 50 per hour.

Taxi: Taxi is a convenient mode if you are in a group and want to see multiple things in a short time. Various taxi sightseeing packages are available, starting from Rs 1000 to Rs 4000. Taxis are under union, so rates are fixed. One should hire a taxi from union office to avoid being overcharged.

Walk: If one has strength and stamina of walking 10 – 15 kms each day, then there is no option better than to walk. It would take more time to reach every place, but that time would be worth spending among the exhilarating beauty of Mussoorie.

Stay in Mussoorie

Being a popular tourist destination, hotel prices tend to skyrocket in peak season. Even during shoulder season, hotel prices are generally more than hotels of similar amenities in big cities.

Mussoorie Gateway: A budget hotel near to the Mall road with very well cleaned room and bathrooms. Wifi is limited to the reception area only. They also provide shuttle service to and from Mall road. It was my ABODE during my trip and I absolutely loved it.
Price range: Rs 1000 – Rs 2000

Mussoorie Camp Resort: Located near the Kempty Fall, this hotel is a great option for someone who wants to stay at camp. wifi is limited to the common area only.
Price range: Rs 1000 – Rs 2000

The Amber Vermont Estate: If you want the experience of a traditional English cottage with modern amenities, then this hotel is for you. It features 13 rooms, all with free breakfast, wifi, LCD TV, tea/coffee maker, digital locker and minibar. It is located near the Company Garden.
Price range: Rs 5500 – Rs 7000

Honeymoon Inn: Located at Mall Road, this hotel is close to most of the attractions. Each room has wifi and offers a panoramic view. It also has an entertainment centre with board games, carrom, video games, and air-hockey.
Price range: Rs 3000 – Rs 4000

My recommendation: Mussoorie Gateway

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